SOPHIA

"Star, how could you do this to me?" He demanded.

"Do what?" I hadn't done anything wrong.

His eyes darkened,"You're cheating on me"

"What! With who?" I exclaimed. That was a complete lie, I'd never do that to him.

"Some boy named Dylan. A friend of mine saw you two together looking rather friendly." He spat.

"B-but that's a lie! I would never cheat on you, I love you!" I tried to tell him but he wasn't listening.

"Who's Dylan? How is he so much better than me, that you would choose him over me?" He demanded, rising his voice for the very first time at me.

I cowered away. I'd never seen him like this and I was terrified.

"H-he's my best fr-friend." I stuttered.

"Don't lie to me! I know you're lying!" He screamed, rising his fist and swinging it towards me.

I cried out in pain and shock as his hand connected with my jaw.

I couldn't believe he hit me, I thought he loved me.

Tears of pain and heartbreak started falling down my cheeks as I tried to curl up as small as possible, hoping to disappear.

"I'm telling the truth." I sobbed.

"You're a lying, filthy bitch. I can't believe I love a disgusting human like you." He spat.

Love? This wasn't love. If he loved me he'd never hit me.

There was no more words exchanged after that. His punches said it all. Then he took out a knife. I whimpered and tried to crawl away but he quickly pinned me on my stomach.

I screamed as I felt a blade cut into my back, but it didn't last long because the pain knocked me out.

I shot up in bed, tears and sweat dripping down my cheeks.

I hadn't had a nightmare in five months, why was this happening again?

A glance at my alarm clock told me it was six in the morning. Late enough to get up but too early to get ready for school yet.

I looked around my room for something to distract me, anything to get my mind off the dream, and Antonio the bonsai tree caught my eye.

I remembered Mr. Willis telling us that talking to our tree could be very therapeutic so I decided to give it a try. I explained my nightmare to the tree, and when I was finished I actually felt a little bit better. I liked how I could tell Antonio about my past and I wouldn't get a look of pity from him. He wouldn't tell me how sorry he was, and he wouldn't treat me like I was about to break into a million pieces.

I hated when people did that. I was still the same person, I didn't change much after everything happened. Maybe I buried it so deep I convinced myself it never really happened. Only when I slept was I reminded it was all real.

That was why no one knew what happened to me, I didn't want to face the pity and concern. I didn't want people to act different around me, afraid that I would break down if they said or did the wrong thing.

The more I pretended like it didn't happen, the less he held over me. I wouldn't let him control my life.

I looked over at my alarm clock again and it was already seven twenty-five. If I didn't start getting ready now I'd be late for school.

My phone buzzed on my dresser as I passed it on my way to the bathroom and I briefly saw a text from Dylan telling me that he was waiting outside.

After taking the world's fastest shower I rushed into my closet and pulled on a pair of black leggings and a grey hoodie. I wasn't in the mood to dress nice today, comfort was my only priority. I had barely pulled a brush through my hair before I left the house and hopped into Dylans waiting car. 

- - - - - -

"Have you been taking good care of Antonio?" Damon asked half way through Environmental Awareness class. The first time he'd spoken to me today, surprisingly. Usually there would've been insults thrown between us by now.

"Yeah. I've even been keeping him company by talking to him." I replied without bothering to look at him. I was trying to pay attention to what Mr. Willis was saying, but I had a feeling that wasn't going to last very long.

"I didn't realize you were so lonely you had to resort to talking to a tree." Damon scoffed.

My cheeks heated in embarrassment. I shouldn't have told him I spoke to Antonio, it made me sound like a crazy person.

"If anyone's lonely it's you. I have a boyfriend, where's your girlfriend?" I pointed out, trying to embarrass him back. The smirk dropping from his face told me I succeeded.

Sophia - 1 Devil - 0

"As a matter of fact, I have a beautiful girlfriend named Tina." He recovered quickly, but I saw right through his lie. Whenever he lied he clenched his fists and blink fast two times.

I almost took pity on him, his fib was so pathetic, but I could never give up a chance to humiliate him.

"I call your bluff. The only significant woman in your life is your mom." I spoke louder than I intended and the students sitting closes to us snickered.

Sophia - 2 Devil - 0

"At least I'm not dating someone just for popularity." He defended himself. If that were true he would totally get a point, but it was completely false.

"You use girls all the time to satisfy your 'needs'." I pointed out, air quoting that last word.

Sophia - 3 Devil - 0

I was on fire.

"You know what, how did we even get onto this topic? I thought we were talking about how insane you are?" He asked, changing the subject not so subtly.

"How about we just stop altogether." I suggested, turning my attention back to the teacher, effectively ending our argument. But ten minuets before class ended Damon spoke again, that guy just couldn't leave me alone, could he?

"You really should stay away from Dylan, he's my best friend and it's gross that he's dating you."

I rolled my eyes, "You're just jealous that I'm dating Dylan."

"What the hell do you mean?" He looked at me like I grew an extra head. He wouldn't be looking at me like that after my next comment.

"Well obviously you're secretly in love with Dylan and want him all to yourself." I explained, making my voice as serious as possible. "Not that that's wrong or anything, I actually think it's cute."

Sophia - 4 Devil - 0

The look on his face was priceless, his eyes were wide in horror and his jaw dropped.

"I-I, what the hell!" He yelled.

The whole class turned to look at us with interest.

I burst out laughing, unable to keep it together any longer. I laughed so hard I fell off my chair.

Usually Damon would have laughed at that but he was still paralyzed with shock.

"Mr. Blake, Miss. Mackenzie, detention after school for disrupting the class." Mr. devil informed us as the bell rang.

I groaned as I got off the floor.

"This is all your fault." I hissed at Damon.

"What? You're the one that called me gay, this is all your fault!" Damon exclaimed, running a hand through his dark hair in exasperation.

"Whatever, we'll just agree to disagree on this one. See you in detention loser." And with that I was out the door and on my way to the cafeteria.

"Hey babe." Dylan greeted when I got to our lunch table.

As soon as I sat down he put his arm around my shoulders and pecked me on the lips. Would I ever get use to all this affection from Dylan, my dream guy?

I heard someone slam their tray on the table beside ours and looked over to see Damon glaring angrily over at us.

Maybe he really was gay. I could probably set him up with Garrett, maybe then he'd finally leave me alone.

"There's a party at my house tonight, you're going right?" Dylan asked, drawing my attention back to him.

It was Friday night, why not live a little and go to a party? And did I really have a choice, it was my boyfriend's party after all.

I nodded "Sure, I'd love to."

He grinned at me "Perfect."

- - - - - -

"Garrett, is this dress good enough for the party?" I asked.

I spun around so he could see every angle of it.

I was wearing a tight, dark purple strapless dress that went down to my mid thigh, something I definitely wouldn't usually wear. I thought it was way too revealing but Garrett insisted that I wear it since I was going to a party where most girls would be wearing even more revealing clothes than this.

"It's perfect, you look foxy." Garrett answered.

"Who says foxy anymore?" I asked, an amused smile tugging at my lips.

"Shut up, I do! Anyway, change of subject, what happened in detention with the Devil?" He asked.

"Not much, we argued, he threw paper airplanes at me, we insulted each other, he told me to stay away from Dylan again. Same old, same old." I told him.

The only thing I left out was that Damon drove me home because I didn't have a ride. Dylan drove me to school again today and I guess he forgot that I didn't have a ride back home.

I was walking home when Damon pulled over and pretty much made me get in the car. Why he was being nice and driving me home? I'd never know.

"I don't know how you've put up with Damon for so long." Garrett commented sympathetically.

I rolled my eyes "It isn't easy."

"Now let's do your hair and make up so we can start partying!" He exclaimed.

We talked about cute boys and school gossip as I did my make up while Garrett curled my hair to perfection, and twenty minutes later we were ready to go.

I slipped on a pair of black pumps and took one last look in the mirror. The dress really didn't look too revealing now that I saw it again. I actually felt pretty confident wearing it.

"C'mon, let's go girl, we don't want to be late!" Garrett called from downstairs.

I quickly made my way down and into Garrett's car where he was already waiting.

Tonight was going to be one hell of a night.