AN- just warning you guys that, i didn't have time to edit i will though soon, but i really wanted to post this chapter. So, sorry for the mistakes.

Chapter 10:

Pulling away from Decan, i look up at him.

"This moment is really sweet and all, but you need to leave before my parents get home," i state, looking over my shoulder nervously, into the hall that leads down stairs.

"Wow i tell a girl i like her, and she kicks me out," he jokes, smiling like an idiot.

"Haha Decan. But seriously you need to leave."

He sighs dramatically, and gives me a pout, "fine. Through the window i go."

I grab him by the sleeve as he starts to turn around towards my bedroom window, "are you crazy?!? Just go through the front door like a normal human being!"

He chuckles, "oh ya.." He mumbles.

Honestly i don't know how he got up here. but however he did i can bet you it wasn't safe. And i won't let him risk his life a second time going back down.

I walk him down, dragging him along with me. My parents will not be pleased to find me and a boy alone in my bedroom while they are gone. I still don't understand the time they let Blake up here. I guess they thought it was alright because they were home.

I peak my head out the front door, checking for my parents car. I'm pulled back by Decan however.

"You sure you're alright and we are all good?" He asks, concerned.

I hug him again, tightly.

"Yes we are all good. And i'm fine. I couldn't be happier at the moment."I pull away, look outside once more. "Ok the coast is clear."

Decan tells me goodnight and leaves. I watch him get to his car, get in and drive away. I stare off after the car till i can't see it. Till i know he's not here anymore and i close the door. Its around 8:30-9:00 pm now. I stare at the wood of the closed door.

I feel like this is somehow unreal. Like at any minute now bunny is going to pop out from a corner with her Bunny ears and fangs. And then i'll wake up.

I pinch my self and wait a minute.

I let out breath i didn't realize i was holding, when nothing changes. This isn't a dream. Decan actually said he likes me.

"Eeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!" I squeal, jumping up and down and doing a happy dance.

He likes me!! He said it and he came here and its true!!! Even after i threw my squash soup in his face!!! (Though that was more his fault then mine)

i ran up my stairs to my room and garb my laptop, flinging myself on my bed (not before throwing the bed sheet into the laundry bin because of the soup spilled all over it). i skype, Della, Sandra and Sadie. there faces pop up on the screen of my laptop. they all look concerend.

"oh my god Hope, we thought you died!!'' Sadie hollers, the sound blasting through my headphones.

i wince in pain. i feel a head ache coming on now. I turn down the volume before anyone else of my friends can yell at me.

"ya! i have been calling you non stop! i heard what happened from Brent! i have been so worried!" Sandra, screams.

Della usually the loudest out of the three, chose to sit and glare at me. her nose was still red from her constant blowing into a tissue.

i roll my eyes, "i'm sorry y'all. i took a nap."

they stared at me in disbelief. and that's when i realized that was probably not the right thing to say. all three of them broke out into a lecture. a screaming lecture. each voice trying to drown out the other to make a point.

"ok, ok, ok! i'm sorry i worried you all if you guys are so mad at me you probably don't want to hear my good news and why i'm not crying into a pillow right now!" i shout over their lecturing.

they all shut up, finally, and stared at me expectantly.

"what good news?" they all ask in unison.

"well Decan was just here a while ago...." i begin, but get cut off.

"what?!?" Sadie yells.

"how dare he show is face to you!" Sandra exclaims.

"don't worry hope I'll kill him" Della threatens.

oh my lord. this is going to be a long night. why did i decide to talk to these crazy people again?

"guys seriously, be quiet. i think aliens can hear you," i state, burying my face into the sleeve of my grey hoodie.

"so what? he didn't come to make you feel bad?" someone asks, i'm still not looking at the screen of my laptop.

"he came to apologize" i tell them, it comes out slightly muffled due to my head position.

"what she say?"

"he came to monopolize...i think."

"no that's not right she said he came to give her apples."

oh here comes the headache. good lord. i am never talking to these people again. i pull my head up and glare at them, annoyed.

"to apologize!! he came to apologize! you people are crazy! he came here to apologize! he climbed the side of my house, broke in through my window. i threw soup at him and he said he liked me!" i yell, exasperated.

"you what?" Sandra asks confused.

"you threw your soup at him?" Sadie also questioned, confused.

"is that some code word for some weird sex thing?" this one came from Della.

i looked at them irritated, "ok, forget that part. focus on the more important part. he likes me. Decan likes me. he told me this right here in my room."

"wait did he say he liked you and then you threw your soup in his face?" Sadie asked.

"ok i'm done. i'm going to bed. all of you have zapped my energy and i'm just done. goodnight"

"wait!!" Della yells, grabbing my attention.

i sigh, "what?"

"did you guys kiss?"

i blush, "no."

"why not?"

"i don't know"

and with that i log off and shut down. i don't change into my pajamas. i sleep in the clothing i wore that day.

............

i feel refreshed from my night of sweet dreams. i wake up with a dreamy smile on my lips. the weather forecast is warm and sunny, but not to hot and i feel inspired to look really nice today. i choose my favorite maroon colored skirt that flows out, a little higher then just above my knees. but not enough to look slutty. its high wasted and i wear a plain black tank with it. i pick a nice beige knitted cardigan to match. and i wear it all with black plain heels.

i wear a little bit of dark maroon lipstick and mascara. i looked quite good in the mirror if i do say so myself. i'm even inspired to take a few selfies.and they too don't turn out so bad. i smile to myself. i had a feeling this was going to be a great day.

my mom is quite impressed with my outfit of choice, and smiles at me in approval.

"that boy we saw driving away from the house yesterday," she comments, stopping me dead in my tracks from getting coffee.

i blush, "how do you know that it wasn't just a female who happened to look masculine making a u-turn on our drive way?"

she laughed, "you're funny."

"i'm sorry" i apologize, dropping my head. there goes my great day.

"oh sweetie i trust you. i just would like it if you told me thats all. Just remember to be careful. You are very young and-"

"Mom! He's not my boyfriend, we haven't done anything. I have to go to school," i finished, forgetting the coffee, and heading to the door of my house.

Halfway down the hall and i'm stopped by her voice, "by the way there was a puddle and soggy bucket of chocolate ice cream by your door. Your dad was really upset by it. I don't know why it was there but next time, clean up after yourself,"

I chuckled to myself, oh yah my comfort food. An image of my dad looking down sadly at the deceased ice cream, his junk food addict heart breaking a little, filled my head. Even i felt sad for wasting such a mouth watering treat.

I stepped outside, and closed the front door behind me. The cool spring breeze felt nice On my burning cheeks. One of the things i fear worse is, awkward conversations with my parents. But since i'm an awkward person to start with and we all live in the same house, these conversations are unavoidable.

I walked to school today. Not feeling like driving, or getting a drive from anyone. I felt the need to try and reclaim the feeling that this day was going to be a great one.

I almost had it when i got to school. Take note of the almost. When i arrived, it was actually pretty quiet in the big foyer of our school. Despite a lot of people there, in a big group. It looked to be a circle. And then i heard it; grunts of someone taking a hit.

A deep voice shouted from somewhere in the middle of the circle, "thats what you get you little bitch for messing with me!"

What the heck? I though as i moved quickly to the middle of the circle, shoving people to the side.

A hard ball formed in my stomach at what i saw.

Sadie lay on the ground on her side. She held her stomach and blood dripped from her lip. She glared up at a menacing looking Bryan. His foot raised again to deliver a blow to her stomach.

Anger filled me quickly. Where the hell were the teachers? Why wasn't anyone stopping him? All these stupid people and no one is helping?!?

I don't know why i did what i did. I knew i had to stall Bryan till help came. But first i needed help to come. I called Decan and Blake making it a group call. I put on speaker. It was all taking to long and Bryan was already loaded up to deliver his next blow. A kick straight to Sadie's face.

I didn't think. I just.....did. I jumped at Bryan. Going for a tackle. Not sure how to tackle. Tried aiming for his waist, ended up colliding with his knees.

But surprise, surprise it worked. He fell down, more from shock then my actual weight hitting him. He wasn't prepared for someone flinging themselves at him, and was thrown off balance. Bryan and
I hit the floor with an audible thud. He would only be in shock for a second but i had enough time to scream bloody murder.

i screamed like my life depended on it, and by the way Bryan was struggling to get me off of him i probably was.

His friends pulled me off of him. They held my arms taught and high up. I knew i couldn't shake them loose, i had as much strength as a scarecrow compared to the two football players holding me up. So i continued to scream.

"You butts! Put me down!!! Right this instance or god help me i will rip out your scrotums!!!! And beat you with your own humerus's!!!!!" The crowd of dumb teens made confused noises.

"Where the hell is a humerus?" He scratched his head, dumbfounded, as he asked this to no one in particular.

Ok so i don't know exactly how to talk in fights. Sue me.

Bryan smiled evilly at me, "i don't know. Lets find out." Turning his attention away from Sadie, he headed towards me.

No no no no no no. I looked around frantically. No one in sight that would help me. Where the hell were Brent and Decan? Or even
Della or Sandra?

I needed to stall. Really badly. I also suddenly had the urge to pee. Really badly. Maybe if i peed on them they'd leave me alone. Even in this situation i still found the time to be funny.

Bryan hit me hard in the stomach. I lost the air in my lungs. It felt like someone rode into me with a bike.
He pulled back to hit me a second time. I closed my eyes like i would for a needle, to not expect the pain. Maybe it would hurt less, though that was never the case for needles.

Sounds of a struggle. That was my first clue that someone had stopped Bryan. Second was being dropped on my butt. I opened my eyes. Decan stood with Bryan and was beating the shit out of him. Brent was fighting off the two guys who were holding me up, he was keeping them from helping Bryan.

What was surprising was Blake tending to Sadie. First off he doesn't go to this school, second i didn't call him, third i hadn't seen him since he came to tell me he was sorry.

Della and Sandra stood crouched beside Sadie. Checking if she was alright as well.

I sat watching the scene play out. I felt like i wasn't really there. Wasn't really apart of what was going on. The fight was a pattern of hits being delivered back and forth. Almost like an elaborate dance. Somewhere in the back of my mind, i registered Dean getting hit really hard in the face, and blood dripping from his mouth.

Tapping over the ruckus. Foot steps jogging toward the fight. A Whistle blowing. Someone screaming break it up. Our new principle mr. Barkley and the gym teacher for the boys basket ball team, mr. Rad ran into the circle. They pulled the boys away from each other.  One of the mousy looking office lady's crouched beside me "ms. Starling, are you ok?"

I wanted to say no. Didn't say anything. Remained silent as she snapped her fingers in front of my face.

"Ya...i'm fine" i croaked, coming to my senses. I was ok. One hit was nothing. Decan on the other hand did not receive just one hit.

Decan was taken to the school nurse along with Bryan, and Sadie.  They asked if i needed to go but i said i was alright. Blake got kicked out because he doesn't go to this school.

I followed sadie, Bryan and his two goons and Decan to the nurses office. I heard Mr. Barkley ask the nurse to send them to his office after she checked if they were alright. Brent would be waiting for them there since he didn't get hit badly and wasn't injured. He got sent straight to the principles office.

Della, Sandra, and me sat on the bench outside the nurses office. No one said anything. I suppose we were in shock from the events that had just occurred.

"So.....no pranks ever again. Agreed?" Sandra proposed.

"Agreed," i said.

"If it made him this angry, i kind of wish i was there when you guys pulled the prank," Della admits.

"Lucky you weren't part of it. It was bad enough to cause all of this," i comment.

"How much trouble do you think they are going to get in to?" Sandra asks.

"Well Decan and Brent were defending me so maybe if we tell Mr. Barkley that, they'll get off easier then Bryan and his goons," i reason.

Della chuckles, "his goons?"

Sandra chuckles as well, "i think that fits them perfectly."

-------

Its lunch by the time they get out of the principles office. I could hear Mr. Barkley's yelling from the waiting area of the office. But luckily most was directed at Bryan as Sadie explained what happen. Sadie looked as she was, beaten up. Last i saw her i was swelling and she was limping. I don't know if by now more bruises would appear. But lets just say she milked it. Mr. Barkley believed everything she said.

She told him Bryan had attacked her out of no where. And that the only person who helped her was me and when i did he went after me. So when Brent and Decan intervened it was only to protect me and her. She told Mr. Barkley that Brent and Decan didn't start the fight and was no way responsible for what happened and that they were good guys, and at this point she threw in some fake tears and a little sniffle (from what i could hear) and said, "i don't know what would have happened if these two didn't come at the time they did." She sniffles a few more times. Yes the walls of Mr. Barkley's office are that thin.

Decan, Brent and Sadie got off easy. Mr. Barkley even thanked Decan and Brent for helping. He practically thanked them for beating the crap out of another student. I mean the other student deserved but violence is violence and our principle thanked them. Sadie must have really worked those tears.

"We get the rest of the day off," Decan says coming out of the office.

Brent and Sadie follow him. Mr. Barkley isn't finished with Bryan and his goons just yet. Which is good. They deserve it. Sadie looks much worse close up now.

One of her eyes is almost swollen shut with dark purple bruising showing already. Her lip is split but no blood remains on her face after the visit to the nurses office. The sleeve of her dark blue blouse is torn. Blood stains her clothing.

Decan doesn't look much better. His eye isn't swollen but yellow and light purple bruising is already beginning to show on the side of his eye. A band aid covers a small cut on his head. Bryan must have been wearing a ring or something.

Brent actually doesn't look bad. He mostly delivered blows rather then received them.

Sandra practically jumps Brent.

"Are you ok??" She asks worriedly, wrapping her arms around him.

"I'm fine," he laughs, "those guys sucked at throwing punches."

"I'm fine too thanks for asking," Sadie says waving her hand slightly, "not like i had the crap beaten out of me by a sphyco or anything."

"I highly doubt that. You look like the walking dead," Della commented.

"I feel like it," Sadie replies in return. She sits down on the chair i was sitting on earlier. She puts her head in her hands and groans.

I turn to Decan, he's already looking at me.

"Are you alright?" He asks as he moves closer to me. He puts a hand on my stomach where i got hit. He looks angry.

I chuckle and pick up his hand holding it in mine.

"The real question is are you alright? I mean i saw you get hit pretty hard, and this?" I brush a finger over the cut on his head.

He winces, wavers slightly. "Ya no. i think i have a concussion."

Brent swings a heavy arm around Decan's shoulders, "don't worry bro i got you," he then holds up Decan's keys.

"How'd you get my keys?" Decan asks confused.

"Not important. Lets roll. C'mon Sadie we'll take you home."

"Thanks," sadie says, lifting herself from the chair. She lets out a little grunt of pain.

I go to help her up, giving her my arm for support. Anger fills me towards Bryan for all he's done. So what he got a little embarrassed by us? It gave no right to hurt Sadie. She had been through enough because of the douche bag. But to physically come and hurt her? It makes me sick. I sincerely hope Decan got in some good punches during the fight.

"Thanks Hope," she says, trying to hide the fact the act of standing from a chair physically hurts her.

Brent kisses Sandra passionately, and says bye to Della and me. Sadie also says bye, turns to leave with Brent. Decan turns to me. How do we say goodbye? Like Brent and Sandra? Like Sadie? Somewhere in between?

He chuckles, a smile spreading across his lips, "you think to much." He pulls me into his arms and hugs me.

I slowly hug him back. This is all new to me. We only made up like yesterday. I still don't know what we are. I don't know what he wants. I know he likes me. I know i like him too. But he never asked me out. Never called me his girlfriend. I know we aren't dating, because we have never been on a date. So what are we? Does he even want a relationship now? A girlfriend? Or something like friends with benefits sort of deal? Sigh, so many unanswered questions. And looks like i won't be getting any answers today since he's going home.

He pulls away with a goodbye, then another goodbye to Della and Sandra. I watch his back as he leaves the school.

I let out a sigh. I really thought today was going to be a great day. I sigh again as i look down at my once nice looking clothes, now all crinkled with a bit of someones blood. Great, a perfectly good outfit wasted too. Fantastic.