In the days that followed, the legal proceedings unfolded with meticulous detail. Every shred of evidence, each witness statement, and the accounts provided by both Nathan and Adam were meticulously examined to ascertain the truth.

After careful consideration of the evidence and statements presented, the judge made the final declaration. - Nathan is not guilty of assault. However, Adam is found guilty of assaulting Sarah. - the judge declared.

The final verdict encapsulated the complexities of the case, recognizing Nathan's efforts to protect Sarah while holding Adam accountable for his reprehensible actions. Legal ramifications awaited Adam, underscoring the importance of justice and accountability in addressing such incidents.

- I'm so glad we made it. - I breathed a sigh of joy, feeling a weight lift from my heart upon hearing the judge's words.

- Of course we made it, we always do. - Nathan reassured me, kissing my forehead and enveloping me in a tight hug. Despite not showing it, the fear of the final verdict had lingered within him, and the relief of the outcome washed over us both in that embrace.

- Now that that's out of the way, what are your plans for now? - Nathan inquired.

- I'm meeting with Ava. I want to talk to her seriously. Something hasn't been right with her lately, and I can see it. - I explained, a sense of concern in my words.

- I understand. Let's hope it's nothing to worry about. - Nathan replied reassuringly.

- Yeah... Okay, I should go. See you. I love you! - I said, preparing to depart.

- I love you too, Sarah... 

***

As I stepped off the bus, I made my way toward the café where I was meeting Ava. To my surprise, she was already there, holding a cup of steaming coffee, a sorrowful expression painted across her face. I entered the café, walking towards Ava with a sense of caution. I observed her closely, attempting to decipher the emotions etched on her face before any words were exchanged. I longed to understand what was burdening my friend, why she couldn't share it sooner.

- Hey, sorry for the delay. It took me a bit to locate this café. - I apologized, settling into the seat opposite Ava.

- No problem at all. I actually came much earlier to clear my mind. - Ava responded, her eyes locked onto the coffee cup. It was as if her thoughts were penned within it, and the fear of what she was about to reveal kept her from meeting her friend's gaze.

- Ava... You're more than a friend; you're like family to me, right? - I started, capturing Ava's attention as she lifted her gaze from the coffee cup. - Whatever's going on, you can share it with me. You know me-

- That's exactly what I can't just straightforwardly tell you, Sarah. - Ava interrupted, pressing her lips into a thin line, pondering how to articulate her thoughts.

- Ava, what's going on? - I asked, unsure of what to expect.

- Forgive me, it's just that... My mom found out that my dad is cheating on her, my family is falling apart, and I'm not handling it well. - Ava spoke rapidly, weaving a lie to make her friend believe.

- Oh my God, Ava... Why didn't you tell me right away? I would have been there for you from the start! - I approached her, eager to offer comfort.

Believing in Ava's words, she didn't even consider the possibility of hidden truths.

- Sorry, Sarah. I'm glad I could open up to someone about it... I feel better now, thank you.

- Next time, don't keep things like that to yourself, okay? I'm here for you, always. You can count on me.

And with that, Sarah and Ava spent the rest of the day together, talking about various topics and relishing the newfound ease between them.

- Will I see you at school tomorrow? - I inquired as I prepared to leave Ava's car.

- I might skip the morning, but I'll be there in the afternoon. - Ava replied, her tone laced with a hint of mischief as she offered her response.

- You shouldn't skip school that often. - I gently admonished, my concern evident in my voice as I offered a gentle reminder to my friend.

- Oh, come on! You only live once. - Ava chuckled, her words infused with a carefree spirit as she brushed off my concern with a playful retort.

i smiled at her, closed the door, and strolled towards her house. Ava, feeling a sense of relief, rested her head against the steering wheel.

- I'm so sorry Sarah... - Ava whispered, her voice soft and sincere.

***

- As I hurriedly slid into my coat, I called out to my mom, - I'm heading to school, Mom!

- Be safe! - she replied, her voice filled with maternal concern.

- Will do! - I assured her, before rushing out the door, ready to face the day ahead.

As I rushed off to school, my heart aflutter with anticipation as I yearned to reunite with my boyfriend as soon as possible. Upon arriving at school, I eagerly sought out Nathan, my steps quickening with each passing moment as I scanned the bustling hallways in search of his familiar figure.

- Nathan! Good morning, babe. - I chirped, my voice filled with affection as I greeted him.

- Good morning, Sparkle. - Nathan replied, his tone warm and comforting, yet with a hint of concern as he inquired about my day with Ava.

- All good! - I responded cheerfully, trying to mask the underlying tension that still lingered from our conversation.

- Yeah? - Nathan's voice held a note of skepticism, his eyes searching mine for any signs of distress.

- Yeah! Family problems, that's all. - I replied, my smile faltering slightly as I brushed off the issue, hoping to avoid delving into the complexities of Ava's situation.

- Oh... I see... Okay, wanna head to class, my Queen? - Nathan's attempt to lighten the mood was evident in the playful nickname he bestowed upon me, his gentle touch on my arm reassuring me of his support.

- Of course!

As Sarah and Nathan conversed freely, nearby eyes observed them with a foreboding gaze.

- Dude, what are we gonna do? This can't go on! - Adam's friend remarked, watching Sarah and Nathan.

- You know what... I have an idea. - He replied, a hint of intrigue in his tone.

As Sarah and Nathan disappeared behind closed doors, Adam and his friend stealthily slipped out of school to devise a revenge plan against Nathan for "stealing" Adam's girlfriend.

- So, did you get it?

- Easy. Teachers are so clueless; they handed me the diary without a hitch. That's his address. - Said one of Adam's acquaintances, handing him a note with Nathan's home address, where he lived with his grandmother.

- Dude, but it's just jokes, right? We won't do anything that'll get us into trouble?

- Hell no, I told you, we'll just mess up his place a bit. I heard he's an orphan; his parents are dead. No big deal. Piece of cake. - Adam replied.

- Alright, if you say so.

Adam and his friends converged upon Nathan's house, their footsteps echoing with malicious intent as they reached their destination. With reckless abandon, they began defiling the sanctity of Nathan's home, adorning his door with vulgar symbols and offensive graffiti, their laughter serving as a grotesque symphony to their depravity.

But Adam, driven by a sinister impulse, took their vandalism to a chilling new level. With a stone wrapped in an old cloth clenched tightly in his hand, he doused it in gasoline, the acrid scent of fuel permeating the air. With a flick of his lighter, he set the makeshift torch ablaze, the flames licking hungrily at the fabric as he prepared to unleash destruction upon Nathan's doorstep.

- Dude, are you sure this is a good idea? - his friend questioned, his voice tinged with uncertainty, his eyes darting nervously between Adam and Nathan's house.

- So what, are you chickening out? - Adam retorted, a smirk playing on his lips as he glanced back at his friend.

- I just don't want any trouble, okay? This guy's part of a motorcycle gang. If they come after my place— - His friend's voice trailed off, filled with apprehension.

- Don't worry about it and follow my lead. - Adam said confidently, his tone dismissive as he hurled a stone at Nathan's window, his movements bold and reckless.

Meanwhile, at school:

- Attention students, we have an announcement. Due to unforeseen circumstances, all classes are canceled for the remainder of the day. You may proceed to leave the school premises. Please ensure you collect any belongings you may need. Thank you for your cooperation.

- Damn I just came in. - Ava's voice carried a tinge of disappointment as she voiced her frustration.

- You could have stayed home. - I remarked, attempting to lighten the mood with a playful tease.

Ava's shoulders slumped slightly, her expression reflecting her regret. - If I had known we'd finish early today, believe me, I would have stayed, - she replied, her eyes betraying a hint of longing for the time she could have spent differently.

- Haha, me too. - I laughed, feeling the contagious energy of the moment. - Oh, there's my boy. We're hanging out at his place today. See you tomorrow at school! - With a wave, I dashed off to join Nathan, anticipation fueling my steps.

- See you, have fun! - Ava called out, watching them for a moment, a hint of sadness slowly painting her face. Until a notification about a message caught her off guard.

Alex: Hi, beautiful :) I sensed your sadness from quite a few kilometers away.

Ava chuckled, looking at her phone.

- This guy...

***

As Nathan revved the engine, I tightened my grip around his waist, feeling the rumble of the motorcycle beneath us. With a nod, I assured him of my readiness, excitement coursing through my veins.

- Are you holding on tight? - Nathan's voice was barely audible over the roar of the engine, but his concern was palpable as he glanced at me through the motorcycle's mirror.

- Yes! - I replied eagerly, my words carried away by the wind. - We can go.

We set off together, looking forward to spending the rest of the day in each other's company. I was particularly excited because I would get to see Nathan's grandmother again, whom I had grown quite fond of. Unfortunately, neither of us anticipated what we were about to witness.

As the flames licked hungrily at the wooden structure, casting an eerie glow against the night sky, one of Adam's friends couldn't help but remark on the speed with which the fire spread.

- Damn, it burns pretty fast. - he observed, a mixture of awe and apprehension in his voice as he watched the house become increasingly engulfed in flames.

But amidst the chaos, another realization struck. - Hey, are you sure there's nobody in that house? I think I see somebody—

Before he could finish his sentence, Adam's attention was drawn to the approaching figure. - Adam, look! Somebody's coming; we gotta go! - he exclaimed, panic creeping into his voice.

- Fuck! - Adam cursed, his heart pounding as he and his friends hastily fled the scene, their fear of being caught overwhelming any sense of guilt.

Meanwhile, Nathan, his keen eyesight catching sight of the glowing inferno, reacted swiftly. - Fire - he observed tersely, his grip on the motorcycle's handlebars tightening as he accelerated, determined to get closer and assess the situation.

For a moment, I gazed at the blazing house, terror growing in my eyes as the flames licked at the sky. Nathan ran towards the inferno, and my heart clenched with fear. Without hesitation, he rushed into the burning building, driven by the grim realization that his grandmother was likely still inside.

- Nathan, wait! That's dangerous! - I called out, quickly pulling my phone from the pocket and called 911 waiting anxiously for them to come.

I watched helplessly as a large burning piece of wood fell before me, blocking my path and shattering my courage to step inside the inferno. With a heavy heart, I gazed at the engulfed house, praying fervently that Nathan and his grandmother would emerge unharmed. Yet, as moments passed with no sign of them, a growing sense of dread gripped me, choking the air from my lungs.

- Nathan! - I cried out, my voice trembling with desperation as my mind raced with fear, anxiously awaiting the arrival of the rescue team.

Convinced that my beloved had succumbed to the engulfing flames, I felt the weight of despair crush my spirit, and I crumpled to my knees, tears streaming down my face, my heart shattered by the possibility of his loss.

Until...

- Sarah! - Nathan's voice, loud and alive, pierced through the chaos. He emerged from the inferno, cradling his grandmother in his arms. Relief flooded Sarah as she witnessed the miraculous escape from the engulfing fire.

- Nathan! You're alive, I'm so relieved... - I exclaimed, rushing towards him to check on his grandmother. - Is she—

- No! She can't die. Grandma, please, don't do this to me, I beg you! Damn it, where's the fucking police.

With flashing lights illuminating the chaos around us, I waved frantically to catch the attention of the emergency responders. Relief surged through me as they rushed to our aid, swiftly attending to Nathan's grandmother. Despite his anxious inquiries about her condition, there was no reassurance from the responders.

As the fire brigade battled the flames engulfing the house, Nathan remained fixated on his grandmother's well-being, his attention consumed by the uncertainty of her fate. The burning house and its contents faded into insignificance; all that mattered in that moment was the uncertain outcome for his beloved grandmother.

- Nathan, everything will be okay, just calm down... - I tried to soothe him, my hand trembling as I reached out to touch his shoulder, hoping to offer some comfort amidst the chaos.

But Nathan's urgency was unmistakable as he interrupted me. - Sarah, I'm sorry, but I need to get to the hospital as fast as possible, you understand? - His voice was firm, his eyes fixed on the road ahead as he accelerated, his determination driving us forward in the face of uncertainty.

- Okay, go, I— - As I attempted to follow Nathan and his grandmother, a police officer stepped into my path, his stern expression halting me in my tracks. His hand raised in a commanding gesture, signaling for me to halt.

Confusion and frustration gnawed at me as I watched Nathan disappear into the distance, his urgency palpable. I yearned to be by his side, to offer whatever support I could, but the officer's intervention thwarted my efforts to follow.

- Hold on, miss. Do you have any idea what happened here? - The police officer's voice cut through the commotion, pulling me back to the present moment.

- Officer, I was at school with Nathan, and when we got here, the house was already on fire. We don't know how it started. - I explained, trying to remain composed despite the chaos unfolding around us.

- Did you see anyone around? Anything unusual? - The officer pressed for more information, his eyes scanning the scene for any clues.

- No, we didn't see anyone. It just... happened. - I replied, my voice tinged with a sense of unease at the sudden turn of events.

- Alright, stay here in case we need more information. We'll look into it. - the officer instructed before moving on to assess the situation further.

After a brief moment, a police officer apprehended Adam and his friends. They were found with lighters and other items in their hands, revealing their involvement in destroying Nathan's house. Sarah, witnessing the scene, couldn't believe that Adam had orchestrated the arson. Filled with anger and disbelief, she started shouting at him, demanding an explanation for such a malicious act.

- Adam, is that... were you behind this? Why would you do something like this? - I confronted him, my voice trembling with a mix of disbelief and anger.

- Look, I didn't— - Adam began to protest, but the police officer cut him off.

- Save it. We found you with the evidence. - the officer interjected sternly, his gaze unwavering.

- Why, Adam? Why would you destroy Nathan's house? - I demanded, my frustration boiling over.

- Look, it's not what you think. -  Adam insisted, his tone defensive.

- Then explain! What possessed you to do this? - I pressed, desperate for answers.

- Nathan... he ruined everything for me. I wanted revenge. - Adam confessed bitterly, his words dripping with resentment.

- Nathan didn't 'ruin' anything for you. You're just a petty, vindictive jerk! - I shot back, unable to contain my anger.

- You don't understand. - Adam attempted to justify himself, but I refused to let him off the hook.

- No, you don't get it! You almost killed Nathan and his grandmother because of your stupid grudge! - I retorted, my voice laced with contempt.

- Grandmother? I didn't— I just wanted to mess with him a bit. - Adam stammered, his excuses falling flat in the face of the severity of his actions.

- Oh, congratulations, Adam. You really outdid yourself this time. - I spat, my disgust evident in every word.

- Both of you, enough. We'll sort this out at the station. - the police officer intervened, putting an end to the confrontation.

- Officer, please, my boyfriend is in the hospital. His grandmother might not make it. I need to be there for him. - I pleaded, desperation creeping into my voice.

- I understand, but we still need your statement for the investigation. - the officer insisted, torn between duty and compassion.

- I promise I'll come back and help however I can, but right now, I need to be with him, please. - I implored, my heart aching at the thought of Nathan and his grandmother in such peril.

- Alright, go to the hospital. Take care of your boyfriend. We'll schedule your statement later. - the officer relented, his expression softening slightly.

- Thank you so much. I appreciate your understanding. - I said gratefully, relief flooding through me as I hurried off to be by Nathan's side.

Sarah, with urgency etched on her face, immediately set off for the hospital, which was a good hour's walk away. Unfortunately, no buses were currently running, so without hesitation, she decided to run, not willing to wait for bus.

***

Meanwhile in the hospital:

Nathan paced anxiously in the hospital corridor, his heart pounding with every passing second as he awaited news about his grandmother. Each step was laden with a silent prayer for her survival, and he couldn't shake off the gnawing worry that threatened to consume him.
As he walked in circles, his thoughts were a tumultuous mix of hope and fear.

Amid the palpable tension, the sound of approaching footsteps caught Nathan's attention. He looked up from the floor, meeting Sarah's disheveled appearance - a reflection of the urgency that had driven her to the hospital. The silent exchange of glances between them conveyed more than words ever could, as Nathan yearned for a shred of reassurance about his grandmother's fate.

- Sarah... Is everything alright, you look— - Nathan began, concern etched in his features.

- Oh, it's nothing. How's your grandma? Any news? - I interrupted, my voice tinged with worry as I sought an update on his grandmother's condition.

- Not yet. The doctors are still inside. I'm just praying she makes it through. - Nathan replied, his voice heavy with uncertainty, mirroring the weight of the situation.

- She will. - I reassured him, offering whatever comfort I could muster, my hand reaching out to gently grasp his, a silent gesture of solidarity and support in the face of adversity.

The hands of the clock continued their inexorable march, time stretched into a painful thread of waiting, and each passing moment was weighed down by the heavy weight of uncertainty. The hours passed, stretching like an eternity, until a grim figure emerged from the depths of the hospital corridors - a harbinger of news both terrifying and inevitable. Summoning all his strength, Nathan solemnly asked to be by his grandmother's side. With a heavy heart, he entered her room, leaving Sarah to wait outside, her eyes fixed on the small window through which she could see the intimate moments taking place inside. Through blurry eyes, Sarah watched as raw emotion crossed Nathan's face, his sadness and love mixing in a poignant display of vulnerability. In that fleeting moment, she witnessed the depth of his heartache, a silent observer of the bittersweet farewell that loomed on the horizon. As Nathan emerged from Grandma's room, his shoulders weighed down by the weight of impending loss, Sarah met his gaze with unwavering support, her own heart weighing under the weight of the unspoken news.

- How is she? - I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, filled with a mixture of fear and sorrow.

Nathan paused, his eyes reflecting the depth of emotions swirling within him. - It's not good, Sparkle... - he finally replied, his voice heavy with grief. - The doctors... they don't give her much time.

- I'm so sorry, Nathan. - I murmured, my heart aching for him and his family.
- We'll face this together.