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nine

"N-Nina, can you come pick me up near the ice cream shop? And hurry please," I stammer on the phone with tears running down my eyes.

I was a mess.

I was rushing out of Parker's house when I heard a small fragile voice.

"Alex, why are you leaving? What happened?" I turned around to see Luna.

"Umm, I have to deal with some stuff but hopefully I'll see you again," I tried to my hardest not to start bawling my eyes out then and there. I knelt down to say goodbye, but I heard loud stomps coming down the stairs. His knuckles were bleeding, he had probably punched a wall. I looked into Parker's sad eyes.

I whispered goodbye to Luna and left.

It was raining heavily, I put my hood on and ran as fast as I could. I could hear Parker's footsteps behind me.

"Alex stop!" He yelled.

I kept running.

"Let's talk about this." He begged.

I kept running.

I left him behind me, couldn't bear to stay.

I was coming close to the ice cream shop when I heard a car honk.

I immediately recognized Nina's car.

"Alex, what happened?" Nina looked worried and even a little scared. I was a crying mess, I could barely get the words out. But Ashley kept asking over and over about what had happened.

I finally answered,"P-Parker isn't who I thought he was."

That's all I said to her and I stayed silent the rest of the ride.

* * *

The next morning I looked a mess.

My eyes were red and puffy, my mascara was ruined and now all over my cheeks. I really didn't want to go to school and face him.

I wish I could just stay hidden. But I can't run away from my problems.

I quickly got ready for school and went downstairs, my mom was waiting in the kitchen to talk to me.

"Alex, what happened last night?" She carefully asked, I just looked at her with my red, puffy eyes and she came over to me and gave me a hug. She whispered 'it's okay' and 'you'll get through it' in my ear, but could I really?

"Have a good day at school!" My dad yelled from the living room, and I walked to my car.

* * *

"Alex, please just listen to me. I can explain what was going on, just turn around and let me tell you," Parker pleaded. I kept trying to walk away and ignore him but it was getting very difficult.

I turned around and as he was going to speak I interrupted and said, "Look, Parker, like I said last night I thought you were different. I cared about you and I thought you cared about me but I was way wrong, I don't even know why I'm so upset when we aren't even together. I'm sorry I cared about you so much." I tried to walk away but Parker grabbed my arm and tried to caress my cheek, I pulled away from him and pulled my arm from his grip and left him standing there.

I walked into the school and I began looking for Ashley. I just needed someone to hug.

I found her talking with the rest of our friends and ran up and hugged her, she dragged me to the girls' bathroom and immediately said, "tell me everything and tell me now before I go into his class and beat his ass." I sighed and started to explain everything from last night to this morning.

"Oh. My. God. I'm gonna go beat him up, I'll be right back." I gave her look and she knew to stop.

"Alex, I have to do something! He hurt my best friend and now he has to deal with me." I gave her another look and just grabbed her in a hug and started to sob.

"I hate myself for caring about him so much," I continued to sob into her shoulder for a couple more minutes then the bell finally rang and it meant class was about to begin. Ashley helped me clean off my face and redo my makeup.

Soon we had to separate for classes.

* * *

Lunchtime finally came along and Ashley and I were one of the first people there. We both got our lunch and sat at the table with the rest of our friends, I was talking to one of my friends and I hadn't noticed that Parker was coming to talk to me, but before I could try to leave, Ashley got up.

"I think it's best that you go back to the assholes you call your friends and leave my best friend alone." Everyone in the cafeteria was staring at them, Parker looked at me with pleading eyes and I turned away.

"I just really need to talk to her." He whispered, but Ashley just rolled her eyes at him and told him to leave once again. He finally gave up and walked back to his seat.

I sighed loudly and put my head down on the table and closed my eyes. I needed a moment to get myself together. I really couldn't do this anymore. And the thing that frustrates me the most is the fact that he and I aren't even together. But it still hurts.

As lunch ended, Ashley grabbed my hand and we left the cafeteria.

Ashley had to get to class but I had study hall so I decided to head down to the office. I passed the teachers in the office with my head down and headed towards Mr. Brown's office. I knocked gently and I heard a 'who is it?'.

"It's Alex, I could come back later. I just really need to talk to you about the tutoring schedule." It went silent for a second and then I heard a 'come in'.

I opened the door slowly and I saw Mr. Brown sitting on his desk and Parker sitting in the seat directly in front of him.

"Please sit down Alex." Mr. Brown started walking to his seat. 

"I'd rather stand, I just needed to talk to you but obviously you're busy so I can come back later," I told him.

"Okay Alex, what do you need?" I looked Parker, he was looking down at the floor; avoiding eye contact.

"Mr. Brown, I can just come back la-," Mr. Brown interrupted.

"Alex, since it is about Parker you can say it in front of him." I swallowed the lump in my throat, "I can't tutor him for a couple of weeks. There are some issues going on I just need to deal with it first before I can tutor Parker." Even saying his name freaking hurts.

I heard Parker whisper profanities under his breath, "Okay Ms. Montgomery, I think Parker can survive a week without tutoring. Well, good luck and I hope the issues resolve. Both of you can go." I rushed out the door, hoping that Parker would just stay away from me.

"Alex, can you just wait one freaking second!" Parker yelled, his eyes darkened with anger and frustration. I stopped in my tracks and turned around.

"What Parker? How much more do you want to hurt me? I don't want deal with this anymore." My voice cracked and Parker's eyes soften, he held me in his arms and kissed me on my forehead. I tried to pull away but he made me feel something I never felt before. But soon, the sweet moment was over and I walked off and said, "I'm not gonna let you hurt me again Parker."