My body was relaxed as I laid in bed staring up at the ceiling. The blankets had been kicked to the bottom of the bed while I slept, my body too warm to handle the covers. I tried to keep my mind blank, but of course my impending trial was constantly in my thoughts.

I struggled with the idea of knowing exactly what had happened that night and even though Doctor Gram made it seem like it was a good thing to know, I still felt odd. Should I be proud? I protected someone from being sexually assaulted, but I got carried away and now I wondered if I deserved to go to jail for what I had done.

I rolled over on my side and reached for my phone on the side table next to my bed. It was almost 11:30 in the morning. I sighed, wondering how I always managed to sleep in so late. It's not like I ever slept well.

My bare feet padded down the stairs and I yawned as I entered the kitchen. I searched around the room to see no one in sight. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion as I turned around in the doorway and angled myself so I could see into the living room. No one was there either.

"Mom?" I called lazily, but when I saw a note on the counter I realized that I was entirely alone.

I smiled down at the note, happy with the fact that I had the morning to myself before I had to go to my next session. My thoughts immediately went to Skyler as I pulled a cereal box down from the top cabinet. She had only texted me a few times since I had dropped her off at her friend's apartment. I felt needy. I was always the first to text her and when she actually got back to me it was barely even a reply. Had I unintentionally done something wrong? I didn't know, but I hoped to clear it up when I saw her at the hospital this afternoon.

I sat on the counter by the sink, not bothering to sit at the table as I eat my food. I eyed the coffee maker every so often impatiently waiting for it to be ready. If I ever needed one thing in the morning, it was coffee.

The cushions on the couch shifted as I rolled onto my back and stared up at my phone screen. I read out the text one more time, Skyler saying she had some errands to run before session so she wouldn't need a ride to the hospital. I grunted as I typed a short reply, not happy with the fact that it seemed as though she was trying to avoid me. It was my fault though. I shouldn't have told her she was beautiful the way I had the week before. She must think I'm some lovesick puppy pining for attention. But I wasn't, or at least that's what I told myself.

Time ticked by at a glacial pace as I let myself drift in and out of sleep, the tv creating the perfect background noise. But no matter how hard I tried as soon as my brain began to shut down the yells of people and the boy's I had beaten rip through my brain.

I sat up quickly and rubbed my palms against my eyes. I couldn't even get a good nap in without being shaken from that night. I could only assume that it would be like this for the rest of my life. The guilt was always going to be there.

My eyes scanned over the surprisingly vacant parking lot of the psychiatric hospital and I quickly got out the car, yelling toward the girl I couldn't seem to get off my mind as she walked across the pavement.

"Sky!" Her head whipped in my direction as I slammed my door shut and locked the car before I moved toward her.

"Hey," She spoke quietly. She seemed almost shy and it was a contrast to her normal attitude.

"Hi." I smiled down at her, our height difference making her have to tilt her head up to meet my gaze.

Skyler hesitated for a moment before she wrapped her arms around my waist in a hug. My smile only grew as I tightened my arms around her shoulders. We stood there, unmoving, and once we finally pulled apart I took in her face. The bruises that had been there the night I picked her up on Peach Street were faded to a greenish yellow and her lip looked as if it had healed quite well.

"You look nice," I said and could see her cheeks turn a slight shade of pink.

I gestured for us to head for the building and as we came to the front entrance I asked, "Would you like me to drive you to your friend's after our sessions?"

"Uum," She looked nervous all of a sudden as she thought over her answer. "No, that's alright. They're coming to get me today."

I nodded, unhappy with the fact that I wasn't going to be able to spend any time with her at all. I held open the door for her as we both made our way into the building. I nodded toward the woman behind the front desk as we made our way over to our normal seats.

"Mr. Hood?" I took my eyes off Skyler who had been quietly playing a game on her phone. "The doctor will see you now."

I nodded and stood from my seat, but stopped when I felt Skyler grab my hand. I looked down at her as she squeezed my hand lightly.

"Calum..." She stayed quiet for a second and I felt nervous under her stare. "Thanks for being such a great friend."

I inwardly cursed myself over the fact that I had actually thought she might have liked me back in some way. My jaw was clenched as I forced a smile. I felt like absolute shit.

Without a word, I turned away from her and met the nurse by the door that would lead me to Doctor Gram's office.

A smiled played on my lips as I headed back into the waiting room. Skyler still sat in her chair and I nudged her knee lightly with mine to get her attention. She looked up at me with a raised eyebrows and smiled once she saw my happy face.

"What's got you so excited?" She laughed a little. "You normally walk out of there looking stressed."

I shrugged in response. "Just had a good chat is all."

She rolled her eyes at me and pocketed her phone. "Will I see you next week?"

Her question confused me. "We see each other every week."

Skyler stood and I took note of the light blush on her cheeks. "I know that. I just wanted to be sure."

I smiled and wrapped my arms around her in a quick hug. "See you, Sky."

"Bye." Her voice was just above a whisper.

There was a nice bounce to my step as I walked down the long hallway that led to the front doors and the parking lot just passed that. It was weird to finally feel something other than regret and guilt and I hoped that the feeling was there to stay. I pushed the door to the building open and stepped outside.

I took in a quick breath of air as my heart began to thump in my chest. There in the fire lane sat an old rust bucket of a car that looked like it was about to fall apart. But that wasn't the problem, inside the car sat the one person I hated most. Jacob's eyes met mine and a sly smirk appeared on his face as he realized who I was.

I hadn't even comprehended what I was doing until I ducked down and leaned against the open window of his car. "What the hell are you doing here?"

He laughed like I was a complete idiot. "What do you think? I'm waiting for my girlfriend."

A low growl came up through my throat, but the smirk on his face only grew. What a piece of shit. My hands balled into fists as I got more and more angry.

Skyler had lied to me. She had gone back to the person she told me she was scared of. I didn't understand how she could do it. How could she keep going back to someone who only hurt her?

"If you ever touch her again, I swear I'll-"

"You'll what?" He laughed manically. "You'll beat me half to death like that other guy?"

I stepped away from the car at his words. He knew. Has he known this whole time? I needed to hit something, anything, but all I did was stand there and stare at Jacob like a deer caught in head lights.

"It's a small town, Calum," He mocked. "I've hear people talk about the menace who almost killed a kid with his bare hands. And it got even more interesting when I found out that person was you."

"D-does Skyler know?" I stuttered out.

"No. But if you try and threaten me again, I'll make sure she does."

"Fuck you," I seethed. What else could I do? He knew the one thing that would make or break Skyler and I's relationship and I was too scared of losing her to try and fight back.

I stepped around his car and I heard him as he chuckled at my defeat. And I was defeated. I was scared shitless that he would tell Skyler just for kicks - just to see me suffer more than I already have these passed few months. I didn't need this now, not with the trail only a couple weeks away. It was all too much to handle, but I couldn't bear the thought of him hurting Skyler again. I was torn and I had no idea what I was going to do.