Ash’s POV
It was supposed to be just another day of school, just another ordinary day filled with classes. I’d make as many notes as possible, reading over my notes so I would understand everything that was being said. Alex and I would give each other sly glances that nobody would notice, whether we were across the classroom or sitting right next to each other. Lunch would be eaten in the cafeteria with my friends, we’d joke around a little bit until Jack would go a bit too far. As soon as the bell would go, I’d rush to my next class, not daring to miss a second. Then, when the school bell rang for the very last time on that day, we’d all hangout and do something fun, or Alex and I would be all alone. He’d hold my hand as he drove back home, singing and humming along with the songs playing softly throughout the car. I’d just look at him, appreciating him and every imperfection and perfection he had. After I’d insist on doing my homework first, we’d cuddle up together and share some kisses. Maybe we’d watch a movie, or maybe we’d just be on our beds, talking to each other.

But that wasn’t what happened that day.

That day was different. It led to things I wish I’d never have to face again. Somewhere in the back of my mind, it was always haunting me. But that was exactly where I always wanted to keep it for the rest of my life… the back of my mind. I thought that I had overcome it. It was supposed to be like overcoming your fear, that it would never come back again. But I guess that’s where I went wrong. It would come back in the blink of an eye if I turned my back to it for just a second, one small thing triggering it like multiple grenades.

I didn’t want it to happen, but it was out of control. The day already seemed to be going way too good to be true. I wasn’t behind anymore, Alex and I had been able to sneak some kisses with nobody noticing, and I was actually completely happy for once. Nothing was supposed to stop me and ruin my day. It was all good again. Alex and I were happy and I felt like I was actually ready to love him back. I wasn’t broken anymore, and I knew that it was true.

But, oh, how one thing could change it all like that.

It all started with me laughing. It was a genuine laugh caused by something Rian had said. As my teeth were showing brightly, and I walked up to my locker to put my books away, I realized that I was indeed actually happy again. That annoying little high-pitched scream was no longer there, telling me to be aware of my surroundings. It was gone now, my mind back to the way before it all went down.

We were all going to go out to that authentic diner Alex and I had our first date yet. Of course, nobody knew, but jack still believed we had to make it up to him. We were going to have fun. It always led to us trying our best to squish into one of the big booths they had, but it ended in one of us always falling out or sitting on another’s lap. The dinner would always start with us betting what would happen and to whom it would. That way our pain would turn into a little fun.
If only that was what we were going to do.

It was all such a blur, but it didn’t take long. I grabbed my coat from the hanger I had put in my locker, and let my hand brush against Alex’s as we left the school building. We were all going as one big group, nobody ahead and nobody left behind; we were basically that annoying group of friends that was basically in the way of everything as they all tried to go to the same place at the same time.

But who would know it would actually turn out to be the best plan we ever had?

The cold winter air made my skin tingle as we stood outside. The anticipated snow hadn’t fallen yet, but the full dark clouds were swarming overhead. Everybody always wished for a white Christmas, but it rarely ever happened. The leaves were long fallen off all the branches and swiped up by maintenance, only the pine trees still standing tall and proud. Red noses were everywhere as clouds left all our mouths and noses while we simply tried to breathe or talk.

Just another winter day.

But there he stood. Sitting on top of the hood of his freshly washed car, Luke was watching me leave school for the day. I tried to stay calm, thinking it was just my imagination playing with me, that that warning inside my head had amplified instead of left. But no. He was actually there, his evil smirk on full display.

I wasn’t the only one to notice. It was like everybody around me knew who he was, keeping an eye out for every little movement and action. Alex stood completely still right next to me, Jack scowling, as Luke had the nerve to push himself off of the shiny metal surface and towards me. The smirk never left his face. He knew exactly what he was doing, having another plan that included me once again. His footsteps were heavy as all the kids looked to see what was happening. Nobody dared to interfere before it was too late.

His mouth was moving as he talked to me, but I didn’t hear a thing. All sound was blocked out while I felt lost, an unfamiliar and menacing tune playing. I wanted to run, scream my lungs out, get away from him. But I was frozen, just like the puddles on the cracked asphalt roads. It all just happened so fast.

Alex was suddenly stood in front of me, yelling at Luke while protecting me with his body. But he was nothing compared to that muscular evil-doer. Luke towered over him, laughing in his face, while looked over at me with a certain twinkle in his eye; a fiery red, dampened by a black veil, the eye of an angered dragon. He was going to get me no matter what. I was the gold he eagerly wanted. And I was ready. Ready for him to hurt me again, ready for him to take another piece of me, ready to be broken, ready for my life to end.

He wanted to get up in my face, tell me that I had to answer him, that I had to obey him. But it was all muffled. I didn’t understand the movie that I was watching, the plot didn’t make sense. Why was the guy trying to hurt the girl when she didn’t do anything wrong? That wasn’t how stories were supposed to go! It always ended in a happy ever after. They always had a good ending.

I couldn’t even follow what was going on next. More people were interfering. Jocks who objectified me when I just came here were standing up and supporting Alex, creating a barrier. It wasn’t long before one of them lost their mind and started lashing out. With the help of all his friends, Luke was on the floor in no time, being restrained by two guys at each limb. He tried and he tried, shouting profanities at me. But there was no hope, he had lost the battle, but not the war.

Police were involved. Apparently, they had been looking for him since somebody had reported the rape. Luke had always managed to get away, to hide until he could strike again. But with the help of some school children, he was caught and handcuffed. The glare he gave me when he was pushed into the back of a cop car would be burned into my mind forever. It was the look you gave someone you wanted to kill, ready to rip their throat apart. The car rushed off to jail before his plan could be executed.

I was pulled off to the side by, who was supposed to be, a friendly officer. He was going to help me. First I had to answer some questions before I could get the help I needed. But I couldn’t do it. It was all too much for me. All the noise was catching up on me, hitting me all at once: screaming, laughter, the sound of a body hitting the floor.

So, I ran. I ran like every troubled person would. Making sure I stayed off the main roads, I roamed around the city, never daring to take a break and stop, never slowing down any further than a jog. We run, they follow; we rest, they catch up. I could;nt risk it. I wouldn’t let myself be dragged down that road again. But everybody already knew that it was too late for that. I had gone further than I ever had before.

Eventually, I just ended up going home, the sun already having set a long time ago, not bothering to say hi to a very worried Isobel. Alex was still out searching for me, an anxiety attack hitting him every corner he took without being able to see me anywhere. But I had other things to worry about.

For example, the books in my bookcase needed to be in alphabetical order.

Notes

A chapter without dialogue... difficult, but I managed to do it.
Anyway, Luke's back... Oh no