A/N: Sorry for grammar and other mistakes. I just wanted to get this out because I know my lovely followers have been waiting. Love you guys!

It's been four days since Elly tried to commit suicide. During those four days, I have only seen her during school. We don't talk about Darren when we see each other; mostly because I don't want to. I don't want to hear if he's treating her bad because there's nothing I can do about it. I don't want to hear if he's treating her good because then I'd be constantly thinking if the possibility of there ever being an "us" has gone out the window. Honestly, we haven't talked about anything serious. I just try to make her smile as much as I can, which has been almost impossible.

Right now, I'm with Jonah; schools out for the day.  We've planned on playing video games, there's not much else to do. We might go for a walk or something at some point. I'm not sure, the day is young.

We're almost out the door and free when I hear Elly call my name.

"Declan!"

I turn around. Elly's there, face reddish from running to catch up with me. "Hey Elly, what's up?"

"Hi," Elly says to both of us. "I was just gonna ask if you wanted to stay after with me, but I don't want to interrupt any plans you guys have."

Jonah speaks up before I do. "No, we were just going to play some video games. I think I'll be okay without Declan for an hour or two if you guys want to hang out."

"Are you sure?" I don't want to just ditch him.

Jonah shrugs. "I'm fine, we've been hanging out all week." Jonah winks "I'll miss you babe."

I laugh. "Alright, I'll see you in a bit." He leaves and I follow Elly down the hall.

"So where are we staying after at?"

"I was thinking the library, all of my teachers are looking at me like I'm some bomb about to go off. Newsflash, I already did go off." I mentally flinch at the casual reference to her suicide attempt. She's been doing this all week, making joke about it or mentioning it like it wasn't a big deal. It broke my heart; it was a very big deal.

At the library, Elly chooses a table in the back, surrounded by two tall bookshelves. I don't go in the library much, so I didn't know this table was here. I like it though; you're closed off from everyone else. Elly throws her bag in the corner and sits down. I sit down across from her.

"This is my favorite table, I've been sitting here ever since I started high school. Truth is, I put it here one day. There was nobody in here; the librarians were switching shifts and no one ever moved it." Elly leans back in her chair, smiling. Her hair is straightened today and it flows down her back as she leans.

"That's sweet, it's like your own chill spot. So, we gonna do homework or what?" I pull out some of my physics and econ homework.

Elly leans forward. "I don't have any, I finished mine in study hall last period."

"Oh." I look at her, confused. "Why did you want to stay after then?"

"Because I wanted to hang out with someone other than Darren. I want to have a life; I hate hanging out with his friends. They never liked me because of how young I am, they just act like I'm not there." Elly gets an annoyed look on her face.

"That sounds terrible. It drives me nuts when people act like you don't exist. Forget them, let's do something fun like my homework." I grin at her and drop my physics textbook on the table.

Elly rolls her eyes. "Yeah, I just loooove physics," she says sarcastically. "I'll try to help you, but there's a reason I didn't take that class."

Elly scoots her chair next to mine and we get started on my homework. It's just a one-sided worksheet so we finish it quickly. After that, I work on an Econ packet and Elly doodles on a sheet of paper. I sneak a look at her every few minutes. She isn't drawing anything specific; just lost in her thoughts. Her hair comes out from behind her ear, creating a curtain that blocks me from her beautiful face. Elly doesn't notice it, but I do and it's bothering me. I reach out and tuck her hair back behind her ear which startles us both.

Elly looks at my hand that's lingering on her cheek and then she looks back at me.

I snatch my hand back. "I'm sorry, that was inappropriate." Her gaze is on my hand, which is back on the table now.

Elly looks up quickly, smiling her entrancing smile. "It's alright. No harm, no foul." She doesn't seem like it's alright. She's upset, I can see it in her eyes.

"Elly, is there something wrong?" Her smile turns into a frown. "You can tell me."

"Well..." Elly starts, but her phone vibrates loudly on the table. She checks the message, her frown deepening.

"Elly?" Something doesn't feel right.

"I've gotta go Declan," Elly says. She stands up and throws her bag over her shoulder.

"Ok, I'll walk you then." I toss my stuff back into my bag and stand.

Elly puts her hand up. "No. I mean...Darren is down there."

"Is he treating you better?" We can't not talk about this anymore. I need to know what's going on. Her trademark Elly sparkle is gone. I know she isn't happy.

Elly looks at the door. "It's okay, everything's ok. I have to leave; I'm sorry." Then she rushes out of the library, leaving me standing there. Alone. Being left alone was never this difficult before her.

I slowly make my way out of the building. I don't want to cause any problems for Elly even though she's hurting me. She just lied straight to my face. Everything is not okay and she isn't as good of an actress as she thinks. I can see right through her façade. Every single day of this week, I've thought of Elly. My mind is filled with worry twenty-four seven, the person I thought I knew has been wilting before my very eyes and I'm not even allowed to help her.

She's lost weight, she's pale even though it's been a very sunny spring, and her smiles haven't been genuine. Elly is fragile right now and she shouldn't be in the stressful situation she's in. I'm terrified that my phone is going to ring and it will be someone informing me of her death. Or worse, I won't be informed at all.

There's not a car in sight when I leave the school. Elly's gone. I can't shake this feeling of hopelessness. It isn't just Elly who's wilting, I find it hard to be happy these days. I can't even be happy when I see Elly because I can see all of the pain she's trying to hide.

HONK! I'm broken out of my head by an angry driver laying on his horn. I must have walked in the street without looking. I hurry to the other side and the driver speeds off. Great, I almost got my ass splattered all over the road because I can't think straight. I can't take this anymore, I need a break.

When I get to Jonah's, he's in the living room watching TV. I throw myself down on the recliner across from him, huffing in frustration.

"Let me guess, your after-school date didn't go so well?" Jonah peeks over at me through his dark-brown curls, his glasses rest on the tip of his nose as he does so.

"Not good at all. The sorry excuse for a boyfriend showed up, made her leave with him," I say bitterly.

"She should just dump him, it doesn't seem like he makes her happy at all. I even I get a little sad when I see her. She looks terrible; so unhappy."

"I know. She's holding on to a memory of what he used to be.  He's not the same guy he was when they started dating. Elly just won't accept that." Thinking about this makes me so angry. Angry enough to risk getting my ass kicked so I can punch Darren in his face at least once.

Jonah sits up. "I guess it is difficult to go through so much with one person and then have to give it up. Remember when I was with Lisa? We were together for two years and I thought she was amazing."

I snort. "But she wasn't amazing, she was horrible. She used you because you always had money and she'd yell at you all of the time." I had never wanted to hit a girl so much in my life until I met her. She made Jonah miserable but he put up with it.

"I know that now, but I couldn't see it then. All I could see was the girl I first fell in love with; all our good memories. When you're in love or think you are, you're blinded."

"That doesn't make sense? Being in love doesn't change the way she treated you; It happened and you saw it." Elly and Jonah both knew the way they were being treated was wrong and they were hurt because of it, so how were they blinded?

"I don't think I'll be able to explain it good enough to you," Jonah sighs. "But, I know you're falling in love with Elly Jacobs and you'll soon experience what I'm talking about."

"This is going to sound corny as hell, but I'm not falling in love, Jonah. I'm already in love with her. I've only really known her for a little while and she's changed my entire world." I smile to myself, thinking of Elly's beautiful face; her beautiful heart.

"Agreed. Your world would have to change to let someone influence you so much that you'd start doing homework." Jonah laughs, but I can't stop thinking about Elly. How her smile makes my knees go weak, how her touch starts a fire within me, everything about her is amazing; except Darren. My dreamy smile turns into a frown.

"So, I was invited to this bonfire party at the college I applied to. I wasn't going to go, but it looks like you need some fun in your life, or at least alcohol."

I ponder it a bit before I respond. What if Elly needs me? The week of Darren staying is almost over; they could get in a fight while I'm gone. The college that Jonah is planning on attending is two hours away and I won't be able to get to her if something happens.

"I don't know, Elly-"

Jonah interrupts. "No. Elly will be fine and if something really bad happens we will come back. You need to keep yourself happy too, Declan." Jonah's always been the smart one and a sap, always caring about my well-being.

"Okay, I'll go." I give in, but I'm still unsure. Just the thought of being that far away from Elly is unsettling. I'm so angry that she's letting Darren control her life; I'm angry because she didn't choose me.

I think I'm getting a headache from being so tense all week. I've been waiting for another disaster to happen. I know it sounds girly, but my face is breaking out from the tension and stress too. Maybe Elly isn't the only one who is having a hard time. Is this part of what Jonah means by being blind? Not recognizing my own hurt? I don't know.

Jonah leaves the room and comes back with his keys. "We're gonna have to head out now to be there in time for the party."

"Ok, let me just put my shoes on." While I'm grabbing my shoes my phone buzzes. I whip it out, but it's just an email; there's no other messages...I put it down on the couch so I can get my shoes on. Jeez, my shoes are pretty worn. There's a hole in one of them and I can see my pinky toe.

Jonah beeps from outside. I finish tying my shoes and meet him in the car.

"You sure you want to go? You don't have to even though you should," Jonah smirks.

"Yes, I do. I want to feel something other than stress. Plus, you don't party much and it's always fun getting you wasted."

"It is." Jonah winks and we're off.

We pull up to a wooded area just off of the college campus. Jonah gets out and calls his fried to come meet us. I decide to check my phone for any messages, but when I check my pockets my phone is nowhere to be found. Damnit! I must've left it on Jonah's couch.

"Fuck," I say, getting out of the car.

"What's up?" Jonah looks at me concerned.

I exhale in frustration. "I left my phone at your house."

"Shit man, I'm sorry. It's too late to go back now, though." I know, I wouldn't make him do that anyway.

"Jonah! What's up?" A short, blonde guy stumbles out of the woods. He's either already drunk or he's clumsy. I betting on drunk because he looks like the athletic type.

"Nothing man, looks like the party's being good to you." Jonah insinuates based on his demeanor.

The guy comes over to me. "And who's this chill looking dude?"

"That's my friend, Declan. Declan this is Connor." Connor holds out his hand and I shake it.

"Declaaan, that's a mighty fine name. Nice to meet ya."

I chuckle at his drunkenness. "Thanks, nice to meet you too."

"Well, let's get you fellas drunk! Follow me!" Connor yells enthusiastically and jogs into the woods. Jonah and I share a 'what the hell' glance and venture in after him.

The path we're on is not one that's used a lot. I keep getting hit by branches and caught on roots and prickly bushes. Finally, we come to a clearing. There's a giant fire with people all around, drinking and laughing. Two tables sit off to the side; one has food on it and the other has the alcohol. There's two guys doing shots at the alcohol table and that's the table Connor leads us to.

"Ricky, Andy; This is Jonah and Declan." Connor introduces us to the guys at the table who just downed two shots of red liquid.

Ricky pours two more shots of the red liquid and slides them over to us.

"Alright guys, are you ready to get so drunk that you won't remember your name for at least eight hours?"

I hold up my shot. Do I want to get that drunk? I could do something stupid. Wow, I can't believe if I'm asking myself if I want to get drunk. Of course I do. I throw the shot in my mouth and it burns like fire as it goes down.

"Holy shit that burns," Jonah says, his eyes watering. I laugh at him, already feeling the slight buzz from the one shot.

"You better buck up little man, you got a lot more coming." Connor says, swallowing a shot himself.

For the next couple of hours, I focus on getting completely wasted. Every time I think of Elly, I take a shot. So, you can imagine that I got really drunk, really fast. I try to converse with a few people, but everyone is so drunk that none of our conversations make sense. By the peak of the night, I'm one-hundred percent numb and I like it.

I only see Jonah for small amounts of time during the night. Jonah is more wrecked than I am. I think at one point I saw him doing a keg stand. He's wild as hell when he starts drinking. I should be keeping tabs on him, but I can't even keep tabs on myself. A few girls try and talk to me and I end up making out with one. I don't know why, it just happened.

The night rolls on and my worries fade. I feel ten times lighter. I do miss Elly, but it's easier to miss her like this. Eventually I start to fade and the next thing that happens is that I wake up next to some random chick. My head feels like the liberty bell was going off inside of it.

I look down at myself and realize my shirt is missing. I immediately become self-conscious. I'm skinny, but not the sexy kind of skinny. I search the area around me to no avail, that is until I glance at the girl who was next to me. She's wearing my shirt...and it looks like the only thing she's wearing. I'm definitely not taking it back now. I am going to wake her up; I need to know what happened between us.

I touch her shoulder gently. "Hey. Uh..wake up?" Sorry, I'm not seasoned in waking strange girls up. The girl stirs.

She opens her eyes and smiles at me. I'll take that as a good sign. I really don't want to catch a charge for something I did when I was black out drunk. She runs her hands through her dirty blond hair and surveys her surroundings. Her calm blue eyes suddenly look panicky.

"Oh god, we slept out here all night. Gross."

She's really pretty, but I can't remember her name. "I guess we did. A lot of people did." I say while looking around. She giggles at the rest of the people passed out drunk around us.

"I'm sorry. I don't remember anything that happened with us last night. I was wondering if you did?" I feel bad because as soon as the words leave my mouth her face falls.

"We both were pretty drunk. Well, I'm Angie. Last night we...uh...messed around a bit I think, but we didn't have sex." Angie blushes when she says sex. Her whole face turns red and camouflages the splatter of freckles across her nose and cheeks.

"I don't remember how I got into your shirt though. Or where my clothes are," Angie looks around anxiously.

I stand up and offer my hand. "I'll help you look for them."

Angie accepts my hand and smiles sweetly at me. "Thank you! I was wearing a small black dress. It should be easy to find."

Angie and I scour the area. Which is hard because there were a lot more people at this party than I thought there was. There's a few intertwined couples and some of them are even naked. I find Jonah leaning over the edge of a small cliff. At first I thought he was passed out like that but now I see he's awake and reaching.

"Jonah, what are you doing dude?" Jonah turns his head and gives me a sheepish smile.

"My shoe fell down this cliff, it's a relatively small cliff but I can't reach it or climb down. Mind giving me a hand?"

"Oh! Yeah, sure!" I grab onto Jonah's ankles and he slides over the cliff more.

"Okay, got it! Pull me up." I yank Jonah up, but in the process his pants slide off. I end up falling backwards right into Angie, who's laughing so hard she's crying.

"That. Is hilarious!" Jonah blushes and struggles to get back into his pants. I just chuckle quietly, it was pretty funny.

"So, looks like you found your dress," I say, eyeing her tight black dress. It looks good, really good. "Where was it?"

"It was stuck under a bush back where we... fell asleep." Angie tucks some of her hair behind her eye while staring at the ground.

"Well I'm glad you found it. I wouldn't want you to have to go back in just a tshirt." Even though her dress might be smaller than my shirt.

"Oh I almost forgot!" Angie thrusts my shirt into my hands. "Here's your shirt."

"Are you okay Angie? Did I do anything to hurt you last night?" I ask because she seems a bit...weird. Also because I don't want to leave without making sure she's okay, I'm not like Rob.

"No! No, everything's fine Declan. I had a great time with you last night. I was wondering if we could maybe exchange num-"

"Declan! It's Elly, she texted me! Said it's an emergency!" Shit!

"I'm sorry Angie, we have to go. Maybe we'll see each other another time." I take off into the woods in the direction (I hope) we came in.

I hear Jonah crashing through the woods behind me. I feel cold all over and my chest feels tight. A million scenarios race through my head of what Elly's emergency could be. I'm scared shitless and two hours away from her. She must be okay, since she was able to text Jonah.

We break through the woods and get right in Jonah's car.

"You alright?" Jonah asks.

"Yes. I'm just really worried about Elly." At that Jonah peels out of the dirt lot and speeds down the road, leaving a cloud of dust behind us.

"I'm sure she's fine, Declan. If she wasn't I think the text would have been a bit different. Jonah's words brings a thought to me head.

"Jonah" I ask. "How long ago was that text sent?"

He checks his phone quickly. "Shoot. A few hours ago," Jonah says slowly. A few hours! My anxiety shoots through the roof.

"Can I use your phone to text her back?" I should of thought of that in the first place. Jonah tosses me his phone and as soon as I open the messaging app, his phone dies!

"Jonah?"

"Yes?"

"Did you bring your phone charger?"

He shakes his head. "No, why?"

I toss his phone into the middle console. "It just died."

"Fuck."

I drop my head into my hands. I'm so stupid, why didn't I think to call Elly as soon as Jonah said she texted. Elly could be hurt and all alone.

I spend the whole car ride in agony, afraid I'm going to be too late. I should have never went; I was cuddling with some stranger while Elly was in trouble.

As soon as Jonah pulls up to Elly's house I spring out of the vehicle. I don't bother to wait for the car to come to a full stop. I shout a thanks at Jonah and sprint inside. The door is unlocked and Elly is on the couch.

"Elly?" She's staring at the tv, which is off. The living room is dark too. I switch on the lights.

I gasp. "Elly? What happened to you?" There are bruises on her arms in the shape of hands. Her lip is cut and her eye is swollen.

She looks at me solemnly. "I should've left him sooner." Her gaze returns to the tv.

"Darren did this?" Elly nods.

I explode with fury. "Who the hell does he think he is? How dare he put his hands on you! I don't care what you did, he never should have touched you!" I scream.

There's a knock on the door and both of us turn to look. Elly gets up slowly; painfully. She opens the door.

"Darren?" I see red.