***Alex’s POV***

I watched as Luke’s fist collided with Seamus’s head. Seamus’s eyes rolled back in his head and he collapsed forward, smacking his head on the ground painfully.

I let out a little cry. “Ohmigosh! I didn’t want you to hit him that hard!” I cried in horror. People began to gather in a circle around us. I ran towards Seamus’s unconscious form. “Get away! Just get away from him!” Richie cried and shoved me away violently. “Fag!” Luke growled and advanced at him. “Stop; you’ll get expelled!” I hissed, thinking up a reason for why I was so freaked out. If people thought I liked an emo…gosh.

“Shame! Shame! Seamus!” Richie cried, shaking him. “Don’t touch him.” Clifton knelt down next to Seamus and slapped Richie’s hands away. “Someone go get the nurse!” Jay snapped at the crowd. “His forehead is bleeding. He must’ve cut it on something when he fell,” Clifton said. I nearly threw up.

Gross! There was a cut just above his eyebrow that was bleeding. “Cliff, shouldn’t we stop the bleeding?” the weird one who had stared at me asked. “No Jer. We don’t want to touch him,” Clifton replied. He was so monotone that he almost put me to sleep despite the situation.

“How do you know that?” I demanded. He glared. “Because I do. Now shut up prep.” His eyes looked familiar. Where had I seen those eyes before? Hm…

Not the time Alex.

Just shut up.

The nurse shoved through us and knelt down next to Seamus. “This one again? What happened?” Clifton explained everything. “He cut his head on this,” he said, holding up a piece of something. I wasn’t quite sure what it was but it looked sharp.

The nurse looked troubled. “Students! Students! Go to your next period class!” We grumbled angrily and walked away to our next period class. The principal called over the loudspeaker that we were going into a medical lockdown.

My day passed and I went home. “I thought you had to go to that boy’s house?” mother asked when I got home. I shook my head. “He left school early.” She nodded thoughtfully. “Alex, would you mind coming with me to the doctor’s home? I need a hand carrying a few boxes into his home.” I shrugged. “I better not break a nail,” I said to daddy and he chuckled.

We carried the zillions of boxes into the car and drove to the doctor’s fancy house. Ohmigosh it was huge! I had never been to his house before.

I grabbed a box and daddy led us to the door. He kicked it since his hands were full. The door opened and my eyes widened. “You!” I cried. He glared.

Clifton!

“Would you mind getting your father for me?” daddy asked politely. Clifton nodded, still glaring at me and retreated into the house.

He reappeared with his father, Dr. Holst. My daddy and he were good friends. He smiled. “Hello there Ms. Alex Arnold! How are you?” “Good,” I said politely. “Better than Seamus?” Clifton asked sarcastically. “Now, now Clifton!” Dr. Holst said with a frown.

Dr. Holst and Clifton helped us get the boxes. “Shame is lucky he doesn’t have amnesia,” Clifton said as we carried the boxes inside. The house was large and beautiful on the inside. “Well this explains how you knew what to do. I never would’ve guessed you were rich,” I said as I set the box down and flipped my hair.

He glared. “Not all emos come from a bad situation. Your stereotypical immaturity brings you to the conclusion that our pasts and memories are weaved with misfortune.” I stared at him. Big words…

He sighed. “You think all emos come from a bad home.” Ah. “Well you could’ve said that in the first place!” I said in annoyance. “I was hoping your brain would be larger than your conscience.” I glared. “What’s that supposed to mean?” “I swear blondes will be the death of me,” he said, rolling his eyes. The same eyes as the doctor. “It means you could’ve done serious damage to Shame and you would’ve felt no guilt.”

Oh. “Why do you have to use big words?” “Why do you have to be a dumbass?” “Clifton!” His father placed his hands on his hips and fixed Clifton with a stern look. “Stop being rude! And watch your language young man!” Clifton rolled his eyes.

Daddy was looking at Clifton. “My, you’ve gotten big. Clifton, correct?” “Obviously,” Clifton grumbled. “Clifton Holst!” his dad said angrily. “I’m so sorry he’s being rude. His friend got hurt in school today.” Daddy sighed. “Aren’t schools supposed to be safe places? What is wrong with people?” Clifton snorted. “Ask your daughter here. Queen of the ditz.”

Dr. Holst looked like he was going to explode.

“Clifton Rayne Holst,” he growled. Clifton glared at me. “I’m going to Shame’s. See ya.” He left without another word. “I am so sorry about my son!” Dr. Holst said sincerely. Daddy chuckled. “It’s quite alright.”

They talked for awhile before we got in the car and drove off. “What a rude young man that boy was,” he said, shaking his head. I shrugged. “Daddy, can you drive me to the purse store?” I asked with my irresistible puppy dog eyes. He smiled. “Sure. Anything for you!”

We were cutting through the ghettos. Daddy slammed on the brakes while I was fixing my makeup. I felt something make contact with the car. I looked up in shock as I heard a young woman let out a terrified shriek.

We looked to see Seamus on the ground with his arms out as if he actually thought he could stop the car from hurting him. Lizzy sprinted over to him. She must have been the one who had screamed. 

Daddy and I jumped out of the car.

“Seamus! Seamus are you okay?!” Lizzy cried. Daddy looked terrified. “I didn’t see him! He came out of nowhere! Is he alright?” Seamus looked up slowly at us. He groaned and went to sit up. “Stay down Shame!” Lizzy said.

“I’m okay?” He phrased it like a question. He looked up and met my eyes. “Alex? Funny meeting you here.” He cracked a grin. He went to get up again but Lizzy forced him to stay down. “Seamus Anthony Fitzpatrick! Stay down until we know what’s wrong with you! What hurts?” she demanded.

Seamus looked down at himself curiously. “Um…well, my eyes from looking at you.” She glared. “It’s not funny Shame! What hurts?” He moved everything and scrunched up his face. “My ass. And my hand.”

“Seamus? The fuck?” We turned to see Clifton jogging over. “You again? Get away from him!” Clifton growled at me. Lizzy looked relieved. “Oh thank god Clifton! Can you help us? He got hit.” Clifton knelt down. “Alright you idiot. What hurts?” Seamus rolled his eyes. “My ass and my hand.” Clifton nodded. “Did you hit anything on the car?” “My body?” “Anything specific?” “Not really.” “And when you fell?” “My ass. And I pulled my arm out of the sling and caught myself on my bad hand.”

Clifton nodded and stood up. “He’s fine.” Seamus went to stand up and clumsily fell down again. “Oh yea. I might’ve twisted my ankle,” he said and grinned. Lizzy looked like she might have a heart attack. “Seamus!” she cried at last.

“Help him up Alex,” daddy said and turned to talk to Lizzy. Clifton and I helped Seamus limp into his house and lowered him onto his couch. He chuckled and I noticed the bandage over his eye. “Hey Alex, I hurt my lips, will you kiss them and make them better?” I smacked him instead.

He gave me a fake look of hurt. “Now you have to kiss my cheek too!” I glared. “Man I’m falling apart this year,” he said and sighed. Clifton left to head towards the kitchen. “Help yourself,” Seamus called sarcastically.

He turned to smile at me. “Well then Alex. How are you?” I glared. “I’m not kissing you.” “I didn’t say you had to at the moment. I’m wondering how you are.” “A lot better if you’d stop talking to me!”

Clifton returned and placed an icepack on Seamus’s ankle. “I’m going to use your bathroom,” he said and walked away. I sat down next to a grinning Seamus. I had the strongest urge to kiss him but was trying to resist it.

Seamus smiled and waved at me. My eyes widened and I grabbed his arm. His shirt sleeve had fallen down a bit and his wristband was out of place. “Seamus,” I whispered in horror. He pulled his wrist back roughly. There were deep gashes on his wrists.

“Forget you saw that Barbie!” he growled.

How could he do that to himself? To hurt himself that bad? He was seriously disturbed. I sighed. “I’m sorry Seamus.” He glanced up at me after fixing his wristband. “Well, here, let me tell you a secret.” He grinned and leaned up towards my ear. He quickly spun his head so that he was kissing my lips, and I didn't stop him.