The next morning at breakfast I felt like id been hit by a bus. Todd was by my side the whole morning as I tried to reassure him that I was okay and he didnt need to worry.

       I handing gotten much sleep at all last night. I assumed it was because every time I closed my eyes the image of Charlie coming into the cave with Gloria and Tina flashed straight to the front of my mind.

      Knox had left after he made sure that I would break down again and that I was okay. He was the first one to knock on my door this morning to make sure I didnt skip breakfast. So thats where I was right now, reading the article Charlie had posted.

       The last page was dedicated to why girls should be allowed at welton. 20 mini paragraphs filled the page, some consuming reason why girls should be allowed and others consuming how unfair it was that Welton was sexist to women.

      I was shaking my head reading number 12 as the announcement that an assembly had been called and everyone had to go change and meet in the hall in 15 minutes.

      Assemblies weren't usually held on a Saturday so it was no surprise that when it was called, people looked to each other utterly and completely confused.

     Pushing up from the table and completely ignoring Charlie's calls to me I made my way to my room to put on my uniform. I finished tying my tie and made it down to the hall with Knox.

       It was filling up a bit and Knox and I had just taken out seats behind Neil and Todd. My leg was bouncing like crazy and I could feel my chest tightening knowing that the reason the whole school was called to here was because of my idiot.

     No. An idiot. He's not mine anymore.

          The doors at the back opened and we all stood. I felt sick and the marches of the professors coming down the hall felt like the bangs of a hammer that were finalising the nails into our coffins.

        Knox and I exchanged looks as Mr. Nolan made his way to the stand and the others all took there seats around them. Mr. Nolan put on his glasses and turned to the professors, nodding which allowed them to sit

         "Sit" taking the seat my hands found themselves fidgeting on my lap. Mr. Nolan looked out over the student body and took off his glasses making me wonder why he put them on in the first place.

      "In this week of Welton's Honor there appeared a profane and unauthorized article. Rather than spend my valuable time ferreting out the guilty persons -- and let me assure you I will find them -- I'm asking any and all students who knows anything about this article to make themselves known here and now" Knox and I exchanged glances and my fingers twitched on my lap "Whoever the guilty persons are, this is your only chance to avoid expulsion from this school"

      A telephone ringing cut through the silence and the entire school looked around hoping to find the suspect. I turned to look behind me and didn't see anything and turned back to see if Knox had but his expression was pinched like mine until the phone clicked.

        "Welton academy. Hello?" My head shot to look to my left just two rows ahead of me. "Yes, he is. Just a moment"

       My jaw clenched and my heart rate picked up when Charlie stood from his seat this the telephone in one hand and the receiver in the other.

         "Mr. Nolan, it's for you. It's god. He says we should have more girls at Welton" I closed my eyes pinching the bridge of my nose as the entire school burst out laughing but was quick to stop when Mr. Nolan banged on the podium.

       "Mr. Dalton. I will deal with you once assembly is over" there was a shuffle and I looked up to Knox shaking my head at the idiot who was still stood with the telephone in his hand.

      There was a slight murmur as Mr. Donelson, made his way to the podium by Nolan whispering something before getting a nod and returning to his seat. Mr. Nolan faced back to us and cleared his throat.

      "Miss Sophia Perry" all heads turned to me as Mr. Nolan's eyes fixated on me "stand"

Shit.

      My legs felt like I was Bambi learning to walk as I moved to my feet. Mr. Nolan's eyes bore into mine and Charlie and everyone else turned to look at me too.

      Charlie's smirk had dropped into a straight line and he now looked scared. Mr. Nolan cleared his throat again and all I could think about was someone get this man some water.

        "Miss Perry please accompany Mr. Dalton to my office. I have a few questions" smothing out my skirt I nodded and turned to make my way out of the pews. "The rest of you stay"

       On my way by Knox's hand squeezed mine and I could tell by his eyes that he was just as frightened as I was. Moving out of the row just as Charlie did both of us made our way to Nolan's office behind Mr. Donelson.

       "Honestly. I've never seen such disregard and disrespect for the newspaper in all the years I've been teaching here. You should be ashamed of yourselves" he muttered walking up the stairs.

     "Well actually Sir-" I pinched Charlie's arm making him look at me

     "Shut up" I mouthed making him close his mouth. The rest of the walk was torturous and silent. We were made sit outside of Nolan's office and left alone as Mr. Donelson left to go back to the assembly.

     I groaned letting my head back against the wall behind me and pulled my hands down over my face. Charlie was sitting forward with his forearms on his knees with his hands folded.

      We sat in silence and I couldn't of been happier that for once charlie took my advice and shut up. The clicking of Mr. Nolan's shoes against the hardwood floors got our attention and we sat up straight just as he rounded the corner.

      He took one look at us and opened the door to his office. "Miss Perry" I stood from my seat and flattened down my skirt as I walked into the office. I stood infront of his desk as he stood outside the door.

     "I'll be with you in a moment Mr. Dalton" the door clicked close and Mr. Nolan made his way around his desk and into his seat. "Sit"

       I took a seat and folded my hands in my lap as he folded his hands infront of him.

     "Now Miss Perry, I'm sure you can understand why you are here. While you didn't admit to it, after some discussion and giving that you are the only girl at this school and that you work on the newspaper also, I find it hard to believe you had no involvement in the article that had been published." My eyebrows pulled together slightly as I looked at the man who had jumped straight to conclusions.

      "I believe that you and Mr. Dalton planned this and worked together to write the article. Seeing as this is the first bit of trouble you have gotten into, a punishment will suffice. Sadly I cannot say the same for Mr. Dalton" I knew what that meant, Charlie was going to get expelled and while I was pissed off at Charlie for everything and now getting me involved my stomach flipped at the thought of him not being here. "Is there anything you would like to add Miss perry before we get on with your punishment?"

     I wasn't getting a chance to tell him that I hadn't been apart of it. The accusation was sealed and I was going to get punished either way. I have a clean record, this would only be a chip off of it. But Charlie? Forget it. He only has a chip left and it's the only one that's keeping him afloat at this school.

     "Mr Nolan, I could sit here and agree with what you have said and go on with my punishment, but then I wouldnt be telling the truth" Mr. Nolan's forehead creased and he leaned forward in his chair

    "I beg your pardon?" I swallowed the bile in my throat and took a breath

      "I wrote the article. It was me. Charlie was only involved because I made him run it " Mr. Nolan looked a bit pale as he looked at me "I was tired of being the only girl here and I thought the paper would be the best way to convince people it was a good idea. It wasn't" I finished as Mr. Nolan leaned back

"Is that so?" I nodded and looked down

       "Yes sir, like I said before Apart from running the article, Charlie had nothing to do with it. It was all me"

       "And who, may I ask are the dead poets society?" I looked to my right and noticed a poetry book. "A secret club?" I stayed quiet refusing to meet Mr. Nolan's eyes. I wasn't going to throw the boys under the bus

"Just a name I made up"

       "I'm finding that hard to believe. But not to worry ill find out from Mr. Dalton. You know Miss Perry I had higher hopes for you" he grabbed the ruler from his desk and the newspaper and came to stand by me.

      "Hands on the desk and Count the paragraphs, Miss Perry" he said as he flipped the ruler so the skinny bit came in contact with my hand.

      20 hits. 10 on each hand. 5 on the palm, 5 on the back. Only some bled and the tears running down my face seemed punishment enough for Mr. Nolan as he turned away and looked out the window.

         "Send Mr. Dalton in on your way out Miss Perry" I stood from the chair and made my way to the door before Mr. Nolan's words stopped me again "don't let me see you in this office again. Is that clear?"

        "Yes Mr. Nolan" I opened the door and stepped outside. Just as the door clicked shut Charlie's head snapped up, meeting my bloodshot eyes and damp face.

       "Soph" he said standing and making his way towards me. "You were in there for a long time. What did he sa-" His eyes trailed down to my hand and I quickly covered it with my sleeve. "Soph, what did yo-"

      "Agree with whatever he tells you" I cut him off making him hold his words. I had a stone expression on and my words were cold "Don't fight it. And do not confess to writing that article"

"Sophie I can't-"

       "Charlie" he took a minute looking me over before nodding as I made my way around him and towards the rooms.

      I pulled my sleeves over my hands and wiped my face as a few boys came into view.

      Some looked at me with pitiful stares while others had wide eyes waiting to hear what had happened.

       Standing by his door, Knox's head lifted when he saw me as did Meeks. Below at the next door sitting against the wall with his hands gripped to his hair was Neil.

       Hearing the clicks of my shoes he was quick to stand and pull me into a hug, pulling back to see if I was okay before ushering me into his room with Knox and Meeks following.

       Within, Todd was sitting by his desk waiting patiently. The moment the door closed behind us is when all the questions started.

"What happened?"

"What did Nolan want?"

"Are you in trouble?"

       "Guys, guys. I'm fine. Nolan assumed because I worked on the newspaper and coincidentally, I'm the only girl here, that I was involved" I told them sitting on Neil's bed, pulling the sleeves further down over my hands

       "That's ridiculous, did he ask you if you were involved?" Neil asked sitting down beside me.

      "Nope, he already had his mind made up by the time I went into the office" I said looking between the boys.

      "What happened? He didn't hurt you did he?" Todd asked from the desk now standing and kneeling in-front of me.

        The sting of my hands were a reminder of how much power Nolan had over me. The sting of tears threatening to fall from my eyes was a reminder of how much I didn't want any of these boys to know what had happened.

       So doing what I do best I shook my head and lied "nope, just a stern talking to" I told Todd before looking to Neil.

      "Are you sure?" Neil asked looking into my eyes desperately wanting to know the answer. I should've told him but I didn't. Instead I settled for a small 'mhm' and a nod of my head.

       To my left Meeks made a noise of disagreement he pushed of the wall he was leaning back against and shoved his pockets into his hands.

       "So why are you hiding your hands from us?" My head turned to Meeks who's eyes were getting glossy as they drifted down to my sleeve covered hands.

         Sighing in defeat I looked down at my lap as Neil cautiously lifted my arm and pulled the sleeve back. When the lines came visible, the room went silent.

        Infront of me, Todd's face went pale as he moved back into a sitting position almost like he couldn't hold himself up anymore. Knox's hand came over his mouth and Meeks pressed his lips together and wiped under his eyes where tears were about to fall.

      The only person I could look at was Neil as he inspected my hand, before taking the other one and cautiously lifting the sleeve. Tears prickled at his eyes and he took as breath allowing my hands to fall into his lap as he traced the lines of the ruler

       "Why has he done this to you, Phi?" His voice was so vulnerable.

         "Like I said, he'd made up his mind" I said looking down before pulling my hands back slowly.

        "This is Charlie's fault" Neil said as I quickly shook my head.

"No Neil"

"Yes it is"

       "Charlie didn't know Nolan would pull me into it" Neil stood from his seat and shook his head

      "But he still wrote the article knowing there was a chance it could hurt you. I mean it was about girls at Welton, he couldn't of thought that Nolan wouldn't bat an eye at the only girl here"

"Neil-"

       "He's got a point" Knox said from the other side

     "Knox don't" I said looking up at him as he threw his arms out

      "Cmon Sophie, if Charlie hadn't of written the article your hands wouldn't be the way they are now" Meeks and Todd shared a look and I knew they were thinking the exact same

      "No. We're not doing this. You're not turning against Charlie just because I got hurt" all the boys looked apprehensive about what I had said, each with a coat of annoyance in their eyes too

"Phi-"

       "No, Neil. He needs you guys even if he won't admit it"

           I didn't dare to tell them that I'd admitted to writing the whole thing. Neil would kill me before I even realised I said it if he knew I'd put myself in that position to save Charlie's ass.

        But he would've too. So instead I kept it to myself. Would the punishment of been as severe if I had of kept my mouth closed? Possibly. But if the extent of my punishment means Charlie's wasn't as bad, then it was worth it.

        "Charlie should be coming soon" I stood from my position on the bed and made my way to the door. The boys took a moment before nodding, filtering out of the room one by one.

      Neil made his way across the room to talk to Cameron who was stood in his doorway. Meeks and Knox made there way down to Pitts, who was standing talking to Calvin.

      I stayed in the doorway of Neil's room as Todd came to stand beside me. Todd looked at me before leaning towards me, his voice in a quiet whisper, almost inaudible.

      "Sorry I didn't come too see you last night to check if you were okay. I didn't want Neil getting suspicious" I shook my head smiling.

      "Don't be worrying about that Todd" I said with a smirk. "Besides, I'm a big girl" I laughed as he smiled at me rubbing the back of his neck

       "Yeah but 'big girls' still have hearts and feeling that can get hurt Sophie. Just remember that you have every right to feel the way you do" he said meeting my eyes. I rolled my eyes still smiling.

        "Don't get all mushy on me todd" he made an offended face before pulling me into a hug, messing with my hair. From across the hall I missed the smile that was plastered on my brothers face at the interaction.

      After five minutes of waiting I started getting worried. After ten, my stomach felt like it was going to betray me and have me puke everywhere from the nerves.

        And after fifteen minutes, Stick was moving back from his position at the corner as the sound of shoes clicked against the floor. The hall fell silent and from the corner, Charlie emerged. By the way he was walking It was clear he'd gotten hit and his eyes were watering but he didn't dare show emotion.

     Pissed at him or not the thought that Charlie had gotten hurt made the end of my nose sting. It wasn't that I wanted to cry, had I more control over my emotions my eyes wouldn't be getting glassy right now.

      Moving out of his way, Knox and Meeks split as he made his way towards his room.

        Cameron stayed in their doorway and Neil moved back towards us with his arms crossed. His face showed how unimpressed he was with his friend. Cameron moved out of the door as Charlie avoided eye contact with everyone.

         My arms wrapped about me and I looked at the floor, terrified that if I looked up and saw Charlie's face that I would brake and make a fool of myself. Well, an even bigger fool of myself.

        "You kicked out?" Neil asked. His question peaking my interest hoping that he wasn't expelled.

       "No" a weight lifted off my shoulder and I cursed myself for letting a tear fall. I quickly wiped it away and looked back into Neil and Todd's room.

        "So what happened?" Neil continued. Charlie stopped in his door refusing to look back at any of us.

        "I'm to turn everybody in, apologise to the school, and all will be forgiven"

           I could only assume that Nolan had hounded Charlie about the dead poets seeing as my answer didn't seem to satisfy Nolan.

       "So, what are you gonna do?" Still moving into his room, Charlie didn't answer but stopped by his door when Neil called his name again "Charlie" this time, I did look at him.

          "Damn it, Neil" he took a breath and for the first time he turned to look at us. His eyes were full and his face had streaks from where the tears had fallen. To my right Meeks came to stand beside me "The name is nuwanda"

         My eyes met Charlie's as Meeks leaned towards me "cmon Sophie, let's get your hands cleaned up"

        Keeping my eyes on Charlie, another tear fell from his eye as Meeks pulled me away and Charlie's door slammed shut, leaving the others in silence.

         We got to my room and Meeks opened the door allowing me to step in before he closed it again. I made my own way over to the bathroom and pulled my sleeves up before running them under the warm tap.

        The water turned red until it cleared again and the stings ceased with the heat. Meeks had grabbed my first aid kit from the top drawer, knowing where it was from accidents that the boys had in the past.

      "Sit" he told me as I took a seat on the side of the bath allowing him to kneel infront of me.

      "He didn't hold back did he?" Meeks asked looking up over his glasses as he rubbed the disinfectant wipe over my hand. I hissed through my teeth as cleaned my hand

       "I'm sorry. I'm sorry" he said as he continued wiping my hand. I let out a string of course words and as he finished the second hands he threw the wipe down holding his hands up

       "I'm done. It's done" he said making me smile. His face looked scared and I couldn't tell whether it was fear that he was hurting me or that if he continued, I'd hurt him.

        The right hand had bled more while the left was just bruised.

        Meeks pulled a small bandage from the kit and began wrapping my right hand "so, you just agreed to what Nolan was telling you? Didn't