I roamed the halls of DreamScape Academy, waiting to be out of sight of everyone else's glare. Soon everyone was gone, and I bolted down another hallways, the only sound that I could hear was my foot steps echoing through the empty hallway as I ran. Once I came upon the abandoned Class Room 13, I pushed the door open quickly, and dashed in. I sighed with relief as I closed the door to the room, where I knew I could be myself without ruining my reputation as the absolute worst girl to know in the school. I walked over to one of the only clear area's in the room and sat down with my sketchbook, a book to write in, and just so I had company..... my only friend in this school, Sir Zavier, one of my many stuffies. Yes I may be 14 and a half, but I can't just let go of my obsession for these collectable child's toy. "So what will it be today sir Zavier? Drawing some pic of a ship? Or writ-" My heart stopped when I heard the door to the room open and I instantly hid everything back into the box I had them in. I then heard a shocked male voice . "Crystal Ash? What are you doing here?" I turned to the teen my age standing at the door way, he had such a dark shade of purple hair, that it looked black. "None of your business what I'm doing here! Now, I suggests running befor-.... Wait... How do you know my name?" I questioned, my threatening tone faltering ever so slightly. "Oh! We're in the same home room, plus... I've heard about you through rumours." He paused looking at me for a moment before he started talking again. "Oh, where are my manners? I'm Alexander Stone." He said with a cheeky smile, oh how I wanted to punch it off of his pretty boy face. "Oh..... so your one of the popular's. I should have guessed. What do you want?" I asked, folding my arms and glaring at him. "What? Oh! I don't want anything... I was just looking for a place to get away from all the girls.... I seen this room and took my chances." He said walking around the room. I kept my gaze on him, making sure he didn't make any sudden moves. "Hmph..." I huffed. "What?" He questioned, turning to me. "Here I thought that one of the most popular boys in first year would love all that attention!" I retorted in a slightly amused tone. "Well, yeah, at first, but after a while you don't get anytime to yourself....." He muttered. "Not my problem, I'm feared by most, and those stupid enough to not fear me, well... let's just say... they do after we have a little talk. Then they see things my way." I said in a monotone voice. "I don't see why people would be scared of you, you seem nice." Alexander said. I snapped my head in his direction, giving him my demon glare. "Nice!? AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Oh my God!! THATS NEW! YOU HAVEN'T EVEN SEEN ME SNAP!" I said with a demonic laugh. "Is that why you distance yourself? So you don't hurt those you care for?" He pushed further. "No! I have no one that I care for here, aside my family. But they aren't at this school now are they? Get out of my sight, I'm done talking, and if you don't leave, I'll make you." I gave him a cold glare, trying to get rid of his sorry pretty boy carcass. "Crystal, I don't think you actually like being mean. You are just misunderstood so you need to act like something your not." He stated, looking at me with a sad look in his eyes. "I am who I am. Now. GET OUT OF MY SIGHT! BEFORE I TURN YOUR FACE INTO A PUNCHING BAG!!" I yelled, feeling myself begin to crack under his words, no one had the guts to talk to me like this, except Rose Quartz my best friend from Junior High, and this kid, whom I barely know. Not that I tried to get to know anyone here...... seeing as my reputation stretched farther than I thought. "Do you not trust people that much Crystal?" He asked me, at this point he triggered an unwanted flash back.

~  ~  ~

       "Do you not trust people that much Crystal?" The familiar voice, only belonging to Rose, asked. "Rose, you don't know what it's like being betrayed by those you thought cared, the way I have, people like me tend to not trust easily." I answered back. "Then why do you trust me enough to be your best friend? Why do you talk to me?" She asked. "Because when I first met you I could tell you were different then the rest. And you still are. That's why I trust you."  I stated with my normally cold glare softening, she nodded, her eyes glittering slightly with happiness. "Now, let's get back to the movie okay?" I asked. "Sure!" She said smiling, as I un-paused the movie.

~  ~  ~

     "Crystal?" Alexander asked snapping me out of my daze. "No, I don't trust easily. And I have good reason for it." I answered, uncrossing my arms and putting the mm limply by my sides. "What would that be?" He asked, again pushing further into the subject, I shook my head. He hit a sour spot in my mind, that I didn't want to think about at the moment. I looked at my watch seeing it was almost time for last period class, which was the best way to avoid the subject at hand. "Class is staring soon." Is all I said, before I turned on my heel and walked out of the room. Once I was outside of the room, Pretty Boy's fans were just outside the door. "Ahhh!!!! It's her!!" One of them screamed, while pointing at me. I gave them all my cold glare, which made them panic. "RUN!!" Another one screamed as they all dashed down the hall away from me. I sighed with relief as I grabbed my bag out of an empty flower pot, and slung it over my shoulder, walking off to last period class.

~  ~  ~

      I sighed with frustration, Alexander.... yep that Pretty Boy douce, had the same last class period as me and was annoying the hell out of me. If I wasn't in my right mind I would have put him through the wall already. Eventually the teacher, Mr.Crowmen, seen my irritation, and said. "Alexander, please turn around and do your work." I sighed with relief, thank you Mr.Crowmen! I thought, before I continued to do my work. Which was creative writing, honestly I did pretty good in this class, but I lied to the others in that class, so they thought I hated it.

~  ~  ~

      I finished class after that without any faces broken. Unfortunately. But now I was heading to the soccer ball field, some kid had a death wish, because he challenged me to a fight. Hell, would I ever be stupid to deny it, seeing as how I needed to relieve the anger I built up over the day. Soon enough I made it to the field, and there, standing in the middle, was a boy, he was blonde, tall, and well built over all. He had also brought along some of his friends to watch, whom were manly people who knew what I could do to a person. I sighed. "So kid, do you have a death wish?" I asked, my voice once again monotone. "Shut up and fight me already! You little piece of trash!" He yelled in a cocky voice. I snapped my gaze right to his face, and knew my expression went from emotionless, to demonic reincarnation of satan, within a few moments. "What did you just call me?" I asked in the coldest voice I'd  used this week. The boys cockiness died down pretty quick. "U-uh..... I called you a p-." But before he could finish I had kicked him in the nuts and the upper cut him in the lower jaw, sending him flying. The crowd took a few steps back, as the boy just groaned and held his jaw. I walked up to him, glaring down at him. He looked up at me, almost fearing away from me. I grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and lifted him up to look at him dead in the eyes. "Now, would you like to repeat what you were saying? I didn't quiet catch it." I said, smiling demonically. The boy practically shrunk into his shirt, quivering with fear, and remained silent. "Nothing to say? Oh but we had just begun!" I said, I was  glad I got a chance to let out all of this rage with this fight, but as they say, "All good things must come to an end." "Crystal...?" I heard come from behind me. I exhaled with more anger then intended, and dropped the boy, before kicking him square in the gut and glaring at him. "Now get out of her! I don't want to see your face again!" I yelled at him, the boy on the ground nodded and scrambled away. I glared at the group of people as I turned to see Alexander looking at me, shock on his face. "GGGGRRR!" I growled, marching towards him. The group gasped, as if I was about to commit murder. I didn't do anything to him but grab him by the back of his shirt collar and drag him away from the scene, leaving everyone there fearful for the Pretty Boy's well being.

~  ~  ~

      When we were off school grounds, I grabbed my bag out of a bush, and let go of Alexander's collar, then began walking home. "CRYSTAL! WAIT! STOP I WANT TO TALK TO YOU!" The pretty boy called to me. I simply ignored him and continued walking, he then caught up to me and grabbed me by the wrist, halting me. "Please, I just want to talk." He said, and I turned to him, a scowl on my face. "THAT'S ALL YOU'VE BEEN DOING ALL DAY!! CRYSTAL THIS, CRYSTAL THAT! I'M TIRED OF HEARING IT, JUST LEAVE ME ALONE BEFORE I POUND YOUR FACE INTO A TREE!" I yelled at him. He stood there, bewildered by my sudden out burst of rage, mean while I panted and stood up straight and moved the loose hair in my face away, and stared at him blankly. "Okay... then let me ask this one last thing, then explain to me what I want to know." He said, looking as if it was the most serious thing he'd said all day. I grumbled for a moment, pondering weather I should let him ask, or just walk away. I decided to go with my first option, he'd chase after me if I didn't. "Fine, what's your question..." I asked, while continuing to walk, he sped up to meet my pace. "What happened that made you so untrusting of others?" He asked, I halted, my breath hitching only for a moment, as I got yet another unwanted flash back.

~  ~  ~

      "HEY GUYS!!" I cheered happily as I walked over to my supposed friends. They all glare at me, with their eyes as cold as ice. I mean their eyes are normally cold looking, but this was different. "What's the matter?? Oh! I did bring in your homework! Don't worry it's all done!" I said to the five unnameable people. They quickly snatched it up as if it were gold. "Good, now we would like to discuss some business with you, our dear friend." The tallest one of them said. "O-okay! Lead the way!" I said, and they lead me outside of the school and behind the huge garbage bin. "So what's the business??" I asked. "We don't want you around us anymore, your nothing but pathetic and worthless trash!" Yelled another one of the five. "W-what? But guys-." I began only to be cut off by the tallest one again. "No, don't But guys, us! We don't need you, we were never friends! We used you! Now get out of here before we decide to throw you in that trash bin!" He yelled. That's when tears began to well up in my eyes. "I-I don't understand... w-what did I ever do t-to you?" I asked. "Be an annoying little runt that no one likes!" Yelled the one that was my hight. But of course due to my shock, I didn't run away immediately. They began to punch, kick, slap, and beat me until I was nothing but a mess of  bruises. The tallest one then picked me up and threw me into the trash bin. "Tch, finally got rid of her." Said the only girl in the group, as I heard them walk away. I began to weep more, slowly making my way to the edge of the bin, and climbing out, only to fall to the ground. I groaned and limped away from the bin, cradling my arm, as I walked to the nurses office.

~  ~  ~

      "Crystal!" Alexander yelled at me shaking my shoulder slightly. "Mhmm?" I asked. "You zoned out, are you okay?" He asked, that's when I remembered his question, and the flashback. I sighed. "Yes, in fine, I was just remembering something, is all..." I murmured. "Oh...." We then continued walking down the side walk, silence upon both of us. Until I finally broke it. "So to answer your question,  I used to think this group of five people were my friends. But turns out I was wrong. One day I became of no use to them, so they beat me until almost every inch of my body was black and blue, and threw me into the dumpster. I managed to get out of the dumpster, and limp to the nurses office, thankfully. But after that everyone picked on me, so I decided over the next summer I would fight for myself. No more trusting anyone. Unless I wanted another blow to my already fragile form." I said, before silence fell again. He then spoke up. "Surely you must've trusted someone else after that..." He said, looking at me. "You're right. I did. But I lost that friend after I moved away, and everything about my old life, my parents wiped from existence. Aside from what happened, and my reputation." I stated, staring straight in front of us. Alexander nodded. "You aren't as bad as people make you out to be, you know? Your just a person who doesn't put up with other people's crap. If you ask me, that respectable." He said. "Yeah well, others don't think the same as you." I said, as we came to a stop at a cross walk, waiting for the walking sign to come up. "I'm actually surprised you haven't done anything to me yet, like actually live up to your threats. Why is that?" He asked, turning his gaze to me, as we walked across the street. I remained silent. "I suppose it's because your not like the others..... I see the same thing I saw in the last person I trusted..... So I haven't hurt you, because, you remind me of her. I don't want to hurt someone like that." I stated after the silence. He glanced at me, as if he were shocked, before a smile speed accost his face. "So are we friends now?" He asked, looking at me, I rolled my eyes. "I suppose so. If you really want to call it that." I said, smiling a little bit myself.

~  ~  ~

      We ended up at my house, it wasn't the biggest of estates, but it was better then some. We ended up talking until it grew dark out, and he had to leave for his own home. "Well, I guess I'll be seeing you around then, huh Crystal?" He asked as we walked to the door. "I guess you will." I agreed.  He Smiled and opened the door. "Oh, and one last thing," He began, turning to me, I looked at him questioningly. He then pulled me into a hug, which surprised me more then anything. I slowly hugged back, before he spoke. "No matter what, I'll always be here for you when you need someone to talk to, okay?" Alexander asked, patting my head signifying he was finished hugging me. I let him go, and nodded. "Thank you, Alexander." I said, he smiled, before waving to me and leaving the estate. I closed the door, smiling to myself as I slid down the door. From this point on I knew, I wasn't fighting the battle alone.

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