IT'S BEEN ALMOST three weeks since I moved into Arlington. Three weeks since I moved away from the life I once knew. And three weeks since I moved away from the guy I loved. To say I was depressed would be a fucking understatement. I haven't been able to sleep properly; my body was actually aching from the lack of Chase's touch. I haven't been able to eat, to swim or even have enough strength to breathe. 

After I had punched Chase behind the library, he hasn't tried to contact me since. I mean, I was glad but it also hurt so damn much.  I've seen him with other girls, laughing and smiling, and everytime it's a sucker punch to my stomach. He's allowed to do that, I tell myself, he's safe; that's all that matters. I sit on the other side of the room from Vera in English Lit, I don't even so much as glance at Penn in art, and I've skipped my group therapy sessions all together. 

It was fucking hard. But it was worth it. 

Come Tuesday morning when I was planning on staying in my bed all day, Lilith somehow convinced me to eat breakfast in the dining hall. It was later in the morning and I had thought the dining hall would've been empty; but boy was I fucking wrong. 

"They're looking over here." Lilith comments as I glance up from my bowl of oatmeal. I follow Lilith's gaze across the large room to see five of them staring over; Vera, Penn, Noah, Levi and Emmaline. Everyone except Chase. His back was to me and I watch as Vera says something and his shoulders tense.  They were eating their breakfast together; something we all used to do. The chair I use to sit in was empty. 

Noah waves his hand at me with a big smile and I ignore it, my gaze moving back to my Oatmeal. 

"Still not going to tell me what happened?" Lilith questions as I look up at her. She wore a yellow bandana around her head while a messy bun sat on top of her head and a pair of gold rimmed glasses perched on her button nose. She was really cute...well, if it wasn't for the slightly murderous comments that escape her brain from time to time. She sighs at my silence, "Look, I've been patient but I keep getting harassed by people asking me. I mean, don't get me wrong I enjoy the popularity but—"

"I can't tell you." I explain as I drop my spoon, the sound making a loud cacophony, "That's just it, Lillith, I can't tell you." 

She pauses and leans forward, "Are...are they threating you or something?" 

It wasn't them. 

"No. Of course not." I shake and laugh lightly to brush it off, "It's just...I'll tell you later okay?" 

"You promise?" Lilith questions as she offers me her pinky. I smile slightly and link my pinky with hers. 

"I promise." 

Lilith, now happy, goes back to eating her toasted croissants which were stacked high on her plate. I sort at her as I continue to play with my oatmeal. My eyes slowly move back over to the table just in time to see three girls rush over. They were all smiling down at Chase and begin talking to him. The most animated of the trio takes the empty chair; my chair. 

I watch as Vera and Penn glance at each other slowly, roll their eyes and then slowly get up from the table. Penn kisses her boyfriend on the head, picks up her last slice of toast and the two strut away from the table. They exit the dining hall giggling, no doubt making fun of the three girls. Their seats are quickly taken. 

I couldn't see Chase's face but I could tell he was talking to them. He makes them laugh. He makes them smile and he makes one of them lean across the table and place a kiss to his cheek. I push to my feet and down the last bit of my orange juice. 

"I'm going to class." I grumble angrily and wipe my mouth with the back of my hoodie sleeve. Aggressively, I pull my denim jacket and backpack from the back of my chair and storm out of dining hall. I was moving to fast that I didn't even notice the body on the other side of the door. I stumble back and mumble out an apology, "Shit, I'm sor—it's you." 

"Of course it's me, baby." Luke grins down at me. I glance around the courtyard, noticing those students left watching as they head to glass. I wrap my arms around myself as a chilly breeze sweeps past. "How was your sleep? Did you dream of me? I certainly dreamt of you." 

"If you're there it's a fucking nightmare, Luke." I retort back sharply and bitterly. I then turn to leave, "I've got to go." 

Luke reaches out and grabs a painful hold of my arm. He tsks his tongue, "Ah, ah, ah. I wouldn't do that darling." 

"What do you want Luke?" I query as I turn to face him and rip my arm from his grip. 

"You, always you." Luke smiles as he brushes a strand of blonde hair out of my face and behind my ear. 

"Get this through your thick skull. I'm not an object you misogynistic ass hat. You can't have me." I hiss venomously and subconsciously take a step back. Everytime I was near him, it was like alarm bells went off in my head telling me to get the fuck away from him. But I couldn't. I was stuck. 

"That's where you wrong, Hayden baby. I can have you and I will have you." He grins down at me in a extreme predatory manner because that's exactly what he was; a sick fucking predator. "Now, have you eaten yet tod—" 

The doors into the dining hall push open and out stumble Chase and one of the girls from the table. Chase's arm was around the shoulder of the girl as she snuggled into the side of his body. Their laughter sobers up instantly when my gaze locks with Chase. 

A moment of silent passed between us. Two. 

Then Chase scoffs as if amused at the sight of Luke and I together, tears his eyes from mine and storms past us. The girl makes eye contact with me and begins to giggle in an annoyingly high pitch. I take a deep breathe to calm myself. At least it's not Lea. That's a brightside—incredibly dim, but it's there. They walk off and my eyes follow them. 

"I'm over here baby." Luke says as my eyes slowly swivel back to him. 

"Is this what you wanted?" I question as I gesture an arm in the direction Chase and his new girlfriend had gone, "Are you happy you fucking psycho?" 

"I told you not to call me that fucking word!" Luke rages as he takes a step forward. I stand my ground and narrow my eyes as I stare up at him. Luke was struggling to contain himself and instead runs a hand through his hair and whips around. He takes a few steps away before returning to me, "You know I don't like the word very much, baby."

"And you know that I don't give a shit." I hiss back before adjusting the strap of my bag. I take a step back, "I've got to go to class." 

Thankfully, his psychotic brain is sane enough to let me leave and I storm across the courtyard, keeping my head down and I aggressively place my headphones into my ears. I press play on my Sad Boi Hours playlist because that and chocolate milk is the only way I'm going to get through this day. 

♤♤♤♤

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't focus on the text book below me. Everyone in the library was either staring, whisper, or fucking staring some more. My phone had died a long time ago because I was apparently too depressed to charge it last night. I needed to study, I needed to pass my finals. Obviously it looks like I'm not getting accepted into university anytime soon, so at least I can say I actually graduated my senior year. 

At least I was alone. Alone with my thoughts and the pieces of my broken heart. 

I grip my pen between my fingers as my emotions start to take over. I missed everyone so much and it was physically hurting to pretend that I hate them. Noah looks so sad everytime we meet in the hallways because his locker is only a few down from mine. I feel so fucking bad all the damn time. There was only a little over a month until my time in Caldwell is up. 

I think I can make it. I need to make it. 

An annoying giggle floats over the library and I roll my eyes. It was basically a reflex reaction. Lea and her little posse of tiny she-devils strut past my table. I glare up at her through my eyelashes, watching as she flips her hair over her shoulder and catches a glimpse of me. 

She stumbles to a stop and faces me, "Oh Hayden, I heard you were attending classes again. Good for you."  

"Shut the fuck up Lea." I sigh as I throw my pen down and lean back in my chair. I then smile up at her, "You're obviously keeping tabs on me so I must say I am glad that you're still creepily obsessed with me.  It's like I've still got my own little fan club." 

"It's cute that you think that highly of yourself." Lea chuckles before glancing at her friends, as if needing some sort of back up. They all laugh along too. "It looks like moving out of Elwood really took a toll on you, Hayden. The same can't go for Chase though." 

I laugh loudly and tilt my head back, "Of course you've already tried getting your talons back into him." 

"What? Like it's hard? He's still in love with me, he always has and always will be Hayden." Lea smirks as she flips her long brown hair again. She then pouts, "I know it hurts, but that's just how life goes; it's unfair."

Lea gazes around her personal group of mean girls before they all cackle and strut off. My eyes were focused sharply on the chair in front of me. My fists were clenched, my knuckles a ghastly white. I could basically hear my heart beat picking up at the same pace as my burning rage. I should calm down. It's not worth my time. She's only trying to get a rise out of me, that much was clear. 

...Fuck it. 

Then, all at once, I was out of my cheer and marching across the library. When I storm through the double doors of the library and out into the courtyard, my eyes dart around furiously. I spot Lea's fake extensions walking across the cobble stone quad. I push off the front of my foot and sprint down the few cement steps. 

When I reach her, both of my hands reach out and I push her forward. She falls flat on her face thanks to her circus height heels. Her friends stumble back as they look at me in shock. 

"I know it hurts," I stand above her as Lea pushes up on her hands and glances over her shoulder at me. I smirk, "But that's just how life goes; fucking unfair." 

An ugly scowl takes over Lea's face before she pushes to her feet and pounces on me. We both fall to the ground and she instantly goes for my hair. Pussy move. As she pulls and tugs at my blonde strands, ripping a few out in the process, I thrust my fist up and it collides with the side of her waist. She goes tumbling off me onto the ground below and I roll onto her. 

Students had begun to congregate around us, those who were allowed phones were taking videos of us while others were just watching and cheering us on. 

"Are you and your fucking sick boyfriend happy?" I scream at her as I grip onto her shoulders and shake her. I think I was crying now, my anger too much for me to hold in. "You've really outdone yourself now you bitch." 

Lea takes another chunk of my hair in her fist and pulls me off her. She then flattens my body to the ground with hers. 

She chuckles, "Chase isn't here to save you." 

"I don't need him to kick your fucking ass, Lea." I growl before turning us once more. I raise my hand, ready to slap the bitch when a hand wraps around my wrist. I look up, whole heartedly expecting it to be Chase but instead, it was Noah. 

"Hayden, what the fuck are you doing?" Noah questions with a wide eyes and a enraged expression. I stare up at him for a while as Lea lay underneath me, panting heavily. No, she wasn't getting away with this so easily. I rip my arm from Noah's grasp and swoop down with so much speed and anger. 

The sound was startlingly loud as my palm connected with her cheek. Everyone went dead silent around me. Then Lea shrieks and all of hell breaks loose once more. My knees were elbows and any piece of exposed skin was scraping against the solid ground beneath. We wrestle each other, the both of us having a go with each other. 

Suddenly, I'm yanked back painfully quick and my neck aches due to the whiplash. When I shake my head, getting the dishevelled hair out of my face, i watch as two security guards pick lea up from the ground. 

"You broke my nose you fucking bitch!" Lea squawks at me as I notice blood dripping from her nostrils and onto her out held hand. 

I smile, "And I'll gladly do it again." 

"Miss Jones, Miss Stone! My office now!" Headmaster Sullivan booms with his thunderous voice while standing in the middle of the circle. I glance to my left and right, noticing two security guards were basically carrying me through the sea of compressed students. 

My eyes gaze over their faces, some shocked, some confused and some highly amused. I could see Noah and Penn and Levi standing at the edge, all staring at me. I felt like a puppy who had just been caught pissing on the carpet. I tear my eyes from them, duck my head and allow the guards to carry me away. 

♤♤♤♤

Arlington Hall was so much lighter and warmer and cleaner than Elwood. I noticed this as I was unlocking the door to my dorm room. The key and locked were also better than the door in Elwood. I never thought I'd say this, but I miss that fucking stupid door so much. 

When I walk into my dorm, Lilith was lying on her bed with a sheet mask on her face. She instantly crawls onto her knees and smiles at me under the mask. 

"I heard you broke Lea Stone's nose." She grins at me as I place my key down onto my desk and shrug off my jacket and hoodie. She claps her hands happily, "I never knew having a roommate was this exciting!" 

"Apparently it's just this roommate." I roll my eyes and throwing two thumbs before me. I then turn to my closet, pull out a black hoodie and a pair of pyjama shorts. I had left all of Chase's hoodies in his dorm room and right now I was regretting that. I should've just kept one .

My entire afternoon was spent in the Headmaster's office, then the Nurse's office and then at my therapy lesson. I haven't even had a chance to eat, but I didn't really care. It's truly mind boggling that two weeks I couldn't go twenty minutes without having a snack. It was now almost seven and I wanted nothing more than to go to sleep. 

Once I was changed into my pyjamas, I grab my toiletries bag and turn to Lilith, "I'm going to brush my teeth." 

"Okay, but please don't get into anymore fights without texting me first." Lilith grins at me and I chuckle at her reply. I then turn and exit my dorm room. 

The bathroom was thankfully empty when I enter it and I place my bag onto the sink, pull out my toothbrush and get to brushing my teeth. I steer at my self in the mirror, noticing there was a slight grace under my chin and one on my left temple. Lea sure had fucking sharp indigo painted talons. 

The door then pushes open and Vera and Penn waltz in while laughing brightly. I missed their smiling faces. 

Their laughter sobers when they see me and an awkward silence fills the space. They both take a sink on either side of my body. Vera  begins her skin care routine while Penn also brushes her teeth. We were quiet for what felt like fucking eons. Then I spit out the now liquified toothpaste and wash it down the sink. 

Vera glances at me through the reflection of the mirror, "We miss you, Hay—" 

I grab my bag without putting my toothpaste and brush back inside and quickly flee the bathroom with my tail between my legs and not an inch of dignity left. I run quickly back to my dorm in fear that they would chase after me and rush back inside. 

Lilith blinks at me, "What happened?" 

"Nothing." I shake my head as I put my bag back in it's original position and pull my hood over my head, "I'm going for a walk." 

Lilith places her magazine of sports car to the side and throws her legs over the side, "Do you want me to come with you?" 

"I think I just need to be alone right now. But thank you." I smile softly at her as I slip on a pair of socks followed by my converse. I grab my dorm keys, connect my phone to the charger and quietly exit the dorm once more. 

Arlington was also  much more quieter and peaceful. I never thought I would miss the loud, boisterous idiots over at Elwood. The ones who would ride their mattresses down the stairs at nine o'clock at night, the ones who would run head first into a plaster wall just for the hell of it. I used to plug my headphones in, turn the volume up and wrap my head in my pillow just to get rid of the noise. 

Now I wanted nothing more than to hear the noise again. 

The night was crisp but pleasant as I step out into it. A slight dew had covered the ground and there was only a slight breeze was sweeping across. It was quiet; just what I needed. I smiled at the security guard covering the night shift and carry on down the path. I didn't know where I was going, I just had to get away.

Maybe I'll go to the rooftop. That sounds like a good idea. 

I turn and head towards the gymnasium. Wrapping my arms around myself, I glance around and notice the emptiness. Most people would either be in their dorm or in the dining hall right now. Plus there was suppose to be another storm on it's way soon. 

I hear hurried footsteps behind me and I turn to see who was running—but I feel a dull object connect with the side of my head. 

Then I was out. 

oooooh shit, what happened to hayden?

what's going to happen? 

you'll just have to wait to find out!

or you can jump on over to my inkitt and read the next chapter!