Alexia's POV

Colin's hands dropped from my shoulders.

"What do you mean you can't see me anymore? You're breaking up with me?"

I felt pain ripping at my heart as I forced myself to nod, and my soul was being sucked away as I said, "I can't be your tutor either. I can't have any sort of contact with you, ever."

Colin's expression changed to confusion. "Why? I thought you liked me.. No, I know you like me. You're torn up about this, so why do it?"

My heart broke further, and now Colin looked as if he was going to cry. My natural reaction was to get really defensive, it's what always happened when I was feeling weak, vulnerable. "Does it matter why? I'm sorry, but I just can't see you anymore, okay?" I snapped. "Why do you even like me? I'm just a know-it-all brainiac, nobody in this entire school has ever looked at me twice, so why you?" My defenses started out strong, my words clear and sharp. By the end, however, I was back to feeling broken and sad inside as I realized the truth. Nobody had ever given me a second glance, aside from asking for help in one subject or another. So why did Colin take such a liking to me?

"Are you kidding?" Colin scoffed. "Yes, you're a know-it-all brainiac, but you're also really funny, with a great personality. I've always seen you living life to the fullest, despite your incredibly busy schedule. Guys are just too intimidated to face someone as beautiful and smart as you, which is why they haven't asked you out. I was just lucky that I had an opportunity like this tutoring thing, and even luckier that you actually said yes."

Every word that he said really pulled at my heartstrings. "Colin..." I trailed, unsure what to say. I felt my decision wavering, part of me actually wanting to disobey my parents in order to stay with Colin.

"Yeah," he continued, really getting into his little tangent, "plus my friends all said you were unobtainable, but I clearly proved them wrong." He seemed lost in the memory, smirking proudly at the reminiscent.

While he was celebrating, my world just collapsed.

I thought I couldn't feel any shittier. Apparently, I could.

"Wow," I muttered, my temper beginning to flare. "Wow," I reiterated, louder. "So I was just some sort of prize to you? Is that what you're saying?" My teeth were grinding together, hands forming into fists.

"What?" he asked, confused. Then it clicked, and he realized what he said. "Wait, no, I didn't mean it like that-"

"Then how did you mean it?" I cut him off, sneering. "There's no other way to interpret that. I can't believe you used me! And here I was, about to fall for your charm and make the biggest mistake of my life!" I paused, thinking for a second. Then I shook my head. "No, saying yes in the first place was the biggest mistake of my life." Colin looked at me with big eyes, mouth gaping. I stood up, eyes cold. "Goodbye Colin, and never talk to me again," I said frigidly, turning and walking out of the library, my pride shattered.

It was all because of him I lost my family's trust, I lost the will to trust others, and I disgraced my family. All because I fell for some stupid, attractive idiot.

"Alexia! Wait! Stop!" I heard him scrambling after me, but I refused to turn. I remained tall as I strode down the hall, and eventually he stopped his pursuits.

I guess the question is who's the bigger idiot?

I left the school, unable to take it in there anymore. I didn't even want to be in the same place he was right now, but I also didn't want to go home.

My life was in shambles.

And it's all his fault...

"It's all his fault!" I screamed out into the cold air, the rain still coming down hard. My scream was lost in the winds, and my anger and hurt prevented me from feeling the cold drops as they landed on my skin.

I felt a burning itch under my skin to just run. Burn out all of my pent up anger and frustration, let it all out.

So I obliged, starting out at a sprint. I was already in gym clothes and was soaked, so why not?

I ran and ran, shoes slapping the sidewalk, breath coming out in huffs. I pushed myself harder and harder, until I felt my lungs aching, scorching as if they were on fire.

I didn't even know how far I ran, or even where I was, but I collapsed against a nearby tree. All my limbs were a bit shaky, something I think they called runner's high?

The tree provided a tiny bit of coverage from the assailing rain, and I heaved in and out, drinking in large gulps of air. It took about ten minutes before all my muscles relaxed, and I shifted my position so that I was sitting against the tree, my knees tucked under my chin as my arms held myself together.

"How could have I been so stupid? Why would I jeopardize the loving relationship I shared with Lee for him?" I now snarled the word him with the same disgust and viciousness my mother had. At the same time, something didn't feel right about calling our relationship 'loving'. We were a couple definitely, and we did couple-y things, but it wasn't quite.. there yet. We enjoyed each other's company, but I had never felt those so-called 'sparks', or felt 'fireworks' whenever we kissed.

I sat under the tree for who knows how long, and I just pondered what my life had come to, and what my next move should be.

I decided that I wouldn't deal with Colin at all, therefore eliminating the problem. I could regain my parent's trust and love if I worked hard enough, and after Colin's gone, Lee and I will once again share an easy-going relationship. After the Tokyo trip, at the karaoke bar, it had been a bit strained. But now that Colin was no longer in my life, everything should go back to normal.

"Yeah, that's what I need to do," I spoke confidently, standing up. My muscles felt tight and a bit sore, but I stood up nonetheless and actually looked at my surroundings.

I was in a park of some sort, and I could see a playground a bit away. Then I saw a sidewalk, and thought it'd be best to go find a street sign and then I could just google where I was.

I groaned.

I didn't have my phone at me. I frowned. I must've left it at school when I left... I have to get all my school supplies too anyways.

So I had no other choice to return to the school in order to retrieve my things. I was just praying that he wasn't there.

***

It took a little while, but I somehow managed to find myself in the front of the school, the rain stopping on my way there. I was still dripping with water by the time I had got back, but at least I wasn't getting any worse.

Based on the relative emptiness of the parking lot, I could only assume that school was over and most people had gone home, aside from those doing sports and other extracurricular activities.

I was thankful that he had football practice; this meant that I wouldn't see him.

My shoes sloshed water all over the place as I walked, and I was positive I'd have a nasty case of athlete's foot by the time I got home. Stuck in wet shoes for over seven hours? Yup, definitely going to be a mess down there.

Going to the locker room, I decided I'd grab my wet clothes first before stopping at my locker. I took a moment to dry myself as best as I could with the paper towels stored in the locker room, wringing out my hair in the sink. Then I grabbed my clothes from my gym locker, and was surprised to find that it was only slightly damp, unlike the soggy bundle it was this morning.

Making my way back to my regular locker, I was stuffing my books and binders into my bag before I was ambushed.

"You!" someone screeched, and I jumped, spinning to face whoever it was.

"Ashley? What is it? Why are you so worked up?" I asked, blinking at her frazzled figure.

She pointed at me, eyes narrowed. "What did you do to Colin? He was devastated when he came back to lunch, and you were nowhere to be seen for the rest of the day. He even refused to talk to me about it! He never does that! We share everything with each other. So what did you do to break him?"

As soon as she had mentioned his name, I got angry again.

"What did I do to him?" I scoffed. "I did absolutely nothing! I did what was right, what I should've done in the first place!" I shot back. "Why don't you ask him what he did to me."

Then I spun on my heel, fuming, as I slammed my locker and walked away from her. Walked away from her confused silence and the stunned look in her eyes.

"This isn't over!" she called weakly as I allowed the glass doors of the school to shut behind me. Her voice was filled with doubt, and there was definitely a bit of curiosity.

"I wish it was," I muttered, as I started on my way home.

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so colin's in some deep shizz. but it's not like alexia's innocent either so... what do you think? does alexia have a right to be mad at colin based on what she's done?

i'd love to know your opinions c: