AVERY'S POV

After lunch, I walk back to my locker with Noah.

"So, who's the new kid?"

I shrug, "I met him like once but he seems like every other guy."

"Conceded, horny, complete asshole?" He chuckles.

"Yep. Except you of course Noah. You're just such a cutie," I smile and pinch his cheeks, he hates when I do that. I guess that's why I find it so funny.

"Shut up," he mumbles, fixing his hair. "I'm gonna head to class, see you later?"

I nod and he walks away. I turn back to my locker to take out some books when someone leans next to me. I look up startled and make eye contact with Justin. "Justin," I say more rude than I intended.

He smirks. "Princess."

I cross my arms and just stare, and he stared right back. I eventually have to look away and he chuckles. My cheeks start burning up, "what do you want? Or are you just here to bother me?"

"I need a favor."

"No."

He takes another step closer and there's only a couple inches between us. He laughs unexpectedly, "no? You're cute. That wasn't a question, Kitten."

"Kitten?" I frown. "What makes you think I'll help you?"

"I knew you'd say that." He grabs my arms and pushed me against the lockers. My heart's beating so hard I'm afraid he can hear it. He leans in close and his warm breath tickles my ear. "Avery..." When he says my name, I shiver.

What the hell is wrong with me?! Do something Avery!

"I know something you don't. About your brother, Zach. I need your help. And this one ISN'T a choice either. You'll help me and I'll return the favor."

What. Is. Happening!

"What if I don't?" I challenge and he moved his head to look at me straight in the eyes.

"You will, I'll make sure of it." He rests his hands on my waist and just stares at me.

I glare and his and try to push him off me. "You weigh like 500 pounds! Get off me," I frown.

He chuckles, "oh Avery. Sweet, beautiful, innocent Avery." Did he call me beautiful? I quickly look down to hide my red cheeks. I can't move, I'm frozen. He pulls away but still holds on to own of my wrists. "Meet me here after school." With that, he walks away, leaving me stunned.

Do I tell anyone what happened? No, they wouldn't believe me anyways.
~•~
I stuff my textbooks into my bag and wait for that goddamned Justin Carter. "Ready, Princess?"

I ignore the question. "Where are we going?"

"You'll see."

"What do you know about my brother?"

"I don't even know him. I just wanted to make sure you were listening." A small grin tugs at his lips when he sees me frown in annoyance.

He leads me to his car and opens the passenger door for me but I stand there. There's no way in hell I'm getting in his car. "Look dude, I don't even know you. I'm not getting in your car."

He rolls his eyes, "just get in."

I huff and hesitantly sit down. The black leaver interior is cool and suits the black paint job. "Where are we going?" I ask again stubbornly.

And I get the same answer as before; "you'll see".

I honestly have no idea what's going on. Is he going to kill me?! Oh God please no, I'm too young to die. I don't know him. He's practically a stranger! Why did I agree to do this? Or even get in his CAR? I'm so dumb. Questions flood my mind and before I realize what I'm saying; "are you going to kill me? I knew it! But please I'm sorry for whatever I did wrong. I don't want to die!"

He just stares at me in shock and confusion. "I'm not going to kill you but you better stop yapping or I may consider it," he growls and looks away.

Okay I admit that was a little extra. Or a lot extra...

"Who lit the fuse on your tampon today?" I roll my eyes and sit back. He starts the car while uttering something under his breath. About 10 minutes pass of us driving and I'm already bored. "Are we there yet?"

"No."

"When will we get there?"

"I don't know."

"Well where IS there?"

"Somewhere."

"Fine, be stubborn." He smirks like he thought he won. Not even a minute later I ask if we're there yet.

"I swear to God, Avery I will duck tape your mouth shut if I have to!"

"But are we there yet?"

He yells out in frustration and I laugh hysterically.

About 15 minutes later, "are we there---"

"YES!" He yells.

I smile as he pulls into a parking spot in front of a gas station. He gets out and I get out too. "Stay right here, Avery. I mean it. This part of town isn't the safest." He frowns at me sternly.

"Why?"

"Just do it! Goddamnit, Avery. I'm just going into the gas station to talk to," he hesitates, " a friend."

"You need my help talking to a 'friend'?" I frown.

"No, you're not done here yet. Just stay, alright? If anything happens to you I-," he sighs, "just don't go anywhere I'll be right out."

His gaze lingers on me for a second before he looks away and walks into the store.

This is boring, I want to DO something. He asked for my help and here I am. I'm not just going to sit around all day. But why did he hesitate when he did he needed to talk to someone? And why didn't he finish his thought when he said if anything happens to me? I swear he's more confusing than calculus. Having nothing to do, I lean on the good of his car and observe my surroundings.

A strong hand grabs my arm and another covers my mouth. My first instinct is to scream but it's muffled by the pressure. Oh my God. This isn't happening. No no no no no!

I try to pull away from them but they hold me like I weigh as much as a feather.

"Well well well... What do we have here? Justin fucking Carter's new, little girlfriend? Or maybe little toy?" A deep voice chuckles in my ear. Girlfriend?! You?! I've known him for less than a day!

I can't move or talk, barely even breathe. I can't comprehend what's happening, only that I might be dead in less than two minutes.

"Please let me go! I barely know him!" I cry as loud as I can but it's still not understandable.

But I guess he did.

"SHUT UP BITCH!" He yells, pulling me into a dark alley literally ten feet away from Justin's car.

My eyes burn with tears and my heart feels like it's going to explode.

"He took something from me, now I'll take something of his," he hisses, pulling a knife from his pocket.

God, please forgive for whatever trouble I have caused. I never meant to, just please save me.

Another guy who's just as scary comes around the corner smirking. "Not so fast, we should have some fun first." He tries to slide his hand under my shirt but I knee him where the sun don't shine.

THEY'RE TRYING TO RAPE ME! WHAT THE FUCK DO I DO?

"THAT LITTLE CUNT!" He roars pulling out another knife.

My sobs are hysterical and I cant think straight. Please don't let this be the end for me...

JUSTIN CARTER'S POV

After taking care of business, I shake his hand and walk back outside. I spot my car, but no Avery. I gave her one fucking direction!

"Fuck," I groan. This city's full of gangs and sadistic people. I'm not letting anyone get their nasty hands on my girl.

Wait what?

"My girl"?! What the hell is wrong with me! I can't be doing shit like this. I won't be able to live with myself if she gets involved with this shot I've caused.

I scowl and make my way over to the car. Where the fuck is she?

"I'M GOING TO MAKE YOUR DEATH NICE AND SLOW! THAT'S THE WAY GIRLS LIKE YOU LIKE IT, RIGHT?!"

What the hell?

"YEAH! NICE AND SLOW! BUT JUSTIN GOES FAST DOESN'T HE?"

Who the hell is this psycho and what the FUCK is he talking about?!

I run over to the alley where the scream came from.

"Please no!" A girl cries. "I DON'T EVEN FUCKING KNOW HIM!

No not just any girl... Who..?

"PLEASE JUST LET ME GO! DON'T YOU FUCKING TOUCH ME!" The girl's voice cracks and she sounds hysterical.

My eyes widen and I feel every muscle in my body burn up. I swear to god if that nasty motherfucker touched a single bone on her body! FUCK!

Oh God, please no. Not her! Anyone but her!

It was all a blur then... I just remember punching the fuck out of those dicks who touched my Avery.

Seriously?! AGAIN with the "my" shit.

Blood covered my knuckles and I realize we have to leave quick.

"Avery are you ok---" she's slumped against the wall crying and holding her stomach. "Fuck!" I mutter under my breath. I grab her by her arms and pull her up. This is not happening to her. Please let her be okay. "Are you alright? What the hell happened!"

"I d-don't know! I was waiting by the car a-and then someone grabbed me and I didn't know what to do." She starts to ramble but I wrap my arms around her as tight as I can without hurting her. I don't want to let go. I want to hold her forever and not have to worry about someone pulling us away from each other. She buries her face in my chest and I rest my forehead on the top of her head.

"It's okay, Avery. I've got you." I whisper into her hair and kiss it. I run my hands up and  down her arms. Why am I like this? Why do you I like her body against mine so much? It's wrong. I can't drag her into my fucked up life. If something else happens to her, I'll have to move away again. I can't leave her... Her body trembles and she sob into my chest. My heart aches when I feel her hold me tighter

"Did they hurt you?" I whisper as I rest my head on hers.

"Th-They had a knife..."

"Did they stab you?!" I can feel me getting angrier again and now is not the time for be to be irrational. I need to stay calm. But the thought of someone hurting her makes me want to end whoever touched her's life.

"No... They just kicked me," she says so softly I pretty much can't hear her.

I pull back but still keep my arms around her. "Don't cry please," I say quietly but my voice cracks. Fuck, why now voice?! Her beautiful, green eyes look up at me.

I wipe away the remaining tears on her cheek and just wonder what's going through her head right now.

"I'm sorry, I should've brought you with me." I whisper. Oh God, this is all my fault. It's my fault this is happening. "Fuck." I pull away from her and turn the other way. "This is all my fault. I'm so sorry Avery." I run my fingers through my hair and a sudden feeling overwhelms me. I want to just stab those asses until they bleed out and die. I want them to pay for what they did to her.

AVERY'S POV

I'm just in shock.

1) Because Justin just hugged me and kissed my forehead. And I LIKED it.
2) I just got beat up by two guys I've never met and almost raped.

If he hadn't have come out, I might've been laying on the ground, no longer a virgin... But who knows what they would've done.

The way he runs his hands through his hair nervously makes me feel bad. Does he think I'm mad at him? Or that I hate him now?

"This is all my fault."

He's... vulnerable. He's sad and hurt; I can see it in his eyes. Why? Does he care about me?

"No it's not," I whisper but it came out so quiet even I didn't hear it. What the hell's happening to me?

"Did he touch you? Are you hurt?"

"He um... He tried to but I didn't let him," not wanting to go into detail, I leave it at that.

His eyes start to fill with anger, "how?" If he was a cartoon he'd have steam coming out of his nose. Yeah, he was THAT mad.

I explained what happened and he got even madder, I didn't think that was even possible. "That son of a bitch is gonna pay," he seethes.

"Do you know him?"

He stares at me, "get in the car,  I'm taking you home."

"You didn't answer my question," I protest.

"Get in the car Avery."

"No." His eyes harden. "Not until you tell me."

"Drop it." His tone so serious he was basically saying "conversation over".

"Justin! I almost died! I almost got raped–"

"Don't you think I fucking know that?!" He yells making me flinch. "If you died there, I wouldn't have been able to live with myself! I barely know you but I already can't help it! I care about you, Avery. I care about you so, so fucking much." He looks at me with tears in his eyes and I just wait there, waiting for him to finish. "And I'm fucking scared shitless that I do. I'm a bad person, I do  bad things. And it hurts me that I know I don't have a chance with you because of all this shit I started."

"Why are you scared about caring about me?" I mumble. I don't understand why he's so scared to feel.

"Because if I get to close, you'll get hurt. But I don't think I can stay away from you, Avery." I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him into a tight hug. He wraps his arms around me and buries his face in my hair.

What the hell am I getting myself into?

I sigh and sit down in the passenger seat. 

We drive in silence for a while until he looks over at me. "Did they hurt you?" I shake my head, continuing to look at the scenery.

"You already asked that."

I would be dead, or at least in a really shitty situation, now if Justin didn't save me. I'm glad he did though. I know I've only known him for a day, but I know he hides some things, but I guess that's okay. We all have our secrets. It's just that some are worse than others.

"Avery," he says softly.

I close my eyes, "yeah?"

I'm already drifting to sleep as he says something but I didn't catch it.

A/N

hiya! i hope you guys are enjoying the story so far:D I'm going to try not to make these author notes super long. they'll be longer as the book goes along probably but oh well:)

i just wanted to thank you all for reading this book! I appreciate any comments and feedback you have.

– ch 💕