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"Dude, what's going on with you and Harley?" Matt asks between drinking from a plastic water bottle.

I tie up my black converse shoes, feeling tired as fuck. Last night my dad went crazy after seeing my history paper. I got a B - in one fucking subject. I can't be a picture-perfect son in his eyes. I'm not Hayden.

"Nothing's going on." I brush the damp locks off my forehead.

After spending the last hour in gym class, I forced myself to keep my wandering gaze off a certain blonde the whole time. She sat alone on a bench while the rest of her class played dodgeball. Matt saw me watching her and pulled my attention away, focusing on our own game.

"I heard you broke her heart. You know Roxy isn't happy with you, and JJ is in the middle of this shit." Of course, Harley being Harley, she's going to cause more unwanted drama between our band members.

This is exactly why I didn't want her to catch any feelings for me.

Why the hell did I have to get involved with a member of the band?

Because she's hot. Because I don't have any self-control.

"Look, I don't care what she says about me. She knew I didn't want a relationship. It's not my fault she chooses not to listen to me."

Matt holds up his hands in surrender. "Woah dude, I'm on your side. I always thought the girl was a little psycho over you. I don't even know why she's in the band, to be honest. It seems she just wants to be close to you."

Matt is right. Harley doesn't care about the band as long as I'm in it.

What should I do? I know that Roxy would have a full-on tantrum if we kick her out.

"Let's just get out of here," I grumble.

I feel bad for taking my anger out on Matt, my head is messed up. I'm exhausted lately, my dad just frustrates me and I'll be glad when I go to college next year.

I grab my gym bag, heading out the door with Matt following close behind.

On the way out of the changing rooms, Matt starts talking my ear off about a new club that's opening up. Roxy already sent me the details about playing there. I'm half-listening to him as I pat my jeans looking for my phone.

I groan. I fucking left it behind.

I tell Matt to go on ahead of me and I run to check the empty locker room.

Thankfully I see it sitting on the bench where I changed.

I need a good night's sleep.

Checking my phone, I stop dead in my tracks when I hear a loud piercing scream. I spin around, looking for the source of that voice.

It sounds desperate.

A few seconds after, I hear another scream -- slightly longer and more clear.

It came from the girls changing rooms.

I walk straight over to the doors, my body on full alert. The sound of muffled cries makes me more alarmed.

What the fuck?

Heading inside the room, cautiously. My eyes shoot out of my head at the horrific scene in front of me. My breathing is harsh and uneven.

A girl laying on her back, her arms and legs struggling and her long blonde hair moving wild.

Her screams...

They fill me with a pain so deep inside, that it boils up a burning rage that threatens to reach the surface and all I saw is red.

I stalk towards Jaxon, dragging him off Marnie's body by his white crisp t-shirt. He stumbles over his feet and crashes against the wall. Despite his big size for an average jock, the guy is pathetic.

I grab a fistful of his shirt, throwing him against the brick wall with more force.

"What the fuck do think you're doing?" anger laced through my voice.

When he notices me, he's quick to hold up his hands in surrender. Coward. "It was just a joke, I wasn't going to do anything to her." his burnt blue eyes beg for mercy.

My jaw ticked. "I kicked your ass once, I'll be more than happy to do it again Harrison." his expression holds deep worry, and I could tell he remembered that night perfectly like it was just yesterday.

It was last summer at Ashley's house party. The place was filled with drunk teens after our last day of school. I was with my friends and I briefly saw Jaxon talking to a short brunette girl, she turned away just for a second when I saw him sneak something into her drink.

The guy is an asshole. I know I don't treat women as good as I should, but I would never do something like this piece of lowlife, scum. Nonetheless, I got a few punches to his pretty face and later I warned him that if he decided to press charges against me, I'd tell the police about his little stash of drugs.

My friends and I made sure the girl was safe that night, yet a horrible feeling stirred up inside me that she wasn't the only victim of Harrison's.

My fears were correct.

I'm gonna kill this son of a bitch.

I extend my arm, ready to strike--

"No." a small voice stops me from landing another punch straight at his jaw and I flinch. I look over at Marnie and my face softens.

Tears stream down her round, flushed cheeks, her blue eyes wide and glassy.

Jaxon pushes me off, making a quick run for it. I spin around -- chasing after the fucker when Marnie whimpers behind me.

My body straightens, I turn and I stare at the small girl. Her arms wrapped around her knees, her face pressed against her lap.

My throat constricts. I slowly and quietly walk toward her, trying not to scare her.

"Marnie," I gulp uneasily, "Are you okay?"

Her eyes meet mine again and my heart flutters, what the hell?

She nods her head slowly and I sigh. "Do want to talk to someone? The headmaster or... the police?"

"No. No, it's fine." I don't know what I would have done if he hurt her -- if I didn't get here on time.

I pace back and forth. "I think you should, I'm a witness. I can tell them--"

"I don't want to Reese. Please just, stop." she cries.

Although she covers herself with her arms, I notice she only wears a pair of cotton grey shorts and a sports bra. I stop pacing and without hesitation, I pull my top off over my head and hand it to her.

Marnie's eyes widen, but she takes the piece of clothing with a grateful smile and pulls it over her head. I'm still holding my gym bag and I take my sports shirt out and quickly put it on.

Marnie wipes her puffy, red eyes, sniffling. I scratch the back of my head, feeling uncomfortable with this situation. I'm not good around crying girls.

"Okay. Do you want me to take you home?" I ask her.

"I can drive myself home."

She stands up, collects her things and walks out of the changing rooms with slumped shoulders. I follow close behind, just in case Harrison is waiting for her somewhere.

"Are you sure? I don't think you should be driving home after what just happened." she keeps walking towards the parking lot, rooting through her bag and grabbing a set of keys.

"I'm fine, thanks for your concern, Reese." she walks faster, "Thank you for all your help, I'll be okay."

I take her hand in mine, spinning her around to face me. Her eyes are wide and bloodshot.

"Marnie, you don't have to be brave, especially around me. We can tell someone what happened--"

"No." she cuts me off abruptly.

I analyse her face closely, she looks pissed but her lip trembles slightly. "Don't tell anyone, please. I just want to forget about it."

Why does she want to forget this?

What's going on with her?

"Why?"

She looks up at me with those incredible blue orbs, they remind me of a deep shade of blue on a hot summer's day and flecks of ice near the center. Beautiful. I look away, feeling embarrassed about my fascination with her.

"I don't want any more hate. I can't handle it," she mumbles so quietly that I almost miss what she said. My heart hurts from her words.

"Marnie--"

"I'm okay I promise, I'm going home now." I grab her hand and she looks up at me. Before she has a chance to speak again, I take out her book from my gym bag and hand it to her.

"I found this."

Her eyes widen with realisation and she takes the book from me, her fingers making contact with mine. I feel tiny sparks run up my arm from her gentle touch.

"Thank you, Reese." she gives me a genuine smile before spinning around and walking through the parking lot and getting into her vehicle without another word.

I stand there dumbfounded as her white Jeep speeds away.

For the first time, I felt something for the small blonde as she drives away from me, a feeling I have never felt before in my eighteen years.

I wanted to hold her in my arms, I wanted to talk to her and reassure her that everything was going to be okay.

I just wanted her close.

Why do I feel this way?

What's happening to me?

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