A few weeks went by and Dylan and I were always with each other at school and after school. It seemed as though we were never seen without each other. Whenever I walked into the school, I always felt confident because I knew my best friend was waiting for me and I was waiting for him.

It was fourth period and I had English, without Dylan. But, next period would be lunch and I would see him.

I walked up to my teachers desk and asked, "May I go to the bathroom?"

"Of course," they replied.

I walked out into the hallway and went into the bathroom. As I was washing my hands, I  heard a familiar voice behind me saying, "You stole him from me!"

I turned around and it was Jessica, Stephanie and Stacy.

"Excuse me?" I asked, clearly unaware of what they were saying.

"Why did you steal him, huh?" Jessica said, this time more angry.

"I didn't steal anyone, okay!" I said, agitated that she was accusing me of this.

"You stole Dylan, okay! Everyone knows that I've liked him  forever and he was totally going to ask me out, but then you strolled along and pulled him away!" Jessica was practically yelling. Stephanie and Stacy were just standing there like they were her accessories. "Well, there is a thing called revenge, just in case you aren't aware of the term, let me give you an example."

She pulled back her arm and her fist hit my face. I felt my nose start to bleed.

"Please-" I tried to ask her to stop when I felt another burst of pain.

"Are you enjoying the revenge?" Stacy asked with a laugh.

I started to back towards the door and as I was about to open it, Stacy gave me another punch and the door swung open causing me to fall into the hallway. I tried to get up , but then Jessica kicked me back down.

"Nicole!" I heard someone say.

Dylan I thought.

"Oh, Dylan," Jessica said trying to flirt. "I was just-"

"Just what! What do you think you're doing!"

I was curled up in a ball on the floor crying from all the pain. Dylan knelt down next to me and gently rolled me over so we were face to face.

"Oh my... Nicole." His voice cracked and he started to cry. I'm not sure why he did, maybe it was because he didn't like seeing me in pain, or was it because he knows I was just starting to fit in and then this happens.

I had cuts and blood all over my face and felt a lot pain on my back where Jessica kicked me.

Dylan pulled me onto his lap and my head was resting in his arms.

"Nicole, this wasn't supposed to happen. I can't believe there are cruel people in the world that would do this to you," he started to cry a little more, he wasn't afraid if anyone else saw it. This made me cry too, I loved how he cared about me, in any circumstance.

He slowly looked up at where Jessica was standing, her 'accessories' ran away once they saw Dylan.

"Why?" He asked calmly, with tears in his eyes.

"Ummmm," she obviously didn't know what to say. "She stole you!" she bursted out in a yell and walked away.

"What a-" Dylan started.

"Thank you," I interrupted. "If you didn't happen to pass by, then she would probably still be beating me up."

"Of course, anything for you, Nicole. I can't stand seeing you like this," more tears started to form in his eyes.

"Dylan, you're the best, I've never had anyone like you in my life. Not even in Nevada."

"Hang here, I'm going to go get someone." Dylan said, gently placing me back on the floor.

Within a few minutes I heard running and I heard Dylan's voice, and the principal's as well.

"Who did this?" he asked.

I opened my mouth to answer, by Dylan spoke for me, knowing I was in so much pain.

"Jessica. Jessica Dunwhick."

"I'm going to go get the nurse. Nicole, you are free to go home and stay at home for however long you need." the principal said.

"Thank you," I whispered because that was all I could get out. Then from all of the blood coming out of me, I saw black and fainted.

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I woke up in my bed and Dylan was by my side.

"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at school?" I asked extremely confused.

"The school day is over," he replied.

"How long was I asleep for?"

"About 4 hours," he replied. "You should get some sleep, you've been through a lot."

He was right, I was exhausted and in so much pain, that all I could think of was sleep.

"Yeah..." I said as I slowly closed my eyes.

"Sweet dreams," he said and kissed my forehead. I heard him walk out of my room, close the door, and I was asleep again.