Chapter 22
◄◄◄

It was the end of the day, and all my work was finished, with not a single word from Suzan at all.

I was walking down the hallway, my hood up to hide my face, not caring about the rule of 'keeping your hood down in the school'.

I had already collected the things from my locker, so I walked past it. My mind drifted to Rixton, and I wondered if he got punished or not.

I hurried down the stairs and then entered the cafeteria, looking around for Rixton, crossing my fingers hopefully.

Then, I saw him; that one figure in all black, slouched in the corner of the cafeteria.

A smile sketched onto my lips and I ran towards him, grinning now.

I didn't care how much of an idiot I looked; people could deal with it.

I dodged past the mousy haired girl, who huffed as she was pushed aside, and took several more bounding steps before I literally leaped into the seat beside Rixton, panting.

He looked up slowly, and my heart almost broke in two.

The black spot under his eye was swollen and dark purple-blackish, but his mouth was free of blood and looked normal.

I don't understand why the school didn't send us home; it seemed as if they sent Steven away, but not us? We were still forced to endure school? It didn't seem right.

Slowly, I reached out with a tentative hand, my heart thundering in my throat, and lightly traced the bruise with my fingertips.

Some people would say I moved way too fast; 'fell' for Rixton way too fast. But I couldn't help it. My heart overtook my brain, and this time, I didn't stop it.

I embraced it.

Maybe I do believe in love at first sight now.

"Does it... does it hurt?" I asked him softly, caressing his cheek lightly, my chest shuddering as I fought to breath, the close proximity between us making my head spin.

"No. I don't feel pain," Rixton muttered, and my stomach began to spasm at the sweet sound of his voice.

"Nonsense. Everyone gets hurt, one way or another," I insisted, turning my gaze away from his bruise to look at his eyes.

A big mistake.

Those big black oblivion eyes seemed to wrap around my soul, ensnaeing me into an endless abyss, causing me to falter and then crash down completely. My heart was literally almost leaping out of my throat, and my fingers trembled heavily as I lowered them slowly back to my sides.

I was a fool for loving him. I suppose, you could call it loving him. Liking. Either one. But he drew me closer, made me want to stay with him forever-- and I loved that feeling.

But did he feel it, too?

That connection?

That bond?

I don't know.

But I hope he does.

Otherwise, I'd seem to be a huge fool.

Rixton leaned closer slightly, just the slightest hint of movement, but that one little gesture made my palms go slick with sweat and my heart to race like I had just ran a whole mile.

"You took the punch for me," Rixton whispered, and I brought myself enough will to look into his eyes again.

"I did," I replied softly, and the faintest smile played on Rixton's lips.

I nearly fainted.

He smiled.

Rixton, the boy who never smiled, smiled.

For me.

Because of what I did.

I felt my throat go dry as Rixton smiled wider, and the gleam of his pearly white teeth surprised me.

Someone brushes and flosses, my brain commented, and for once I actually welcomed it.

You can say that again.

I smiled, too. I couldn't help it; the smile was contagious.

Soon we were both grinning like big idiots, but I didn't care.

I was the happiest I had ever been, in my whole life.
______________________________
Five minutes later, and our bus, number 19, was called.

Rixton walked with me, side by side, out the door towards the bus, but this action made me want to jump for joy.

I climbed onto the bus first, then slid into the seat in the far back; and you know what?

Rixton didn't hesitate. He slid in right after me. And that made me want to scream, like the fangirl I was, right then and there.

"So, does this make us friends now?" I asked him hopefully.

Rixton glanced at me, then paused for a brief moment, and in that second, I felt as if my whole life was on the line. And then he smiled, brightening up my world, and nodded slightly. "Yeah. We're friends," he agreed.

I had achieved my goal. In only one day, I had managed to befriend Rixton.

And it made me delighted.

I grinned at him, and he smiled back, and we stayed that way the whole ride home.
______________________________
The bus screeched to a halt at our stop, and I slid off, the happiest I had ever been, Rixton following soon after.

"So, I finally got you to be my friend. See? I kept my promise," I teased him, smiling. Rixton grinned back reluctantly, and it made my whole body want to do a back flip.

That is, until my phone began ringing.

I paused and glanced at Rixton. "Hang on. It's probably my mom," I told him before answering the phone, without checking the caller ID, but I figured it'd be my mom.

It wasn't. The tone was clipped, yet sounded similar to someone--

It was Suzan's mom. Why was she calling me?

"Hello? Ariana?" Diana, Suzan's mom's name, asked.

"Yes?" I replied politely.

Diana sounded so worn down, so beat up, it made me think she'd gotten in a fight with her abusive boyfriend Liam again. I knew because Suzan always complained about it.

"Is everything alright?" I asked anxiously, before Diana could reply.

The woman let out a choked sob, which made me frown and bite my lip nervously.

"Um... hello? Diana? Are you okay?" I asked worriedly, again.

"No!" Diana sobbed. "No, because Suzan was found murdered this morning!"

I dropped my phone onto the ground.

(A/N: I cried writing this....

1

More

Chapter.

I can't, guys :'(

It's so emotional..... ugh. But stay tuned for the next (and last!) chappie.

I love you all.

And don't forget to VOTE, COMMENT, and FOLLOW ME.

Thank you guys. Without you, this wouldn't be possible.)