Hanging Tree

Chapter 23

Violet

I walked away from Calum with tears brimming my eyes. I looked down and kept on walking. I walked as fast as I could towards my car. I bumped into someone and heard him huff in pain. I looked up to see blue eyes staring down at me.

"Violet?" Luke asked.

"Hey," I said to him feeling awkward.

"You okay?" he asked filled in concern.

I nodded and tried to walk away. The last thing I needed right now was for him to see me break down. Luke grasped my hand and pulled me back to him.

"Violet. What's wrong?" Luke asked. His electric blue eyes searching mine for an answer.

I refused to answer him. I didn't want to. Me and him both knew what was wrong. All the boys did. I honestly feel so bad for hurting his best friend like this. Luke shouldn't even be talking to me right now. He should be hating me instead of talking to me.

"Is it Calum?' Luke asked me, his voice soft.

I couldn't hold in it anymore. I broke down in tears. His long arms enveloped me into a hug as my head rested against his chest. "Shh, Violet. It's okay," he cooed into my ears. But it was not. I keep on hurting the only person who has actually helped me and been there for me and protected me. I keep on pushing him away even though he's ready to be there for me.

"It has never been okay, Luke," I sobbed into him.

He rubbed my back, attempting to make me feel better. But its not going to work. Nothing will.

"You wanna talk about it?" Luke asked looking down at me.

Do really I wanna talk about it? I know I shouldn't. This is Calum's best friend here. But I couldn't resist myself. But I didn't wanna talk about it right now. I sniffed and looked up at Luke. "Yea, but not now."

Luke nodded and understood me. "Alright. Let me just walk you to your car."

Luke guided me towards my car and stood outside waiting for me to get in. Tears stained my cheeks as I turned around to look at Luke. I had stop crying and I'm pretty sure my eyes are red right now. "Thanks, Luke," I said to him softly.

He smiled down at me and pulled me into a hug. "It's been such a long time, Violet. We really miss you."

My heart clenched when he said this. I had a really bad urge to cry again but I'm not going to. "I missed all of y'all too, Luke."

"I'll help you out with whatever's going on in your mind,okay?" Luke asked.

I nodded and hugged him one last time. "I guess I'll text you?" I told Luke as I started getting into the car. He nodded and waited for me as I started the engine and drove away. I glanced at him once more through my rear-view mirror to see him standing at the parking lot with his hands stuffed inside his pocket. He soon turned and walked away. Why do I even deserve friends like him?

Zayn

"Why you beating yourself so hard about it man?" Harry asked me as we sat around the table in his house, sipping on his beer.

"I don't know, man. Like we've obviously bullied a lot of people but not till someone has to get sent to the hospital."

Ever since we beat up Violet I've been nothing but completely ashamed with myself. I had smiled at her and then when the boys picked on her for smiling I hadn't done anything to protect her. But its completely not my fault. Its not like we're friends. I'm her bully. That's how I'm supposed to be. Nothing more.

"I have to agree, maybe we went a little overboard with it," Louis admited.

"Should we apologize?" Harry asked, scratching the back of his neck.

"Fuck no!" Louis spat out.

I didn't say anything because I did try to apologize to her but she shut the door in my face. I took a big swing from my bottle and said, "Maybe next time we'll just take it down a notch."

Harry nodded as he drank down his bottle. The rest of the night was spent with me and the boys talking completely rubbish.

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I leaned against the pillar, puffing on my cigaratte. I took in one last long breath before letting it out again. I threw the cirgarette on the ground and stomped on it. My eyes travelled through the enterance of my school and stopped when it fell on a familiar brunette. Green  pairs of eyes staring directly back at my brown ones. She pulled away quickly as she walked passed me. Her eyes on the floor as she walked in. I knew I should have said something but I honestly didn't know what to say.

The bell rang, indicating it was time for class. I sighed as I walked in. Students shuffled around trying to get into class before the second bell rang. I walked over to my locker and got out my books for English. The hallways were empty now. I honestly didn't mind. I walked over to English class just as the second bell rang.

"Tardy as always, Mr Malik," my English teacher said as I walked in.

I smirked at her as she shut the door right after I got in. I saw Violet sitting right at the front. Her eyes tried to ignore mine but failed. Our eyes locked together for a split second before she turned away. I could see a slight scar on her forehead and I knew where that must've come from. I walked to the back of my class where my seat was. I completely ignored everyone Miss was talking about. "Zayn," my name was called out.

I looked up to see Miss staring at me. I raised my eyebrow at her but that didn't get her to answer me.

"Yes?" I asked.

"Did you hear anything I've been saying?" She asked.

"I don't know. Why don't you answer that question yourself?"

The class snickered as I embarrassed her.

She turned bright red as she said, "Zayn! Detention after school!"

"Whatever," I rolled my eyes. Its not like I care.

I had only 15 minutes left of this hell and then I could leave.

"So as I was saying, you would have to pass in your assignment in about two weeks. So finish everything with your partner and send it in in two weeks time."

Half of the class groaned but she didn't bother to respond to them. If we had to give it in then I would have to work with Violet. I could always ask her to do everything but that's really low. I guess I would have to speak to her after class.

I zoned out for the rest of the class, not bother at all of what Miss was saying. The bell rang, which meant I could finally leave.

Everyone left in a rush while I was only putting away my stuff. But there was still one left. Violet. I guess this is my chance. I grabbed my bag and walked over to Violet.

"Violet," I called up.

She looked up at me then went back to packing. Woah.

"We need to continue our project you know."

"Yea," she replied.

This is going to be difficult. I took a deep breath in and said, "My house this friday?"

She looked at me. She stared at me blankly. No emotion was held behind those eyes. She finally spoke.

"Why? So you can beat me up and this time kill me?"

I flinched at her choice of words. I'm honestly quite taken back.

"Um no. I'm sorry about what happened okay," I said.

"Yea whatever," she said as she took her bag. She's being really cold to me but I guess I deserve it.

Before she walked out she said, "I see you on Friday."

Note// Gaaaahhhh! Sorry its been so long! I've been busy with exams! But I'll update more soon!