Montgomery gripped the steering wheel as he began their drive, trying his best not stay calm.

"Why were you in the car with him?"

"I got in a fight, Monty."

He frowned, "A fight? The fuck? With who?"

"Marisa."

"Andy's girlfriend?" She nodded. "What the fuck, O? Do I have to go beat his ass now? What did she say to you?"

Ophelia debated whether or not to tell him what she said. "She was being mean to you."

Montgomery asked, "The fuck does this have to do with you being with Dempsey?"

"He broke it up" she explained to him, hoping he would understand. "I had to leave before getting in trouble."

Montgomery took a moments to process things in his head. "A physical fight? Did she hit you?"

Shyly, Ophelia nodded. She saw Montgomery's face turn from angry, to completely enraged. She said quickly, "But I slapped her first."

"I..." Montgomery didn't finish. He took deep breaths, trying to calm himself down. "What the fuck did she do to you, O?"

She could tell he was trying to control his rage.

"Nothing you have to worry about. It was stupid. She said...she said that I should break up with her. And I thought it was rude, so I slapped her. And she slapped me back."

Now, Montgomery was completely silent.

"It's not like I chose to go with Zach over you. He was just there when you weren't."

Montgomery flinched at her words, and it didn't get unnoticed to him that she had called me "Zach".

Montgomery didn't speak to Ophelia the rest of the way home. She spoke to him, but he didn't respond to her. She tried better to explain what happened. The fight, how the girl had said Montgomery wasn't good enough for her, and how she made sure to prove that she was wrong.

But hearing that only made things worse for him.

Montgomery still refused to talk to her. He just dropped her off, kissed her and left.

He couldn't say anything to her. He knew if he did he wouldn't be to keep himself from yelling at her. And he knew she didn't deserve it. It wasn't her fault.

Because Ophelia didn't know that just the other day Zachary told him that he was better for Ophelia, and then he scooped her out of school like a hero. He couldn't admit that it broke his heart, or that it made him want to cry. Montgomery didn't cry, though, not if he could help it. Not unless he was drunk.

No, he didn't cry. He just yelled. And hit people. And when he got home that day, he took a baseball bat, went out into his yard, and hammered that bat into a large oak tree until his palms and fingers were blistered and he couldn't do it anymore.

The next morning, Montgomery continued to be silent after picking Ophelia up for school.

"What happened to yours hand?" she asked, noticing the red blotchiness.

"Nothin" he brushed off.

Ophelia reaches over and took his hand, examining it. "Monty...what did you do?" She was scared and worried for her boyfriend.

"It's just from baseball practice" he said. He pulled his hand back harshly. The car in front of him did a sharp stop at a stop sign, causing him to hit the brakes due to his fast speed. Ophelia jolted in her seat.

"Fucking asshole!" Montgomery screamed. He slammed a hand into the dashboard, angered. He grabbed a glass bottle the was behind his seat, what Ophelia suspected to be alcohol, and chucked it at the car in front of them. It the truck top of the top, and then Montgomery sped away to lose it.

"Hey!" she yelled. "Monty, calm down!"

"Don't fucking-" He stopped himself, taking a deep breath. He went silent again. Ophelia hopes he wouldn't be this way all in front of people.

Then he stopped to pick up Justin, who noticed their lack of conversation right away.

"Uh, what the fuck is going on?" he asked, "Are you guys fighting or something?"

Ophelia rolled her eyes at the boy's lack of boundaries.

"Or something" Montgomery muttered. He was driving really fast again.

"Hey, slow down" Ophelia spoke up. He ignored her. She reached over and grabbed his hand. "Babe, slow down please."

Montgomery looked at her worried expression, and nodded, dropping down five miles an hour. They neared the school, and he still hadn't slowed completely. Ophelia sighed, looking out the window, wishing he would just communicate with her.

Montgomery, on the other hand, was searching for Zachary's car to see if he had arrived at school yet. Yes, he was not speaking to Ophelia, but he had a few choice words for Zachary. He remembered the bat he had brought with him in his truck. He could use it to hit Zachary's car. Or maybe just to hit Zachary himself.

Glancing back in front of him, Montgomery had to slam on his breaks.

Ophelia gasped, reaching her arms out to prevents herself from hitting her head on the dashboard.

Justin, in the back, just started laughing.

"Monty, what the fuck man?" he laughed.

Ophelia looked ahead. Alex stood in front of them, barely out of the way, and now looking mad as hell.

"What the fuck, man?" he yelled at her boyfriend, "People are trying to walk here!"

Montgomery's mood was lifted as he saw the small guy in front of him act like he had the guts to take him on. He cracked a smile, and then laughed along with Justin.

Alex was offended by their laughter. Walking to the drivers side of the car, he dropped his backpack on the ground. "The fuck is your problem?" he demanded.

Montgomery laughed, again. He was in a better mood now, and for that, he was willing to let off with speaking to him that.

"Dude" he said, "Alex, chill. It's all good."

"Oh, it's all good?" Alex snapped. "What, you think you can just run people over like everyone else at this fucking school?"

"You're trippin man" Montgomery told him. Ophelia felt her stomach drop, seeing Alex's anger, and knowing where this is going.

"Get out of the car" Alex demanded.

Montgomery's smile dropped instantly. Ophelia graded his arm. "Don't."

Alex slammed his hands into the Jeep. "Get out of the fucking car! I'm gonna kick you're fucking ass! Get out! Get out!"

"Jesus, Alex!" Ophelia shouted at him. He went from upset to psychotic in only a moment.

Ophelia watched Montgomery clench his jaw, and ball his hands into fists. Montgomery has spend all night finding something to take his anger out on. And he just found something better.

Montgomery shoved the door open and got out.

"No, no, no." Ophelia got out just as fast.

Justin hopped out from the back of the seat. "Alex calm the fuck down."

"I am calm!" Alex screamed. He pulled up the sleeves of his jacket. "I am so fucking calm!"

Ophelia rushed to her boyfriend and stood in front of him. "Monty, please, let's go."

"You're mad at me?" he asked, "Why don't you yell at this little bitch who's asking for me to kick his ass."

"That's not-"

Across the parking lot, Zachary had pulled in. He spotted the commotion, and as soon as he saw Montgomery's car, he hurried over, scared of what was happening.

"You don't want to do this" Montgomery wanted Alex.

"What, you think I'm scared of you?"

Montgomery pushes Ophelia softly, so that she was closer to the Jeep. "You should be."

Without warning, Alex ran at Montgomery, shoving him with both hands into his car. Ophelia stumbled as he crashed into her. She didn't let him go, though, wrapping her arms around him to keep him from retaliating.

"Fuck you!" Alex screamed.

Alex made eye contact with Ophelia and said, "So now you're willing to stop him? Huh?"

Montgomery pushed himself off the car and away from his girlfriend. He brought his arm back, and punched Alex in the face.

"Monty!" Ophelia screamed. She was scared now. Not for Alex, but for her boyfriend. He was stronger, but Alex was angrier. Being strong doesn't stop you from feeling pain.

Alex was knocked down by Montgomery's strength, blood dropped down from his face. He wiped it off, seemingly angrier than ever. Alex swung around and threw his body into Montgomery. Montgomery just grabbed his, and slammed him on the ground.

"Stop it! Monty!"

Zach had made his way into the ground, and watched the scene unfolding in front of him. "What the fuck?"

Marcus, who had been standing near him said, "This is not good."

Ophelia cringed watching Alex land a harsh blow to Montgomery's nose. In return, Montgomery slammed his to the ground. Once. Twice. Three times.

"Monty, stop-"

She took a step forward, but was pulled back. Zachary held her shoulders, keeping her away.

"You don't want to get in the middle of that" he warned her.

"I know my boyfriend" she snapped, "He won't stop until someone stops him."

"I know your boyfriend" he said, "and I know he'll take shit out on whoever tries to stop him."

Ophelia watched Montgomery struggle with Montgomery, and finally get on top of him again.

She tried again, "Monty, that's enough!"

Her boyfriend glanced up at her. But the only person he saw was Zachary. And all did was make him angrier.

Montgomery, now straddling Alex, punched him in the face.

What the fuck was Alex thinking? Talking to him like that? Yelling at him like that? In front of everyone.

He punched again.

Thinks he can just shove him? And that Montgomery wouldn't beat his ass for it?

Again.

And what about Ophelia? Standing so close to Dempsey right now?

Again.

If Alex wants to insult him, make him look inferior in front of everyone, then he should have been ready to have his face beaten in in front of everyone.

Again.

In fact, if Dempsey wants to make him look inferior but taking his girl, acting like he has any right to even talk to her, then he needs to prepare himself for the same treatment-

Montgomery was pulled away.

"That's enough!" shouted Mr. Porter. "Hey, I said that enough!"

"Alright, alright!" Montgomery shouted

"What the hell is going on here?" Mr. Porter demanded.

"He started it!" Montgomery accused.

"Okay, and what the hell are you doing?"

"..finishing it?"

Mr. Porter scoffed, "You think that's funny, huh? You two are coming with me! The rest of you get to class?"

Ophelia watched as Mr. Porter grabbed Montgomery's arm. Dragging him away. He spared a glance back at her, but he was being pulled away too quickly to get a word out.

Ophelia turned to Zach.

"What the fuck?" she asked, "So you save me from getting in trouble but won't save Monty? He's about to get suspended!"

"I don't care about Montgomery getting suspended" Zachary admitted. "I hope he does. It's give this school some peace for once."

She scoffed. "He'll just be stuck at home with-"

She stopped herself. With his dad.

Zachary said, "Look, I wanted to talk to. About Yesterday. Our conversations."

She shook her head, "Are you kidding me? Do you have any idea how hurt Monty probably is? I-I'm not going to trash talk him while he's in pain."

"Wait, I-"

"No, Zach, I'm going to check on him. I'm not mad at your but...I don't want to talk to you right now."

Zachary watched her walk off. He didn't bother explaining that he hadn't wanted to talk about Montgomery, but how she had called him her friend. And how badly he wanted her to call him more than that.

"Need a ride?"

Tony had pulled up on her walking out of the school. His red mustang shined in the sun beautifully.

"Yeah, actually" she said. Tony was the only one she was willing to accept that kind of offer from. He pushed the passenger door open for her, and she got in. "Thank you. Monty, was my ride, but they made him leave. There was...a fight."

"Yeah, I heard."

"I was walking with Justin but Bryce drove by and got him."

"Not you?"

Ophelia said, "I didn't want to go with him."

"Understandable" Tony agreed. He started driving again. "Your house?"

Ophelia cleared her throat, "Actually, Montgomery's if that's okay."

"Absolutely not" Tony told her, "But I'll take you home."

Ophelia rolled her eyes, leaning her head against the window. "Thanks, I guess."

They weren't friends at that moment, but Ophelia still liked Tony. They were able to make light conversation. She was happy to be riding with someone that wasn't so serious for once.

Pulling into her driveway, he waved to her parents and said hello.

"Thanks for the ride" she told him.

"Why don't you come meet me tomorrow?" Tony suggested. "For lunch?"

"I'll probably be with..." Ophelia realized Montgomery wouldn't be there. "Maybe."

"Here, before you leave, take this."

Ophelia looked over to see Tony handing her a cassette tape. Her tape.

"Tony, what the fuck?" she asked. "Why did you bring that here?"

"For you to listen to it. Again."

"No" she said, "I'm never going to listen to that again in my life. Get it out of my face."

"One more time" he insisted, "And if you do, I swear to you I will never speak ill of Montgomery to you or anyone else ever again."

"Who else do you talk about him with?"

"Please, O" he said, "just try."

"Why?" she asked, "I know what's on them."

"Because you're back with Montgomery. And because he's dangerous. And I need you to see your relationship through someone else's eyes."