Shattered Homes, Shared Hearts

The music is too loud, the lights are too bright. I can't breathe. I have to get out of here. I frantically search the room for any of my friends, failing. My head spins as I try to make it out of the crowded gym. I bust through the gym doors, panting as I hold my chest.

Remi hates me. I can't wrap my head around it. After these past three years, I thought we'd grown as friends. Hell, I even consider her my best friend at some points. It's too complicated. We just barely know anything about each other, and it'll never work.

I brace myself against the railing that's on either side of the stairs outside of the gym. Leaning over the railing, I try to steady my breathing when a familiar voice sounds in my ringing ears.

"Miller, man, what's wrong?" Ez's panicked voice surrounds me as his strong arms engulf me. Sometimes I'm not sure what I would do without Ezra. I turn to face him with tears pooling in my eyes. "She hates me." It comes out as barely a whisper, but it's loud enough for Ez to hear and his face to blanche all at once.

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TW: this book mentions self-harm, physical assault, sexual assault, mature material, and suicidal thoughts. If you decide throughout reading that you cannot handle the book, please stop reading. Fun reading!