Eva's PoV

I sat at my desk, earphones blaring out music as loud as they could to the point my phone warned me that it could damage my hearing, and watched as everyone filed in for registration. It had been mere minutes since Calum had removed Ashton from the room without saying a single thing and leaving me to just pick my stuff up and sit down, reeling in my thoughts of what had just happened. I'd seen him act out in college many times but this time, when that anger and fire was aimed at me, it truly was horrifying. I withdrew myself from life at that moment, music being the only thing keeping me in the school grounds. The music was making my ears hurt, but I needed it. I needed it to focus so I didn't break down again.

Someone yanked an earphone out and made me jump, my eyes shooting to Maya who sat next to me with my earphone in her hand. Did no one teach her manners or personal space?

"I said hi a few times but I guess you didn't hear me. Is everything okay?" She looked at me with a hint of worry. She didn't really know me so I wasn't even expecting her to notice my change in mood. "You're a little jumpy." She let out a nervous laugh, scared that she was in uncharted territory.

"Yes. Thanks." I yanked my earphone out of her hand and shoved it back in my ear just as Luke, Michael and Calum walked into the room, all three pairs of eyes landing straight on me. I dropped my eye-line back to my desk and stared down at my fingers, music blocking out any sounds around me. I could imagine the gossip, the news that something must have gone down because all the bad guys looked at me at the same time. Maybe they were planning to target me. Maybe they were feeling sorry for me. Whatever it was, I didn't want to hear it. I wanted this day over with as soon as I could. Mr Williamson must have marked me in despite my silence because the bell rung and we all exited without him making a fuss. Good. I needed to get this day sorted and get the hell out of this place. Maya walked alongside me despite me completely ignoring her. She was persistent that was for sure. I didn't want or need her help or support. I couldn't trust someone who resembled Lina so much. I know it was bad to say but it was the truth. I trusted Lina with my life and look how that ended up - with me being the most embarrassed I'd ever felt in my life. Maya could be the same. I turned the corner to my classroom and was met with four pairs of eyes; Ashton and the others all standing by my classroom, practically blocking me from getting in it.

"Come with us." Michael ordered but noticing my resistance, added "or we'll force you." I sighed once again, knowing life couldn't really get much worse, and followed them out of the college and towards the front gates where they all seemingly pulled out cigarettes automatically. I said nothing. My music was still loud, but I'd turned it down enough to hear what they were talking about.

"Did you grass him up to Williamson?" Calum snapped, his eyes narrowed just like Ashton's had been on his tirade.

"No." I said quickly, wanting this to be over as soon as it could be. I could see Ashton remained with his back to me, unable to look me in the face after his actions and frankly that was okay with me because I was terrified even when I was only seeing the back of him.

"Fucking told you." He hissed at Ashton, punching him in the arm.

"Whatever." He said nonchalantly, as if the person he'd beaten up wasn't stood a few feet away.

"Look, he won't tell us what caused all that shit so maybe you could help us out." Calum shrugged, clearly finding it hard to be nice to someone.

"I told you to fucking leave it." Ashton hissed, turning his head towards Calum who stiffened as he spoke.

"How can I leave it? What if Williamson had walked in to that? You've not been that wreck-less since..." the sentence died out as he made eye contact with me again, realising he couldn't say what he wanted to. "We don't hit girls." He added. Ashton's shoulders dropped at the mention of this secretive event that Calum cut short, his head fell as he must have replayed it in his head for a moment before falling back to reality with a thump enough to make him shudder.

"Whatever. She's fucked it all up anyway. None of you would understand. She does. And she knows she's done wrong." His eyes finally met mine one last time, almost as if this was his goodbye. He turned away once more and left me in the uncomfortable silence of the group.

"I need to get to class." I muttered as I turned my back on them, heading back into college. I was half expecting to be dragged back as one of them mumbled swear words like lyrics in my ear but noone moves. I guess they took Ashton's advice to leave it be.

*
Finally as lunch time came around, and I settled quietly on my patch of grass in the field, I felt slightly happier. I had been left alone to just get on with my work for the first time and it had felt great. No one was making comments or stirring up trouble I needed to sort out, nothing involving ashton cropped up and as I finally tucked into my sandwich I believed most of the trouble had gone - sure Ashton being mad at me was a painful reminder but at least I wasn't having to stalk about and be two people at once. Things were finally going back to how they were. That was until Maya sat beside me again without my permission.

"I hope you don't mind." She said, knowing that I definitely did mind. "You look like you need the company. Tough day with the bullies?" She offered me a nudge and a smile. I found it really hard to stay mad at this girl, whose brown eyes glistened in the sun. She was beautiful; her face was sculpted by God himself, her prominent cheekbones and soft jawline only emphasised by her makeup which looked soft and natural. Her long eyelashes curled towards her arched brows, both of which framed her big eyes well. She was the type of girl that made other girls feel insecure. She was like Lina.

"You could say that." I smirked before I'd even realised.

"Ah see I knew there was a person inside there somewhere." She elbowed me in the arm playfully as she took a bite of her food.

"Well, what can I say. You don't give up and I give up too easily." I smiled, hoping that maybe I could try again and make a good impression. After all, what's the worst that could happen? She'd expose me to the class?