When I'm Gone ( Nate Maloley AU)

Chapter Thirty-Three

Nate's POV:

He approached Sam at the playground. This was a risk that would hurt someone more than he wanted it to.

"Hey, Sam. Can I tell you something?"

"Sure," his best friend says, not realizing what it was about.

"I-I think I have a crush on Hayden."

Sam's whole character changed in a second. Nate was forced to follow him on the other playground, where Hayden sat alone, reading some book.

"What-"

"Beat her up."

"N-no."

"Do it, or I will. She's a loser, Nate. She lies and no one would really care."

Nate walked over. She looks up at him and smiles. Her blue eyes sparkle with kindness. Nate threw her book to the side.

"Nate, what did I do?"

"I'm sorry," he whispers sadly.

Nate pulled the girl up harshly, and the first thing he did was punch her stomach. She doubles over. Sam smirks and holds her in place.

"Nate, s-stop," she pleads.

He did again and she fell to the ground. Not bothering to move. Nate proceeds to kick her ribs hard, and he heard a cracking noise. He broke her ribs. She cries out, but Sam goes and punches her in the nose. Hard.

Blood poured from her nose. Her blue eyes terrified. Hayden flinches when Nate kicks her hard in the stomach, and Sam kicked her in the back. Sam then stands on her wrist and she cries out as she hears it break. The two run away.

Nate looked as she sat lifeless in the dirt. They headed back inside the school. For an hour no one noticed she was missing.

"Where's Hayden?" Their teacher asks.

Every kid shrugs. Most not knowing who she was. They watch as she goes outside to find her in the dirt, unable to move. Their teacher calls 911. They were there in minutes and carried her into the truck.

Nate heard them confirm she had a broken wrist, nose and a few broken ribs. He did that.

Hayden's POV:

I sat in pain. Not able to cry because my broken ribs pressed against my lungs. My mom sits beside me with Mr. Wilkinson. I could barely breathe, and I can't tell them he was Sam.

"Can you fix her nose and ribs?" My mom asks panicked.

"Yes, I can. We will bring her into surgery for that, and then we will put a cast on her arm."

The doctor leaves and I look at them. Mom has tears in her eyes. They don't know how bad the abuse is. They don't know I'm constantly bullied cause of Sam. They won't know he almost killed me.

"How bad does it hurt?" My doctor asks.

On my right had I hold up a five, and then two more. He nods, and kneels beside me. He's kinder than I'd wish for. No one should be nice to me.

"We're going to fix your nose, and we're gonna repair your ribs. You'll need to tell us who did this, though."

I shake my head. I can't tell them. He nods and pulls Mr. Wilkinson out of the room.

"It was Sam wasn't it?" Mom asks.

I shut my eyes.

"I won't tell his dad. You should've told me you were being bullied."

I've tried, I thought, but all you do is say that bullying doesn't happen anymore. Mr. Wilkinson comes back, and the doctor gives me morphine or something to have me fall asleep.

--

"What cast color do you want?"

"Purple," I whisper.

He nods and I look away as he puts the cast on. I thank him when he's done, and he tells them I can't go home for a few days, and then I'll be out of school for two months. They nod and Sam and Nate come in. I bite my lip, and look away. Nate keeps staring at me.

"Dad, what happened?"

He knows, but his parents can't know. Mom chooses him over me everyday.

"She was severely beat up at school, and had to get surgery and a cast."

The morphine kicks in, making me extremely tired. My eyes shut. I fall asleep instantly.

--

I feel weak. I kinda pushed everyone away. Nate stands in front of me. My anger is all I can think about it. Everything he did to me as a child. I can't let him think it was okay.

"Why didn't you tell your parents that night?"

"Sam would've hurt me even more at home. Telling them wouldn't have mattered. That was the last time my mom truly cared about me," I choke on my words, "You listened to Sam, Nate. I pretended for the last several years that it was my fault. You've never cared, Nate. I can see that now. Your attempts to gain my trust stops now. You abused me, you didn't truly care."

"Hayden-"

"I told myself that you cared, but you didn't."

"Hayden, hit me as hard as you can."

I look at him. Nodding. I smack him so hard it echoes through the house. He cradled his face.

"Cameron is taking my room. Nash is taking Kenny's. I've known how bad I've hurt you. Hayden, when you graduate, leave us behind. Even Sam. You don't deserve this."

I nod, and look away. Nate kisses my forehead and he's gone. Cameron looks at me. He walks to me, and hugs me.

"You know this is for the better, Hayden. We'll miss you, but this is how it must be. You need to get away from us. Away from everything we've ever done to you. We'll miss you, but it'll be worth it."

"I love you, Cameron-"

"No you don't, you love that I haven't hurt you. We aren't love. You know that, Hayden."

I nod and look down. He makes me see the truth. He knows what I've been through, and to get attached to someone fast. To be bullied and unwanted. To want to be gone. And maybe that's what I've always needed. Was someone who knew.

Authors note: okay, okay. I'm ending the story, but... I will write a sequel. After this there will be an epilogue. -Dani