The you I never knew I needed

Chapter 7

The entire rest of the week, Callum spent trying to avoid Cassandra to the best of his abilities. Which began to prove quite hard seeing as it felt like she was everywhere. If he was studying late at the library with Nick and Bria, Cassandra was somewhere in the back. If he was walking to class, Cassandra was somewhere close in the crowd watching him.

It almost felt as though he'd never be rid of her. That he'd never get a break from the overwhelming agony and bitterness of their complicated past together. He wished so desperately to be free of it. To be rid of her. She had been following him nearly the whole week. Stalking him like a predator does to pray.

"Callum?" Bria's voice rips him away from his thoughts.

It takes a moment for him to remember where he is.

Oh, that's right. Dueling practice.

He lets out a sigh of relief remembering how this was the only place Cassandra never followed.

"Are you alright?" Bria continued. "You've been acting quite strange lately."

"Have I?" He says, furrowing his brows and giving her a puzzled glance.

"Yes." She replies. "You haven't been sleeping, barely eat anything, and lately seem more on edge than usual."

"I'm fine." He drawls, taking a step back as she reaches for him.

"Coming from someone who's used the same excuse for more than half her life, I see right through that Callum Riddle." She huffs.

Sweat beads along Callum's forehead despite being outside in the cold and his hair messily drapes across his eyes.

"I said I'm fine." He snaps, turning away from her. "We can continue tomorrow I'm going inside."

Callum doesn't bother looking back to see her stunned expression caused by his sudden coldness. He could already sense it. Despite that he didn't have enough energy left to care. He wanted to care, but he was just so...

Tired.

He couldn't sleep at night because every time he closed his eyes... all he could see was her. Cassandra Quinn. The damn b*tch that shattered his heart to a million pieces. The damn b*tch he'd waisted all his energy trying to forget. But something inside won't let him.

Apart of him is still scarred from the way she broke him. That scar never healed, nor faded. its still deep inside of him cutting deep. He never gave it the proper opportunity to heal, instead he let the wound fester and burn. Then scar.

He kept it as a reminder of why his father had been so right. His father tried to warn him and him being the foolish child he had been told he was, never listened.
Love is a weakness.

It was only after he fell in love his Cassandra that he knew it to be true. Because after she broke him, the haunting scarring reminder became too painful for him to bare. Too painful that he shut it off.

Callum walks hastily back to the castle. He didn't want to upset Bria but he couldn't cope with her questions and pleading eyes. Not today. She always saw right through him, and he feared she'd see the broken parts of him too.

Not only that but he knew she'd ask about her, and he couldn't bare to relive the painful memories and betrayal.

Nick walks back to the castle with Bria, glaring angrily at Callum as they pass him in the halls. Bria on the other hand, just wanted to make sure he was ok but decided maybe it's best to give him space.

-

Callum stood in the middle of the sea of people filling the crowded hallway. A cold laugh ascends from the other side of the hallway. He recognized the laugh instantly, it was her.