The Boy Next Door ≫ l.h [on hold]

sixteen

Weeks after the concert, I still felt tingles and sparks around Luke. He was such a comforting presence, making my heart beat a little faster than usual.

I felt secure around him and I really needed that, especially with Cameron trying to get under my skin.

At school, I did my best to avoid the demon at all costs, hoping he would just get tired of me.

But I should have known that wouldn't work.

One day, Cameron seemed to have finally gave me the tiniest push that sent me over the edge. I was already having a shit morning after waking up late, missing the bus, and getting a puddle from last night's storm splashed all over my jeans and shoes. You would be surprised how some of the smallest things could lead your head into utter distress.

I was speed walking down the hall, with my soaked shoes squeaking along, as I made my way into the girl's restroom.

After finishing cleaning myself up, I exited the restroom and as I turned left toward my locker to get my books and supplies when I met with the face I always dread seeing. Cameron.

I glared up at him. "Why are you never in class, and why is it always you I have to run into?!" I grunted.

"I don't know, maybe it's fate darling" He smirked.

"I doubt it, and please don't call me 'darling' ever again. You lost that privilege when we broke up."

He didn't say anything so I continued walking toward my class when I heard him mutter, "It was never a privilege in the first place."

I turned back to him. "Yes, you're right. Because you were the shittiest boyfriend and the shittiest person, and that title does not deserve to be used by someone like you. I am so ashamed of myself for not realizing sooner that I had made the greatest mistake of being with you."

I had rushed everything out that was on my mind so quickly that it practically came out in a jumble.

He glared back at me. "Yeah, you weren't the best girlfriend either. Always too clingy, too needy, too bothersome. You know, I only stayed with you because I didn't want to break your heart when I would have broken it off with you."

"Didn't want to break my heart?" I laughed sarcastically, "You didn't want to break my heart, huh? You know that is so ironic, because you did anyway. You not only broke my heart but you broke me." My voice cracked and my weakness had escaped.

"You ruined me for so long, Cameron. But then again, only for so long. Because I got back up, I put myself back together again, and I kept going. You didn't destroy me completely. I'm still here."

His face changed for a second that I wasn't even sure it had, but it did. His appearance softened and he look almost...guilty for a bit. But it flashed back into the menacing grin. "Good. Then I've still got a job to finish."

My stomach dropped, disappointed that what I said did not change anything in him.

All of a sudden, before my mind even comprehended it, Cameron's head jerked to the side and my hand stung. I realized quickly that I slapped him across the face.

It felt good for second, but the pride quickly diminished and was replaced with worry and fear when he turned his face back and it was like a switch turned on.

He was really angry now and I had simply stirred up the hornet's nest.

Cameron pushed me up against the lockers and gripped my shoulders tightly, a little too close to my neck. He wagged a finger at me and growled, "You think you're better than me now? Well you're wrong. Because I can still ruin you again."

"Go ahead, try me...because I'm gonna fight back this time." I confidently responded.

I saw him raise his fist toward me and instinctively flinched. His fist knocked loudly on the locker next to my head when I heard that voice. The voice that seems like I had been waiting for it my whole life, though it was not in the tone I adored, I was still utterly grateful for hearing it.

"Don't you fucking lay a hand on her or I swear, I will rip your goddamn throat out!" The voice barked.

Both Cameron and I's heads turned to the left, and we were greeted with a outraged looking Luke, making large steps toward us. I knew he wasn't coming for me, but I swear, even I was terrified of him in that second.