Harper's P.O.V

"Yo Harp why so sad?" I hear Laur say before her and Chel stop me as I am walking to my car.

"I don't know. I saw Lex in the locker room on the phone with someone and then she blew me off again and left quickly" I say with a frown. "Why is she avoiding me?"

"I cant answer that boo bear but do you want to come over and watch movies with me and Chel?"

I mumble a sure while getting in my car. Once we arrive at Lauren's house and go inside we all sit on the couch and start watching IT. Scary movies are not my favorite but I'm not really focusing on the movie. Sometime later Lauren's phone starts ringing.

"Hey yo Alex what's up?

"..."

"OK" she says quickly jumping up off the couch.

"Babe what's going on?" Chel asks her. She looks between us rubbing the back of her neck before saying she has to run to Alex's house real quick. Chel gives her a look I can't decipher and says ok while I still sat there lost as to what is happening. Lauren quickly grabs her keys and runs out the door.

"What is that all about Chel?" I ask my best friend.

"Not sure babe but it happens sometimes" she says shrugging it off. We stay there and continue to watch the movie. So many questions are racing through my mind, I don't know what to think. A few minutes later the movie is over.

"Maybe we should go to Alex's too and check on them? Something seemed to be wrong the way Laur left like that" I say without looking at her.

"WHAT?" She says causing my head to snap up. "Umm...no its ok she probably just needed Laurens help with something. Lets watch something else" she says trying to find a way to change the subject. Ok...she knows something

"What do you know Chel?"

"Uh no-nothing lets just wait fo-for Laur to get back. I will text her and see where she is." She says not making eye contact.

"Why does it feel like something is wrong and you are lying to me?"

"Look Har just let it go babes everything is fine." She says still not looking at me. I can't do this I need to go home.

"I'm gonna go home Chel. I will talk to you later" i say getting up off the couch.

"Look Har I'm sorry I cant tell you ok. Im not supposed to know I only found out because I snooped through Laur's phone. If Alex or Laur knew that I know they would be mad with me ok. You don't have to leave." She says not making me feel any better.

"It's ok Chel, I understand. I am still going to go home I need a shower and to sleep" I say giving her a peck on the cheek before making my way home.

Once home I strip my clothes and turn on the shower to its hottest setting. As I step in, the hot water flows down my shoulders and back instantly easing some of the tension I feel. My mind wanders off again with thoughts of Alex and soon I let out a squeal as the water turns freezing. After getting out and drying off, I fall into my bed without putting on anything other than my underwear. Almost instantly I slip into a restless sleep.

The next 2 days Alex and Lauren don't come to school. It's now Friday and whenever I try to ask Chel where they are, she says Alex is sick and Lauren is keeping her company.

I got an idea. Since they missed school and I share all of my classes with Alex I thought I would take her work she missed to her.

School is over and since it's Friday there is no practice, so grabbing my stuff I leave and head to Alex's house. Once there, I get out with the papers and make my way up to the door. Lauren's car isn't here making me smile at the thought of being alone with Alex. I knock on the door but no answer.

After knocking a couple more times I try to handle and see that it is unlocked. As I push the door open, I hear Alex yelling "Took you long enough Lo" from what looks like the kitchen. When she hobbles through the door and spots me her eyes go wide. My eyes also widen at the bruises and swelling on her face.

"Harper! Wh-what are y-you doing here?" She asks nervously stuttering.

"I came to bring the work you missed from class the last couple days."

"Thanks Harp" she says hobbling to the couch.

"Are you still sick?" I ask wondering if she is going to say anything about the bruises on her face.

"What? I wasn't sick. Who said I was sick?" She asks looking confused. Well now I know Chel lied to me but why? I raise my eyesbrows and look at her.

"When I asked why you are Laur haven't been at school, Chel told me you were sick and Laur was keeping you company." Her eyes widen in realization that she was supposed to play along.

"Oh yeah that...yeah I'm better. Thanks for asking" she says looking at the floor.

"Well I know you are lying and the bruises on your face tell me its something else...so you wanna tell me the real reason you missed school?" I ask not taking my eyes off of her face.

She doesn't say anything just keeps looking at the ground like it all of a sudden is the most interesting thing in the world. Before I could speak again the door flys open.

"Yo Lex where you at? I got the pain medicine and bandages but they didn't have the.." she trails off eyes flying wide open when she sees me standing there. "Hey Harp! What are you doing here?" She squeaks out still looking at me wide eyed.

"I came to bring Alex the work she missed from classes because she was sick" I say emphasizing the word sick. She looks at Alex and then back to me instantly dropping her eyes to the floor.

"So...anyone wanna tell me the real reason y'all haven't been at school and why Alex has bruises on her face and needs pain medicine and bandages?" I ask. They look at each other for a moment and then back to me before Alex mumbles something about losing a fight.

"I know thats a lie. It's ok you don't have to tell me. I will just go" I say feeling disappointed that no one will tell me the truth.

"Wait Harper!" Alex says, silently telling Laur to walk over to her. I look at them both while they have a silent conversation before Alex nods and Laur sighs. "I really did lose a fight." She says motioning for Laur to help her take off her shirt. I look at them both wondering why she was fighting.

When her shirt comes off I feel tears springing and pooling into my eyes. Who did this to her? This is much worse than the bruising I say in the locker room last week. Taking a few steps closer to the couch I crouch down in front of her not taking my eyes off the horrible bruises covering her body.

"Who did this to you?" I ask, my voice cracking at the end and tears falling down my face. Instantly I feel a pair of hand on my cheeks wiping the tears away.

"Don't cry Harp. Please don't cry I'm ok" she says starring into my eyes. Did she just say shes ok? She's covered in bruises.

"You are not ok. What the hell Alex? You are covered in bruises" I say followed by a sob escaping and making my body shudder. I feel her arms go around my neck and pull me close to her. She whispers shh its ok over and over in my ear until I finally calm down. I look up and see her smiling softly at me.

"Why are you smiling?"

"You are beautiful" she says instantly causing heat to rise in my cheeks. "You are beautiful when you blush too" she says chuckling before wincing. My eyes fly up and I immediately back away from her scarred i am going to cause her more pain.

"Can you tell me what really happened now?" I ask hoping she will finally tell me the truth but am instantly let down when she says she lost a fight again. I decide to let it go for now as I continue to just stare into her beautiful green eyes.

"Laur why don't you call Michelle and tell her to come over we can watch movies and order food" Alex says. Lauren nods and pulls out her phone calling Chel and telling her to come to Alex's house. A few minutes later Michelle show up.

She looks suprised to see me and looks at Laur. Laur nods her head and Chel walks over to me grabbing me and wrapping her arms around me holding tight.

"Chel...can't breathe" i say actually struggling to breathe a little.

"Sorry Har" She says letting me go. "I know it has to suck seeing the love of your life hurt like thi-" i cut her off by slamming my hand over her mouth. I look around to see Alex and Lauren with playful smiles on both of their faces. Shaking my head at Chel silently telling her to shut up, I sit down beside Alex on the couch but not too close. I don't want to hurt her or cause her any more pain.

We all get settled after starting a movie and ordering pizza. Chel and Laur are sitting on the recliner with Chel on Lauren's lap. I am sitting beside Alex when all of a sudden she slides a little closer putting her arm on the back of the couch. I look at her raising an eyebrow and she shrugs. After turning my attention back to the tv I feel her starring at me.

A few minutes later she leans closer to my ear and says "Love of your life huh?" I look at her seeing a devilish smirk on her face. I roll my eyes and look back to the tv. She goes to say something else but the door bell rings. Lauren and Michelle both jump up saying they will get it. I look over to see Alex looking at the tv with a beautiful smile on her face.

"I'm pretty sure you are the love of my life too" she says leaving me speechless. While I still try to wrap my brain around that she just said, Lauren comes in to help her off the couch leaving me still there frozen in place.