"It's not that hard to understand babe. Each carbon atom has four bonds. Just remember that," Izzie said, pointing at the question in front of us. "Well how does that even happen?" I asked and she sighed. "It's what Jarvis said. Just follow that and you'll be fine," She said, starting to write on the paper.

"Ugh... I seriously can never match up to the Clayton brains. Remind me why I decided to transfer again," I groaned, lying back down on the bed. "Because you're a little creep who stalked me for hours and changed your entire life just to be in the same school as me?" She giggled, dragging me to sit back up. "Now come on! The test is tomorrow and you gotta at least try," She said, putting the paper back in front of us.

"Yes, yes I know carbon atom... 3 bonds... something about hydrogen... I'm ready for the test, let's make out now," I said, pulling her towards me to give her a kiss. "It's 4 bonds! And if I'm gonna be such a huge distraction then I'll just go," She said and I gasped.

"Why do you enjoy bullying me?" I asked pulling her back until she was sitting on my lap. "What else do I live for?" She asked and we both giggled before she finally put her lips on mine.

"If you love me you'll try to focus," She told me and I rolled my eyes. "You can't pull that on me!" I exclaimed and she got off my lap. "UCLA scholarship also requires you to have some form of good grades," She reminded me.

"I hate you."

"I know."

"Come back here," I said reaching my hands out and she slapped them away. "I'm leaving," She said and I immediately got off the bed. "Alright alright! I'll focus," I finally said. I walked back to the table but not before stealing a kiss from her.

"I love you," I whispered and she smiled.

"I love you too."

Present...

"What's on your mind kid?" Mr Stewart asked me when he noticed I was staring into space. "Izzie and I were studying for a Chemistry test a few months ago. The first ever test that I did well on," I replied and he smiled. "Yeah she's always been a genius," He said to himself.

"She really deserves the world."

He looked at me for a while, as if deep in thought. "What are you two planning to do after Clayton?" He asked. "UCLA scholarship hopefully. If we can make it back for regionals. But that's seriously the last thing on my mind."

"UCLA is a huge deal. You two should be really proud of yourselves."

"Oh God I'm in trouble," I said, looking at my phone screen to see the spam of messages.

Coach Crowley: Do you realise how irresponsible the two of you are being leaving for a little romantic rendezvous right before regionals?

Coach Crowley: You two can say goodbye to your scholarship for sure. I better see you guys at training tomorrow if not you're both off the team

I didn't care at all.

Elsa: You haven't messaged at all I'm worried sick

"We're just hanging out at the hotel we're fine."

Sharice: How's everything girlie? Miss you x

"We're having lots of fun. Missing you too"

Quinn: I'M SORRY I KINDA ACCIDENTALLY EXPOSED YOUR TRIP TO CROWLEY

Tanya: She MAD MAD

Penelope: QUINN YOU IDIOT

"Don't worry about it guys. We got it covered!"

I sighed before switching off my phone. "Hey you should get some sleep. We'll be at GMF in the morning," Mr Stewart said, pulling over at a 711. My heart ached when I noticed the slurpee machines inside the shop.

Would we ever have slurpee night again?

Mr Stewart came back with plastic bags of food and drinks. I smiled when I saw him struggling to carry two giant slurpee cups in his hands. "I know you two go for slurpee nights or something like that. And Izzie likes something called Twggies?" He said, handing me the cup and the packet of Twiggies. "She's likes Twizzlers, not Twiggies," I laughed and he sighed. "Gosh I have no idea what you kids eat nowadays," He said and I continued laughing as I sipped on the slurpee. "Mmm... you got the flavour right," I said and he smirked.

"Oh my God... are you seriously just drinking a black coffee and... what is this... NUTS?!" I exclaimed, snatching the packet from his hands. "What's the problem?" He asked, genuinely confused. "Sometimes I forget you're a boomer," I laughed. "Once again... I have no idea what terms you kids use nowadays," He sighed and I giggled.

Once we finished eating all the food and making small talk, making sure to avoid the conversation of Izzie, I offered to drive so that he could rest. Obviously he said no.

Eventually I found myself drifting off to sleep.

The next morning, a gentle nudge on my shoulder woke me up and it took me a while to adjust to my surroundings. "We're nearly there," He said, pointing out of the window. I looked out to see a building sticking out from behind the trees. "It's a very secluded place. Wouldn't be surprised if that's where they've been doing all their illegal business," Mr Stewart said, turning into the forest.

When we reached the building, Mr Stewart parked the car behind the trees.

We looked at each other, fear washed over our faces. "Remember the plan Gardner. Follow as I say. Don't get flustered if you see anyone. And don't say a word if you see Izzie. We're gonna get her out and you're gonna quietly bring her back to the car. I'll deal with J and then we have to move on and never talk about this ever again," He said, almost like a whisper.

My heart was racing. This was life or death. One chance. My girl was inside that building. And she is so scared. And I have to get her out.

Unable to reply, I simply nodded. "Ok," He breathed out, before reaching behind for his bag and grabbing a gun, putting it in his pocket.

We exited the car and realised how loud our footsteps were, crunching against the branches on the floor as compared to the quiet emptiness surrounding us.

"Fuck..." I whispered, looking down and noticing something shiny and familiar. "It's Izzie's bracelet," I said, picking up the jewellery from the floor that was now covered in dirt. "So she's here. We know that for sure," Mr Stewart said, grabbing the bracelet and shoving it in his pocket.

There was something weird about this place. I felt so alone but at the same time I didn't. Our footsteps were astonishingly loud. The building was right in front of us but I felt like it was taking us forever to get there.

Then, a sharp pain pierced through my neck and everything went black.

The air around me was cold as my eyes tried to adjust to the darkness around me. "Where the hell am I?" I thought to myself when I realised that I was moving but not walking. My feet were being dragged across the floor and my arms were tied up. I realised the cotton on my face and came to a conclusion that I had a black mask over my head. Two people were on each of my side and they had their arms looped around my arms as they carried me somewhere.

My entire body felt numb and motionless and I couldn't find the words to scream. It was as if I had been born again, completely unaware of my surroundings and how to react. My eyes finally opened wider and I hissed at the stinging pain on my neck. I felt a liquid pour down my neck and soak the collar of my shirt and I assumed that it was blood.

Someone had injected something into me. I winced at the pain in my arms as the grip on them became tighter. Suddenly, I heard the sound of a heavy door opening before I was lifted off the ground. They threw me and I yelped in pain as my ribs hit the floor. The same sound was heard again and now I was all alone in this room.

I was too tired to help myself and remove the mask so I laid there lifelessly. But then I heard her voice.

"New... Newton?" She whimpered and suddenly, my entire body came back to life.

"Izzie?!" I yelled back and she immediately started to sob.

"Oh my God... okay Izzie you gotta help me okay? I'm gonna slide to you and you take my mask off. My hands are tied," I whispered, trying to be as calm and quiet as possible while thanking the heavens that she was here.

I rubbed my body against the floor, sliding towards her voice, ignoring the pain from the friction.

I felt her hands on my face through the cloth before she finally removed the entire thing and our eyes met.

I broke down when I saw her beautiful brown eyes that were full of pain and fear. I dropped my head as she untied the rope around my hands before we fell into each others' arms. "Oh my God... you're okay..." I cried, dragging my fingers through her hair and pulling her ever so close to me. "Why are you here... they're gonna kill you...:" She whispered and I laughed humourlessly. "Did you really expect me to not come?" I asked, lifting her head up to look at her and that was when I noticed the wounds on her face.

"Did they do this to you?" I asked softly, wiping the tears that were falling down her cheeks. She whimpered a little before nodding. "I tried to fight back," She whispered. "They broke into the house in the middle of the night and injected me. When I woke up I was in this room. They told me they work for J. But I still don't know where he is..."

It was hard for me to fully make out her sentences as she choked between her words but all I knew is that I had to get this girl out of here. "Izzie come on we gotta go," I begged, desperately trying to stand up and bring her with me when she stopped me. "Where's my dad?" She asked and all the moments with him before I blacked out came rushing back. "Oh my God your dad. He came with me. I don't know where he is I-"

I was cut off by the heavy door opening again as Izzie and I huddled close together. A large black sack was thrown into the room by two burley men wearing facemasks that they had put on me just now. They gave me and Izzie a menacing smile before shutting the door.

I hesitantly let go of Izzie and crawled desperately towards the bag. I opened it up to see Mr Stewart with his eyes closed but thankfully still breathing. "Fucking hell..." I mumbled as I shook him.

"Come on, wake up," I whispered, shaking him lifelessly.

I dragged the bag towards Izzie so that I could sit with her. "He's breathing. He's gonna wake up soon," I reassured her before her lips quivered when she looked at him. "You're gonna get an infection from all those bruises," I commented as I dragged my fingertips over her sore skin. "I had medicine in my bag but I don't know where they put my stuff."

"Casey you have to leave..." She whispered and I stared at her. "You have to take my dad and get out of here," She said and I shook my head. "I'm not leaving you here," I told her, moving towards Mr Stewart, shaking him again.

"He wants me. Not you two. You have no reason to be here."

"I SAID I'M NOT LEAVING YOU HERE!" I exclaimed, shocking her a little. I caught my breath before turning back to Mr Stewart. "I'm not leaving you here," I said again, calmly but sternly. "If he hurts you..." She started but I cut her off. "Then let him. I'm not scared of that asshole."

I heard groans and whipped my head around to see Mr Stewart waking up and I heaved a sigh of relief. When he looked at us, we stared back at him, unable to comprehend anything that was going on.

He immediately got up and started to run to the door to slam his body against it in a useless attempt to break us free. He stumbled back and groaned in pain from the impact as he fell on the floor.

Eventually, the door opened again and the two same men walked in as Mr Stewart crawled back from the door. They observed each of us carefully as I hugged Izzie closer, bringing her face to the crook of my neck.

They took out their guns and pointed it at us before saying,

"Today, all three of you will die."

A/N short chapter again:( my schedule is literally so tight and im writing this at 3am. this book will be coming to an end soon!