Suspended.

The word I feared the most was stamped onto my the palm of my hand, and why is it stamped onto my hand?

Apparently teachers think I'm so high and mighty that I won't tell my parents I'm suspended so they freaking stamped it on my hand. What's wrong with the old fashion ringing the parent's house and informing them?

I was the one who got suspended when Mason was the one who blurted out that I slept with Damien and Damien was the one who told Mason, but nooo.

I'm the one who got freaking suspended.

I stomped out of the office after my meeting with the principal and marched down the hallway as I ignored the eyes following my every step as I did so.

Apparently I'm the talk of the school, not because I supposedly had sex with Damien but because I humiliated him and someone posted that video on Instagram and Facebook.

And that is why I'm currently suspended because apparently I was the perpetrator.

As I trekked down the hallway I couldn't help but stop dead in my tracks at the sight of Mason and Kayla. After all I told him yesterday he still went back to her?! Does he even have a functioning brain right now?

They're standing exactly beside the exit and that's the only way out, now all I have to do is try getting out of this god damn school without gaining their attention.

My phone suddenly chimed in my pocket, indicating a call and I pulled it out of my pocket and swiped my finger across it. A smile crept onto my face when I saw the callers ID and I swiped up and placed the phone onto my ear, waiting for him to say something.

"Are you free by any chance right now?" He suddenly asked.

"Surprisingly I am free, what's up?"

"I thought that maybe we could go get ice cream or something what do you say?" He asked.

I paused and nibbled down on my lips as I flickered my eyes back towards Mason and Kayla, maybe I should go. . . maybe I shouldn't. "You cool with that?" He breathed out after a long while of me not answering.

Shit.

"Yes I am, where do you wanna meet?"

"Cocoa's Cafe."

"I'll see you there," I said and after a few more words exchanged between us we hung up. With a sigh, I slipped it back into my pocket then snapped my gaze back towards the door where Mason and Kayla now stood. . .making out.

He really is disgusting.

I strutted down the hallway angrily paused before them. They hadn't noticed my presence yet so I took the liberty of wrecking myself through the space between them, breaking them apart.

"What the hell Michelle?!" Kayla snapped, I rolled my eyes and flipped her off before pushing the school doors open and sauntering down the steps.

I rushed towards my car and slipped in. Shutting the door after, I let my gaze move back towards the school's doors where Mason stood staring at me intently and Kayla beside him arguing.

His hands were shoved down his pocket and a frown plastered on his face, my middle finger was twitching, threatening to flip him off as well but I contained myself.

I've already humiliated him at home by basically calling him out.

I won't flip him off too.

I pulled out of my designated parking spot and started down the streets to Cocoas Cafe.

•••

I tumbled into the cafe and located a vacant table furthest away from prying eyes.

I lowered myself down onto the chair and retrieved my phone from my pocket to check the time. As I did so the bell above the cafe chimed and I turned towards the door, hoping that it was him.

And there he was, a wide smile on his face as he made his way towards me, "Hey," he smiled shyly as he slipped into the chair opposite me.

"Hey Brandon, how are you?" I asked as I took this opportunity to gawk at him.

"I'm good, how are things with you?" He asked in a cautious tone.

Weird.

"I'm fine actually, well despite getting suspended today so." I shrugged nonchalantly. His eyes flickered down to my wrist and he let out a snort. "They stamped the word suspended on your hand?" He laughed, I should be a little upset but gosh his laugh is so mesmerizing I had to laugh as well.

"Yeah," I chuckled as I pulled it back but he gripped it softly and intertwined our hands. "That's freaking awesome, I mean I saw what you did, you're a badass." He chuckled deeply.

"What are you talking about?" I asked confusedly. He sighed as he reached into his pocket and pull out his phone. He placed it flat down on the table and pointed at the video that's been circulating the internet for the past twenty hours.

"Oh my god, it's already at one million views!" I screamed, earning a few groans and disapproval looks from the other customers.

He laughed then turned his phone off and gripped my hands a little tighter this time. "You're freaking awesome, why'd you do it though!?"

I sighed, recalling the moment I "abused" Damien in the shower. "You remember Mason from the camp?" I asked. He rolled his eyes and nodded, "well the guy in the video apparently told Mason I had sex with him –which isn't true at all– and Mason blurted it out in the cafeteria so I had a little payback!"

"That's messed up, I'm sorry." He mumbled and sighed deeply as I shook my head softly. "I know what will cheer you up, ice cream! What's your favourite flavour?" He asked.

"Pistachio."

He got up from the seat and made his way to the counter, I slumped against the seat and flickered my eyes shut as I tried to rid my mind of Mason.

It's excruciating.

Horrible.

. . . .

Breathtaking.

"Hey, dollface, why aren't you in school?"

I snapped my eyes open and stared up at Brandon who lowered himself down onto the seat. "Did you say something?" I asked frantically as I sat upward.

"No, you look like you've just seen a ghost. Are you okay?" He asked in concern.

Oh my god, I'm going crazy. I could have sworn I heard Mason's voice.

Well, no shit you're hearing his voice, that bitch is getting into your head and you can't con–

Shut up conscience.

"Hey, Elle are you sure your okay?" He asked once again as he linked our hands together and gave it a soft squeeze. I nodded with a small smile and peered up at him.

He pushed the pistachio ice cream I didn't realize was already on the table towards me. I immediately dug my spoon into it and smiled in content as I began I slipped the spoon into my mouth.

"So, why'd you ask me to come here?"

"Okay, so you know we've been talking a lot lately. . .uhm kissed a few times I guess and I really really like you Elle, you're cool and you're funny and awesome to hang out with so–"

"You wanna ask me to be your girlfriend?" I asked, leaning in closer with a small smile on my face, his Adam's apple bobbed up and down nervously and he nodded his head frantically.

Doesn't he think we're going to fast?

I mean I don't mind, he'd be a good distraction from Mason and I like him a little bit so where's the harm there? I cupped his cheek in my palm and brought my lips down onto his in a soft kiss.

And that's when I felt it.

The gaze of someone. I don't know how but sometimes I feel like I'm being watched.

I pulled away from the kiss and peeled my eyes open, staring back into his brown eyes. "Is that a yes?" He mumbled, still looking a little dazed from the kiss.

"Yeah, I'd love to be your girlfriend," I stretched out a small fake smile. I'm feeling a little unsettled right now. Someone is watching us but I'm too afraid to turn my head, my gut is telling me if I do then I'm making the worst mistake of my life.

It doesn't feel like it's Mason, he's probably in school and I wouldn't get a sudden rush of fear by his gaze or presence. It feels cold and deadly like if I snap my head towards the person they'll kill me with their piercing gaze.

Brandon must have noticed my uneasiness because he grabbed me by the shoulder and lightly shook me, "Babe, are you okay?" He asked in concern.

I flickered my eyes towards him and chuckled, "you called me babe," I choked out. His eyes widened and he let out a breathy chuckle, "sorry I shouldn't have, I mean we just started dating and I really like you and the name suits you a–" he babbled but I cut him off quickly.

"Hey, hey. . .calm down. It's okay, I like it. . .Babe," I chuckled amusedly. "Thank god," he huffed out as he dropped his hands from my shoulders and slumped back into the chair.

I could still feel the piercing gaze burning holes in my back. Call me crazy but something in my body is telling me it's Kaleb. He ran away just after supposedly killing my sister, he was on the top ten most wanted criminals in Washington DC.

Never to be seen again.

So why would he possibly be back, staring at me through a window? Nah, I'm just crazy and overthinking things. . .Kaleb is not here right now, he's not staring at me and he didn't come back to possibly kill me and drop me in a ditch.

Wow brain, such comforting and inspirational words!

"Are you free this weekend?" Brandon asked awkwardly.

"Yeah, I am."

"Great, I wanna take you out on a date." He winked. I smiled and straightened myself, curious as to what date he wants to take me on. "A date? details please." I beamed brightly and he smiled.

He chuckled as he shook his head and made a tutting sound with his tongue. "Nope, it's a surprise."

"So you already planned this date?" I asked with a small smirk lingering on my face and he nodded his head and averted eye contact with me.

"Busted."

•••

I pulled up in the driveway approximately six at night. Brandon and I spent the entire day in the cafe. chatting, getting to know more about each other and some irrelevant stuff.

I found out that he has a twenty-four-year-old brother in the navy. That's a pretty freaking cool job. Deborah could have had a successful future but I just had to go and screw up everything.

I hopped out of my car and strutted towards the door but before I could even push the key into the lock it swung open, revealing my very not-so-subtly angry father.

"Where have you been?!" He shouted and I rolled my eyes as I slipped into the house. He closed the door behind me and grabbed me roughly by the arm, dragging me into the kitchen.

What the hell is wrong with this old man!?

He shoved me away from him and I tumbled backwards which resulted in me hitting my waist against the island table. I let out a cry of disbelief as I stared down at the table then my father.

"Suspended!" He shouted in rage, "and you come to my home at this hour like it's a happy day? You young lady, you're out of hand, I had to see my daughter online abusing this poor boy in the shower. Everyone in this god damn town knows this family and you just dirtied our name!"

"Well, maybe you should have asked me why the hell I did it first before shouting after me and making assumptions!"

He stalked towards me angrily, eyes filled with rage before he stopped directly in front of me and growled deeply. "You are grounded for life, first you go around this damn town causing havoc with your boyfriend and then you get your little ass arrested, you get your sister killed and now this!"

I flinched at his harsh tone and bit back the tears threatening to spill from my eyes. He said that I was the one who caused her death!? Does he really think that about me? "You are a disgrace to this family," he spat in disgust.

All the rage I was holding deep inside suddenly boiled up to its surface and I fought to keep it down but I just had to release it, I needed to release it. "YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY BUT YOU'RE HERE JUDGING ME LIKE A PRICK!" I screamed and he peered down at me in astonishment.

He clenched his jaw tightly and before I could comprehend what was happening I felt it; his hand coming down on my face, my head whipping to the side as a stinging pain struck through my cheek. . .the scream escaping my lips.

My vision blurred as I tilted my head towards him slowly and he stared down at me, flabbergasted as his lips parted then clamped shut. A sob escaped my lips as I shook my head slowly, "fuck you."

I shoved past him and barrelled up the stairs and towards my room.

"Michelle what happened!?" Mason muttered softly as he tumbled towards me.

A sob escaped my lips as I kept my palm against my cheeks, ignoring Mason's words of protest as I shoved him away from me. "Michelle!"

"Fuck off Mason!" I exclaimed in rage before I bolted into my room and slammed the door shut. I planted a kick into the wall which no doubt left a huge gaping hole into it and backed away slowly. I paced around the room frantically, trying my hardest to catch my breath but when I no longer could I slammed my feet into the mirror sitting against the wall which caused it to shatter to pieces right before me.

Suddenly, the person I hated the most came back when he landed that slap. She came back and she wasn't going to stop. I honestly thought Mason would be the one to make her resurface but no, it was my own father.

I grabbed a baseball bat I had sitting in my closet and began smashing everything on my nightstand with it. . .every single thing I could find.

Ranging from my clock to ornaments, perfumes, and anything and everything I could have found. The pounding on the door was already enough to set me off so I marched towards it and sent my feet flying into it, probably startling the person outside but I didn't care.

And then suddenly the door was kicked open and someone rushed towards me, instantly snatching the bat out of my hand and pulling my shaking body towards theirs.

I let out a sob as I collapsed against Mason and I buried my face into his chest.

I hate him.

I hate my father.

I hate Kaleb.

I hate Kayla.

I hate everyone and everything right now, because not only did they bring me down.

But they also unleashed her, the person I hated the most.

She's back and ready to cause havoc.