Eva's PoV

I'm not the fittest person in the world and I even shocked myself at just how quickly I shot out of the box and down towards the track. My heart was pounding hard and heavy in my chest, my breathing was erratic and my palms were sweaty as I closed in on the tracks - only to practically run into Calum as the three of them stood by the track entrance, trying to persuade the security to let them through to see Ashton. I collided with Calum heavily, sending us stumbling into Luke and Michael who in turn stumbled into the wall. It took me a second to regain my composure and realise quite what a mess I'd just made - running into three of the scariest people in our college. Brilliant Eva. Well done. You're about to die.

"What the fuck?" Calum's voice pierced through me, making me feel weak before he'd even laid a hand on me. His eyes glared into my soul and seemed to suck the energy out of me. I gulped down nervously.

"I'm so sorry! I just came to see if Ashton was okay and -" I was interrupted by the laughter of all three men and thought it best to leave them to it. I was in enough trouble as it was, I didn't need to wind them up any more.

"You came to see Ashton?" Luke double checked, an eyebrow raised suspiciously. I nodded.

"Why?" Michael added, the glare he had was nearly as bad as Calum's. Suddenly, my brain stopped. That was a good question. Why the hell had I bolted out of the box my dad and clients were in just to see some guy who doesn't know me and has bullied me a few times? One who is part of the bad boy gang in our college who treat women like playthings and hurt anyone who upsets them?

"I- I- don't know." I stuttered, knowing I had literally nothing better to say. Maybe it was because "weirdo" was texting him that I was beginning to feel like we were bonding, but I had to remember that he had no idea we were the same person and in that respect I had to learn to control my emotions and not slip up. I would be cut into smithereens if this group knew what I was doing.

"Then fuck off." Calum said, shoving me back a few steps away from them. "He won't want to see you." My throat felt like it had closed up as I bit my lips together and fought the tears. I don't even know why it stung, but it did. I nodded as I turned on my heels, heading away just as the three of them began to laugh at me and how pathetic I was, questioning why I was even trying to talk to Ashton when I was a nobody. I tried my best to hide the upset as I made my way back towards the box, only to be stopped in the corridor by none other than Dean. Instantly he put his hands on my shoulders to stop me in front of him.

"Hey! What's the matter? What happened?" His caring tone was enough to break those barriers holding my feelings in and the tears began to fall. He pulled me into a hug without another word, just letting me rest my head on his shoulder as I let the pent up frustration out. This is why I always had earphones in. This is why I never bothered with people. This is why I lived my life around music and my playlists, they never hurt anyone, made them cry, injured them. Music just made me feel whatever emotion it was created for.
After what felt like an eternity, I pulled myself away from Dean and apologised, feeling like a fool for showing myself up like that in front of him. "I get it." He said after a moment, catching my attention as I let it wander again. "The crash, it affects everyone. You knew him, maybe not directly, but it can still be sad. My brother can play dirty and as happy as I am that he won and showed that guy who's boss, I'm not happy with how he did it." I merely nodded, deciding that would be easier than actually telling him my problems. "Don't worry about it. I won't tell anyone." With that he winked at me, making me smile for the first time. "There we go. That's what I wanted to see." He put his arm around me and led me back to the box where it appeared that my dad and Francesco were finalising their deal.

"There's my girl!" Dad said falsely as I walked in, rushing over and giving me a hug. "Everything okay?" I let out a fake grin and nodded.

"You know how it is, dad, just the crashes get to me." I shrugged it off. "Sorry to have run out like that, I feel terrible." I looked over to Francesco as if apologising to him. He simply waved his hand dismissively.

"Don't worry, sweet child. It happens to the best of us, my wife used to be the same." Both his and Dean's shoulders dropped at the mere mention of this lady and I knew a bad story hid behind that forlorn look. I daren't ask more, but I offered a sympathetic smile in return as we all began to head out of the box in comfortable silence.
The general hubbub had grown, everyone leaving as they gossiped about the crash and what happened. According to some, Ashton was already in an ambulance on his way to the hospital, others were saying he was okay and would recover at home. Deciding which of those two was true became a piece of cake as we neared the exit and I saw the bad boy group standing by the gates, cigarettes in hand as they looked glum. Yep, Ashton was in hospital. As their eyes scanned the crowd lazily I noticeably tensed, gaining the attention of Dean. He followed my eye-line silently and when it fell upon the rough looking trio, he put his arm around me once again and pulled me close.

"Don't worry about them. They won't-" His words of wisdom were interrupted by Calum, shouting over to me as his glare locked onto me.

"Wow! She speaks and has a friend. Maybe she isn't an alien." Calum laughed as he pointed over to me. "This will be fun." It only took a few strides for the tall man to have reached us. He grabbed me by the arm and yanked me towards the group, splitting Dean and I in the crowd.

"Hey!" Dean shouted to them as he shoved his way to catch up to us. "Don't you fucking touch her!" Calum shoved me towards the others before he turned back to Dean with hate in his eyes.

"Or what?"