"They want to set you up with Archer, don't they?" Holden whispered, clenching his fists on either side of him as we watched the Robinson's car disappearing around a corner.

"No" I murmured, my eyes settling on my feet.

"Your a shitty lair" he said while sliding his fingers under my chin, tilting my head upwards before brushing his thumb against the corner of my mouth. He seemed distracted, his eyes looking past mine as his lips stretched into a thin line.

"It doesn't matter, they don't get to pick and choose who I want to be with. Besides, Archer isn't my type" I had no idea why I had an overbearing need to reassure him but the words were practically tumbling out of my mouth.

"What's your type then?" Holden questioned huskily while pressing a warm palm on the small of my back, pulling me flush against his firm chest.

"Mysterious and brooding" it was barely a whisper, my sense completely overpowered as I leaned further into him. I never got to kiss him though, blinding headlights paired with the annoying hocking of a horn successfully breaking us apart.

"We should probably head to the truck" Holden chuckled, pointing towards his car behind us.

"W- why were the Robinson's so..."

"Cold?" He supplied, helping me into the passenger seat before standing on either side of my parted legs "they weren't always like that...at one point they were decent people, however pretentious they were. They were actually the ones that paid for all the football camps Archer and I attended" he shook his head, fidgeting with my fingers.

"What happened?"

"I wasn't the charity case they could brag they were helping anymore, suddenly scouts were flying out to watch me — the kid who had nothing — play. I guess they felt threatened, like I was stealing their son's spotlight. I could never get myself to resent them though, they just wanted the best for their child" he scoffed, the moonlight reflecting on his fallen eyes "Besides coach was a part time trainer at the camp, he saw potential in me and trained me all through highschool, I couldn't be more grateful for him"

"I...I..." What was I even going to say to him? 'Sorry your friend's parents are such shitty people?'

"Don't sweat it, I've learnt to ignore them" he shrugged, kissing my cheek before circling the car to get to the driver's seat.

The ride back was silent with thick tension as I tried to wrap my head around why two adults would be so cruel to a fourteen year old boy. The constriction in my heart was still there even when we rolled up to the familiar brick building, my dorm.

"Your frowning" Holden stated from beside me as he shut the engine off.

"Sorry" I sighed

"You don't have to worry about me, let's just go inside" his words did nothing for me, I didn't even understand why the issue affected me so much when I had only recently met Holden.

Nodding albeit hesitantly, I clicked off my seat belt hopping out of the car.

I had decided to stay in seeing as I wasn't in the head space to attended any social gather. Much to my delight Holden had suggested to stay with me, but now standing in front of my open room I wished I had been the furthest place away from the dorms.

My head still hadn't wrapped around the disarray state my room was in, I guess I just didn't want to believe what I saw. Both my bed and Avery's had been flipped over, my dresser smashed with all my clothes lying strewn haphazardly on the floor.

That wasn't the worst part though, not even close. The wall beside my bed was littered with so many photos, some of me and Holden others of him walking around campus, his face crossed of with a red marker on each and every photo. The words 'I found you Anna' sprayed across the same wall. There was only one person that called me Anna and if I had it my way, I would never hear the name again.

I hadn't even noticed I was screaming, I couldn't hear it but I could feel the painful strain in my throat.

"What the fuck?!" Holden's voice roared beside my.

It was like reliving all the nightmare I had suffered through, his voice screaming dreadful things inside my head. I could no longer see past the scribbled writing on the white walls, I couldn't breathe. Bitter bile rose up my throat as my stomach lurched at the thought of Xander hurting Holden in anyway, it would be my fault and I don't think I could handle that.

My knees gave out as I slumped to the floor, Holdens arms shooting out to soften the fall. I was straggling to squeeze air into my tightly wounded lungs as my finger vibrated uncontrollably, I was a trembling heaving mess but that was the least of my worries.

Holden's voice was like a distant call, I could hear his voice I just wasn't listening. His hands around me felt foreign, like I wasn't actually there and was watching from a third person's perspective. I could feel the distinct agony in his voice but I was too far gone.

I have no idea how long it had been, but when I pried my heavy eyes open I was still in Holdens arms, the only difference being the various police men standing around my room.

"Savannah?..." He sounded unsure almost scared, like I would explode if he said my name just a little louder

"Is she awake?" A different voice said from behind me, addressing Holden.

He stirred slightly from underneath me, making me aware of the new position we were in. I hastily scrambled off his lap, quickly standing up. I regretted it immediately when the pounding between my ears increased, causing me to lose balance but Holden was there to cushion my fall again.

"The...the police what to ask you some questions" he said once he had helped me into an upright position his strong arm still anchoring my back "I can ask them to leave if you want me to" he whispered, I could feel the struggle he was putting up against himself about the police for my sake in the way his body tensed. I knew I had to stop hiding from my problems, plus Xander was threatening a completely innocent person. I had to at least try to stand up for myself, so I nodded encouraging Holden's shoulders to drop in the slightest.

"I'm going to be here the whole time" he said giving me a light squeeze, I appreciated his presence more than he could imagine, I needed someone and I'm glad it's him.

"Hello I'm officer Cooper and you must be Savannah" The police officer said, his words calculated and soft almost like he thought I would crumple to the ground at the slightest noise. I nodded once, wanting to end the questioning as fast as possible.

"Has this ever happened to you?" He asked while flipping out a small note book, his eyes still set in mine.

"No"

"Do you know who it could possibly be?" I could feel. Holden's burning stare through the back of my head, as him and the officer waited for my answer.

"Yes" my throat felt completely dry as the words sharply cut past it. I felt too naked, like they could see all my ugly scars. I wasn't concerned about the officer because I had just opened a bag of warms and Holden was just about to find out how many I had hidden.

"Who do you think it is?" Officer Cooper asked, giving me his undivided attention.

"My ex boyfriend" Holden grew completely rigid, his muscles becoming hardboard stiff as he drew in a sharp breath.

"Why?" I couldn't take the questions anymore, it was like therapy allover again. What did they want me to say? 'Oh, my psychotic ex boyfriend just wants to kill me because he thinks I murdered the love of his life'

Why couldn't everyone just let me burry the scaring images and forget about it. I was the victim, I was the one that was targeted by my own boyfriend. So if I didn't want to deal with it they should accept it and move on to. I could feel my chest clogging up again as my vision grew foggy, a loud sob ripping through me.

"I think that's enough sir" Holden said sternly, his shoulders broadening from behind me.

"Okay, dose she have somewhere to stay?"

"She does, she's staying with me" he spoke again, the finality in his voice still clear. I wasn't going to protest, I needed to see him to be reassured nothing would happen to him, god forbid Xander and his twisted head decides to harm him

After the officer gave him an okay he steered us past the halls, where curious on lookers stood outside their doors, stretching to get a look at the scene.

"I got my friend to shut down the party at the football house so you don't have to worry" that wasn't what I was worried about, currently on my mind were Avery's destroyed possessions seated on the room's floor.

"A- Avery..." My throat was like sand paper as I struggled to get the words.

"I'll call Archer and tell him to stay with her. Just take it easy" it was impossible, my eyes kept jumping as my fear driven head anticipated the worst. My legs constantly shuffling in my seat, my hands trembling as my teeth chattered loudly, filling the silent car ride. Holden didn't comment on this, simply placing a conforming hand on my knee.