Dedication:

Harper's POV:

Having her in my arms was honestly like coming home.

It was still 3 AM and somehow, in the night, Noelle had cocooned herself in all the blankets and was huddled in my arms, breathing softly against my bare chest.

I shivered slightly, my heart racing.

You're going soft, Andrews. You've really got it bad.

I smiled down at her sleeping face, brushing a lock of her beautiful red hair that looked like spun copper away from her shut eyes. Her lips were gently parted and she let out this cute little snores. I nearly lost it when she huddled even closer, wrapping her arms around my torso tightly. She was the cutest damn thing I had ever seen. I had to bite my lip, hard, to stop myself from reaching out and just kissing her.

On the lips, the cheek, the forehead- everything was equally as vulnerable to me.

I sighed softly.

There was no doubt about it- I was worried as hell about her.

She had gone through so much pain- some of it even being my fault- that I was afraid that her recovery would be too difficult. Here she was- this catastrophically beautiful person- who just somehow couldn't find it within her to love herself for who she is.

And that killed me.

Not to mention that someone- that asshole- had tried to take advantage of her vulnerability and tried to use it against her. My fists clenched around the fabric of Noelle's (actually my) t-shirt. Even the thought of him repulsed me.

I swear, the next time I see him I will show him no mercy.

He can't get away with this.

First Kate, then Noelle.

If he even dares look at her- I'll kill him.

I glanced down at her again. How could anyone ever intentionally try to hurt her? All she had ever done was good- why did the good people have to suffer the most?

I won't let him have her ever again.

I won't let any guy have her.

She's mine. I don't want anyone else feeling the same butterflies I do when she walks into the room. I don't want anyone else's heart to race when she laughs. I don't want anyone else to stay up late at night because they can't get her smile off their mind. Call me selfish, but I don't care.

She is mine.

Finally, around 4 AM, Noelle stirred against me, and I watched her eyes softly open.

"Hey," she whispered softly, the sleep still evident in her voice. I held my breath the moment her eyes caught mine. "How long have you been awake for?"

"An hour or so," I replied, cuddling up to her a little more and smirking when I felt a small gasp escape her lips. "Just thinking."

"You should probably go back to sleep then," she answered. "We have school today- you don't want to be really tired."

Groaning, I let her pull away from me a little for breathing space. "You sound like my mom."

Noelle rolled her eyes. "What else do you want to do then?"

"Why don't we just talk?" I suggested. "I really missed talking to you."

Why the hell did you just say that?

Do you know how stupid you sound?

Wow, you've really messed up n-

"That would be great," she smiled cutely up at me.

You're amazing.

Play it cool now.

"Nice weather we're having... ?" I choked out.

You're kidding.

Luckily, she went along with it.

"Yeah, it has been beautiful, hasn't it?" She sighed dreamily, before her tone darkened and her face suddenly fell. "It's a shame I haven't been there for much of it."

Before I could open my stupid mouth to save her, she interrupted.

"I know that you probably don't want to talk about it, and I don't either, but I think we should." She said softly, anxiously- in such a way I just wanted to bundle her up in my arms and protect her for all of eternity.

"Okay," I said, sitting up and her pulling her with me so we were sitting cross-legged, face to face.

We didn't speak for a little while, and I looked up to see her anxiously fidgeting with her fingers, eyes on her lap. Her bed hair shielded her face and her features were tense and scared. It was that moment- at 4 AM in my room- when I really saw how much everything that had happened had taken effect on her. How much she was crushed by everything and everyone around her. How much was lying on her shoulders that she believed she had to overcome alone. And finally, how bad the damage really was.

Seeing her there, so fragile and vulnerable, broke my heart all over again.

"Do you regret attempting it?" I asked bravely. Noelle looked up at me slowly, and I saw her hand trembling in her lap.

The silence was deafening.

"I- I don't know," she finally murmured, eyes darting away.

My heart clenched.

"I know I implied otherwise in my speech." She continued. "And I honestly meant every word I said there. About being brave, about being strong- but the thing is, I don't know if I am that person that I was making myself out to be and I don't know if I acting like I was was a good thing to do. I don't know if I regret it, because I don't know if I deserve to."

I inhaled sharply, taking in the new information. "Noelle." I answered, my words bold. "I don't care what anyone else thinks or says and I have absolutely no doubt in saying this, but- " I waited for her eyes to catch on to mine, and I felt myself fall all over again. "- You are honestly the strongest person I have ever had the honour of knowing."

I almost felt the shock radiating off her. "Are you kidding? I was so so weak that I tried to end everything- "

"No." I interrupted, grabbing her hands to stop the heart-wrenching shaking. "But what did you do after that? You got up on stage in front of a shit load of people and conquered your fear. You spoke to them about everything that you had done and regretted. You gave them all advice on how to overcome the same obstacles you faced, despite the fact that half of them were assholes to you. If that isn't strong, I don't know what is."

I brought her hands up to my face, hearing her sharp intake of breath. Silently, my eyes scanned over her scarred wrists. There must have been at least fifty, painted far up her forearm, all perfect straight lines. I clearly remembered them being bandaged at the hospital, and I couldn't stop the little sigh of relief when I realised that she hadn't cut anymore as her wrists were unclothed. I carefully brought her hands to my face, kissing each scar softly in turn.

"Baby doll," I muttered, taking in her breathless, blushing face. "When will you start loving yourself like I do you?"

It was silent, before she laughed a little, to my surprise.

"When did you become Shakespeare, speaking like that?" She laughed more. "Didn't take you for a literature guy."

Well that's awkward, because I've read about seven of Shakespeare's plays and forty of his sonnets.

But she doesn't have to know that.

Instead of saying something witty and charming- like the pathetic, nervous wreck of a guy I become when I'm around her, I just simply rolled my eyes and lay back down on the bed.

You idiot! How are you meant to woo her now?

As I mentally beat myself up- as if she knew- Noelle flashed me an amused grin from her seated position. She leant back, and I expected her to go back to her pillow, but instead she placed her head right on my chest.

My breath hitched.

Jesus, please help me.

Slowly, unsurely, I wrapped my arms around her waist. Don't get me wrong- this was a dream come true to have her here- I just didn't know how fast I should be going.

Do I want to date her?

I think that's pretty self-explanatory.

Does she want to date me?

I don't know if she's ready yet.

She just came out of a jarring experience- I wasn't sure if I should alarm her so fast.

I groaned under my breath.

Why are relationships so confusing?

"Hey," Noelle asked, concerned, looking up at me. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, baby doll," I answered quickly.

She didn't have to know how much I overthink every single thing when it came to her.

"Then shhh," She murmured, curling up against me, her finger gently tracing my lightening scar tattoo. "I'm trying to sleep."

I rolled my eyes, my heart racing nevertheless.

Wow.

She really is fucking me up.

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NOELLE'S POV:

I groaned at the alarm clock as I gently eased my eyes open.

I hate mornings.

Yawning, I stretched my arms and legs out to the side quickly.

"Fuck!" I heard a muffled cry, and suddenly all the blankets were yanked off me. I immediately stopped.

Turning to the side, I did a double take. Where's Harper?

"I'm here, klutz," Harper groaned.

Did I say that out loud?

Cautiously, I edged myself to the other side of the bed, my head hanging over. Harper was laying on the ground, surrounded by the duvet, groaning in pain. "How the hell did you manage to kick me off the bed so easily?" He complained, before smirking at me quickly. "I must be really heavy from all the muscle, though."

"Or the fat," I muttered under my breath. Harper glared at me, one hand clutching his head in pain.

I burst out laughing.

I don't know, he just looked so stupidly funny all tangled up in blankets- grumpy and helpless. It's a shame I didn't have a camera on me.

"Thanks, Noelle," Harper grumbled. "I'm really feeling the love."

I grinned again, managing to catch the little amused smile that spread across his face for a second. "Grow up, you big baby." I giggled. I reached over to pull his hand away from his head, my hair falling around our faces shielding us from the rest of the world like a curtain. "C'mon, let me check your head. With the brains that you have, we can't risk any more hits to the head, can we?"

"Haha, you're fucking hilarious," he grumbled again, obviously driven speechless by my savageness.

Tumblr has done me well.

I smiled sweetly at him, observing the side of his head by cupping his face and guiding it slightly to the side. It was nothing serious, but it was definitely going to bruise. Being the amazing, kind, caring person I am, I laughed.

"It's going to bruise."

His face dropped in astonishment. "You're kidding."

I shook my head.

He groaned and turned his head back, his lips brushing the sensitive skin of my palm, sending tingled through my skin. "This is all your fault. I won't be as hot as I usually am! This is like a significant step down. Like there's nothing wrong with bruises, but they look terrible on me."

I giggled again. "Nothing you do can ever make you look terrible, trust me. You are the actual epitome of hotness."

Harper raised an amused eyebrow and partnered it with his signature cocky smirk.

Why is he staring at me like that-

Oh.

Realising my mistake, my jaw fell open. "No- I- I didn't mean that- like, I did, but I- you weren't meant to know that way! Oh my gods, now you're never going to stop teasing me and what is wrong with me, I was meant to say that sometime in the future when we're having a really cute Wattpad moment and I can finally admit it and you can blush and I can smirk instead and- oh my gods- "

"Noelle."

"RIP WATTPAD ROMANCES- "

"Noelle."

"WHY MUST THE WORLD END LIKE THIS, I WILL NEVER REACH THE END OF TEASING- "

"Noelle, just shut up for a second, okay?" He whispered.

I stopped in my ranting. "Oh my gods, you're right. I'm being really awkward right now, I'm sorry it's just because you make me really nervous and I haven't been with you in a long long loooonnnnngggg time and I missed you- "

"Noelle, I would love to hear you endlessly rant about how much you love me, but- " He glanced at my lips, that had somehow had been drawn further towards his, so they were merely a few inches apart. "- You're distracting me."

I felt my face heat up, and I bit my lip instinctively, causing Harper to groan a little, his eyes dark. He had somehow managed to free his hand from the entanglement of fabric and he gently placed it on my hip, pulling me closer so I was half of the bed, his fingers feverishly hot as they brushed the area of skin just above my sweatpants where his shirt had ridden up. Slowly, he moved it up again so he could cup my bare hip fully in his palm. I shuddered under his touch.

Nothing was said in our intimacy, because nothing had to be.

I could finally see everything- the way he held his breath every time I moved, the constant darkening of his eyes. The way his fingers were lightly trembling despite his strong grip on me, the rapid thudding of his pulse that was brushing my fingertips, and everything in between.

I moved forward slightly, my lips brushing his. I didn't even care how awkward my position was, how close I was falling off the bed. All that mattered was me and him, the air crackling with electricity. I felt, with renewed happiness, his lips stretch into a huge grin before he leaned forward into me and-

The door slammed open.

I yelped, tumbling straight out of the bed and landing on Harper, my chin crashing against his shoulder. Immediately, as an instinctive protectiveness, his arm clamped around my waist, pulling me to his body.

"Harper! You have to get up now, it's time for sch- " Maggie stopped short, her eyes glued on us. I blushed, realising our intimate position and what it must have looked like.

"Um," Harper said awkwardly. "Hi, Mom."

She didn't move, her mouth agape. I mean, it must have been a pretty weird sight seeing as Harper and I hadn't been interacting for months before this.

I waved my hand uncomfortably, the one that was bracing myself on Harper's chest. "Hi... ?"

I waited for the yelling, but it never came.

All of a sudden, Maggie's eyes were filled with some strange sort of childlike glee and she raced to the window, flinging it open.

"CA-CAW, CA-CAW!" She yelled, impersonating a crow. Her voice was so loud it could have been heard across the whole neighbourhood. I almost put my hands up to cover my ears.

From my vantage point on the floor, well, on Harper, I couldn't see much but I saw the faint figure of my mother running to my bedroom window and opening it.

"Ria!" Maggie yelled. "WE HAVE A CODE 12-15-22-5!"

I heard a faint gasp. "REALLY?!?" My mom yelled. "I'LL BE RIGHT OVER!"

"What's happening?" Harper whispered in my ear, his breath tickling my neck.

I turned my head to face him and gave him a weird look. "I have no idea."

Harper scrunched his face up funnily in response. Just to annoy him, I imitated the weird expression. He merely rolled his eyes and stuck his tongue out at me.

Not ten seconds later, my mom came bursting through Harper's door, startling all of us but Maggie.

Immediately her eyes landed on us, and her expression was so hilarious I almost forgot to blush.

"WHAT?" She shrieked, dragging Maggie towards us, and together they leaned over us. "DOES THIS MEAN THEY'RE TOGETHER? HOLY COW, MAGGIE, LOOK HOW CUTE THEY ARE THEY ARE ACTUALLY THE MOST ADORABLE THINGS AND- "

I forgot about the Harpelle fan club.

Maggie's eyes caught onto Harper arm wrapped around my waist. "AW, LOOK AT THAT, RIA! MY SON IS SO PROTECTIVE OVER HER, AW HE OBVIOUSLY LIKES HER SO MUCH- HOW DID THEY NOT REALISE THEIR FEELINGS BEFORE? AREN'T THEY JUST THE CUTEST AND- " She gasped as if realising something revolutionary. She turned to my mom and shook her by the shoulders. "WHY IS NOELLE HERE SO EARLY IN THE MORNING? OH MY GOD, SHE MUST HAVE SLEPT HERE OVERNIGHT- "

It was Mom's turn to gasp. "Do you think they cuddled and kissed and whispered cute things to each other?" She whispered.

They stared wide-eyed at each other, before their heads snapped towards us. "Did you cuddle and kiss and whisper cute things to each other?" They demanded at the same time.

My face must have been beet red by then, as I tried to scramble off of Harper but failed and fell back onto him again, my foot getting caught in the blankets. "Mom, can we not talk about this right n- "

"Mom, we didn't do anything!" Harper exclaimed to Maggie, the tips of his ears turning pink.

"Really?" She raised and eyebrow. She leant in ever so slightly and whispered to Harper- "Son, I don't know what you're intentions are, but I'm pretty sure that when I walked in, you guys were about to- " She looked around as if looking for any eavesdroppers, "- KISS." She whispered as if I weren't right there, basically lying on top of her son.

My mom suddenly squealed. "Were they really?" She clapped her hands in joy. Maggie spun around and nodded frantically and together they held hands and jumped up and down on the same spot gleefully.

I swear, they're mentally three.

I turned back to Harper, too embarrassed to meet his eyes. "I should- um- I should probably get off you now."

Really? How much more awkward could you get?

He grinned from the corner of my eye. "You probably should, but I don't want you to."

I just shook my head. "We have to go to school, Harper. The summer exams are coming soon, and I don't want to fail."

He groaned and just pulled me even closer to him, and I could feel every ridge of hard muscle under my body. "Can't we just stay here all day? I don't think I want to let you out of my sight just yet."

"Harper!" I hissed as he pulled me even closer, trying not to show him how much of an effect his words had on me. "Our moms are literally right there!"

"Fine," He sighed, pulling his arm from my waist, leaving me free to get up. "But, baby doll- " He interrupted as I scrambled to my feet. "I will get my way with you sooner or later." Harper smirked and winked.

I scurried away into the bathroom before he could see my face get any redder.

As soon I was in there, I took a few deep breaths.

Harper Andrews just might cause me heart failure one day.

I shook my head from any thoughts of him and decided to get ready in his bathroom, opening a few drawers and finding spare, unopened toothbrushes. Knowing he wouldn't get mad, I cut one open and used it. As soon I was done and I had repeated a mantra to myself to keep calm and to not get super lovesick around Harper, I stepped out of the bathroom.

Our moms were nowhere in sight, and it was just Harper sitting on his bed scrolling through his phone. He was wearing black jeans that were the exact same shade of his hair, and a dark red flannel shirt that fit well on his slim body. His hair was artfully disheveled on his head as usual, and it reminded me of our kiss last night on the beach where I had twined my hands through it and pulled away to find it an utter mess.

This lovesick thing is a lot harder than I expected.

Play cool.

"Hi," I smiled. He looked up from his phone, green eyes twinkling as he grinned at me.

"Hey," he responded. To my surprise, he patted a pile of clothes next to him. "I got you clothes from school- I went into your room. I hope that's okay."

Oh my gods.

My underwear drawer.

Eyes widening, I grabbed the pile and checked if had gone through my underwear to get me some. Sure enough, sitting between my folded jeans was a lacy blue underwear set I had bought a year or two ago because I thought the pattern was pretty.

I groaned as my face flushed. "You went through my underwear?"

Harper smirked and leaned back on his hands. "What? I think it's a pretty sexy set. Why haven't I seen it before?"

"Why the hell would you have seen any of my underwear, you imbecile?" I demanded, still blushing ferociously.

"Well," he mused. "I saw that Spongebob bra when you were changing for ice-skating that one time, didn't I?" He glanced at my pile of clothes. "I must say, that one was cute. But this- " He wolf-whistled.

"You perv," I muttered, swinging myself into the bathroom. "Thank you for getting my clothes, though." I sighed reluctantly. He winked.

I locked the door and changed, and emerged a few minutes later. Being my stubborn self, I refused to take of Harper's comfortable Fall Out Boy shirt and just kept it on and slipped on my jeans. As soon as Harper saw me, a huge smile grew on his face.

I watched shyly as his hands reached out and grabbed onto mine, intertwining our fingers and pulling me to him so I was standing in front of his seated body. He looked up at me sweetly.

"You look better in that shirt than I do," He murmured, and I grinned. Pulling me in, he kissed the back of my hand softly as I stood between his legs. "I'm so lucky to have you, you know that?" He hummed. "Like, I can't really describe the feeling. When I see you, my legs turn to jelly and I have that weird tingling sensation in my stomach." He breathed. "And suddenly all I can notice is you. My heart starts racing and I can't even think straight and- fuck, when you laugh- " He threw his head back almost as if he was in pain. "Shit, I'm already a goner."

I giggled, truly touched but what he was saying.

I had never dreamed that someone would someday feel like that about me.

There was no doubt about it- I was a hopeless romantic. I had dreamed of the beautiful love stories in my mind ever since I was a little kid. I dreamed of love and hope, and no- I never once believed in a perfect Prince Charming to save me, because I didn't need someone to save me. I needed someone to be there for me. Never once in my wildest dreams think that it would ever happen.

And here he was- Harper Andrews- a boy who loved me as openly and catastrophically as I did him.

"That's okay," I whispered. "I feel exactly the same for you, too."

As soon as those words left my mouth, his eyes filled with some sort of impenetrable glee that sent my body aflame, burning through me.

And that- that look on his face- was all I really needed.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

The moment I walked into the school building and my phone automatically connected to the wifi, my phone rang with about one hundred Whatsapp notifications.

"Wow," Harper raised an eyebrow from beside me. "Didn't know that you were that popular."

I ignored him, unlocking my phone as we walked side by side, trying my best to merely dismiss the curious stares tracking Harper and I. I opened up my Whatsapp, only to have about seventy of those notifications from Emma. Opening up the chat, my jaw fell to the floor.

You're kidding me.

Harper glanced over my shoulder, clearly seeing my shocked state. He did a double take, narrowing his eyes. "Are those pictures... of us?"

"Yes," I muttered, absolutely done. "Yes they are."

Count on Emma to have followed me last night at the beach and take pictures of Harper and I kissing from the bushes.

"Emma's insane," Harper muttered. "She's bat-shit crazy."

I glared at him.

Realising his mistake, he awkwardly coughed.

"I mean, that's why we all love her." He covered up. "That's why she's a really good friend of mine."

"I can see that," I murmured in amusement, scrolling through some of the messages she had accompanied with the photos. "According to her, you would constantly try to force information out of her and Max for love advice on me."

Harper cursed. "She wasn't meant to tell you that," He muttered in annoyance under his breath, thinking I couldn't hear. I just laughed and Harper seemed to perk up again. I checked the other Whatsapp chats that were from the group chats between Emma, Laura and I. Emma had so graciously took it upon herself to tell Laura everything she knew about Harper and I last night.

"Oh my gods," I groaned, knowing that as soon as lunch hit, I would be bombarded by the both of them. As we approached my locker, Harper suddenly looked very fidgety, constantly clenching and unclenching his fists, running a hand through his messy hair. It took everything in me not to reach up and run my hands through the feathery strands as well.

"Noelle," He said tensely, his voice coiled up like a wire, ready to spring. I turned to him, closing my locker. "Are you okay?" I asked, concern lacing my voice. He nodded and took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a second before they shot open again, eyes a brilliant green.

"Willyougoonadatewithme?"

I shot him a confused look. "Sorry, can you repeat that?"

His cheeks flushed red as he shoved his hands in the pocket of his jeans shyly. "Go on a date with me. Please."

I looked up at him, shocked and utterly pleased. When Joshua had asked me out, he hadn't nearly been this nice. I couldn't stop the ecstatic smile that grew on my face, so large that my cheek muscles hurt. I decided to tease him a little.

"Well... " I drawled. "I'll have to check my schedule. But I don't think I'm free any day soon."

Harper looked back up at me, miserable, and I almost regretted it as he spoke. "Really?"

"No, you idiot!" I grinned, flinging my arms around him and pulling him into a hug. It took him a second to register what was happening, before he wrapped his arms tightly around me and lifting me a few inches off the ground, warm hands pressing into my back. "No, I'd love to go."

You definitely overreacted.

He smiled and put me down, pulling away completely. "Thursday then? We have a teacher's prep day, school os off."

"Yeah," I smiled, struggling not to scream. "I'd love that."

"Cool," He grinned again. "See you in Biology."

"Yeah," I sighed almost dreamily as I watched his arm flex when he ran his hand through the back of his hair.

As soon as Harper's back was towards me, a huge grin enveloped my face. I jumped up and down with glee, spinning on the same spot and ignoring the strange looks.

I had been waiting for this ever since October.

And finally- finally he'd asked.

We're going on a date.

I screamed inside my head.

A date!

"Whoa," Emma said, approaching me. "Why'd you look so happy?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but she interrupted, wiggling her eyebrows. "NAH- I KNOW! IT'S THE BEAUTIFUL HUNK OF MEAT YOU'RE DATING!" She laughed an clapped her hands. "FUCKING FINALLY!"

"Shhh!" I hushed her as people turned to stare. "I'm not dating him! We're not dating yet!"

She stopped still. "What? But you were kissing and everything- " She smirked. "And I'm pretty sure that's not your shirt."

I blushed. "I think we both just felt that maybe I didn't really want to go into a relationship so soon after what happened." I explained.

Emma nodded in understanding. "That's cool, but I'm betting it's not going to last a week."

"Hey! I have more self-control than that!"

"I honestly don't know why you haven't jumped his bones yet."

"Emma! At least he just asked me out on a date!"

"Wait, really?"

I nodded, my happiness surging back. I giggled like a thirteen year old girl. "It's going to be on Thursday."

"Do you know what's planned? How to dress?"

"Of course I- " My face dropped. "No, oh my gods, no- "

"Hey," She laughed. "I'll figure it out."

I smiled at my best friend.

She always does in the end, doesn't she?

----------------------------------------------------------------------

The day had already been painstakingly hard and it was only the beginning of lunch.

I had seen about every girl of our school flaunting around everything they had, thus lowering my self-esteem, I hadn't been able to see Harper since second period Biology, and at least three insensitive idiots had approached me to ask about my 'problem'.

I huffed as I pushed everything into my locker, the harsh buzz of student gossip vibrating through the air. Suddenly, a hand clamped around my wrist. I froze.

I knew those cold hands.

I spun around, only to be faced by the harsh, angry face of Joshua Lloyd.

"You bitch," He hissed, slamming me against the locker, the loud sound shocking a few students around me to turn and stare in horror, not making a move to help. "Because of you and your fucking boyfriend, I'm going to court."

I flinched back, terrified of him. This was the man who had tried to take advantage of me, twice. This was the man who didn't want me at all, did everything he could just for sex. This was the man who could have ruined my life.

He leaned forward even more, and I tried desperately to sink back into the lockers, cold metal biting my skin. "What, no one told you, babe? I'm going to court now for sexual harassment, and you're going to be a witness. Next week." He grabbed my shoulders and slammed them into the metal, crashing my head in the progress. "You hear that? This is all your fucking fault!"

I whimpered and his fingers dug into my arms. "You were a mistake to try and get with. I don't see how any guy can see anything in you. You're ugly and pathetic and you can't even defend yourself- you're such a weak bitch."

Everything fell in that moment. All the anxiety from being around him, the fear, everything disappeared as I sent my fist into his face.

Joshua stumbled back, red blooming on the side of his face. "You have to try harder than that, babe." He growled, approaching again.

Without hesitating, I kicked him right in the chest, ducking the blow he sent to my face. Unfourtunately, as he fell, he managed to stick his foot out and trip me, sending me tumbling to the floor along side him. In an instant he was up and hovering over me, his hand raised, ready to slap me.

"I hate you so fucking much!" He growled, before bringing his hand down. I put my hands in front of my face, waiting for the blow-

It never came.

Slowly, my heart racing violently in my chest, I looked up from my curled position to see a hand grasping Joshua's forearm, pulling his arm away from me. I felt two arms behind me, helping me to my feet.

I finally got a good view of the boy pulling Joshua away with angry eyes. It was Carter Clove- a boy, a jock who had never acknowledged me in my entire life and a well known player and asshole.

"I have never spoken to Noelle," Carter hissed. "But all I know is that she sure as hell does not deserve this."

I watched in awe.

"Carter- " I began. He held up a hand, gesturing to me to stop.

"No, Noelle," He muttered. "I was one of the main guys when you were being bullied- I need to redeem myself and help you somehow."

"This is none of your business, Clove," Joshua growled. "Let me deal with her, and you won't get hurt."

I narrowed my eyes at him, a surge of confidence running through me. "Listen here, assho- "

"I don't give a fuck if I get hurt, man." Carter replied. "I'm doing this for her, not for myself."

That was it for Joshua. He growled and pulled back his other arm, ready to hit Carter in the face-

"Didn't you hear Noelle and him, asshole?" Another hand caught Joshua's other arm. "Back. Off."

A different guy- his name was Danny- was holding Joshua's other arm. Joshua's eyes narrowed as pure rage filled his face.

"Why are you defending the bitch? Just let go of me!" He roared.

"I'm defending her because it's the right thing to do." Danny stated calmly. "She hasn't done anything wrong."

"She got me into prison!"

I saw a girl I had a few classes with step up from the crowd- Minji. "You know perfect well what you did to her." She countered. "And I- and everyone else here in fact- is not very comfortable with you being so close to her. So please- " Her eyes narrowed with restrained fury. "Back away from her now and leave."

It was silent for a moment, before I heard someone hum in appreciation. "They're right. Noelle doesn't deserve this. Back away."

More gentle chatters of agreement.

"Back off!"

"Get away from her, Joshua!"

"Don't you dare get near her!"

Suddenly, something strange happened. Altogether, and all of once, every student I could see in the small hallway stepped forward, grabbing onto Joshua, pulling him away from me protectively. Whether it was his arms or even a pinch of his shirt, every single student tried to help.

I held my breath. The scene was so moving, I almost forgot the situation I was in.

"Don't you fucking dare touch me!" Joshua yelled. "Get off me!"

So dazed by their kindness, something I had never experienced, I saw Joshua breaking out of their hold's in fury way too late. I finally noticed as he came charging at me, hand brought up in a fist, slamming into the side of my face.

I stumbled, angry red blurring my vision as I felt random arms held out to support me. I fell into them, my face throbbing in pain. A visible gasp arose from the crowd.

I couldn't take it anymore.

He couldn't mess with me like this.

He didn't have the right to.

I am my own person, with my own life, and he absolutely cannot do this to me.

I must have radiated some of the confidence I felt, because no one stopped me when I strode forward, punching Joshua in the nose before he could react.

Instantly, he stumbled backwards, no helping hands ready to catch him. His hand was in front of his nose, cradling it in pain, but as soon as it moved away, I could see the blood flowing freely down his face.

"You whore," He hissed. "Leading on two guys at once?" He chuckled darkly. "How dare you."

"No!" I spat. "How dare you! How dare you do that to me? How dare you lead me into thinking of a relationship when all you wanted was to take advantage of me? And I know, for sure, that I'm not the only girl this has happened to, asshole. I don't care- for the rest of my life, I'm going to feel sorry for these girls. I'm going to feel sorry for these girls who had no idea what was coming. I'm going to feel sorry for them, but I'm going to protect them, Joshua. You. Cannot. Hurt. Me."

But this time, when he came running forward to strike me again, it wasn't my hand that brought him down to the ground.

I heard the heavy smack of impact, and Joshua fell to the ground. Spinning around, I caught sight of the boy with messy black hair and wild green eyes who had my heart in the palm of his hand.

Harper.

He stormed forward, grabbing onto Joshua's collar, and the symphony of gasps faded into a resounding silence. Pulling him up, Harper's eyes hardened.

"I thought Noelle's mom filled out a restraining order," Harper hissed, glaring so fiercely at Joshua that it terrified me even from a few meters away. "You should not be here."

Joshua's rage just seemed to heighten with Harper's presence. "I don't give a fuck, Andrews. I'm going to court anyways. Because of you. You just had to call the fucking police, didn't you?"

Before I could do anything else, Harper slammed him against the locker. "Of course I had to call the fucking police! That's Noelle you were taking advantage of- you are such an ass. You were so lucky to have her, a girl like her, so beautiful and kind and sweet- and then you do that to her? Do you know how many guys would have killed to be in your position, and then you pull that card? How could you fucking do that?" He roared, and my heart clenched in my chest.

I watched as Harper raised his fist, a murderous look in his eye. He didn't know what he was doing, I could see it, from the way every muscle in his body was tense to the blood draining out of his fists. I could see it.

"Harper." I whispered. "Don't. Don't hit him. You could kill him. I know you. You'll let your rage get ahead of you."

He paused. I could see the muscles tense in his back, and after a painstaking moment of silence, he spun around, one hand still holding Joshua. In that moment, I saw everything harsh and cruel about him fade. Everything that had ever gone wrong, his entire angry facade fell, and it was just me and him. For a second, everything was perfect.

Until his eyes narrowed in on my cheek.

His mouth fell open, and he turned to Joshua with renewed rage. "You hit her?" His voice was deadly.

Joshua smirked. "So what if I did?"

"Oh, hell no!" I heard a voice from behind me and Emma emerged from the crowd, running at Joshua. "NO ONE LAYS A FINGER ON MY BEST FRIEND AND GETS AWAY WITH IT!"

"Hey," I tried to say calmly, grabbing onto her before she could get hurt. "It's okay."

She gave me an incredulous look. "NO IT'S NOT! DO YOU SEE YOUR FACE? DO YOU SEE WHAT HE DID TO YOU? HOW THE HELL DO YOU EXPECT ME TO LET HIM GET AWAY WITH IT- "

"Hey calm down, sweetheart," Max said softly, bringing Emma towards him and putting his arms around her. "Don't hurt yourself."

"But- "

"Shhh." He hummed. "Just stay here, okay?"

She didn't look happy, but she didn't protest. I focused my attention back on Harper, the blood pounding in my ears.

"How fucking dare you?" He snarled. "How dare you even think of touching her." He slammed him against the locker again. "I'll kill you."

"No!" I protested, rushing forward. I grabbed onto Harper's arm, trying to pull him away. "It's enough! I've already punched him multiple times, so have you, it's enough!"

Harper ignored me. "You even touch a single hair on her precious head and I will make you regret it."

Then Harper punched him again.

"Harper!" I yelled. "Please- please get off!"

He didn't listen to me, fists pummelling down relentlessly. "No!" I sobbed. "Stop! Right now!"

My hand on his arm, I could feel his muscles relaxing and contracting with every punch at Joshua, and I could feel the rage surging under his skin like a live wire. Joshua was throwing punches back, but it was obvious to see who was inching up to the upper hand. Finally I couldn't take it anymore.

I wedged myself in front of Harper, not so worried about getting hit. I was a karate girl- I was used to punches. Grabbing his face, I pulled it so it was in front of mine, and I impulsively leant my forehead on his.

"Stop," I murmured. "Please stop."

My fingers were warm on top of his skin, and I could feel his ragged breathing against my palm. Joshua was behind me- I was sure- but I could hear people pulling him away from us. I expected a lot of things, I guess, for Harper to shout at me, shove me away, keep throwing punches, but I had never imagined him to actually listen to me and stop.

His green eyes were so close to mine, and they were shining with anger and sorrow, his own emotions overwhelming me instead. Slowly, his hands lowered and came to rest on mine, my fingers still cupping his face.

I could feel his pulse racing in his hands. It had been fast before, when he had still been throwing punches, but it was even faster now.

Perhaps from a different reason.

I held onto him as his breathing slowed and he calmed in my arms and the first teacher came to drag Joshua away.

SORRY, SORRY, SORRY, SORRY, SORRY

SORRY

First of all- it's been ages. I know. I'm sorry :(

But on the bright side... this chapter is approx 6,850 words long, so :)

Second- yeah, this was NOT as well written as my other chapters, but I just wanted to get this up sooner.

Guys, don't worry, I will tell you when it is the last chapter- everyone thought chapter 48 was the last. But it's not :) And neither is this XD

Idk I just really like writing this

Aha so I was looking back at the first few chapters and there are SOOOO many hate comments omggg

Guys, how many people do you think read this? I know that some of you do not vote (that's totally okay :)) but I can't really tell how many people are reading apart from the votes... so is there a way you can tell?

HOW ARE YOU

HOW'S LIFE

STILL TRYING TO GET TAYLOR SWIFT TO KNOW I EXIST

Omg it would be so cool if she made wattpad AH CAN YOU IMAGINE IT

I just read Lady Midnight so I am slowly dying inside because FREAKING EMMA WHYYYYYY

Goal: 3700 votes?

Dedication: top 5 favourite wattpad books? (I need recommendations right now to heal my heart from lady midnight)

ALSO: if you could ask the characters or author any questions what would they be? I might answer some XD

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