The day was here. The day that decides nearly everything. The day I could live or die.

I paced nervously around the locker room, waiting for Coach to call us outside for the game. The rest of the team was just as nervous as I was, while Stacy tried offering some encouragement. Once we finally went outside, my mind completely blocked out the deafening cheers and hollering, trying to stay focused. I looked out to my friends in the crowd, seeing my dad sitting next to Megan and Ezra. He waved enthusiastically and I smiled.

"Hey." I was snapped out of my thoughts as Tyler ran up to me. The boys team weren't going to be playing today, so he going to watch from the bench. "You good?"

"Yeah. Just, nervous as usual."

"As usual, you'll do great." He emphasized on those first two words, grinning at me and giving me a casual hug before walking back to sit with the rest of the boys team.

Tracy took the jump ball and the game started, with our team in possession. I ran back, receiving the ball from Olivia and shooting it in.

The crowd erupted and I exhaled, glad that I didn't miss. The game continued, and we crushed the opposing team effortlessly. I don't know how it happened, but it felt like my mind and my body finally connected on that court. I actually started smiling like an idiot.

The game ended with a huge score gap, and I felt elevated. For a moment, I finally felt like myself again. I had even managed to score some three-pointers. I don't know how, but I did it.

Ezra, Tyler, Megan and I went back to her place to celebrate since there was no one at her house, all of us feeling exhilarated. Our school was officially in the finals, where the scouts would be. Holy shit.

Megan took out some beers she had hidden in one of the kitchen cabinets, handing us each one. While normally actual liquor was what would get you real drunk, beer was enough for today for me. Tyler and Ezra headed straight to her gaming system again, yelling like idiots as they fought each other with remote controls. I rolled my eyes.

"So, how's it going with Ezra?" I asked Megan, taking a sip of my beer. "Oh, it's awesome." She replied. "I think he's pretty much the first guy I've dated that I've felt fully comfortable with."

"Well, yeah. You guys are literally like Ross and Rachel. From friends to more than friends."

She smiled, shaking her head at the Friends reference. "You know I've dated a ton of guys. They're usually all so stupid. Like Asher with you, for example."

"Ugh. Why bring him up?"

"Sorry. He was super-hot though."

I scoffed. "Still doesn't justify his craziness. We weren't really together that long anyway."

"I guess. Was he good in bed at least?"

I froze at the question, unsure of how to answer. Megan looked at me in confusion, her eyes widening when she finally realized why I was taking so long to reply. "Holy shit, you guys never slept together?"

"Um... we were kind of taking it slow, I guess."

"Well shit. Eh, it's fine. I mean, you have hooked up with other guys before at like parties, right? It's not like you're a virgin."

I didn't say anything again.

"Oh my god, you're a fucking virgin, aren't you?"

I shushed her, turning around to see if Tyler and Ezra heard. Luckily, they hadn't. "Keep your damn voice down."

She burst out laughing, hugging her stomach and nearly dropping the beer she was holding. "Ha! This literally explains so much! I can't believe I never noticed this. This is hilarious."

"Yeah. Real funny."

"Damn girl, you've got to get some."

I felt my face turn tomato red, picking up a toss pillow and shoving it in her face to get her to shut up. We drank and played video games for about another hour until we all decided we should probably go home. Ezra dropped me off on his way home at the end of my street, since he would have to go a round about route if he dropped me in front of my house. He probably shouldn't have been driving after drinking, but he hadn't had that much, I guess.

I walked up the pavement with my hands in my pockets, the wind harshly blowing my hair past my face. I heard a rustle in the bushes next to me and the sound of someone cursing and muttering obscenities. I stopped in my tracks, turning to my left to look at who could have possibly done that. I couldn't make out much in the now darkening sky, but I'm pretty sure I saw someone move.

I heard a harsh whisper that sounded like- "can you just let me do it?" But I wasn't sure.

"Okay, how about you show yourself before I come find you and punch you myself?" I said loudly.

I heard more cursing as not one, but two figures stumbled out of the darkness, breathless and panting. I had to resist the urge to roll my eyes.

It was Kayla Montgomery herself, dressed in her usual expensive tastes and over excessive makeup. Her lipstick was smeared and her hair was an entangled mess, which surprised me. Not as much as the person next to her though.

I gaped in astonishment as Brad stood next to her, his hair just as messy, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. He had a freaking mark on his neck, that looked very much like a hickey, his lips swollen. I almost gagged.

"What the actual fuck do you two think you're doing?"

"What does it look like we're doing Peirce? Mind your own business."

"Okay... but why are you here?"

"Um..."

"We got a little lost." Brad interjected, and I turned to look at him. Atleast he wasn't crushing on me like I thought. That's a relief.

"We were just walking around, and we lost track of things. Sorry."

"Uh, okay? See you guys at school... I guess."

Still confused, I shook my head and walked away, heading home. Brad and Kayla? Just wow. Why on earth they were randomly making out in a bunch of bushes, I have no idea.

The rest of the night was pretty lowkey. Mostly. My dad had returned home after my game, but my mom wasn't home so I guess we wouldn't know how things would be yet. The next morning was beyond awkward as no one said anything, and I just grabbed my toast and left to catch the subway.

I boarded the train on time and was just going through my phone, when I felt someone tap my shoulder. "Hey stranger."

"Oh, Shawn hey."

I turned around to face him and audibly gasped out loud when I saw his face, that people actually looked at me. I have no other way to put this. He looked like complete shit.

He looked like he hadn't slept in days, his hair an uncombed mess. There was a slight bruise around his eye, looking like someone had punched it. I could see a scar extended near his neck from under his hoodie which was hiding most of it. If a cop saw him on the street, they'd think he'd escaped from a mental prison.

"Yeah, thanks." He spoke dejectedly. "Sorry." I whispered. "But... holy shit Shawn what happened to you?"

He pointed at his eye. "This? Nah, I just punched myself in the face."

"Shawn."

"I don't wanna talk about it Peirce."

"Okay, but if you think no one else is going to ask either, you're nuts."

We reached the stop before school and we both got out together. Neither of us said anything and just walked side by side in silence, until we reached the familiar steps at the entrance. He hung his head low and pulled his hood over it, so not a lot of people noticed it. Veronica definitely did though.

"Seriously, what the actual hell Hunter?"

She made to fuss over him, and I silently took my books out of my locker. I had a pretty good idea of how Shawn had received those wounds, but I wasn't going to mention it. I didn't think he'd want to get into that now. But I couldn't help but be slightly worried. Anyone would be.

"Hey listen, can we just finalize our portions of the project today at your house? Then we'll be done with it and ready for submission." I asked him during lunch.

"Uh, yeah sure."

Once school was over, we both got onto the subway again, getting out at the stop near his house. Like always, no one was there when we reached. I didn't bother going into questioning him about anything, even though I really wanted to. I just talked about how we were going to present our project, but he nodded like he wasn't listening.

"Shawn? Earth to Shawn?"

"Huh? Sorry."

"It's fine. Anyway-"

"Thanks for not questioning me." He interrupted suddenly, and I gave him a small smile. "Of course. I figured you would talk if you wanted to."

Some sort of silent understanding passed between us and I cleared my throat, looking back down at my paper. I started to write, when Shawn spoke up again.

"Look Alex, I can't pretend that nothing happened between us anymore, and-"

He was interrupted by a sound from downstairs, which sounded like the door opening and closing. I heard a voice yell across the house. "I'm home!"

Shawn's expression immediately went horror struck, all the colour draining out of his face in less than a second. He looked like his worst nightmare had come true as he scrambled to his feet, grabbing me by the arm. "Quick, you've got to get out of here."

I gaped at him in confusion as I was roughly pulled up to stand, my pen falling to the floor. Okay, what the actual hell?

"Ah, there you are." A voice spoke from right behind us, and Shawn froze, both of us slowly turning around. An older man stood there, wearing an extremely expensive suit and tie. He looked strikingly handsome, his eyes and hair exactly like Shawn's. He was holding a briefcase in one hand, and a phone in the other, looking like he had just hung up a call. He glanced at me and his expression changed.

"Oh, hello there. Who are you?"

"I uh... I'm Alex, uh sir."

He laughed. "No need to call me sir. Nice to meet you, I'm Shawn's dad, but you can call me Mr. Hunter."

"Okay, Mr. Hunter."

His face changed again to a more solemn expression as he looked at his son. "Shawn. I thought I told you your schedule for today."

"I know, I'm sorry I-"

"Can I talk to you in private, please." What he said sounded like a request, but his tone said it was anything but. I watched hesitantly as Shawn walked after his father, his head hung low and his face weirdly sweaty. Shit.

I quickly packed up my things, trying to drown out his father's loud voice.

"I thought I told you that you can't bring any friends over this week."

"I know, we're working on a project-"

"I'm sorry, did I ask for an excuse? This isn't tolerable, Shawn. If you want to take over the company after me, you need to get your shit in order and do it right. Even the devil needs redemption."

"How many times do I have to tell you I don't want to!"

I froze as I saw something thrown out of the other room, smashing into the wall behind me with such force, that it made a dent. Okay, now I was a little scared.

Shawn scrambled out as his dad towered over him, and he terrifyingly backed up against the wall. I had never seen him look more scared in the entire time I'd known him. He looked like he was fighting for his life, his face flushed with panic.

His dad raised his fist, getting ready to smack him again. I don't know what came over me, and I yelled.

"Stop!"

His dad froze, turning around to look at me like it was illegal for me to be standing there. He scowled. "Get out of my house, young lady."

"No! Stop hurting him!"

I locked eyes with Shawn and he shook his head wildly, gesturing for me to leave. All my resolve vanished at seeing how broken he looked. This was pure insanity.

"Just leave." He said, his voice barely a whisper. Still holding my breath, I snatched up my bag and left the house, closing the door behind me like I couldn't get out of there soon enough.