I'm sitting in silence in Stone's car as we drive back home in the morning. Steph has already left last night so she could go to school today.

I look out the window, deciding if what I'm about to tell Stone is the right thing to do or not. Steph told me to follow my heart, I don't know what to do with that information.

I fell asleep for the next hour. "Alice, wake up, we're here." Stone says as he gently shakes my shoulder.

I flutter my eyes open and find myself in front of my house. Thank god, he didn't take me to his place.

"Alright, umm, Stone, I need to tell you something." I say. This is so hard.

"Yeah, what is it?" he says as he fixes his posture to face me.

"I... I think we need a break." I manage to say, not daring to look him in the eye.

His eyes go wide a bit, as if he wasn't expecting me to say that at all. I wasn't expecting that either. Before Collin kidnapped me, I was on my way to tell Stone that I'm in love with him, and now I'm asking to be away from him.

"W-Why, why do you think that?" he quietly asks. He's been quiet since yesterday, that's weird.

"Because this is too much for me. If... if you never became a part of my life this wouldn't have happened." I tell him and quickly regret it.

"You're blaming me for this?" he asks. I can see the hurt in his eyes.

"Of course not, but, you can't deny that I'm in danger as long as I'm with you!"

"No, Alice, I can fucking deny it! Because I promised you I'll always protect you. I fucking saved you from this psycho!"

"I know, but that's not the point!"

"You know, whatever, fine, take your fucking break. I'm always trying my best to keep you happy! I'm always trying to satisfy you! I'm always trying to control myself when it comes to you! You just never appreciate it!" he shouts and I'm already crying.

"I-I'm sorry, I..." is the last thing I managed to say before exiting his car. I stumble to the front door, looking back one last time before entering. He drives away and I close the door.

I rest my back onto the door and slide down the floor, sobbing hard. These have been the worst two days of my life.

On the bright side I got rid of Collin. Its only nine in the morning, I can make it to school, I only missed the first period. Even though Stone ordered me not to go, I'm going anyways. I need to get used to him not being around for a couple of days, or forever, I don't know.

I called an Uber and got to school safely. Wearing sneakers in only one foot is kind of weird, I never thought about it.

I enter the school building and everyone quickly looks my way. Second period is about to start, I have English, and the thought of it is just terrifying.

As I walk to my locker everyone looks either at my ankle or hand or the visible dark bruises on my skin. Wow, Steph was fast in spreading the news. I can hear 'poor girl' and 'thank god he quit', even a few stopped me and told me to get better soon and everything will be okay.

The second I reach my locker I see Steph rushing towards me from the other end of the hallway.

"What are you doing here?" she asks as she embraces me in a gentle hug.

"I... I broke up with Stone, I need a distraction from everything."

"Sheesh, how is he taking it?"

"He was very angry, but he didn't force me to stay with him, at least."

"Told you you can change him." Steph says and I recall her words when she first told me that I can change Stone. Is it true? Did I really change him? "Look, I know how hard this is for you, and I'm always here for you, okay? Oh, and by the way, everyone is talking about what happened."

"News spreads fast." I say.

"It sure does." Ashley says as she comes into sight and stands beside me and Steph. "Hey, Alice... glad you're back safe." she says.

"You're no less than a psycho like Collin you stupid bitch, now scram." Steph tells her.

"I'm here to... apologize. Alice, I'm so sorry, I had no idea things would go like that. I had no idea he was crazy I swear. We were just scheming against you and Stone at first-"

"Ashley, its fine, forget it." I say. The last thing I want is to keep this rival thing going on between Ashley and me.

"Alice! She's a bad person!" Steph shouts.

"I'm really sorry, you don't have to forgive me, I just wanted you to know that I had nothing to do with what happened." Ashley tells me, looking down at her feet.

"I forgive you, Ashley. I hope we can be friends." I say.

"I'd love to, just not with her." she says as she looks at Steph. This is actually funny.

"As if I want to be your friend, bitch." Steph spits at her.

"Oh, honey, you can't even try!" Ashley laughs before walking away, giving me a small arm squeeze.

"And some people never change." I say and chuckle at my own words. The bell rings, meaning second period is about to start.

I stand frozen in front of English class, remembering all the moments I had with Collin inside. Students are passing as if I'm not there.

I manage all the strength I have and walk inside, taking my usual seat, the first desk.

My heart is about to explode as we wait for the English teacher to walk in. I let out a breath when a somewhat old man walks inside with a briefcase in hand. "Good morning, I'm Mr. Harold Green, you're new English teacher."

And for the first time, this feels like a normal English period.

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