I couldn't speak. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think. I couldn't do anything because that voice is all too familiar. I never thought I'd have to hear it again, yet here it is on the first day of sophomore year.

"Listen," he sighs when I don't answer. "I understand that you're pissed - I totally get it -"

"Stop," I shake my head, trying to keep him from changing my mind. Over the summer after he left, I made a vow to never, ever let him walk all over me again. That includes now. "I don't want your apologies."

"Nikki," he steps closer, making me take a step back. "I can't even explain how sorry I am for leaving you the day after - you know - but I have a perfect explanation for you."

No. No. No. Oh and did I mention no?

"I don't think you realize how much you hurt me when you left after taking the one thing from me that I kept safe," I sneer. "You don't get to come back and tell me your sorry after two months. Where were you a month ago? A week ago even?"

He sighs, closing his eyes. "It's not even like that."

"No," I shake my head with a bitter smile. "You're not who I thought you were. That's the only thing that wasn't like it was made out to."

The bell rings after my sentence, causing me to look at him scornfully.

"Don't come near me again. I don't need anymore of your bullshit." With that, I find my seat on the overhead and go sit there. I don't know anyone in my class besides Adam, but I wish I didn't.

I know you're probably wondering why I just basically pushed someone away that was trying to apologize, but I promise, once you hear it, you'll understand.

"Wow," he breathed out, his chest falling up and down next to me. "That was amazing."

I don't say anything, because I didn't enjoy it. I thought sex was supposed to be special, it was called making love after all. I felt void, though, the pain was all there, but Adam wasn't. He was off in his pleasure, not worrying much about the amount of discomfort I was in.

He didn't kiss me and tell me it would feel better soon, like all the movies. He didn't say he loved me, that he always would, like the books. It was just...emotionless.

The only thing that I can think of that was for my benefit is him going slow. He asked if it hurt at first, but after that he was just spouting how good I felt, and I was staring at the ceiling with eyes full of tears while holding on to him. He didn't care, though.

He rolled over on his side to look at me. "How was it?"

"It was okay," I lied. "We should probably get going before my brother castrates me."

"He doesn't know you're with me, does he?" Adam asked, getting off the bed at the same time as me.

"No," I shook my head. "He thinks I'm with Brittni, but I think he's getting suspicious."

"Oh okay," he nodded.

He drove me home. The car was silent, though, and when I got out, he didn't say goodbye or kiss me goodnight. Nothing.

I called him the next day, but he didn't answer. I thought maybe it was just a fluke, but when I tried again and again for the next two weeks, I knew what had happened.

I'd been used.

After that, I was a wreck. Brittni was there for me, helping me back on my feet. I just remember crying and feeling internally crushed all the time. Each day his phone number would go straight to voicemail the cycle would restart. Over and over again until I decided to snap out of it.

It was around mid July when I mentally smacked myself and promised that I'd start living. I went to parties, to the beach, I kissed some guys and just overall had fun. That was the better part of my summer.

And just because Adam is back now does not mean I'll fall back into his trap. Ever.

The class couldn't have gone by any slower. I was sitting there, listening to the teacher explain what we'll be doing this semester - just like every other teacher - and almost falling asleep. Nothing is more prone to putting someone to bed than a boring teacher.

Same goes for second hour, and third. It's when I get to fourth hour Spanish that I finally perk up. Spanish is one of my favorite classes, because I like learning about the culture behind it. Learning the language itself is pretty boring.

The thing that's going to suck most about this class is my brothers annoying best friend. Colten.

"What are you doing in this class?" I groan when he walks over to me with a smile.

"I needed the credits for college," he grins and nudges my shoulder. "Why? Do I make you hot and bothered so much you can't be in the same classroom as me?"

I snort. "Yeah, because I somehow find you the least attractive."

"Everyone finds me attractive, lil Nik," he grins cheekily.

"That's already incorrect in so many ways," I shake my head, hoping to God the bell rings soon.

"How?" He asks, offended. "I bet you if I asked a girl to fuck with me right now, she would."

I roll my eyes. "This room is not big enough for your ego."

"What was that, lil Nik?" He asks, leaning closer to my ear.

I push him away with a disgusted look on my face. "Never come that close to me again and quit calling me lil Nik!"

"Whoa, lil Nik is mad," he whistled.

"Oh you little-" the shrill ring of the bell cuts off my rampage. Of course.

"Hello, everyone," the teacher smiles and stands by the desks while everyone is by the white board waiting for their seats. "I'm señorita Lopez and I'll be your Spanish teacher for the semester."

By her accent, I can tell she's a native speaker. I love Spanish accents.

"For now I'll be assigning your seats so I can get to know you all a bit better," she smiles. "So when I call your name please sit in the desk I assigned."

I already know the look on Colten's face before even turning around. His last name is Mathews, my last name is Long. We're bound to be next to each other.

"Nikki Long?" Señorita Lopez calls for me. I roll my eyes at Colten's snide remark about my short dress and walk over to the teacher.

I sit in the row closest to the window, and fourth seat to the board. And then...

"Colten Mathews?" She calls out making me bang my head on the desk. This day is honestly shaping up to be the worst. First Adam now my personal tormentor Colten.

"Nice to meet you, miss," Colten says in a polite voice, taking the seat behind me. Damn him.

"Oh a gentleman," Señorita gushes. Gentlemen my ass.

I try not to think to much about the guy behind me, but when I feel his eyes on the back of my head I begin to feel claustrophobic.

"Can you stop?" I turn around with a snap.

"Stop what?" He asks innocently, staring at me with big blue-grey eyes. He's a natural con artist.

"Stop...staring at me," I sputter. "I feel your nasty perverted eyes on the back of my head and it's making me uncomfortable."

"Puh-lease," he scoffs dramatically. "You love my "perverted" eyes on you."

I close my eyes and take a deep breath in through my nose.

"Colten?"

"Huh?" He questions with a smirk, his full attention on me.

"You need to shut up before I have Jackson break your nose again," I snap and turn my way to the front as the teacher explains the plans for the semester.

Not even five minutes later Colten leans towards my ear saying, "You didn't make him break my nose the first time."

I huff and ignore him. The worst thing you could do in a situation like this is provoke him by saying another comment. Colten is like a child, telling him no will only make him do it more, therefore you definitely do not comment to his comment. A comment like that at least.

•••

By the end of the first day, I can safely say I'm going to be struggling to rein in my temper throughout the semester. First Adam, then Colten. Like I don't see him enough as it is at my own house.

Brittni and I get changed into our practice clothes and head out to the track. During sideline season we practice outside to get used to the feeling. It's also so we don't have to sweat more in the gym. Lincoln Park is known for not having air conditioning unlike the other schools.

"You aren't talking much," Brittni nudges my shoulder, the sun already making me sweat. "What happened? Whose in your classes?"

I don't even want to think about my classes. Plus, if Brittni finds out about Adam being in my chemistry class, she'll definitely hunt him down and beat him up. She's hot headed in that way.

I groan. "I don't want to talk about it."

She laughs. "Why? That bad?"

I give her a look and she laughs again. "Tell me after practice."

Good. Maybe then I'll think of a way to restrain her.

Immediately, the team and I begin to stretch, me doing the splits somewhat uncomfortably in front of the football team.

Oh yeah, did I mention that? The football team practices on the field while we're on the track outside it? Well, now you do. It's uncomfortable at times because mostly you can feel when their eyes are glued to you.

Like now.

I turn around to see a few of the guys looking at me. Blushing, I get up from my splits, the thing I wasn't expecting was for a football to be coming full speed toward me.

"Watch out!" I hear someone yell, but it's too late, my nose is already cracking as the ball spears right into my bone.

A cry of pain rips through my throat like a knife and I fall to the ground. My hand covers my nose as it bleeds on to my lips.

It's broken. It's broken. Oh my god it's broken!

I don't know when, but my brother appears in front of my vision along with Colten. The only difference is that Colten is nervous and Jackson is worried.

"Let me see," Jackson soothes, trying to move my hand.

"No!" He tries anyways. "Ow, ow!"

"We have to take you to the hospital," he says and picks me up bridal style. "Do you mind Adam?"

Adam?

"Not at all," he shakes his head.

What is going on? Why is he here?

"How you feeling, Nikki?" Colten asks nervously.

"Why do you care?" I narrow my eyes at him, Jackson walking us to his truck. Colten doesn't fall behind.

"You know," he laughs. "I feel somewhat responsible for you, cause you're just like a child."

I ignore him and wait to be out into the car. I'm set down in the back with Adam on the other side of me. The two other boys are in the front.

"Why is Colten coming?" I ask, trying to ignore Adam as much as possible.

"Because he's the one who threw the ball," Jackson growls, glaring at Colten who shrinks in his seat.

"Colten?"

"Yeah," he answers high-pitched.

"Did you break my nose?"

A pause.

"Not purposely."

I lose it. With one second to spare my hands are around his neck from the back.

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