Dakota's pov

I was a tad bit worried about going school today.  I don't know what was going to happen from now on.  All I could do was hope.  Hope that nothing happens and my friends remain safe. 

Adrian was beside me holding my hand and giving it a small squeeze.

"Don't worry so much.  You already look so horrible with your bulging out womanly muscles and if you keep on worrying,  you'll look more horrible!"  he joked.

I chuckled amused.  "Womanly muscles?"

He ignored it and pulled me inside the school building with him.

"Hey lady hulk!"  Rosalie came and flung on to my shoulders making me wobble my step. 

Lady hulk?

"God what's up with you and your weird names?" I grumbled.

"C'mon! You should've looked at yourself! You totally looked so cool and so threatening and dangerous and-"

"Go easy on her Rose!"  I saw Alice coming our way.

I held back a gasp. 

She looked.. So very ill.

She had bags under her eyes and her skin had turned pale-ish blue.  She looked so weak and her steps wobbled every time she walked. The bright glint of her blue eyes were gone and replaced by a dull grey.

"Alice! What happened to you?!"  Adrian shouted and went beside her.

Even Rosalie looked worried. 

"It's nothing..  I'm just a little tired that's all.."  she said smiling.

I saw right through her fake smile and frowned.  What was the matter?

"I'm going to go to the restroom guys.. You head to the class I'll be there in a minute!"  saying this Alice gave Adrian one last smile and went away leaving all of us in a puddle of thoughts.

"Listen.. I'm going to go check on her."  I said to them.

Rosalie nodded in understanding and waved a goodbye to us.

I turned to Adrian to see he was frowning and his fists were clenched.

"Hey.." I said grabbing his shoulders,  "Trust me she'll be fine.  I'm gonna go and talk to her okay?"

He nodded and sighed.

I decided to go to my locker first to put my bag inside.  As I turned towards the hallway leading to the lockers,  I stopped.

My feet froze and my body paralysed to what I saw. 

Chris was kissing the daylights out of none other than my dearest rival,  Irina. She was pressed up against the lockers and they were eating each other's faces like there was no tomorrow.

Shock consumed me and I suddenly felt like I couldn't breathe.  My breaths came out in short pants and  eyes stung with unshed tears as I shook violently.

"I annoy you stiff. But I feel happy around you."

More tears..

"I don't know what I'm doing but I can't help but think it feels right."

More shaking..

"I feel like keeping you beside me all day."

More rage..

"I felt empty. I felt so.. I don't know."

Totally broken.

As if sensing my presence,  they stopped their tongue war and Chris turned his head to look at me,  followed by Irina.

He looked battled.  He looked like he wanted to justify all this but he kept his mouth shut and gave a cold, icy stare at me.

"What's your problem stiff? Got no other work rather than watching people make out?"  he said in a bored tone.

Irina smirked at me.

I was speechless.  I was totally devastated.  I couldn't control my tears as they went on flowing down my cheeks.  Nobody could understand the way I felt.

Rage. Betrayed. Heartbroken. Hurt.

I was full of negative emotions and I was sure my aura had turned so black... That even light couldn't pierce it. 

"What did you even think Charles? You'd get him? He's Mine!"  Irina sneered at me giving me a death glare. 

I just looked at Chris.  I know I looked hopeless and probably like a puppy who learned that this own master was going to kill him.

He avoided my gaze but the bored look remained.

"But.. Why?"  I managed to utter these two words expressing everything through them. 

"Why what? C'mon stiff! Didn't you know I was a player? How could you actually think I'd seriously be with you?"  he snapped at me.  His voice was cold and so very hateful.

The bell rang signalling our starting of first period as well as I snapped.

That's it.

Fuck human emotions.

Fuck Chris.

Fuck everything.

Even in that state I mustered up my strength and clenched my fists. An evil smirk spread onto my lips as I started approaching him.

His eyes held confusion as well as Irina gulped seeing my new transformation.

I stood so close to him that our chests brushed against each other and I could smell his cologne which I started falling for.

"You know what? Fuck you!"

Saying that I punched him square on his nose with all the strength I had. 

He fell backwards and groaned in pain.

"You bitc-"

"Don't even think about it"  I said cutting off Irina.  "You might end up in a worse condition.."

She backed away and I looked in front to see Chris still groaning and grabbing his nose.

"You're a disgrace!"   I stated in a cold voice.

My feelings were creating a turmoil within me and I felt like breaking down right there.  But I just couldn't. 

I turned around and went away leaving Chris and my heart behind.

. . . .

Adrian's pov

It was the end of the day and I was worried sick.  I couldn't see Alice as well as my sister anywhere! 

Where the fuck could they go?

I searched everywhere! I checked the library, the canteen,  the bleachers but couldn't see her anywhere.

Only one place was left that was the school backyard.  With hope I ran towards the backyard.

I sighed in relief when I saw a familiar hunched up female figure sitting on the grass.

"Alice!" 

She turned her head towards me and her eyes widened before she gave a soft smile.

I sat beside her taking in her appearance.  She looked better but still a lot sickly. The bluish skin remained but the bags were no longer there.

"Are you okay?" 

"Yeah Adrian I'm fine."  she said.

Even her voice seemed to lose strength as it sounded so fragile and weak. 

I grabbed her hands and asked desperately  "Please tell me if anything is worrying you Alice!"

She sighed. 

"Stop worrying so much Adrian.  I'm fine! I'm not a baby, I can take care of myself!"

I was taken aback by her sudden outburst.

"Why can't you just leave me alone? There are definitely other things that you should worry about! Don't waste your time because of me! I'm not important!"  she shouted.

"I can't leave you alone! I care about you Alice! I worry about you and I just wanna be there with you every time! I wanna be there when you're at your worst and when you're at your best! I-"

"But why? Why do you care so much?! "  she screamed in frustration.

"Because I love you God dammit!"

My own words shocked me.  I just confessed my feelings for her.

Alice was shocked too.  Her eyes were wide like saucers and I think I saw a little brightness of her eyes returning before they diminished again. 

Suddenly she started crying.

"What happened? Alice why are you crying!"  I asked as I pulled her towards me.

"I can't..  I can't Adrian.."  she sobbed and cried more violently.

What?

"What are you talking about?!"

She backed away from my arms and stood up. 

"I'm sorry Adrian..  But it's for the best. "  saying this she ran away leaving me utterly confused and hurt. 

Why'd she leave?

What did she mean by she couldn't?..

What was it that she couldn't?

I got up and went back to the front of the school.  My mind was full of unanswered questions when I saw Chris and strangely Irina getting inside a silver sedan.  I recognised the car as uncle Blake's as I'd seen it before but I was concerned about another thing. 

Why was Irina with Chris?

Where was Dakota?

I looked around frantically searching for my sister when I saw her coming out of the school with Rosalie by her side.

I cringed because Rosalie was using disgusting foul languages and cursing someone.

I frowned as I saw them coming to a stop before me.

Dakota's eyes were swollen and puffy.  Her nose was red and tear stain ceased her face.

"What happened?"  I asked.

"Rosalie go.. I'll see you tomorrow. "  my sister said.

Rosalie looked unsure but gave up.  "Just so you know,  I'll cut his balls and shove them down his throat and then tear his hair apart!"  she said angrily and then hugged Dakota.   "Take care all right?" 

She nodded and rose was off.

I looked at her and she just gave me a weak smile. 

She hugged me and I hugged her back.  Her shoulders shook as I realised she's crying again. 

And I just knew what exactly had happened.

. . . .

Dakota's pov

It was late. 

I panted as I sat down on the chair and glanced at my bruised up knuckles. 

I was in the gym practising.  Mom didn't accompany me as she went to see that Nate guy with Doris. 

My life was the definition of complete and utter 'mess'.  When I thought everything was going fine, suddenly something would come up and destroy that peace and happiness. 

I could bear physical pain and torture.  But I just couldn't bear my heart being broken by someone who treated me like the only girl in this planet.

My mind went back to Emmet. 

Oh how much I missed him.  I needed my best friend more than ever and my life was so pathetic, that I didn't even have him by my side. 

Moreover my family was still in danger.  I had to stay focused and aware of my surroundings. 

I wiped off my tears which had fallen down and stood with a determined look on my face. 

I won't be weak.

I won't be fragile.

I won't let that bastard think that he won by hurting me.

I'll be strong and protect my family. 

As I was giving myself an encouraging speech my phone rang snapping me out of my thoughts. 

Rush was calling me.

"Boink.. "  I replied.

"Hoot!"   she answered. 

Even in this state I chuckled.   "What can I do for you my highness?"

"Oh my Knight.."  she started dramatically,   "Get your big arse here on the airport right now you potato!"

Wao.  She could totally change the mood so quick that even cheetahs couldn't run so fast.

"Airport?!"  I frowned.  I checked the time to see it was nearly 10 at the night.  "At this time? But why?"

"Because you big dumby ash-hole, I'm at the airport with my ass freezing! I'm here at NYC to meet my friend! My hakuna matata besti Dakota!"

What??

Now??

Oh God..

"You what?!"

A/n:  heyo readers!! Super long chapter for you.

And don't hate Alice!  I'm sure she has her own problems!

Have fun.

Amy.