"How long are you going to keep this up?" Sabrina trails me in the hall on the way to my locker.

"When you stop asking." My tone is clipped. I don't want to have this conversation with her, the one I don't even remember, she hasn't left me alone. For the past three days, she's been tailing me, trying to get me to tell her what I meant by what I said.

It's now Thursday and I'm relieved that I can escape her rants since practice is only an hours away. I only have one more class with her, and then I will finally have a break from the ongoing questions.

Pulling my chemistry book out of my bag, I swap it out with my American History one in my locker. Slamming it shut, I turn to my relentless girlfriend who still has more to say.

"What is happening to you that is so bad that you're not telling me?"

I sigh, running my hand through my hair. "There are some things about me that you just don't need to know. In fact, you'll be better off not knowing about them."

"That is not good enough," she hisses, catching the attention of multiple people in the hallway. When the 'it' couple of the school starts to fight, everyone listens in.

Noticing this, I grab her by the arm and bring her around the corner, where less bystanders are there to invade the conversation. "You don't want to start with me."

She ignores the severity in my voice. "You said it yourself, someone is hurting you. Who? Is it Dax again?
My jaw tightens. She doesn't know the effect that name has on me yet. I don't tell her much about my past, but she's heard me mention him on multiple occasions. All she really knows is that he's a friend turned enemy, and that he supplied the drugs and alcohol for my parties.

A very long moment passes where I just stare at her before shaking myself out of it.

"No." I clear my throat. "No, he has nothing to do with this."

I haven't seen Dax in almost two year, and I'd like to keep it that way. This had everything to do with the man I'm forced to call 'Father', not the person I used to call 'Friend'. Even though I'm sure there are worse parents out there, doesn't make his actions any less inexcusable.

Hit me once, shame on me. Hit me twice, shame on you. Hit me a third, fourth, fifth - you're an abusive asshole.

"Then what is going on, and why won't you tell me?" When remain silent, she lets out a miffed breath. "Okay. Um, we should head to class."

"Rina," I call behind her, but she doesn't reply.

An annoyed grunt leaves me as I watch her strut away. I hate how attractive she looks while angry.

Grudgingly, I follow, knowing I'd only get in trouble if I'm late.

The whole period, I don't pay the slightest bit attention. I just sit there and absentmindedly play with my pen, ignoring the messages that keep popping up on my group chats. Taking it apart and putting it together is something I can do with my eyes closed by now. All through the lecture, all I can think about is what would happen if Sabrina finds out about my father.

I don't know what she would think, but I don't want to risk losing her.

When class is finally over, I run after Sabrina, who is headed in the same direction as me. She had to go to her cheer practice, and I have to go to football practice to get ready for the homecoming game tomorrow. We are finally going up against our school rival, Rodnick, and losing is not an option.

"Am I still driving you home tonight?" I honestly don't know if she'll still be up for it, but I still think it's be worth asking.

Sabrina and I do fight every now and then, but never about something like this. Before today, our biggest fight had been her not giving up her V-card, but this is different.

She only nods as she keeps walking.

"When are you going to stop being mad at me?" I stand in front of her, stopping her in place.

She huffs and looks me in the eyes. "I'm not mad at you," she admits. "I just want you to be honest with me. That's all I've ever wanted. I also want to be able to trust you, but first you go behind my back and dance with Madison, and then you start keeping things from me."

"I know. I know." I grab her hands in mine. "You deserve to know, but can I just have a couple more days?" She looks unsure, so I add, "Sabrina, please? Just a couple more days, and then I promise I'll tell you."

It's painfully silent for a few second before she replies. "Okay."

The smile she reveals moments after implies that all is forgiven and I can relax, for now. I smile back and grab her by the hand as we both walk to the field.

We kiss goodbye before we depart to the separate locker rooms, and I'm happy that everything is okay in this moment. I know I'll have to cherish the next few days I have left with Sabrina, because after I tell her the truth, I'm sure she'll never look at me the same again.

Practice was murder today. Coach had worked us extra hard, and now my whole body aches.

Ice cold water shocks my body, but it doesn't bother me. With all sweat coating my skin, the cool jolt is soothing. I reach for the shampoo and when I'm done with that, the body wash. Squeezing the right amount on my hand, I run a trail down my torso, spreading it up my chest and along my arms.

Clenching my jaw, I force my hand to graze against my scar, where the mental anguish racks my nerves every time. A dark smirk mocks me, one that often haunts my nightmares.

I have to wash the memory away, and putting my face directly under the chilling stream helps. Showering, for me, has always been a coping mechanism for me. Literally washing my troubles away keeps me on my feet, and has been more effective than smoking ever was.

When I'm finally done cleansing myself mentally, I turn the handle and all the water falls away. I don't bother wrapping a towel around my torso since I'm the only one left in the locker room.

Washing away my feelings took a lot longer than I thought.

I grab my stuff once I reach my locker and put it on the bench next to me. After I dry myself off, I pull on some underwear. The sound of the door opening catches me off guard and I quickly pull my jeans on.

Harry stands in front of me when I turn around. Pink rises to cheeks when he stares at me. At first, I send me him a weird look, but then I realize what he's looking at. It's what everyone's attention is drawn to when my right side is exposed. He tries his best not to look at it, but it it doesn't bother me.

To break him from his trance, I pull my shirt over my head. His eyes quickly sever their stare and look at me. Questions are always all over his face, but he's smart enough to abandon them.

"What's up, Harry?" I break the tension that is building in the room with my harmless question.

"I, uh-" he scratches the back of his head and continues. "I just wanted to see if you were feeling okay. I mean, ever since that night at the party, you've been jittery, and-"

"I'm fine." I start packing up my equipment.

He looks to the round and plays with a loose thread on his shirt. "Are you sure, because you don't seem fine to me."

I sigh and pull my bag over my shoulder. As I walk past him, he trails behind me, still looking for answers. Everybody is going to need to learn to mind their own business.

"You don't have to worry about me, okay?" I assure him. "There's nothing going on. I'm just stressed out about the big game tomorrow."

Harry doesn't look like he buys it, but he decides to play along. "Well, I know you're going to do great. You're amazing on the field."

"It's not me who I'm worried about." I know it sounds cocky, or arrogant, but it's the truth. I'm one of the best players on the team.

Rodney and I were neck and neck for the team captain position, but he had won out by just one vote - his cousin.

"I'm coming to the game tomorrow night," Harry informs me, after we walk in silence for a little while.

"Oh Harry, you don't have to do that." I say, knowing how much he hates going. He'd be totally out of his comfort zone.

"No," he counters with an eager smile. "I want to."

"Thanks, man." I pat him on the back, then open my car door. "Do you need a ride?"

He shakes his head. "Charlette's still making something up for class. She'll be done in a little bit. I just wanted to stop by and see how you were doing."

I smile. "While I appreciate your concern, there really is nothing wrong."

Hopefully, he doesn't realize I just lied through my teeth.

It takes me longer to get home today, since I'm deeper in thought than normal. I park in my personal garage, which consists of more than just my car. All my failed attempts at finding myself decorate the room.

There had been a time where I explored my hidden talents. None of them really stuck in the end, but every teenager goes through their journey of self discovery at some point. I just never figured out anything else that I'm good at besides sports. Some people aren't meant to have any unique hobbies, I guess.

When I get inside, I see the cleaning ladies running about the house. It completely slipped my mind that the help would be here. In fact, I forget about their existence entirely until I'm reminded.

Usually, I'm already on my way to the diner by now, but had to come back to grab my wallet. When you're a rich kid, like me, people are less understanding when you ask to borrow money.

"Evening, Mr. Griffin," one of the cleaning ladies greets me with a kind smile. I don't know her name, even though she's worked for my family for years.

I nod curly at her and turn towards the basement. Not wanting to get in their way, I quickly grab my wallet from my bedroom. Andrew isn't in his study when I pass by, so I figure he's still at the office. There must be something important going on, since he usually likes to work at home.

Before leaving for the diner, I check my pockets to make sure my keys and phone are also accounted for. When I'm back in my car, I prepare myself ahead of time. There is no telling what Rodney has planned for us this week.

Knowing one thing for sure, it's going to be something immature and stupid, and that's exactly what I need right now.