Kyle's POV: 

I was just humiliating Ellie in front of a lot of people, but then she ran out of the school. 

What the hell is wrong with her? 

I mean, like seriously? 

What's her problem?

Should I follow her?

Is she okay?

Obviously, I have a lot of questions. 

I ran to my locker and grabbed my black skateboard. 

I ran out of school and started following Ellie. 

Where is she going? 

I watched as she ran to a bus stop. 

She paid the driver and then got onto the bus. 

Oh no! What have I done? 

I decided to follow the bus, so I hopped onto my skateboard and started following the bus. 

At lunch, Austin told us about Ellie. He said that she was so kind, cute, and fun. But, Austin's other friends, including me wanted to know more about her, if she was going to be dating Austin. 

He knew that he shouldn't be telling us some things, but he did. That's what friends do. 

He didn't want to tell us everything because he knew that Ellie would get mad at him, and he didn't want her to break up with him. 

But, Austin told us that Ellie is suicidal, or was. 

And that she has her reasons. 

Wow. 

I don't understand why Austin even likes little Ellie. I mean, she's so ugly. Her long brown hair, blue eyes, and weird personality, what does he see in her? Besides, a broken heart. 

Austin also told is that she had a rough past, that's all he said though. 

Nothing more. 

But, I want to know more. 

I need to know what he sees in her. 

I just don't want my best friend to get hurt...again. 

Austin went through a pretty bad breakup earlier in high school. A girl cheated on him and that left Austin broken. So, he started skipping school and wearing different clothes, and that's when he became a bad boy. 

He wanted to be respected. He didn't want to get heartbroken again. 

And watching him suffer, hurt his friends. It hurt me. 

I don't need to watch him suffer again. 

Austin used to get bullied a lot too. 

Kids would be so cruel. 

I still don't understand why people treated him like that. 

Earlier in high school, Austin became suicidal. Because he kept getting hurt. Both, physically and mentally. He couldn't take the pain anymore. So, he gave pain to himself. 

He's been through so much. 

I just want to help him get better. 

But, now years later, he's still suicidal. He still cuts himself. I don't want him to, but he just won't listen. 

Maybe Ellie could try to talk to him to stop. 

But, that won't happen now, because of the huge mistake I just made. 

Hell!

- A while later - 

The bus finally stopped. 

I decided to sit on the bench and wait for Ellie to get off the bus.

Soon enough, Ellie came off. 

She had mascara all over her face. She looked so sad. I guess she's been crying a lot. 

I noticed marks on her arm. 

Austin was right. She is suicidal. 

And now a lot of people at our school know that. Because of me. 

Ugh!

I turned my attention back to Ellie. 

She noticed me. 

She looked shocked to see me. She quickly turned around and speed-walked away. 

I hopped on my skateboard and followed her. 

Does she even know where we are?

To be honest, I don't even know where we are. 

To my right, there was a beach. The sand was a shade of light brown and the water was light blue, which is different considering how disgusting and polluted the ocean is usually. 

To my left, there were surfing shops and restaurants. 

Finally, Ellie came to a stop. 

I continued to follow her. 

She stopped at a bench near a fountain. 

She sat down and took out her phone.

"Hey, Noah. Please don't worry about me. You have no reason to. I'm somewhere that's hopefully safe, and I'll be home when I can. Tell the rest of the family I love them no matter what. Thanks, I love you. Bye. And if I don't come home, you don't need to care," I heard her say into the phone. 

I guess she was leaving a voice mail to one of her brothers. 

I feel so sad. But, why?

She put her phone back into her pocket. 

Then, she just sat there with her head in her hands and cried. 

I decided to walk up to her. I sat down next to her, on the bench.

She noticed me and looked sadder than she already did. 

I didn't think that was even possible. 

"What the hell do you want?" She asked. 

"Aww a pretty girl like you shouldn't be cursing," I said. 

She rolled her eyes. 

I lightly chuckled.

"What's wrong?" I asked. 

"You! That's what's wrong. You humiliated me and now the whole school knows that I'm fracking suicidal!" 

"Fracking?" I asked. "What the hell is fracking?"

"Shut up!! Okay? Just shut up!" She said. 

"No." 

She sighed. "Why are you even here?" 

"Because I wanted to know more about you," I said. 

"Seriously?"

"Yes."

"Oh. My. God."

"What?" I asked. 

I'm legitimately confused. 

Wow, that's a big word. 

Momma would be proud of me. 

"You're so naive," She said. 

I rolled my eyes. 

Should I tell her about Austin's past? And explain to her why I'm actually here?

Hmm...

Okay. I decided to tell her. 

"Ellie, the reason that I did what I did is that I just don't want my best friend to get hurt...again," I began. 

"Your best friends with Austin?" She asked.

I nodded. 

"Austin went through a pretty bad breakup earlier in high school. A girl cheated on him and that left Austin broken. He started skipping school, drinking, taking drugs, and going to parties. That's when he became a bad boy. He didn't want to get heartbroken again. Watching him suffer, hurt his friends. It hurt me. I don't need to watch him suffer again. Austin used to get bullied a lot too. Earlier in high school, Austin became suicidal. Because he kept getting hurt. Both, physically and mentally. He couldn't take the pain anymore. So, he gave pain to himself. He's been through so much. But, now he's still suicidal. He still cuts himself. I don't want him to, but he just won't listen, but maybe he'll listen to you. I came here because I wanted to know more about you because I don't want you to hurt Austin,"  I said. 

I could see more tears in her eyes. 

"Wow. I didn't know Austin went through so much. I knew he was suicidal but I didn't know why," she said. 

Wait, Ellie knew that Austin was suicidal? How?

"Wait, you did? How?" I asked. 

"Yeah, when I went to The Dare Death Bridge. I was about to jump off when Austin followed me and stopped me. I noticed marks on his arm. Then, he told me," she said. 

Ellie went to The Dare Death Bridge? Wow. Now I really feel sorry for this girl. Dang, she really has been through a lot. 

"Ellie, I'm so sorry." 

"It's fine, don't worry," she said. 

I frowned. 

"Where are we?" She asked.

We looked around. 

"I have no idea," I said. 

She stood up from the bench. 

"Whatever your name is, get up." She said. 

"Okay," I said, while I stood up as well. 

"Good, follow me...again."

I chuckled and followed her...again.

"We need money." She said. 

"Why?" 

"Because we have no idea where we are, so we need a hotel room until I'm ready to go home," 

"Well, why don't you just go home?" I asked. 

"I guess, I just need a break," she said. 

I nodded. 

"Okay," I said. 

"Hotel rooms cost about $175 per night," she stated. 

"I have plenty of money, we can stay as long as you want, I said. 

Austin and his friends, including me, are in a gang. We're in a gang called 'The Pythons.' We sell drugs and stuff like that. We make a lot of money. 

I pulled out my wallet and showed Ellie the collection of money. 

"How the fudge biscuits do you have so much money?" She asked. 

I laughed. 

"My job," I said. 

I'm hoping she doesn't ask what kind of job I have. Because I don't think I can just tell her that her boyfriend is in a gang, and we make a lot of money. 

"What kind of job pays you that much?" 

Crap. 

"Uh, oh look there's a hotel!" I said. 

Thank goodness for tall buildings. 

"Okay, let's go," she said. 

I nodded and we walked to the hotel. 

"Hello, how are you two today?" The woman asked. 

"We're fine, thank you," I said. 

"Oh dear, are you alright?" The woman asked, looking at Ellie. 

"To be honest, no. But, I will be," Ellie said. 

"I'm sorry to hear that dear, I hope you feel better," the woman said. 

"Thank you," Ellie said, with a slight smile on her face. 

"Hi, we would like to purchase your cheapest hotel room," I said. 

"Alright," the woman said. "The total will be $175."

"I was right!" Ellie said. 

I chuckled. 

I handed the woman the cash and she took it and put it in the cash register. 

"You guys will be staying in room 301, here is your key card, and thank you, I hope you enjoy your stay." The woman said. 

'Thank you," we said. 

"I have one question, by tomorrow morning if we would like to stay multiple more nights, can we just pay for the hotel room and stay longer?" I asked. 

I didn't want to have to pressure Ellie into going back home until she's ready. 

I guess I could use a break from everything too. 

"Of course! Just let me know if you need anything," she said. 

"Thank you," I said. 

I smiled. 

Then, Ellie and I walked up to room 301. 

I swiped the key card against the metal and the door unlocked. 

I opened the door, and let Ellie go in first. 

Then, I walked in after her and shut the door behind us. 

"What the frack?" She said. 

I chuckled. "What?"

"T-there's only one bed," she stuttered and then looked at me. 

"Well, it was the cheapest room, okay?" 

"Fine," she said. "I just think it's weird to sleep with my boyfriend's best friend."

She's not wrong. 

"True, but it's only for a little while," I stated. 

"Fine," she said. 

"Then she walked over to the window and opened up the curtains to let some light into the room. 

She screamed. 

"What?!" I shouted.

She pointed to a sign that was outside the window. 

"We're in Los Angeles, California!!" She shouted.