— Everleigh

I really really liked Sasha.

Months had passed since our very first kiss. Ever since we had started kissing, all I could think about was him. Now, it was like I could barely look at him without getting nervous. I was sure he could sense how different things between us have become.

"You... okay?" Sasha asked, walking up to me. School was over, and it was the worst day of my life. Mia and Logan wouldn't leave me alone all day. Ever since I got so close to Sasha, their teasing only increased dramatically.

I glanced over at him before nervously looking at the ground. "Yeah, I'm fine," I lied.

While I had such strong feelings for Sasha, I also felt very guilty. He needed a friend—not a girlfriend.

He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could get a word out, I ran into the woods. I could hear him running after me. It quickly became our spot. Sasha turned something I used to fear into a place I loved going to. Every day, I would tell my father to pick me up an hour later just so I could spend my time in the forest with Sasha.

Once I made it to our spot by the lake, Sasha grabbed me by my arm gently, stopping me. I looked down to see the cuts and bruises around his knuckles. My eyes widened as I looked at them. Suddenly, he snatched his hand away and out of my sight.

"What happened?" I asked him.

Just like I knew he would, he grew silent. I hated when he did that.

Letting out a sigh, I walked over to the lake where I sat down with my legs folded up underneath me. I reached down to touch the water, watching as the water reflected the beautiful trees.

"You never answer me when I ask you questions about your bruises and stuff," I said aloud. "We're supposed to be friends, Sasha. That's not fair."

Sasha walked over to me. He sat down right beside me and just stared.

"поцелуй," he said. Sasha began to lean in, his gray eyes peering into my own.

I quickly shook my head, backing away. "No, no поцелуй," I said.

"Why?" he asked.

Because I really like you.

"I'm not in the mood today," I lied, shrugging it away. I quickly looked down at the ground and away from his curious eyes. It was like he could see through my every word.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"Why are you sorry?" I asked him, still never bothering to look at him.

"You... hate me," he stated. My eyes widened in surprise as I finally managed to look him in the eye without all the nervousness clouding the pit of my stomach.

"What? No! I don't hate you!" I exclaimed. "I could never hate you, you hear me? Never!"

He smiled. It was such a big smile with all of his teeth. Despite a few missing, they were still perfect. I let him place his palm on my cheek, where I leaned against it. Slowly, he began to lean in again until he pressed his lips against mine. 

Every bone in my body relaxed. I loved our every kiss, and I wanted it to last forever. It was just scary knowing that he probably didn't feel the same way. When he pulled back, I immediately turned away.

"Evie," he said.

I hummed.

"You are different sometimes. You sure you okay?" he asked, concern written throughout his voice. I hadn't seen him so concerned since the black history lesson in school.

A tear began to fall from my eyes. I'm not even entirely sure why I was crying. Maybe I was crying because it was nice to just have someone that cared enough about me. Maybe I was crying because all I wanted at that very moment was for Sasha to want me. Maybe I was crying because I was just hungry. I didn't know... all I knew was that I had never felt such strong emotions for anyone that wasn't family like I did for Sasha.

He grabbed my chin and gently turned me so I could face him. He inspected my tears as confusion danced on his own features.

"I'm sorry," he apologized. "No поцелуй. I understand."

"No, it's not that... I just..." I sighed as another tear fell. Just when I was about to harshly wipe it away, he kindly did it for me. I stared at him as he softly wiped my tears away.

"I like you," I confessed.

"Friends?" he wondered.

"Like more than a friend," I whispered. Sasha seemed lost for words. He opened his mouth to speak before closing and opening it again. My shoulders fell as I lost all hope. I probably just lost the best friend I could ever have.

"Well, well, well... would you look at that?" Mia taunted, interrupting. I turned over to the sound of her voice to see not only her but Logan right behind her.

"I knew I always saw y'all sneak off into the forest," Logan stated with an evil smirk on his face.

"Can you just leave us alone? We don't do anything to either of you," I said, standing up. Sasha got up with me as I crossed my arms over the other.

Mia laughed evilly before turning to Logan. Logan walked over to me until he was directly in front of my face.

"How about no... blackie?" he asked. My heart dropped at the new name he gave me just as Mia began to laugh hysterically.  I didn't even get the chance to respond before Sasha pushed Logan.

"What are you doing... defending your little girlfriend?" Logan laughed just before he attempted to push Sasha back. Only Sasha didn't move a single muscle. Sasha quickly responded by throwing a punch followed by another, forcing Logan to the ground.

There was nothing more that I wanted than for Logan to get a good 'ole beating, but Logan's father was the school's principal. He would not let a single scratch grace itself on Logan's face without fighting it.

"Sasha, stop!" I shouted.

Mia watched in complete fear just before running off.

All I could do was watch in shock as Sasha beat Logan so hard that blood covered his face. Sasha looked purely animalistic. Even his beautiful gray eyes grew darker with rage. He slammed his fist into Logan's face so hard that Logan passed out.

I reached down to stop Sasha from literally killing him when his elbow flew up and hit me square in the jaw.

"Ow!" I cried, grasping my jaw.

It seemed to knock Sasha back into reality because he stopped. He looked down at his hands in shock before inspecting Logan. I watched as he quickly crawled away from Logan in complete shock. He then looked over at me.

"Evie, I'm sorry!" he cried, running up to me and pulling me to his chest.

"It's okay," I sniffled. "You were just trying to protect me. It's okay."

My jaw was still stinging and I only hoped it hadn't left much of a mark. Still, Sasha rocked me back and forth just after pulling me into his lap.

"I promise... I don't hit you ever again," he swore. There were actual tears gathering in his eyes as he looked at me. "I promise."

I nodded my head just as I could hear crunching in the leaves. Just then, the sight of the school's security guards made their appearance. They inspected Logan on the floor passed out just before looking over at Sasha.

I immediately began to cry as they pulled me away from Sasha and handcuffed him.

"Everleigh!" he yelled.

"No, Sasha!" I screamed, watching as they dragged him away from me. I could see Mia off in the distance watching from afar with wide eyes.

One security guard stayed to call the ambulance for Logan. Once they were on their way, he called a different number—a number for Sasha. They insisted that his guardians come in immediately. After they called his parents, they called mine. My dad seemed so worried.

Once I had calmed down, and the ambulance came to gather a now awake Logan, one of the guards let me walk back to school where they unlocked the front doors and led me to the security office. They asked me explain everything that happened, and I did. I made sure to include the racial slur. I may have left out the part where Sasha accidentally hit me, though.

Not too soon after, my father ran into the office and hugged me. I noticed the way his eyes lingered on my jaw just before asking the police what happened. I listened quietly as they explained everything.

"Alexander? Who the hell is Alexander?" my father asked glancing between me and the officer.

"Sasha! He's my best friend, Dad," I said sadly.

My father scoffed. "Then why is he getting in fights and putting you in the middle of it?" my dad questioned.

"Logan and Mia have always been bothering me. Logan called me blackie. He got in my face and Sasha just pushed him to defend me and when he pushed back, Sasha fought him," I explained. "Sasha did nothing wrong!"

"I'm sorry... he called you, what?" my dad questioned, turning away from me and looking at the guard. He pointed an accusatory finger at him. "You let that god damn boy call my daughter blackie? He had everything coming to him. Come on, Everleigh... we're done with this bullshit ass school!"

My dad grabbed me by my hand and led me out of the office as my father went on and on about not accepting that kind of talk from ignorant white boys. As we stormed out of the office I managed to catch a glimpse of Sasha who was seated next to his mother that he never claimed and an older, scarier man in the principal's office. The moment I looked at him, he turned around to look at me.

"My kitten," he mouthed.

I gave him a sad smile just as my father pulled me out of the school. The last person that got in fight was expelled. I only hoped that wouldn't be the case for Sasha, but knowing the shape Logan was in... it probably would be.

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