My head has been killing me. Each little sound brings an instant throb. Jason and my parents asking questions left and right didn't help. This nausea residing in the pit of my stomach might as well make itself at home because it doesn't seem to be going anywhere either.

I hate that they know about my relationship.

I never wanted them to know.

I don't think I have ever seen Jason so mad. I had to make him swear not to tell Hannah or any of my friends. I'm terrified as is that any of them will find out. I don't know how they will react or what side they will choose.

Listening to Isabella insulting Louis alone because she loves Josh so much was enough to mess with my head.

I no longer want to deal with anything or anyone. I can't have a moment of peace.

"Oh, God," I breathe, leaning against the wall. Fatigue washes over me as I rest my head back. My foot aches, my head is pounding, and I am moments from just collapsing.

"Are you alright?" Hannah asks urgently. My eyes are screwed shut, but I nod and breathe through the pain.

"We can take a break. As long as you need," Ali also tries to console me. I hold the crutches loosely and relax with the wall's support. I give up. I want to give up. It isn't much longer until we get into the dorm room. We are maybe four rooms down, but my body is done.

"Why'd you stop? Are you alright?" Jason asks, finally joining us. I lamely nod, my hand gripping tighter on the rubber part of the crutch. "Do you need to go back?"

"Jason, she doesn't need to go back to the hospital. She just needs to catch her breath and take her time," Hannah scoffs. Jason frowns, putting a hand in his dirty blonde hair. He doesn't look at her. He hasn't since she and Ali got to the hospital. He barely said a word to her, not even while driving us back to campus. He's mad and, for some reason, at her, because of the Josh situation. He knows. She doesn't know. That stress has been piling onto everything else. I don't want him to be the one to tell them. I especially don't want him around for much longer when he has been pacing and mumbling nonstop. He grumbles again and makes his way to the dorm room to unlock it with my key. "What the hell is his problem?" Hannah whispers, rolling her eyes. She knows he isn't usually like that. My throat is parched. I stay silent.

"Want to try again?" Ali asks softly. I nod, pushing off the wall. I try to steady myself with the crutches, her hand falling on my back. I try again, despite every bone in my body feeling like it will break. I don't think I have ever felt so weak in my life. My hatred for Josh only increases with every little ache and pain.

It feels like an eternity before I get into my room and sit on my bed. I drop my crutches to the side and try to catch my breath. "Got it?" Jason asks, fixing the crutches for me. I nod with a hum, and he sighs. "I'm gonna go back to the hotel with Tom and Isabella. I'll be back later," he mutters.

"You three did not need a hotel. We live half an hour away," I remind him with a pointed look.

"Yeah, you know they want to stay as close as possible right now. I'm staying close by too, especially after," Jason pauses; his muscles are rigid, and his jaw tightens. Especially after finding out about Josh, but he won't say that in front of the other two. "I need to go. We'll see you for dinner," he huffs before leaving.

"Bye," Hannah mumbles, but he ignores her yet again. I told him it wasn't her fault for not knowing. Hell, he never noticed himself. Is he furious at her, or is he mad for not seeing it personally? "Honestly, what the hell is up his ass," Hannah throws her hand up. I refuse to answer. This headache will not go away.

"Are my painkillers in there?" I ask, going off-topic.

"I'll get it," Hannah nods, hurrying to grab them from my bag and a bottle of water.

"Is there anything I can get you? Food? Coffee? One of your books?" Ali starts, but I shake my head. None of that is tempting.

"I only want to sleep," I note quietly. Hannah hands me my medicine and the water, which I take almost instantly.

"I'm so glad that you're okay," Hannah whispers. My chest hurts. I don't look up at her. Before I even got hit, we had gotten into that fight over the phone. She was pissed because I refused to tell her why I ran or where I was. That's been swept under the rug as if it had never happened.

I'm not okay.

I could have been killed by Josh's driving or the hit alone.

I don't feel safe in this dorm, whereas the hospital could refuse his entry at my will. I almost wish I could stay at Louis' flat, hidden from him. I feel safest around Louis, but I'm not sure he knows I left the hospital unless Shane mentioned it. I still have no phone to reach out to him. He never returned after this morning, giving me the time and privacy with my family. I am terrified that he overheard Isabella's judgmental remarks. I have never heard her judge someone so harshly. I hate that she talked down on him.

"Do you want us to leave you be for a bit to get some rest?" Hannah asks solemnly. That sounds heavenly right now.

Only the door opens, and my stomach dips as both Shane and Derek help themselves in. Shane holds a coffee in hand with a weak smile, and Derek has that worried look in his brown eyes. I'm one step farther from peace and quiet.

"We got you your favourite," Shane announces, putting the coffee on my bedside table. I go to thank them when another figure appears in the doorway. Brown eyes are on me, and chills cascade through me. I'm short of breath. Goosebumps prick at my skin. Josh is holding another damn bouquet of roses as if the ones he got me weren't enough. I suddenly can't speak anymore. Is there even oxygen in this room? My head is spinning already.

"Uh, we'll let you two be to talk," Ali smiles weakly. No. Don't. Why can't I talk? Ali and Hannah go to leave, but the other two stray behind because they only just got here. Josh glances at them, expecting them to go too. If only Jason had stayed a couple of minutes longer. Josh might have been knocked to the ground in seconds.

"God, I've been so scared," he starts towards me, and my heart accelerates. I'm frozen in place. The roses are put on my bed, and he suddenly wraps me into his arms. I can't move an inch. I'm too scared to breathe. He kisses the top of my hair and then the nape of my neck. My insides are a mess. He pulls back a little, his hand caressing my cheek. My throat hurts. I want him off. I have never felt so repulsed by a simple touch. I can't look him in the eyes. "I'm so sorry. I tried to grab you, but it was too late," he lets out a shaky breath. He tries to kiss me, and my head dips.

"We should give you two some space," Shane clears his throat, noticing the tension filling this room.

"I want to be alone," my voice wavers, finally able to speak up.

"But," Josh starts to protest.

"I wouldn't test her," Derek is quick to cut him off, holding Josh back by his arm. I don't make eye contact with any of them, and my eyes are burning already.

"Megan, we need to talk," Josh breathes out like he is so scared to lose me. I don't want to be part of this twisted game. I still don't look up.

"Alright, I don't know what happened between you two since neither of you will talk about it, but come on. Give Megs a break. She's in pain and said she wants to be alone," Shane tries to reason with him, and I feel weak to my core. Josh takes in a deep breath. I can see his fists balling up before he wipes at his face. He's getting pissed because he isn't getting his way. I refuse to say another word.

"Right," he mumbles. He turns to walk out, but a knock on the door stops him. Worry that it could be Jason or my parents flashes through me, and my blood freezes over.

"I'll get it," Shane murmurs. He goes to answer the door, and my hand is gripping tightly at the sheets beneath me. I silently pray that it could be Hannah or Ali returning because they forgot something. Only the door opens, and it isn't any of them. My heart nearly stops as Louis is seen, those eyes dark once more and his jaw clenched. My life might be over, whether it be Josh getting a hold of me or Louis sucking all of the air from this room. "Louis?" Shane sounds off.

"The hell are you doing here?" Josh snaps, bitterness dripping through his words. The testosterone filling this room is intense.

"I'm going to fucking kill you," Louis lunges forward, hands slamming into Josh's chest.

"Hey," Derek yells, the sound making my head throb. Josh's muscles are rigid, and he looks like he is biting his tongue for once. Shane grabs Louis' arm, his blue eyes wide. Louis' fists are tight, ready to fly towards Josh, and his chest is rising and falling heavily.

"What the fuck is going on?" Shane spits out, holding Louis back still.

"That fucking prick tried to fuck Megan and hurt her when he couldn't get her way, which is why she fucking ran," Josh's lie freezes everything in me. My entire world stops.

"What?" Shane lets Louis go, his voice now thin.

Derek lunges forward this time, slamming Louis back into a wall. "Derek," I shriek out, standing instantly. Stabbing pains shoot through my foot, and my head feels like a hammer has been taken to it. My body is weak, but the adrenaline races through me as I get between the two before he can land a fist on Louis. There's not even a moment to think. Derek's brown eyes are dark; his face is red, veins prominent in his neck.

"Megan," Josh yells, but I don't listen to him.

"Stop," I beg, hands pressing on Derek's chest with my back to Louis.

"Megan, get out of my way," he growls, eyes so dark and fixated on Louis instead. I've never seen Derek mad. Holy hell, he is mad.

"It wasn't him; it was Josh," I shriek. His face falters, and my hands are a trembling mess, but those eyes are still locked on Louis, with one hand still fisting Louis' shirt up. Sharp and deadly. "Look at me," I beg, falling to pieces before him.

"What?" Josh tries to scoff.

Shane still stands in shock. I can't think and can't breathe, still taking in shallow breaths as my tears fall. "Derek, you're one of my best friends," I plead again, those eyes finally meeting mine. "Please see me. All the times you have looked me dead in the eyes after Josh had whispered threats in my ears or had struck fear into me. All the times he has hurt me, and you have all looked me right in the face after. All the times I-I had to leave early because he hurt me emotionally or physically. The reason I had to run from you all. He nearly killed us, forcing me back here and driving fast while drunk. I got out of that car when he slammed on his brakes before that other car hit me. Louis has done nothing but help me through everything. He's the first and only one to have seen it. Please, I know you are best friends with Josh, but you have got to believe me. I wouldn't lie about something like this. It was never Louis. Let him go, please."

He backs down, his hand letting go of Louis' shirt. I let out a shaky breath, my body a quivering mess. I admitted that for the first time to them, and I am still terrified, but my eyes don't leave Derek's, pleading and hoping that he'll believe me. He isn't saying anything. Why won't he say anything?

"Say something, damn it. All the times you guys haven't said anything and made me feel so alone. Why won't you say something?" I end up screaming without even meaning to, making my head ache even more. I'm sure the entire building can hear me.

"You are so full of shit," Josh scoffs, my stomach dipping instantly. I stumble into Derek, his arms catching me after Louis had suddenly split from the two of us and bumped me into him. I lose my breath, eyes falling on Louis just as his fist slams into Josh's face with a sound I may never forget. Josh stumbles before lunging right back, his fist meeting Louis' jaw before Louis pummels him to the ground. He punches him so hard that I swear I hear his skull crack.

Only Josh can shove him off, blood spewing from his nose and mouth. His forearm wipes at the blood as he sits up before he scoffs. "Get him out of here," he snaps at the other two. I nearly stop breathing as Shane rips Louis off the floor instead of Josh. That instant wave of betrayal washes over me, and I can feel the numbness creeping in fast.

"Get the fuck off me," Louis pulls out of his touch, breathing heavily. Shane's jaw is tight, eyes focused on Louis instead.

"Get out," Josh demands. Shane twists and his fist suddenly connects with Josh's face, sending Josh fully back to the ground once more. My heart stops in my chest, and my eyes are wide. Shane shakes his hand before grabbing Josh by his shirt and forcing him to stand.

"Get out before I call the fucking police," he threatens Josh. Josh aggressively pushes his hand off, huffing. He curses under his breath and starts towards the door, his arm wiping at the blood on his face. "You need to leave too," Shane breathes out, looking Louis dead straight in his eyes with anger mixed into his deep blue ones.

"But he didn't do anything," I screech out in defence.

"He fucking knew about this shit and didn't say crap to me or anyone," Shane snaps, eyes flickering towards me. "You didn't fucking say shit to anyone either, so I'm equally as pissed off at you," he raises his voice, finger pointed at me. I need even more painkillers. My heart is racing in my chest, and I swallow. "How long has this shit been going on?" he asks sharply.

My body is tense, and my throat is tight. "Megan, fucking answer the question," Derek breathes out, voice low and filled with agitation. His hand is in his hair, pulling at it stressfully.

"Two years," I answer timidly.

"And when the fuck did you find out?" Shane barks at Louis.

"It's not his fault. I told him not to tell anyone. I told him I was getting out of it on my own," my voice wavers.

"You still need to leave," Shane tells Louis, adamant about Louis leaving. My throat is tight as Louis lets out a deep breath. He fixes his grey shirt, which has a couple of spots of blood mixed in.

"No," I breathe out.

"Megan," Shane warns.

"This my dorm, and you don't get to kick him out," I snap back. Shane's jaw is tight before he puts his hand in his blonde hair. I feel even weaker, needing to lean back into the wall. My lungs stifle, and I feel so winded already.

"You should get back in bed," Derek mutters under his breath.

"I'll get there when I can," I huff. I dread making my way back after putting pressure on that foot. I could see myself snapping like a twig. Derek suddenly takes hold of my body, his arm scooping up my legs and the other supporting my back. My body goes up, and my heart drops. "Derek," I shriek.

I'm already on the bed, letting out a shaky breath. My eyes lock with his in bewilderment. My pulse is weak and thready. All three are looking straight at me.

"We aren't going anywhere until you tell us everything," Shane demands lowly. My headache will not go away anytime soon.