We were back at school and some people liked it, for example, Daniel and Hayley, while others didn't. Like Faith and me. Faith wanted to stop at her locker before we went for lunch so I went with her.

"He's been watching like a hawk all day, I'm getting sick of it," she slammed her locker shut.

"Hey," I grabbed her wrist and pulled her back. "Why didn't you tell me?" I asked while she leaned against the locker and I trapped her there.

"Why would I tell you? So you can punch him again?" she rolled her eyes. I nodded slowly while stepping back. "I didn't mean it like that. I would love for you to punch him again, but that would get you in trouble," she grabbed my shirt and pulled me closer. "I don't want that to happen because of me," she whispered while fiddling with the collar of my shirt.

"I think not having any food in your system is making you crazy," I grabbed her head and led her out to the field.

"I'm not crazy, it's true," she said while we sat down as Daniel and Hayley came out.

Holding hands. Hmm, interesting.

"Faith, it's not true. It would not be your fault, you would not get blamed, ever." I grabbed the sides of her face and stared straight into her eyes. She nodded as Daniel and Hayley came and sat down.

"Guys, listen up," Hayley huffed while sitting down. "You all know my cousin Dylan, right?" she asked.

I know him because since he graduated from here, he drops by here often. He was really good at soccer and was captain throughout his high school years, he's known for it. "Yeah," we all said and nodded in sync.

"Well, he's getting married!" she cheered. "Oh my god, when?" Faith asked.

"This weekend. So I was thinking, why don't we all go?" she shrugged. "After the game this Friday, we can leave and we'll be back by Monday morning. We'll get back to school Tuesday," she suggested. "What'd you think?" she looked at all of us.

"I'll ask my mom, I don't think she'll mind," Faith shrugged.

"I can probably come," I shrugged too.

"I'll be there," Daniel replied.

"Alright then. We can hang out tomorrow after school and buy some dresses for us and tuxes for you two," Hayley smiled. We all agreed and talked about random things for the rest of the lunch.

"I'm gonna head home, you wanna come?" Faith asked while we were at her locker.

"Why are you going home? Is it because of him?" I questioned.

"I have a free period and then study hall, I don't have to stay," she replied.

"Well um- I have practice but I'll come over after that, I have study hall too," I answered.

"Then I'll just stay for your practice and watch," she shrugged while zipping up her bag.

We walked back to the field where some people from the team were warming up and the bleachers were empty. I went and changed and then started practice.

x-X-x

I came out of the locker room after showering to see Faith just sitting there, staring off into space. It looked like she zoned out. But when I took a closer look at her face, I could see tears rolling down her cheek. I wanted to ask her what's wrong and grab her, but it felt like this was a moment where I should leave that choice up to her. So I just sat beside her.

"How the hell was I ever with him?" she wiped her tears away while still staring ahead. "He's a psychopath," she whispered. "Do you think he's done this shit with another girl before? Or was I the only one who caught that sick fuck's eye?" she said through gritted teeth. "What the hell did I get myself into?" she ran her hand through her hair, holding her head in her hands while sighing. "What did I do? What the fuck did I do wrong?" she cried. "What did I do, Alex? What did I do?" She rested her head on my shoulder while crying hysterically.

"You didn't do anything, Faith." I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her in. "You didn't do anything."

x-X-x

"Are you sure you don't want me to stay?" I asked.

"I don't know what my parents are gonna say," she mumbled.

"Then why don't you stay at mine?" I suggested.

"We have school tomorrow and I just- it's fine," she sighed, not sounding convinced herself.

"Faith, we don't have to go tomorrow if you don't want to." I stepped closer to her.

"I have to, we have to find ideas for the game," she looked down at the ground.

"Faith, I think you should talk to your parents," I sighed. Her eyes snapped up to mine. "Now."

She sighed while contemplating it. "Will you come with me?" she asked.

"Of course," I nodded. We walked into her house and her mom wasn't there but her dad was sitting on the couch.

"Hey, kids!" her dad smiled while waving us over.

"Dad, where's mom? She should've been here by now." Faith sat down, pulling me down next to her.

"She has a meeting with someone's parents at the school, I'm not too sure. What's going on?" He turned the TV off and was now paying full attention.

"I can't do this," she whispered to me.

"Yes, you can. Faith, you have to." She sighed before turning back to her dad.

"I wanted to talk to you and mom but it's just you now, I guess," she began.

"About what, honey?" he asked.

"About Cody. Dad," she huffed, "You don't know this. Any of this but mom knows some parts. I was with Cody for eight months and then I broke up with him because I caught him cheating after the first game of the season." Her grip on my hand tightened and I held her hand back tighter. "Then uh- Alex and I s-started dating. It wasn't for the right reasons and there wasn't anything real between us at the beginning so we didn't think it would become a problem but then-" she stopped to breathe.

"Then Cody started getting mad." I watched as Mr. Hughes' jaw clenched. "When Alex had his tryouts for basketball captain, Cody knocked him down a couple of times and hurt his ribs. Mom knew that happened and then the coach didn't let Cody on the team. A couple of days after that, Cody pulled me into an empty classroom in the morning, forcefully. And he um-" she choked.

"He told me to break up with Alex. Sometime after that Cody and Alex got into a fight because Cody started grabbing me in the hall and then the-they both got suspended." She ran her other hand through her hair.

"After that, Cody showed up here a couple of times while you and mom weren't home and I managed to get rid of him once and Alex was always there to help. And now-" I saw a tear slip and it killed me. "Now h-he showed up at the beach. Where um- I was standing and waiting for Alex to bring some c-colors and he kissed me against my will," she cried.

"And then Alex and I fought over it. He wanted me to tell you and mom everything but I didn't want to talk about that with anyone except for him. S-so I didn't but when he left, I-I got angry and confronted Cody. He got really mad at me, dad." She inhaled, "So I ran but uh- he caught me and then he threw me into the water. Hayley found me but I sent her to c-call Alex. Before Alex could get there, Cody already h-hit me. Then Alex showed up and started fighting him. I don't know what happened because Daniel took me to the- to the car," she gulped.

"Then the cops came, then the paramedics, then you."

Her dad looked furious. "And today?" he asked.

"He was staring at me all fucking day," she broke down. "And I couldn't do anything. No one did anything. So I convinced Alex to come home early. I thought you wouldn't be here when I came early and I didn't want to be alone. So I stayed with him for practice, now we're here." She took a deep breath in, like the weight of the world just lifted off her shoulders.

"When we went to the station, they said if anything else happens then they'll see what they can do. But they're not gonna press charges, sir. They won't take this seriously." I huffed.

"Honey," he addressed Faith. "Why didn't you tell us?" he asked softly.

"I wanted to but- Alex helped me when I found him cheating. He was there for me even though he didn't have to be. He's the reason I knew that it wasn't my fault and I didn't do anything wrong. And when I'm with him, I just- I feel safe. It was easier to tell him because I knew he would actually do something. No one else that knew did."

A moment of silence went by and then Mr. Hughes spoke up. "Will you please take her to her room? And if you don't mind, Alex," he paused. "Will you please stay with us for a few days. Just for her?"

"Sure, sir. Anything for her."

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