Chapter 9, Hannah's Pov

I run right through the hall and down the stairs and only stop when I run into a body. I stumble backwards and almost fall over.

"Sorry. Excuse me." I sniffle trying to hide my tears from the guy I ran into.

"Oh don't worry about. But, why are you crying dear?" The man speak has a deep voice and an Israeli accent.

"I-it's nothing." I say shakily. I look up to meet his brown eyes. I instantly recognize him from old pictures I've seen of the wedding my mom was in. "Mr. Roth!" I exclaim. "I'm so sorry. I'll be getting to class immediately."

I turn to hurry off but he puts a hand on my shoulder to stop me. He gently spins me around.

"First," he says in his deep mesmerizing voice. "Call me Toby. Mr. Roth is my uncles name." His lips twitch up into a smile. "Second, if something's wrong you don't have to be afraid to tell me."

I take a deep breath. There's no way I can rat out Andrew to his dad, but I do really feel like talking to someone.

"My mom died a little over two weeks ago." I say deciding to be blunt about it. "It was really unexpected, you know. One day she was perfectly fine and the next she was gone." I whisper the last part.

"I'm so sorry." He says sadly. "Losing a parent is something you should never have to go through. I lost my parents at a young age, and it was terrible. Until it got better. Time and love can heal even the worst of wounds." He says wisely.

"In sorry about your parents." I say quietly. "How did they die? If you don't mind telling me." I say quickly.

"Oh no. It's fine. They died in an explosion." He tells me. I can see the sadness in his eyes as he says it. "What about your mother?"

"Ruptured appendix." I say quietly. Tears began welling up in my eyes. "At first she thought it was period cramps but then she got really sick. Dad took her to the hospital, but it was too late. The infection had spread to her blood stream." By the time I finish I'm sobbing. Mr. Roth, I mean, Toby holds me in his arms.

"That's right." He says softly. "Let it all out." He runs his fingers through my hair.

It takes me a few minutes to calm down, but when I finally do I pull back from Toby. "Thank you. I feel a little better now." I say wiping my face with a tissue he gave me.

"No problem." He smiles. "But, one more thing before you go. Was there a reason why you suddenly began crying about your mom?" He asks kindly.

My faces pales. I can't tell him. "Umm. Someone mentioned it in class." I mumble telling a half-truth.

He nods in understanding. "Why don't you take the morning off and come back to classes after lunch?" He offers kindly.

"Thank you." I say in relief. "That would be wonderful."

•••

As lunch rolls around I enter the cafeteria to be met by Ella who crushes me in a bear hug.

"I heard what happened this morning and I'm so sorry! Are you okay? Do you want me to kill him?" She questions.

I chuckle. "It's okay Ella. I'll be okay." I say quietly.

"Are you sure?" Her voice is full of concern.

I nod looking done at the ground.

"That-that, ugh!" Ella groans in frustration. "Just enter your choice of bad word here." She huffs. "We need to punish him for what he did." She says as we sit down at our table.

"You're dang right, we will!" Amy exclaims, slamming her try down on the table.

"Wait, why aren't you at your table?" I ask in confusion.

"And sit with that insensitive jerk? No thank you." She says.

"I'm not sitting with him either." Emma says definitely.

"Okay." I smile. "Thank you."

Usher, Uriah, Tiffany, and Lara add their support to the pay back plans.

"I really appreciate this guys, but we don't have a plan." I inform them.

"Or do we." Amy smirks slyly.

I raise my eyebrows in surprise. "We do?"

"Oh yes." She grins evilly. "We do."

"Well, what is it?" Uriah asks eagerly.

Amy opens her mouth to explain but Ken comes over and drops down on his knees infront of her.

"Amy, baby, please come back." He begs.

"Not until you get that Neanderthal under control." She crosses her arms defiantly.

"I swear, I didn't have any clue that he knew that information about Hannah. I would never have let him say that. I'm begging you to believe me." He begs taking her hands in his. The whole cafeteria is riveted on the drama taking place at our table. "I'll do anything." He pleads.

Amy smirks. "Get Andrew to apologize."

His eyes widen. "Deal." He says without hesitation. He scurries back to his table and I can tell him and Andrew are having a very heated discussion. Andrew looks in our direction and sighs before standing up and walking our way. I stand up quickly as he approaches.

"Hannah, I'm sorry." He say emotionlessly.

I stare at him with my mouth open. How dare he come over and act like this is a real apology? He can't say the things that he did and expect to get away with it. I lift my hand and slap him hard across the face.

Complete silence settles over the room as every stares in shock at what I just did. Andrew seems to be stupefied as he stares at me.

"Did you just-?" He starts but I interrupt him by slapping him again.

"Did I what Andrew? Slap you?" I say glaring at him. "Yes. I did. I slapped you because you freaking deserved it! And your sorry excuse for an apology is not excepted." I snap.

Andrew nods slowly, rubbing his jaw. My red hand print is clearly visible on his cheek. He eyes me carefully as I glare at him furiously.

"I can see that you are still upset." Andrew begins calmly. "In all honesty, I only came over here because my friend wants his girlfriend back. If you expect a sincere apology after slapping me then I can guarantee you won't get one." He says.

I gasp in offense and raise my head to slap him again but he catches my wrist. I try with the other and but he catches it as well. I narrow my eyes at him. I attempt to free my hands but can't. As a last resort I do what any girl in my situation would probably do, I knee him where the sun don't shine.