SUMMER'S POV

Why do I have to wake up? Why can't the bed sheets just consume me so I don't have to face Freddy?

That's weird. I haven't heard my dad bang on my door.

I slowly go to the door, open it, and go through the hallway. Once I reach my dad's room, I take a small peak inside. He is passed out on his bed.

I release a breath I was holding. Thank God. I don't have to go through a beating this morning.

I get my clothes, a purple longsleeve, loose shirt, skinny jeans, and white tennis shoes. I apply make up to myself to cover the purple bruises.

I take a long look in the mirror. Why can't I be pretty? Why can't Freddy notice me? Well he did but not the way I wanted him to. Instead, he just broke me, but strangely, his outburst doesn't change what I think about him. Even though he doesn't feel the same way about me, he is still my world. One of the reasons I smile is because I really like him, maybe even love.

I don't want to face him, but I don't have a choice.

Before I go, I open the cabinet and reach for my scissors. I pull my sleeve up and look for a spot on my arm, but there are so many cuts from last night that I can't seem to find a spot. It doesn't matter, the more pain the better. I deserve it.

I put one of the blades on top of a cut. I push it deeper and deeper. Once blood starts dripping out I slide the blade down my arm instead of sliding it across. This way the blade goes through more cuts, giving me more pain, reminding me I'm a pathetic excuse for a person.

When I reach the last cut down my arm, I do my usual clean up routine, grab my stuff, and head to school.

Once I enter the building, I go to my locker, open it, and put my backpack inside.

"Hey Summer, you feeling better?" I hear Tomika ask. I look to the side, and there she is with her books already in hand.

"I feel- not devastated. So much better than yesterday." I murmur getting my books, and surprisingly it's true.

I feel as if all the feelings left along with the tears. I’m not usually a crier-when a moment arises my dad would threaten to give me a “real reason” to cry, as he phrases it.

"That's good. Um... honey, don't you want to get rid of that?" she asks pointing at the picture of Freddy in my locker.

"No. Even though he hurt my feelings when he lashed at me, I still like him. He is my reason for smiling, well next to you. He is sweet and kind. I'm gonna keep it up," I tell her closing my locker.

She scowls deeply.

"If it’s what you really want, then fine. Humph, I should get a picture in your locker."

We both laugh softly and head to class.

FREDDY'S POV

When I woke up, Summer was the first thing that popped into my head. Ever since I snapped at Summer, I have had this weird feeling at the bottom of my stomach.

Guilt.

I didn't mean to hurt her. I wasn't thinking. My only thought was about myself and her leaving me alone. I can't believe I did that to a friend. I have to apologize to her. Fast.

I get dressed in a simple black shirt, a jacket, jeans, and black tennis shoes.

I go to school and head towards my locker but stop when I see Summer. I get around the corner and think about what I will say when I apologize. I take a deep breath and head over to say sorry, but I go back when I see Tomika head towards Summer.

"Hey, Summer, you feeling better?" Tomika asks her.

I hope she does. I really hurt her yesterday. I was a douchebag.

"I feel- not devastated. So much better than yesterday." Summer answers.

That doesn't make me feel better. I don't want her to feel sad. I want to see her beautiful blue eyes sparkle with happiness.

Whoa, did I call Summer's eyes beautiful?

I decide to look at her, and I mean really look at her and study her features. I can't believe I've never noticed what's right in front of me.

She has a beautifully shaped face that shines. There is a small shade of red on her right check. She probably applied blush, but she doesn't need that. Her eyes are beautiful as well. Her hair flows perfectly down her shoulders reaching the middle of her back. She has beautiful pink thin lips that could charm anyone.

Summer really is breathtaking.

"That's good. Um... honey, don't you want to get rid of that?" Tomika asks her pointing to a picture of me in Summer's locker.

"No. Even though he hurt my feelings when he lashed at me, I still like him. He is my reason for smiling, well next to you. He is sweet and kind. I'm gonna keep it up," Summer says shutting her locker.

Seems like the outside of Summer isn't the only thing to her. The inside also makes her sparkle. Her personality is angelic. I thought she wouldn't want to have anything to do with me after I made her cry.

It turns out she is kind, loving, caring, and always puts others before herself. She is truly a wonderful person.

I can't believe I was so caught up in myself that I hurt Summer all these years and never gave her a chance.

Now it may be possible that I have feelings for Summer.

"Ok, I get it. I still think he's a dick though," Tomika says.

She's right. I am a dick, but I have to make it up to Summer no matter what it takes.

~Time Skip To Lunch~

SUMMER'S POV

I go to my locker in order to my books in and then head to lunch, even though I'm not going to eat. I haven't eaten breakfast or lunch since sixth grade.

When I open my locker, and hit my dang funny bone, a small note falls to the ground.

I put my books in my locker, bend down to pick it up, unfold it, and read what it says.

'Plz meet me on the roof of the school during lunchtime. I really need to talk to you.'

Huh. That's weird. Who would want me to meet them on the roof of the school? Who would want to talk to me? No one does.

I close my locker and make my way to the roof. As I walk up the stairs, I start wondering about who could have possibly left the note in my locker. The hand writing looked familiar, but I could be imagining things.

Wait, it's probably Asher. He is sweet and cute, and he likes me, but I don't like him back. I only like him as a friend.

After a couple of minutes, I finally reach the door. I put my hand on the doorknob and take a deep breath.

Here goes nothing.

I open the door.

"Look Asher I-" I cut myself off when I look at the person standing right in front of me.

Freddy.

"Hey, Summer," he says softly.

His voice makes me go weak at the knees.

"Uh... hey?" I say, but it comes out more as a question.

"I wanted to talk to you," he said coming closer to me and closing the door.

"Um...uh... Sure, what uh, what about?" I stutter.

Why am I so nervous? I wondered how he couldn't hear how hard and fast my heart is beating when he is here by my side?

"I wanted to apologize to you. I was way out of line yesterday. I hurt you really badly, and it makes me a selfish friend. I'm supposed to pick you up not tear you down. The truth is that you are such a great girl. You're pretty and kind. You think about others before yourself. I don't expect you to forgive me so soon. I know I'm a dick. But can we try to put this behind us?" he asks putting a hand on the hair beside my neck.

I got shivers starting in my cheeks running down to my arms, to my fingertips, to my thighs, to my knees, and all the way down to my toes.

I sigh and look at Freddy. He looks at me with desperate and pleading eyes.

I can't stay mad at him. I am a little angry at him, I admit. But because of my strong feelings for him, I am willing to try and forget what happened, even though his words will forever echo in my head and torture me for the rest of my life.

I smile at him.

"Freddy, I can't hold a grudge against you. Even if I wanted to hold a grudge, I would still forgive you because I know that you are truly a wonderful person. You care about others and are kind to those around you. I may have not seen the best of you, but everyone has their outbursts," I tell him.

He laughs softly. Oh that beautiful sound. I start laughing too, genuinely laughing. I can't remember the last time I had a real laugh, real smile, or real happiness.

Those small moments have always been either when I am with Tomika, Zack...

Or Freddy.

"Thank-you so much, Summer. I couldn't live with myself knowing I hurt you," he says looking into my eyes, his hand still beside my neck.

"Oh it's fine, really don't worry," I say giving him a light smile.

His gorgeous smile turns to a serious face when he brushes my hair to the side. He is looking at something.

"What's wrong?" I ask trying to touch what he is looking at.

"Oh, nothing. There's just something in your hair," he says as he softly pulls on a strand of hair and takes out a small piece of fluff from my hair.

He laughs again, and I do too.

"You have such a big heart, Summer. How can you forgive me after what happened? I still can't understand it," he says putting his hand back on my cheek, once again sending shivers down my entire body.

I shrug my shoulders.

"It's just who I am," I answer him.

We both smile at each other and keep looking into each others' eyes.

By now Freddy is so close to me I can feel his warm breath on my face. I keep looking at his features, his beautiful oval-shaped face, his hair complementing his style and personality, and his lips thin yet seeming so warm.

I could have sworn I saw Freddy's eyes wander down to my lips, but I could be delirious from being here alone, with him so close to me.

He closes his eyes and starts to lean in. I feel myself leaning in too.

Then....

RING!!!!!!!!!

The bell.

We both pull away and are now a couple of feet away from each other.

"Um, we better head back to class," I say walking backwards towards the door.

"Yeah, you can go. I need to do something really quick," he says.

"Alright, I'll see you later," I say with my voice slightly shaking. I hope he doesn't notice.

"Bye," he says smiling.

"Bye," I say returning the smile.

I open the door, walk out, and close it.

What the hell just happened?

FREDDY'S POV

What the fuck just happened?

I was caught up in the moment. Yeah, that's it. We were alone and close, and I was looking at Summer's beautiful eyes wondering how such a kind, caring, extremely sensitive person could forgive a jerk like me.

Ok, I can't help it!

Maybe I do like Summer.

When I start looking at her as more than a friend, I realize that any guy would be incredibly blessed to even meet her.

What's making my blood boil though is what I noticed on the side of her neck, not the fluff I pulled out of her hair. I covered it up so I wouldn't make her uncomfortable. There was a purple red-ish bruise on the side of her neck. Some one...hit her.

Who would dare touch Summer like that? I swear I would kill whoever did, but why would anyone even consider hurting Summer? What has she ever done to deserve being hit?

How could I have not noticed her bruises before?

I need to find out what's going on.

But how?
~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°
Yay! Chapter 3 is done.

Warning, the next chapter will contain a scene that might make young reader's uncomfortable. I'll post a warning on chapter 4 as well.

How was it?

Freddy knows about Summer's injuries😱.

Stay​ tuned!

Thx for reading.

Bye!😘

*Linda.