Robert kept his promise.

All throughout Monday, he stuck by my side-Before school, between classes, to my locker, to the library. And while I appreciated the sentiment, his omni-presence meant my chances of meeting up with Cash at lunch seemed increasingly slim.

When lunchtime did arrive, I tried to excuse myself to the bathroom; I figured, despite his hyper-vigilance, that Robert wouldn't see the need to accompany me.

I was wrong.

"Really," I sighed as we exited the cafeteria, "I don't think this is necessary."

"I'm not gonna come in with you." Robert rolled his eyes. "I'm just gonna wait outside."

I huffed impatiently but didn't respond. Really, I could understand Robert's perspective, but this was a bit excessive. And now I had no way to sneak off and see Cash.

I spent the rest of the walk in thoughtful silence, trying to accumulate a plan. But as we reached the bathrooms, Robert suddenly halted mid-step and exclaimed, "Holy shit!"

I followed his line of sight, and there, a few paces away, was Tyson.

He was wearing a grey muscle-T, dark sunglasses, and a cap-Typical Tyson clothing. But he was also covered in bruises. Dark, ugly blotches of purple and blue covered every inch of revealed skin, and in a few places there was dried blood clotting his wounds. He was walking slowly, as though every movement hurt, and he kept his head down and his eyes locked on the floor.

"No way," I whispered, trying not to gape as he passed. I felt my stomach twist despite myself. I'd known Cash was planning to rough him up, but the sight of such extensive injuries...it didn't really sit well with me.

"Look at that bitch limp," Robert whistled, without even a hint of sympathy. "Bet he'll be keeping his head down for a while. Real embarrassing."

"I thought straight men liked showing off their battle scars," I teased, bumping my shoulder against his.

"Not when they're that bad," Robert laughed. "Someone that messed up could have only lost their fight. Alright," he added as we came to a stop by the bathroom door. "Have fun."

I resisted a sigh, prepared to enter. But as I glanced over my shoulder, Mr. Reiner walked by, softly muttering to himself.

An idea sprang to mind.

"Oh, Mr. Reiner!" I called, waving him down.

"What are you doing?" Robert asked, quirking a brow.

"I just have a few questions about the assignment," I told him. "Go on, I'll meet you back at the table."

Robert hesitated, then shrugged and headed back to the cafeteria.

After he left, I made small talk with Mr. Reiner for a few minutes, pretending to be engrossed in whatever half-coherent lecture he was spouting.

And when we finally parted ways, I hurried to meet Cash.

"Finally," he yawned, stretching as I approached. "I was beginning to think you weren't going to show."

"Aw," I crooned, pressing a kiss to his cheek. This time we were meeting in an empty classroom, the dusty kind generally used for storage. "You missed me."

"Hmm...Maybe a little." Cash looped his arms around my waist, tugging me closer. "Seriously though, how come you were late? Everything okay?"

"Yeah." I closed my eyes as he trailed kisses from my earlobe to my shoulder. "Robert's just been a bit over-protective since he found out about the attack. Speaking of which," I added, drawing away to meet his gaze. "Did you...do that to Tyson?"

Cash flashed me a malicious grin. "So what if I did?" He stroked a hand through my hair. "I don't think he'll be bothering anyone for quite a while-Especially not you." The smile slowly faded from his face as he studied my expression. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." I scuffed my feet across the floor. "It's just...I was all for a bit of revenge, but I'm surprised by how...bad I feel?"

"I get it." Cash shrugged, but his gaze was distant as he stared over his shoulder. "I don't generally...enjoy that kind of thing. But he hurt you." A shiver ran down my spine as his eyes shifted back to mine, gleaming dangerously. "I couldn't forgive that."

I responded with an eager kiss. Cash laughed against my mouth.

"I won't do it anymore, though," he whispered breathlessly between kisses. "If it makes you uncomfortable."

"Okay," I agreed, stroking his cheek. "It's a deal."

I reluctantly untangled myself from him, smoothing my hair down with a sigh. "I suppose I should leave; Robert will be looking for me. But before I go..."

I produced my worn copy of 'The Midnight Train' from my jacket pocket, and handed it to him with a nervous laugh.

"It's ah...Objectively bad. But it's my favourite."

"The Midnight Train?" Cash flicked through it slowly, raising a mischievous brow. "Oh. Oh, I see."

"Whatever," I muttered, my face burning. "You don't have to read it, it's just-"

"Don't worry, Miller," Cash said, winking and tucking it into his pocket. "I'll take good care of it."

- - - -

"Where'd you go?" Robert hissed when I sat down at our usual table. Martin and Ky were sitting across from him, and I noticed how tightly pursed his lips were. "I thought something had, you know...Happened again."

My stomach twisted with guilt. "Nope," I said cheerfully, picking up a carrot stick. "All good. How's it going, guys?"

"Ugh, so not great," Ky groaned, throwing back her head. "I have to memorise this stupid book and it's just. So. Boring."

Martin patted her sympathetically on the back. "It's okay, you'll get through it." He turned to me suddenly and added, "By the way, Alyx, I saw you limping earlier. Everything okay?"

I straightened, immediately, averting my gaze. Robert's hands clenched on the tabletop.

"Yep. I'm fine."

"You sure?" Martin pressed.

"I'm sure," I replied quickly. "Hey, Ky, how was softball practice?"

"You don't have to change the subject." Martin pulled his cap from his head and set it gently onto the tabletop, shaking out his hair. "I want to know about your problems. Really."

"Maybe," Robert cut in before I could speak, "If you were around him more, you would know more about his problems."

My heart began to pound as Martin scowled across the table.

"Not this again," Ky snapped. Her face flushed with anger. "You're the only one who cares, Robert. Why don't you stop fighting Alyx's battles for him and treating him like a child."

"He's too nice to say anything!" Robert shot back, standing from his chair. "It hurts him everyday to watch you guys choose the other things in your lives over him! Right, Alyx?"

He stared at me expectantly.

My throat suddenly felt very dry. "Ah...Um..."

"See, he doesn't know what to think, what with you shoving your ideas onto him all the time!" Ky was standing now too, body tensed in a combative position. "Why don't you just admit that you're the one with the problem?!"

"No, no." Robert shook his head suddenly, fiercely, and I could feel the tension crackling through the air-The build-up to an explosion. "No, I am so not doing this anymore! You know what, I'm just going to say it: He was jumped, okay! Alyx was jumped! That's why he's covered in bruises!"

Silence descended over our table.

Looking around, I realised we'd accumulated a few stares; our argument had been loud enough to break over the roar of lunchtime chatter. An impressive feat in itself.

But now we were all silent, all staring at each other, gazing about in open shock and horror.

Then Robert slowly raised his hands to his mouth and looked at me with wide, apologetic eyes.

"Alyx, I'm so sorry-"

Ky's face contorted with devastation, her voice a shrill cry. "We had no idea-Why didn't you tell us, Alyx-"

I walked away suddenly, so suddenly I hadn't even realised I'd made the decision to do it. But I couldn't stay there another minute; I knew that much.

I made it a fair way down the hall before Robert caught up to me, panting and gasping for breath.

"Alyx," he cried, coming to a stop before me, "I'm so sorry. I am so sorry. I never-"

"Robert," I cut in, with a coldness I hadn't known I possessed, "I appreciate your concern for me. I really do. And in many instances, you're a great friend. But you can't-" I broke off, took a deep breath, tried again. "You can't just use me to get back at Ky and Martin!"

"I'm not-"

"And you had no right," I cut in, "to expose my secrets like that! Especially not when you intended to hurt the other people I care about!"

I stalked away again, and to my relief, Robert didn't follow me this time.

I was so angry, so sad and hurt and confused. I didn't understand where everything had gone wrong-Weren't we supposed to look out for each other? To support each other?

I felt wetness on my cheeks and realised, with disgust, that I was crying.

And then my phone started to ring.

The noise was so sharp and unexpected that I flinched and fumbled clumsily to retrieve it from my pocket.

"Hello?" I sniffled into the phone.

"Alyx?" Elena's voice wobbled on the other end of the line. "Can you leave school? I need to pick you up right now."

There was a breathless pause, and then:

"Dad's in the hospital."

A/N: Thankyou for reading :)