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A few weeks pass since the incident with my hand. My mum practically freaked out when she came home and saw a sink full of my blood and my hand expertly bandaged. I think it was the first time that I had seen her so panicked.

The first thing she did was scold me for being so stupid. She didn't even ask if I was OK or anything, she just went straight into a lecture about picking up glass with bare hands. She even banned me from taking glasses upstairs in hopes to prevent any more accidents - not that I listen, as, despite her disapproval, I still sneak cups of water up into my room.

However, despite her third-degree lecture about safety, I have other pressing issues playing on my mind to even care about her constant whining and complaining about how I never seem to take anything seriously.

That is because every day I go to school with the fear that Tyler might come and collect his debt. I constantly look out for him and hope that whatever he's planning won't be as horrifying as I've been imagining.

But he doesn't.

Instead, he actually ignores me. In class and even outside of school he acts as if I don't even exist. He doesn't tease me in history like usual, he doesn't come up to my table in the cafeteria to piss off my friends and he doesn't even acknowledge me in gym class.

"Ok, not that I'm complaining, but I just find his sudden silent treatment seriously suspicious," I comment through sips of my milkshake that Ryan has managed to sneak in this morning.

Freya frowns and looks as if she's contemplating something. "I know. It's weird that he's not even acknowledging you. He's never done that - he's always got something to say."

I nod in agreement and sigh, "I just wish I knew what he's planning. It's stressing me out knowing that one of these days I'm going to have to owe him a favour."

"Maybe he actually realised that there's more to life than constantly teasing you?" Hattie wonders.

"Well, I've heard that he and Jennifer have been having major problems with their relationship. It could  be coming to an end, so he might not have any time to argue with you too." Ryan adds in, munching away on his cereal bar that he always eats in the morning.

"What?!" All three of us exclaim together as we look at Ryan in disbelief. This is news! Tyler and Jen are like the most problematic couple in existence, but it's hard to believe that they are actually calling quits on each other.

"Why didn't you tell us sooner?" Veronica demands, slapping Ryan's arm in annoyance. He looks completely baffled as his eyes look between three of us and take in our curious expressions.

"I only heard about this last night! I don't even know whether it's true or not, so don't kill me!" He holds up his hands as a surrender and looks at us apologetically.

Veronica says something but I don't listen. Tyler and Jennifer are complicated. Some days they act like a loved up couple who can't keep their hands off each other, and other times Tyler is kissing another girl and Jen is bragging about a college guy that she hooked up with the night before.

However, they always seem to gravitate back to one another. So news of them officially breaking it off is actually very surprising. I can imagine that Tyler must be frustrated throughout this entire process, as despite his obvious personality flaws, he does have a tendency to be very protective of Jen.

"Let's just hope that for your sake Carter, he forgets all about the debt you owe," Freya mutters just as the first bell rings, indicating the end of break time.

We all stand up and head to class together. "I'm never that lucky when it comes to Tyler." Is all I say as a reply to Freya's optimism.

She just shrugs and loops our arms together, giving mine a comforting squeeze. "We'll see."

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I'm right. I'm always right. It's like I have a sixth sense when it comes to predicting what Tyler is going to do next. I knew that the prolonged silence between us was going to be broken - it is just the very nerve-wracking waiting game that left me an anxious wreck.

However, I don't expect it to change when in my gym class. It seems as if coach Mathews doesn't expect it either - since he's deciding to be brave and merge the two gym classes together. Most of the teachers have noticed the distance between Tyler and me - they haven't had to separate us or break up an almost fight in almost two weeks.

But you know what they say: there's always a calm before the storm. And this storm is brewing up to be a big one.

The tension in my stomach grows when I realise that I'm going to be in the same class as Tyler today. The boys are taking a break from rugby training and so they're going to participate in whatever coach has planned for us girls.

"Ok ladies and non- gentlemen," coach jokes, causing a few scattered laughs to leave a few amused teenagers lips. "Today we're playing dodgeball!" I can see the nervous tilt to his lips as he observes mine and Tyler's expressions.

He's stood opposite me, his face blank, void of any emotion. He only raises an eyebrow at the choice of activity but doesn't give anything away. I just shuffle on my feet and sigh loudly, silently praying that this game of dodgeball won't end like all the others:

With me and Tyler at each other's throats.

We're the most competitive people in this group, so we often get very angry and quite violent with our throws - hitting each other's heads and sensitive body parts (which I find very amusing).

"Ok, like always, Tyler and Carter - you're the team captains, come and stand here to choose your teammates."

We both stand either side of coach and turn to face our classmates. We are quick to choose who we want on our teams, surprising everyone and myself when we don't start to bicker like we usually would.

"What's up with you and tyler? Did you guys somehow become friends?" A girl - Rebecca - asks, curiosity getting the better of her. I can see that her question has sparked interest in the others on my team as they all slyly shuffle towards us, eager to hear my response.

I scoff and make a face, "Hell no. That guy is an ass. I guess we're just not in the mood for useless bickering."

She raises an eyebrow at my words, "But you guys haven't argued in, like, two weeks. People are getting suspicious."

"People need to mind their own business. This isn't the Tyler and Carter show, our lives don't revolve around each other - we both have lives and things to do." I bite back, annoyance bubbling up inside of me.

She holds up two hands as a sign of surrender. "Ok, I was just wondering."

"Right!" Coach calls, "I expect a clean game," he gives me and Tyler a pointed look, "No swearing, no fighting and remember to aim at your opponent fairly. No headshots and especially no private parts to be hit!"

We all stand at the line and ready ourselves to run. "You're going down, midge." Tyler unexpectedly calls out, knocking my focus. This is the first time he has spoken to me and he's trash-talking?

"Don't call me that, asshole!" I shout back when I hear the chuckles of our classmates at the mention of my stupid nickname.

"Carter! Rule number one - no swearing. Watch your mouth." Coach chastises me with a shake of his head.

"Ready. Set. Start!" With the blow of his whistle, the group run towards each other and fight for the dodgeballs. I hang back, and so does Tyler. He's got that mischievous glint in his eye again and he doesn't break eye contact with me as we wait for the game to actually begin.

Red balls start flying across the room and screams, shouts and cheers all start-up and bounce off the gym walls. I'm quick to dodge and catch the balls that fly my way. I smirk smugly whenever I catch anyone out, finding it funny when they storm off and glare at me sourly.

The game continues like this until there's just four of us left. Me and a guy called Eric and then Tyler and a girl whose name I haven't bothered to learn. Tyler is in his element, his lips are set and his brows are slightly furrowed as he tries his hardest to get me out.

There must've been a secret agreement between our classmates because just when I think I'm about to hit Tyler out, the girl dives in front of the ball and gets herself out of the game. The same goes for Eric - he pushes me out of the way when Tyler's ball comes flying towards my head.

"And then there were two." Tyler chuckles, holding two red balls in his hand, ready to fling at me. I grab the same amount, raising my eyebrow at him with a silent challenge.

"Come at me."

"You're going to lose."

"You wish."

He lobs the ball at me and I expertly dodge it with a mocking whistle. "For a guy who plays rugby, your aim sure is shit."

This angers him and I smile sweetly.

This goes on; him throwing and me dodging, making snarky comments that I know is pissing him off. "Just throw a ball midge." He growls.

"Don't call me that," I huff. I do as I'm told and throw the ball in his direction. This seems to lessen his mood. A sly grin emerges on his lips.

"What, midge?"

I throw another one, he only just manages to move out of the way - not risking trying to catch it, just in case he drops it.

"C'mon, midge. Is that the best you can do?"

The class watches silently, coach readies himself to jump between us, as the tension begins to rise. We're both goading each other, seeing who will react first - neither of us willing to back down. It's been two weeks - two weeks of not knowing what Tyler wants me to do. It's been two weeks of silence, and not having to hear that awful nickname come out of his mouth.

The anger in me rises and starts to bubble like a volcano ready to erupt.

"I said, don't call me that!"

With that, I fling the ball with all of my might, not caring what body part I will hit. It's quick, flying through the air at maximum speed. My eyes widen when I realise too late what it's going to hit.

Tyler is too slow to react, so to my dismay (and a little amusement) the ball smashes into his face, straight into his nose, which causes him to fall back with a cry of shock. He falls flat on his ass - which any other day I would have been hysterically laughing at - I can't help but gasp along with the rest of the class when he brings his hand away from his nose and reveals the gush of blood that oozes out.

Please don't be broken. Please be broken.

My mind is conflicted, I don't know whether or not to feel sorry or smug that I managed to damage a part of his face - the one thing that he is very protective about (as well as what is in his pants, of course).

"Carter fucking Fray, you're dead!"

He stands up and wipes the blood on his t-shirt, his eyes now almost black with murder behind them. I take a hasty step back, "I didn't do it on purpose!"

He lunges for me, but coach is quick to step in and stand between us. "Tyler, calm down. Why don't you go to the nurse and make sure that nothing is broken, Fitz will accompany you." He orders with a soothing voice. We all watch as Tyler nods, and storms towards the exit of the gymnasium with a shock stricken Fitz who only gives me a sympathetic smile.

Coach then does a very long and tired sigh before turning to look at me in disappointment. "Carter." Is all he says.

"What? Do you honestly believe that I would do that on purpose? I mean, he deserved it, but it wasn't my intention to hit is face."

"But a part of you hoped it would," Coach says rather than questions.

I keep my mouth shut and guiltily stare down at my shoes. My silence confirms his statement, so he sighs again and rubs a hand down his face. "I know that it wasn't your intention, but you could've seriously injured him. There's going to have to be consequences for this Carter, ok?"

I nod solemnly. The bell rings suddenly, indicating the end of gym class. "Off you go." He shouts to the whole class then looks down at me, "You too."

Regret washes over me at the realisation that I'm going to be in big trouble for my actions. I want to just scream and go over and punch Tyler again in the nose for winding me up, but I know that it will only make things worse.

When I'm done changing out of my gym kit, I exit the changing rooms with a scowl. The girls were all talking about the incident, telling me how Tyler was definitely going to chew me up and spit me back out. Some even said that he was already plotting his revenge and was going to publicly humiliate me before school ended.

The girls are crazy.

"Carter! Oh my God, what did you do?" Ryan and Veronica pounce when they spot me walking up to the table.

"Huh?"

"The whole year is buzzing about what happened in the gym - you broke his nose?!"

"His nose is broken?" I ask. This isn't good. I am in serious trouble.

"Carter!" They both whine. Freya and Hattie then appear and look as intrigued as Ryan and Veronica.

"I accidentally threw a dodgeball at his face! It's not my fault he didn't move out the way fast enough."

"Accidentally," Ryan repeats, scepticism laced in his tone.

"Carter, nothing you ever do is accidental." Hattie accuses with an eyebrow raised.

"This time it was! I swear. He was just pissing me off and so I threw the ball a little too hard and a little too high."

"Yeah, because that sounds accidental." Freya chuckles.

I groan and flop my head in my arms that are resting on the table. "I'm so screwed."

"You might be right about one thing." Veronica whispers, which I frown at. Why is she whispering? Has the canteen just got quieter or am I just imagining things?

"Carter Fray," My head snaps up at my name being called. I spot a man dressed in an expensive black suit, staring down at me with the most serious expression possible. There's not a hint of amusement or kindness hidden behind his eyes, "Come with me."

When I don't react, his lips set into a thin line, "Now, Miss Fray. I don't have all day."

"I'm dead," I whisper back to my friends who look a little fearful, "I'm so dead."

I stand up and follow the headmaster - Mr Henderson - out of the canteen, ignoring the pitiful looks that my peers all throw my way.

"I'm dead," I repeat.

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