Hazel's point of view.
I'm not walking anymore, I'm pretty sure I'm running to the biology class by now. For Vince to text me like that, he must have something important to say. I don't even feel sad anymore. At all. Vince texted me. Like he texts those girls he has in his bed. And he wants to meet me. I run faster until I'm out of breath. The biology is right around the corner. My heart beats so hard. I enter the classroom and... it's empty. I look at the time on my phone. I'm early, that's why. Vince isn't one to be early, ever. I sit on a desk and swing my legs, thinking about Vince. What if he dumps Eve for me? I would love to see the look on her... face. She walks into the classroom smugly with her two fellow cheerleaders. I jump to my feet defensively.
"What do you want?" I spit.
She pretends she's scared and snickers with her friends. They're wearing their cheerleading squad sweaters, Eve's hands in the pockets, laid back.
"And what might you be doing here at this hour?" she asks.
Like that's any of her business. I roll my eyes.
"I'm meeting Vince. My Vince," I growl.
She laughs again.
"Funny, I would have sworn he was my Vince last night, in my bed."
I want to rip her to shreds so bad.
"Listen here, I'll make sure you won't stick around for long. I'll destroy you, Eve," I threaten.
She keeps her smug smile and her calm stance. Her hand slips out of her pocket and stops a recording. My face turns white with shock.
"I bet the whole school would love hearing about that. Maybe you'd even be expelled."
No... I stumble back, weak despite myself. If I got expelled, I'd have to kiss my scholarship goodbye and Parker too. We'd have to move. There's no other good high schools in town. Parker would never forgive me. He'd lose his friends, his team, his passion. I can't do that to him.
"Don't," I beg, my voice trembling.
Eve smiles evilly.
"Convince me, come on," she teases. Her friends laugh. I feel like the walls of the classroom are closing in on me.
I feel like I'm going to be sick. I want to cry so bad, but not in front of them. Never.
"I'll do whatever you want. Just don't, please." My vision blurs with tears but I hold on.
"Stay away from Vince then," she says and my heart shatters like glass.
"Y-yeah, okay. I can do that," I whimper.
Her smile widens. I can't look in her eyes anymore.
"Now shut up and take it."
My head shoots up in surprise. Her friends are getting closer.
"What?" I murmur.
"I said shut up," Eve repeats.
Her friends shove me to the ground. I wince in pain. They start kicking me all at the same time. I hide my face with my arms. It hurts so much. I can't stop myself from crying anymore. Is Vince going to come at all? He's supposed to be here by now. If he sees them hurt me, I'll be saved, right? I bear the pain, waiting for him. My mouth tastes like blood after a particularly strong hit in my stomach. I cough and my throat feels like it's ripping. My body trembles. They finally decide they've had enough and leave me there. Where's Vince? I need him. As they're about to leave, Eve stops right before the doorframe. She takes out her phone and types a number. Smugly, she puts the phone on speaker when the person takes the call. I whine there, on the cold ground. My vision is all blurry. My head pounds and spins. I feel like the pain might kill me.
"Yeah?" the recipient says nonchalantly.
Vince? I scramble, helplessly trying to make a noise but my throat won't let me. Eve smirks down at me.
"Vince?" she says just to confirms my thought. "I'm done here."
I freeze. He... knows? He knows she hurt me? What? Warm tears fall from my eyes.
"Good," he replies.
He texted me. Just so his girlfriend could hurt me. Why is he so cruel? Why are they so cruel? Maybe it's my fault after all. Maybe I made him sick of me and he didn't have any other choice. Maybe I should've stopped when he rejected me. Why does if hurt so much? Normally, even if he did all this, I would have still tried again. I would've asked for an explanation and I would have gotten one. Normally, I would've forgiven him but now... I can't even speak to him anymore without ruining Parker's future. It's useless. My love was useless after all. I should really move on at once. Parker warned me, he told to distance myself and I never listened. I guess it really is time to move on.
"My place tonight?" Eve suggests, staring right into my eyes.
Even when I know Vince will never love me, seeing him like other people shatters me. I can't help it.
"Fine by me." Eve giggles at his reply. I cringe.
"Love ya."
"Yeah." He ends the call and they leave, their point proven.
I whimper. He didn't reject her. He always tells me to "shut up" or "fuck off" when I say I love him. But he didn't reject her. He only rejects me. He doesn't love me, at all. I cry on the ground, unable to move, and slowly lose consciousness.
"Hazel!" Neil calls.
Hazily, I open my eyes. My whole body hurts, my head is foggy. I try to sit up but pain holds me down. Neil is crouching over me, leaning on one of his crutches. I start sobbing again when I remember what happened. I need to stop loving Vince.
"What happened?" Neil asks.
I try speaking again and it works but only weakly: "Help me up, please. I-I want to leave."
He understands immediately that I don't want to talk about it. Not right now. Neil seems like he's going to cry. He holds my waist with one hand and brings me up to my feet. My bruised stomach aches at thr movement. I groan.
"You're injured, Haz!" Neil tries to lift my shirt and get a look at my bruises but I don't let him.
"Please. Let's leave."
His face changes and he nods hesitantly.
"Okay, lean on me if you need." I shake my head at him.
"You're already hurt, don't be silly," I say weakly.
"I can withstand the pain, Haz. As long as it's for you." His eyes shine sincerely.
My heart melts a bit. If only Vince was like this. We walk together towards the exit. Outside, in the parking lot, Parker's car is gone. I frown.
"Where's my brother?" I ask.
Neil sighs.
"Vince told him you left with some of the cheerleaders so..." he says sorrily.
"So he left," I say and my voice breaks.
Did Vince really go that far to make sure people wouldn't find me? Even if I was badly injured? It's so painful to think about. I cry harder in silence.
"We can take the bus to your place," Neil offers quickly, as if he's scared to upset me.
He can't take his car since he's injured so he has been either asking for lifts or taking public transport.
"Can we go to your house? Please?" I say but it sounds like a plea.
"Of course. I wasn't sure if you were comfortable. It's... Hum... about five minutes of walking. That fine with you?" he says with worry in his voice.
I forgot he lived so close to the school. I have never been to his place after all.
"Yeah, it's alright. I'm fine." I try not to wince in pain after saying that. My tears betray me.
Neil gives me a reassuring smile. "Don't lie to me," he says softly.
My breath catches in my throat. Why does he know me so well? I squeeze my eyes shut to try to stop the tears.
"I'm sorry." My voice is broken, like my heart.
Neil pats my head as we get on the sidewalk of the neighborhood around the school, on our way to his house.
"I'll try to make it better, Haz. I'll really try my best," he promises and I know I can believe him.