I run in the direction of the locker room, nails digging into the palms of my skin.

What the hell are you doing Andy.

When I get to the door, I stop- not sure if I want, or even am prepared to see what would be on the other side. I take a deep breath before slowly grabbing the handle and opening it, seeing what the scene had to offer me.

Nobody seems to notice me, their eyes glued onto Andy, who's yelling at the body that's standing- watching him, "I told you- not to talk to her again." He says, punching him across the face.. again, giving a low chuckle, "You don't listen- you never fucking listen." He punches him in the stomach, where he'd slammed him the day prior, making him slightly wince, but not move from his position. "Are you not going to fight back? Say something god damn it! If you want her so badly why wont you fight for her Jullian," He yells, pushing him back.

"Oh so that's what you're doing, Myers... fighting for her. Are you sure you aren't just fighting because you're scared I'm going to 'take her away' again?" He spits, blood dripping from his nose but he doesn't seem to care, pushing Anthony back lightly, a grin plastered on his beaten face.

Take me away from him? Again?

"You know damn well why I'm doing this Wilder," He snarls, "Apparently you didn't get the message 3 years ago, so I'm going to have to resend it now," he says, raising his fist. Just as he's about to punch him again... I slam the door shut.

"What the hell are you doing Andy?" I yell, looking at the scene in front of me, everyone falling silent. Anthony lowers his arm by his side, going quiet.

"Elle it's not-"

"Not what, not what I think? Get mad at Jullian all you want but you really have to do- this? I thought so much better of you Andy I thought- I thought you could at least control yourself." I snap, making him look down, a hand running through his hair.

"He wasn't leaving you alone-" 

"So that gives you the excuse to go and pick a fight Andy? Really? How mature of you," I scoff, him taking a deep breath.

"Don't you get it Elle? He's hurting you- he's trying to hurt you," He raises his voice, 

"Him? No Andy. I'm pretty sure we all know who is hurting me right now. I was fine, I told you I had it under control but you still continue to step in like it's your problem. It's not Andy, can't you get that?"

"It is my problem! He's trying to hurt you again! And when he does you let him near you?"

"You told me to listen to what he had to say, so I'm trying to. And now, you're going to have a problem with it?"

"You know what I meant by that."

"Frankly enough I don't Andy," I scoff, sighing.

"All I'm saying is that he's embarrassing you Elle. Look at what you're doing, you're protecting him, the one person who hurt you. Next thing you know he's going to have you all wrapped around his finger again then leave you like he did 3 years ago, why are you letting him get to you so easily?" He yells, making a pit form in my stomach. I begin biting the inside of my lip and pause, looking to the ground.

"Get out."

I look at him to see guilt fill his eyes as he begins to take a step forward, "Elle didn't mean it-"

"Just get out Andy," I say backing away from him, opening the door, "everyone get the fuck out. I don't care if this is the boy's locker room just leave," As everyone starts to leave Andy stands there, watching me, "are you deaf?! I said get out."

He begins to open his mouth- but it I stop him by holding up my hand.

"I don't want- I don't want to hear it. Just get out," I say, scolding him. He pauses before nodding, walking out the door before I slam it behind him. I take a deep breath before leaning against the door... feeling my eyes gloss over.

"You know...  he's always really hated me since I moved in what, 15 years ago?" A voice speaks up, making me turn my head in their direction. I look to see Jullian- covered in marks- chuckling. "I never knew-" he says, touching the blood coming from his nose, glancing at it, then continuing, "that he'd go to these extremes to keep me away." He looks to me turns his fingers around, showing me the blood on his fingers, smiling. "Took him a while to get this far, but I can say he packs a pretty good punch."

"Why didn't you just- punch back?" I ask, looking at the small bruises marking his face.

"I dunno, I'd like to stay in school for the game? If I hit back I'd be suspended, he's not going to be so lucky, though," He chuckles and I shake my head, walking over to him.

"I don't think you're going to be able to play either way," I mutter, looking at the small cuts on his face. I go to touch one before he moves my hand away, shaking his head.

"I'm fine, just some scratches." He grins and I shake my head, going to touch them again, him wincing at the contact.

"These scratches are going to need some fixing- and so is that bloody nose," I say and he shrugs, wiping it off with the back of his hand.

"It's not that big 'a deal, see? Gone." 

"Not necessarily," I say, pointing to the blood continuing to flow out of his nose. "Just use this to stop it," I sigh, handing him a nearby rag.

"Norie really, I'm fine," He says holding it up to his nose as I nod, staying quiet. A few seconds go by before I grab his arm, making him stand up.

"Let's go," I sigh, walking towards the door.

"Where?"

"To fix you up- again." I say, dragging him out of the place where this all began.

・・・

The halls had since cleared from the first bell ringing, meaning there was nobody to stare at us as I dragged Jullian into the nurse's room for the second time this week. I walked in hesitantly, this time being greeted by the nurse, my favorite staff member by far. "Good morning Mrs. Henry," I say, smiling as she sat behind her desk, giving me a confused look.

"Good morning Eleanor, you know it's only first period, right?" She asks and I nod, pointing to Jullian and her eyebrows slowly raise. "You really showed him who's boss huh?" She smiles, giving a small chuckle.

"She sure did," He smiles, showing his perfect teeth.

"Well you know where everything is, just take what you need- I'll write you passes," She smiles and I nod, bringing Jullian to the back where the beds were located.

"This scene looks oddly familiar," He says, giving a light chuckle.

"Yes except your shirt isn't off yet," I mumble and he raises a brow, grinning. "You know what I meant," I say, my cheeks turning a slight crimson, but he isn't able to see as I grab what I need from across the room.

"Do I, though?" He asks and I sigh to poke his stomach, making him winces, "okay I do."

"He hit you pretty hard there, by the way."

"You were there for that too I'm guessing, or was that in the video too," He mumbles and I nod, grabbing the rest of the supplies.

"The video only consisted of your confrontation, I was there for the not-so-fun part," I sigh, walking back up to him and putting the stuff beside him as he sat on the edge of the bed.

"Was there even a fun part to begin with?" 

"No, but what was the whole ordeal about? I'm still confused about that," I say, taking the rag off of his nose, wiping the drying blood beneath it.

"Him hating me for moving in beside you fifteen years ago and then trying to apologize to you for three years ago," he says, watching my every move.

"That's it?" I ask and he hesitantly nods.

"I'm pretty sure."

"Okay," I say, continuing to doctor him up.

・・・

"And we're all done with your face... finally," I sigh, putting up some of the left over items.

"And now?" He asks, raising a brow.

"Don't make me say it, just do it," I mumble, making him chuckle.

"Whatever you say doc," he smirks, taking off his shirt.

"Well, this is going to hurt... again," I mumble and take out a cleansing wipe, "you really shouldn't go to the game tonight, Jullian," I say, slowly going over the impacted area.

"I'll be fine Norie, I promise," he smiles, making my stomach drop.

I promise.

You promised, Jullian.

"Hello... Norie?" Jullian says, snapping me out of my daze as I look back up to him, "You've been just staring at the ground for a few seconds... thought I lost you there," he chuckles and I shake my head, sighing.

"Sorry I was just thinking," I mumble, continuing to take care of him.

"About?" He asks and I shrug, pausing before I look back up to him.

"Why do you call me Norie?" I ask and he furrows his eyebrows.

"Because that's what I always called you-"

"Exactly Jullian, called. Why all of a sudden you decide to call me that again, much less talk to me?" I ask and he goes quiet before I scoff, shaking my head, "The message. If you really think-"

"Norie please, that's not why." He says and I sigh, looking down, "It's because things, they changed Norie."

"What could've possibly changed Jullian? What possibly could've been different between freshman year, sophomore year, junior year, and the beginning of this year besides me sending that message?"

"People left the school, people who didn't want me talking to you," He says quietly and I shake my head in disbelief.

"That doesn't make sense-"

"People didn't want me talking to you.. they would've said things to hurt you more than I did. But now they're gone Norie," He says, lifting my head up, "We can go back to how it was before."

I start shaking my head, turning around, "I can't just let you back in Jullian. Andy could've been right... you're just trying to hurt me."

"If I was really trying to hurt you would I be sitting here, telling you this?"

"I don't know, you could be lying," I mutter before he pulls my arm lightly, turning me around, making me face him.

"Why would I lie to you Norie." He says and I begin to look down from his gaze before he brings my head back up, looking directly into my eyes, "Look me in the eyes and tell me you don't want us to go back to how it was before... before any of this," He whispers, making me stay quiet, "Tell me that you don't care."

"I- I can't," I whisper, looking down, my eyes watering from the memories.

"I know you don't want to but you have to trust me Norie. I wan't my best friend back... I want you back," He says, looking back into my eyes, "Please just trust me, okay? I won't hurt you- ever again, and that's a promise I will keep."

"You sure?" I ask and his smile widens, nodding.

"Absolutely." he says, wrapping his arms around my small body, engulfing me in his warmth, something I haven't felt in years. 

And honestly... I missed it.

"Jullian," I say, cutting into the warm silence, he looks at me hopefully and I sigh, backing out of the hug which makes him frown, "you know I can't just forgive you so easily."

"Yes, I know." He sighs, his body sulks and he runs a hand through his hair. "Regardless Norie, I promise I'm going to try and make things right- and keep them that way this time."

・author's note・

I like these comments hehe :) ⤵

2,010 words holy-moly! Pretty sure this is my longest chapter by far... but I ain't mad.

What'd you think? I think it was okay?? I dunno I'm trying to keep it from getting to tense... for now (;

Who was threatening to hurt Eleanor? 

When will Eleanor know the whole truth?

Why was Jullian hesitant when she asked if that's all the fight was about? hmmmm.

How will the game go? Will Jullian's injuries cause any problems in the game?

To find out I guess you'll just have to keep on reading (;

・originally published on June 27, 2017・updated on June 24, 2019・