Ice Melts for Love

Make It Up To You

Nate's POV

Something was wrong.

As soon as I got to school, I could feel that something was off. That something was out of place. The school was too quiet, and the usual girls who were usually by the parking lot to stare and giggle at me were not here. My friends were not waiting for me, too. Even my followers weren't around to answer my beck and call. It was making me uneasy.

I shrugged. Maybe I was just overacting. Maybe it was because I was running late for class. Or maybe it was because Ellen was still avoiding me and that hurt me a lot. Our relationship was becoming so messed up that I didn't know what to do anymore. But I was never letting Ellen go.

She was the only who ever made me feel this way. And she was the only girl that I wanted. I knew that I should had let her go because she might get hurt. Leigh might use her against me. Who knew what that bastard thinks? But I swear, if he touches my Ellen, even if it were just a lock of her hair, I'll beat the crap out of him and make sure that he stayed away for good, I vowed to myself.

As I was about to enter the school building, my cell phone vibrated. I flipped it opened as I pushed open the door.

My steps faltered when I saw the message. What I read made my blood run cold.

'It's bad, Nate. Somebody leaked Ellen's video. I'm currently with Ryan finding the bastard behind this. Tyl.'

The message was from Michael. I couldn't move, couldn't breathe. I just stared at my phone, unable to speak.

Shit. Ellen will kill me for sure. She'll never want to see my face again. I can't live if I lose her, I know I can't. She will blame this on me for sure. Just when our relationship was becoming worse, this had to happen. Why? Why the fuck is this happening to us?

The video, I realized with a jolt, my grip on my cell phone tightening. I had it on my computer back home. It was secured with lots of passwords and encryption and my security software was up-to-date. I made sure. How could it have gotten out?

I received another text message, cutting my train of thoughts. It was from Matt this time.

'I just heard from Michael. I'm at the audio room, doing damage control. Find Ellen now. She needs you.'

The message jolted me into action. I'll get to the bottom of this later, I told myself as dread formed a pit in my stomach. Ellen. I needed to find Ellen.

I ran down the halls, looking for Ellen. The other students gave me a wide berth, seeing the furious expression on my face. They were milling around the hall in big groups, whispering, but when I scowled darkly at them as I passed, they all dispersed, looking terrified.

The bell rang overhead but I didn't care. I needed to find Ellen.

I released a gush of breath when I spotted Ellen. She was standing in front of her locker, a garbage bag beside her, picking something off from her locker door.

I slowed down to a walk. She looked so serene and composed that I hesitated. She must have not known that the video got out if she was that peaceful looking, have she?

And then I got a closer look at the contents of the garbage bag. I stiffened and felt a surge of anger rush through me.

There were pictures of her inside, still photos of her during her performance that was on the video. There were some on her locker, too. She was ripping them off one by one.

I stood there, just staring at her. There was no one else in the hallway by then save for the two of us. I noticed that even though she looked uncaring, I knew she was affected. And hurt. Her hand gave it away. They were shaking with suppressed emotions.