"No Way!" Kate squealed excitedly and Leah laughed beside her.

"You are acting like it's the first time you see Henry Waters with his shirt off." Leah said and Kate rolled her eyes.

"Whatever."

"And why are you busy stalking him on Instagram?" Leah asked, biting her Bar One.

"I'm crushing on him okay? He is the hottest guy in this school. Oohhh check out this picture by the beach... Totally drool worthy." Kate replied, smiling from ear to ear as she continued to scroll down her phone.

"Actually the hottest guy in school is Justin Hazard but he's scary so I guess Henry can take that spot."

I gulped at the name of Justin. I haven't seen him or heard from him since Saturday when he came into my room. More like broke into my room. A part of me was feeling rueful about chasing him out. I keep on wondering what would've happened if I had confided in him, told him everything. Would he have helped me escape Ben? Or would he choose to go away? All this is just making me have a headache!

Today was Monday and he wasn't even in class before the lunch hour. He skipped school again, like he always did.

"Amara, you okay?" I looked up at the mention of my name. I found two pairs of eyes gawking at me in a concerned way and I smiled softly.

"Yeah, I'm okay."

Kate and Leah shared a look before looking at me again. And there it goes...

"Am...you know you can always tell us anything right?"

"Guys seriously, I'm okay." I reassured them and they nodded. I had a feeling that it's not because they understood but they didn't want to push it.

"Anyway girls, I've got the greatest news in the history of all great news." Leah exclaimed. "You both are gonna choose my birthday party dress for me."

"What, really?" Kate and I spoke simultaneously and Leah nodded, a huge grin on her face.

"Yeah like why the hell not? I trust you guys with that and I won't see it until the night of the party."

"You won't be disappointed." I smiled and she let out a chuckle.

"I better not."

****

"Are you sure that this will work?" I asked as I felt the material of the dress in front of me.

Kate nodded, her eyes twinkling.

School ended an hour ago and Kate and I decided to start looking for Leah's birthday party dress. The party is in a month's time and we wanted to view as many dresses as possible.

"She'll love it." Kate said and I smiled. At least this managed to take my mind off things, including Ben, Justin...it's just too much for me to take in.

"But isn't the color too...bright?" Kate asked unsure and I chuckled. The dress was a bright shade of orange. Orange was her favorite color...but the dress looked maybe a little too orange.

"Its Leah we are talking about, she loves bright colors. I think this color will suit her perfectly." I replied and Kate frowned a little.

"I think its maybe a little too orange"

"Yeah, me too." I said and we both laughed, discarding the dress. We walked around the shop seeing some very beautiful dresses but not the one that screamed out Leah's name.

About an hour later, Kate and I exited the shop, heading to her car.

"Too bad we didn't find the right dress today." She spoke as we both hopped in the car.

She was driving a red Chevrolet which suited her.

"Too good we still have a month to look for one."

As Kate drove out the parking lot of the mall, I leaned back on the seat and looked out the window. An uncomfortable silence took over us and I couldn't help but feel that Kate wanted to say something. I turned my head and looked at her.

"Say it Kate." I breathed out and Kate looked at me immediately.

"Say what?" She acted clueless and I gave her a blank face.

"Okay okay fine. Just that these days you seem...too distant. It's like you are not telling us something that is bothering you. I tried ignoring it before but you look dead inside, like you are suffering in silence and it pains me to see you like that. Considering the fact that you are my best friend and hell I'd do anything just so you stop looking all sad and depressed like you always do these days."

I inhaled sharply as her words sinked in. I felt tears threatening to come out but I willed myself not to cry.

I couldn't tell Kate, I couldn't tell anyone about Ben. I just couldn't or else they would die. Ben is a crazy man and he will kill Kate and Leah if I dare say a word to anyone. With Hanna knowing is already having me on edge about everything and I can't risk their lives like that. It's not fair to them.

"That's just ridiculous Kate. Nothing is wrong with me, I promise I'm perfectly fine. And besides, if anything was wrong, don't you think that you and Leah would be the first people to know?" I hated this. I hated all the lies that I had to say.

I hated Ben for making me go through this. I hated him for ruining my entire life.

"I really hope so Amara." She still didn't seem a hundred percent convinced but decided to just let it go. She continued driving and soon enough, she parked outside the hell I call home.

Saying a quick goodbye, I hopped out the car and watched her driving down the street until her car was no longer in view.

Sighing sadly, I made my way towards the front door. I tried controlling the strong and unpleasant emotion caused by acknowledging Ben's car in the driveway.

Story of my life.

I, as silently as I could, opened the front door and sighed in relief as the monster was not in view. Running as fast as I could up the stairs, I unfortunately heard my name being called. I stopped in my tracks, my body froze as hard and cold as ice.

I swear my heart stopped beating for a while.

Before I knew it, a rough hand tugged at my hair hard causing me to snap back to reality. Harsh reality. Sorry reality. Pained reality.

I suddenly felt warm liquid running down my cheeks. I hated crying in front of Ben, it showed him my weakness and my fear towards him and that was his motivation.

It motivated him to continue making me feel like he owns me, like I'm nothing and sometimes...I do feel that way.

And right this moment as I looked up into Ben's dark eyes that were burning out of hatred for me, I knew that all hope I had of escaping him is gone. His grip on my hair was still as strong, my head was throbbing.

He had a sick sadistic smile plastered on his face, while I sobbed and cried...like the broken girl I always was.

"What the fuck is this?" He raised his other hand, which had pictures.

Not just any pictures... Pictures of Justin and I.

I felt my heart stop, almost like all oxygen was being drained out of my system.

It was pictures of when Justin dragged me in the old janitors room.
Pictures of when he had took me just outside the English class when I had spilled coke all over him. Pictures of when Justin showed up in my room and also pictures of him climbing down, using the pipe.

Had Ben been stalking me all along?

"Explain yourself Amara. I'm not a very patient man."

You're not even a man, you're a prick.

"I...I" Ben slapped me across the face when I stuttered.

"What's the matter now princess? Fucking cat caught your tongue?" He spoke in a mocking tone when I almost fell but was supported by the railings.

"Who is he? Your boyfriend?" Ben asked, gripping me by my shirt now.

"N-no...I can explain." I forced the words out and Ben looked at me with a murderous look.

"I swear to god if you have told him anything about me...your friends will die Amara. They will fucking die and I'll let you live to endure the guilt." Ben spoke threateningly, and right this moment, I knew he was being serious.

"Justin doesn't know anything I swear." Ben was silent for a while, before an angry cloud took over him again.

He pushed me back with all that he had and this time, there were no railings to support me. So I fell, feeling each step of the staircase pierce through my body. I think I let out a scream until there was no more movement.

The last thing I saw before darkness took over, was Ben's huge figure towering over me.

*******