(Edited)

The dreadfully long session in the guidance counsellor's office left me completely drained out. With everything that happened last night, I was in more pain than before. No matter how many painkillers I consumed, it wouldnt subside, it hurt to breathe. I was barely holding on; to make matters worse, I still had school. Luckily, I had skipped every single class up-until lunch, which I was supposed to spend with Mason; he was a very persistent boy.

Mason stood outside the cafeteria, waiting, determinedly for me to arrive. When I reached him, he threw his arm over my shoulder and dragged me to the lunch line. After a few minutes, we finally had our food and walked over to Masons favourite table, where his friends were all seated, waiting. I hadn't run away yet because Emily wasnt there, and I didn't want to sit alone.

I took a seat next to Mason, across from us sat Ashton on the left, Michael on the right and Jason in the middle. All three of them were staring straight at me, Ashton was the only one smiling. I put my plate down and looked up, startled. I gave an awkward wave with my hand and stared back down. They must have still been staring at me because Mason cleared his throat, and Ashton made small talk. While they were talking, all I could do was stare at my delicious plate of Nutella sandwiches. It was the only good thing out of my entire day. But my happiness was short-lived when Mason reached over and grabbed my other piece of bread. I gasped and stared at him, my eyes wide.

The three boys sitting across me gazed at me, while Mason asked with a mouth full of food. What? He pushed the rest of the bread in his mouth and shrugged. Im hungry!

I turned my body and gave Mason the stink-eye. "Let me give you a piece of advice for the future." He leaned closer with an innocent smile. Dont ever, and I mean ever in your life touch a girls Nutella sandwich." I threatened him, moving my plate away.

Michael rolled his eyes at my antics and turned to tell Jason something.

Mason chuckled and smiled cheekily. Oh honey, no, Mason said, giving me an attitude. Girls love me and would give me anything I ask them. And I do mean anything. He winked, with an insinuation. All three of the boys laughed at what he said, and I chuckled, shaking my head. The nerve of this boy!

Oh, by the way, where did you go this morning? You didnt even show up for class? Mason asked. My heart stopped. I knew my following few words had to be a lie. Theres no possible way I could tell them the truth.

Uh It seemed that I couldnt think of a lie.

Michael stared at me, his eyes analysing. The look he gave me was as if he knew that I was hiding something, but how could he? Unless?

'Unless he became a criminal overnight and stole your records,' Lilly suggested. He wouldn't do that, would he?

Before I could answer him, my butt got saved by none other than Tiffany Weatherspoon, who stopped right next to me. She leaned forward to get closer to Michael and clicked her plastic nails on the table.

Michael baby, thanks so much for last night, Tiffany said and blew him a kiss.

When she said this, I couldnt help but feel a small pang in my chest. I wasn't sure what exactly it was, but it didn't stop me from wondering. I looked between Michael and Tiffany, realizing what she thanked him for; they were together last night. From the look Michael gave her, he didnt appreciate her sharing it with the entire table. Was this after he saw me at the hospital? Did he even care that I was there? Michael glared at Tiffany, opening his mouth to say something, but another newcomer interrupted him.

Who is she? Mia- Ashtons ex, asked, pointing at me. She didnt give anyone time to answer. Is this who you left me for? She sounded disgusted by my presence.

Well, you could ask me, Im sitting right here, I thought while staring at her.

Ashton smirked and said, Yes, shes better than you- personality and bed-wise."

Mias face turned bright red with anger, and I felt like following her. I almost yelled at Ashton but luckily caught on to what he was doing. He was trying to get her to back off, and maybe it would work. The boys-all except Michael- laughed at the look on Mias face. Michael, instead of laughing alongside them, glared at Ashton. Why is Michael looking at him like that?

Tiffany stepped forward to stand up for her friend. Listen up you prissy little blonde, Ashton and Mia belong together and not you or anyone else is going to break them up. Do you understand me? She asked, pointing her finger in my face.

'Prissy, since when?' Lilly asked.

He is mine! Mia declared, making Ashton groan.

I slowly stood up and turned towards Tiffany. As far as Im aware, they are already broken up. I turned to Mia and pouted. I just find it saddening that you have to force a guy to be with you, I said, poking her on the nose.

They both stared at me, with intense anger, I was surprised I wasn't burning. Happy that I got the last word in, I turned to Mason and gave him a goodbye hug. I waved at Ashton and turned, walking away from them. Before I walked out of the cafeteria, I turned back and looked towards their direction and found Michael looking at me with a perpetual calculating look in his eyes.

***

I walked out of biology, my last class of the day, and surprisingly it went well. Michael didnt make any mean or rude comments towards me, and I havent failed another test. The only thing that I could focus on throughout the entire class was the lunch fiasco and how royally in trouble I was from this point forward. I usually didnt speak up and cause a scene, but today, I couldnt help myself, and I was sure that I would pay the price later on.

My thoughts got interrupted by an arm that grabbed me and pulled me to one side. A rush of panic struck me, and my vision became blurry. A tingling feeling rushed down my spine, leaving me breathless.

There you are, babe. Ive been looking everywhere for you. A familiar voice said, but I couldnt pinpoint it. Did you see me up there? I almost killed him! the voice declared with adrenaline in his eyes. I started panicking. I could feel it was only a memory, but I couldnt snap out of it. And you against that guy, jeez you were hot. You almost broke his"

The memory started fading away; someone was shaking me out of it. I looked around me startled and recognized that I wasn't in his arms anymore but in Michaels. Michaels?

What do you want? I asked him, trying to pull my arm out of his grasp.

Why were you at the hospital yesterday? he asked, tightening his grip on my arm.

Michael being this close to me was clouding my judgment, all I could focus on was his ocean-breeze scent that was overwhelming me.

I shook my head to get rid of all the unnecessary thoughts that came with being this close to him and tried to move a bit further away.

Why were you at the hospital yesterday? I retorted, trying to keep my voice steady. He couldn't know what type of effect he had on me.

Thats none of your business, he said, getting angry.

I smiled and answered with sarcasm. Exactly!

From the look on his face, I was getting on his nerves, but I liked pushing his buttons and seeing how far I could go. I wasn't scared of him now that I had his friends on my side, besides I wasn't going to give up classified information that easily.

Tell me! he demanded. His breath hit me in the face, and it smelled fresh and minty. I groaned mentally. What are you doing to me?

The grip he had on my arm snapped me out of my frenzy. It became tighter up to the point that my arm started to become numb. I could feel Michael's nails sink into my flesh when I struggled to pull away from him. I hope he doesnt know that hes hurting me. Maybe he knows, and he just likes hurting girls. The pain was getting too intense; he was relentless. If I hadn't been in pain since this morning, I could have lasted longer. I was drained out, I had no other choice but to tell him.

You elbowed me in my fractured ribs, causing them to break. I whimpered, struggling to breathe.

Michael stared at me; eyes wide with complete horror. His grip loosened, and I quickly pulled my arm away, running.

While running away from school in absolute pain; the pain in my ribs overshadowing the one in my arm, I realized I left Michael absolutely shocked. He definitely didnt know that he was hurting me. The looked he gave me when I said that he was the reason my ribs were broken, was beyond saddening. The look on his face was frightfully more painful than not being able to breathe.

How am I going to explain all of this?

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