Hospitals suck.

Thank God I'm out of there.

"Now darling, are you sure you don't want to change schools?" My mum sank her hand in my hair and even though, I normally hated when people except Mark touched it, I always loved it when it was done by her. It reminded me of when I was still the only kid and she would fuss over me. Good times. Good times.

Shaking my head, I gave her a reassuring smile. "I'm fine now mum. That short break I had really helped me, and your soup too."

I really wanted to see her smile wider but she was worried about me. All that returned was a weak one and she kissed my forehead. "I love you baby, so, please don't get into fights like that."

"I promise, I never will."

And I meant it.

My mum hugged me one last time before I jumped out of the car and dashed into school before anyone got a good look at me. I had missed a full week of school for rehabilitation and no one once came to ask how I was doing. Not that I blamed them, I was the one who lost them.

Now strolling into my first period class, I made sure to exchange seats with Tessa, some cute chick from the cheerleading club. She had always wanted to get close to Mark, something I didn't want, but it was for the best. I was mad at Mark, he was mad at me. If I sat that close to him, I was going to kill him.

     The class filled gradually and I responded nicely to the people who asked how I was doing. When Mark came in, he didn't even spare me a glance and boy, how it pissed me off. But I wasn't going to fight him. I promised my mama that. I was going to be a good boy, and get the fuck out of this school. Out of Mark's life.

"How's everyone doing today?" Mr. Tevin, our home room teacher, said as he came in. He tossed the books he carried on the table then leaned on it, glancing around the class for someone to torture. Something I used to like but now hated since I was definitely a target. I mean, I missed a bloody week of school, there was no way he was going to miss me.

"No way." He gasped dramatically, making me sink in my new seat. "My sitting arrangement changed. If Tessa is beside Mark, then the person on Tessa's seat is... Ian?" The man crossed his arms over his chest and said, "Now that's a familiar face."

"I'm sorry for being absent last week, sir," I said before he asked any question that might ruin me. "Something happened."

Mr. Tevin shook his head. "You don't have to tell me. In fact, I want to talk to all of you today. As a class, we are family. If you see any students bullying one of our own, I want them reported and please do try and help. If you don't, it would look like you are watching your sister or brother get bullied before your parents come to stop it. And I know most of you wouldn't like that. Ian, can you stay after class, I want to talk with you."

"S-sure."

I was shocked. Not because of Mr. Tevin -he normally said things like this- but because he had thought I was being bullied. I had only stayed in the hospital until the weekend was over and then the doctor told my parents I needed rest. My folks didn't dare let me out of my room and basically provided everything I needed for me. Who would have thought they came to this school to complain? No wonder my mother wanted me to leave. She was actually serious.

     The bell rang and class came to an end. I avoided eye contact from Zac, Tom and Yale because, obvious reasons. I didn't even bother with Mark since he didn't even look at me. When the crowd had dissipated and it was only Mr. Tevin and I left, I walked up to him and asked him why I waited.

"Are you going to tell me who hit you?"

"It's a secret."

The man shrugged then leaned back on his seat. "Your parents don't know either. They came here demanding answers. Your parents plan on suing the school for letting such violent act happen. As your homeroom teacher, if I don't get to the bottom of things, it's going to affect my job and god knows I treat you kids like my own. I don't want to leave."

Anger flowed through me at what he said. Sure, not for him but for the cause of all of this. I didn't want Mr. Tevin to lose his job, he meant a lot to a lot of students and I didn't want the school to get sued, the violent act wasn't even on school grounds.

This was Mark and Marcie's fault. Marcie's for covering up for her brother.

"Still won't tell me?" He rose his brows in askance and I shook my head and walked out of the class, feeling oddly suffocated.

Made my way to my locker, I tossed my bag inside and got out my next period books. I hated how everything made me angry; the people chatting, their heavy footsteps, the crowd in the hallway. Never have I ever missed solitude ever in my life.

"Ian."

Someone called my name and I just prayed it wasn't the person that deep sweet voice belonged to.

Swallowing, I turned to look at Mark who just gave me a blank stare. He looked as beautiful as always with his light skin and butterfly swarming green eyes. My eyes trailed to his lips and I remembered how plum they felt on mine-how soft. Anger sparked in me when I felt the urge to do it again. Oh how badly I wanted to do it again.

"What do you want?" I answered icily.

"I need you to follow me to go apologize to Tom and Yale."

My brows bumped together in a scowl. "Your sister told you to right?"

"Why does it matter?" He gave me a dry stare.

Honestly, I couldn't believe what he was saying and how he was acting. He was acting like he didn't beat the life out of me. Like everything was normal between us. Like I wasn't hospitalized. Like his sister hadn't lied for him. Like he didn't know how I felt about him.

But I was trying to avoid a fight right? If I didn't go with him, he wouldn't ever apologize to Tom and Yale and Marcie would get pissed at him and he would sulk and keep coming back to me. Better to stop the loop before it starts.

"Sure, whatever." I shrugged and tossed my books back in my locker. "Where are they?"

     We met Tom and Yale in the library, hiding at a corner where they were all lovey-dovey before we showed up and they froze. Tom looked as cool as ever with his light brown hair all combed back and his grey eyes wide with shock. Yale's weird violet eyes stared at us as he ran a hand through his nicely cut dark brown hair. They were both sitting beside each other with Yale's legs over Tom's thighs.

Tom frowned but some creepy smile came on Yale's face as he stared at Mark, throwing an arm around Tom's neck.

"Well, if it isn't these two."

"What do you want?" Tom asked, annoyed.

"We came to apologize," Mark said and I looked at him, surprised that he was actually serious. He glanced at Yale and continued, "I'm sorry I got Ian to hit you. I was teasing him about how much of a girl he was and dared him to hit you. Not that hitting you was a joke but... yeah. I'm sorry."

     There was an awkward silence that settled around us and it only got worse when Tom and Yale stood up. I almost expected them to walk out on us the way we did, but they stopped in front of us and stretched out their hands.

"Sure. As long as you don't do it again. I really love Yale and I would be really glad if you supported us like Zac and Ciara."

Mark stared at the hand in front of him before meeting it with his. And he managed a smile. "Thank you."

Tom returned it then pulled him for a hug. "Ah, man. I missed you."

"I'm so sorry, dude."

So Mark could apologize to someone other than me? That was a good thing but why wasn't the favor working for me. Why hasn't he apologized to me? Was that even what I wanted?

Yale's hand slowly dropped to his side when I didn't shake it and he tapped my shoulder, pulling my attention back to him. "Sorry I judged you right off the bat. I didn't even know you."

"Whatever. Judge me for all I care. I am out of here."

"Huh?"

"You heard me." I rolled my eyes then turned to leave, frustration and anger swelling in me until all I wanted to do was scream.

Stomping through the empty hallway, I made sure they echoed as I got to my locker. Fuck Mark and everything about him.

My phone vibrated in my pocket and I grunted as I took it out and checked the text. Luckily, it wasn't Mark and I sighed with relief at the content.

Keith: Yo, you down? There's a party at Keisha's tomorrow. And no, not the star.

Me: You know me boy. I'm down for anything.

I'm down for an escape.