Staring at myself in the mirror of the girls bathroom, i splashed my face with some water for the 5th time to try to wake myself up.

I hadn't got any sleep for the whole night; one because I had to go to that stupid hipster cafe to read Paige's - or should I say my - poem. Two because I was afraid I was going to turn into the Carters version of some type of ware wolf or vampire.

He did bite me, guys?

With my elbows on the sink, the mousy brown eyes that bored into mine began to feel less familiar the more I stared.

Sighing, I lowered my face and splashed it with another handful of freezing cold water.

As I tried to catch back my breath, the girls bathroom door had swung open and in came stumbling through were 2 people that obviously weren't expecting someone to be here so early.

Well maybe some people like to get here super early to try to avoid very awkward breakfasts with rather large attractive families... It's just a suggestion though... Nothing personal.

With a face of amusement, I gently tapped my chest before clearing my throat so it was loud enough for them both to hear.

As I was still facing the mirrors, both I and the 2 heathens could see the expression on my face turn from amused to disgusted.

Turning to face me was a puzzled Brooks and a way too smug looking cheerleader. Her name was Paris Reese and I'm pretty sure her area code is along the lines of 666.

She was a total bitch just for the hell of it, and no she has not picked on me since the second grade, or even tormented me at all.

I think she sees us as friends, because my brother's been inside of her more times than a models had outfit changes on fashion week.

"Oh, Marnie. How embarrassing." She giggled. Her red hair hung in a messy ponytail and swung from side to side as she made her way over to me.

My lips tried to match her fake smile, but I think I just ended up looking like i had smelt something bad.

Embracing me into a small hug, my eyes landed on an irritated looking Brooks. He was leaning on the pastel green wall, glaring at me as if he was specifically angry at me.

He doesn't blame me, right?

"I've seen worse" I said with a laugh in my voice. She was now stood peering over me in her platform boots that really weren't going to be worth the ankle swelling in the morning.

She was about to tell me about how her and Brooks had started making out - yeah, I don't know why she was going to tell me that either? - but luckily for me, the song Fancy by Iffy Azuzu had started blaring from her phone.

Apparently her friend was having a major outfit breakdown and was desperately in need of her help. She was out of the toilets within minutes.

I know the saying is within seconds, but the way her and Brooks were at it, it was a solid 10 minutes.

With my eyes on his chiseled face from the mirror, I had pulled out my make up bag and unzipped it as his eyes looked back at me.

"What?" He muttered with an amused sigh. Shaking away the thoughts I had in my head, I looked down at my make up bag and casually began to take out the things I needed as I shrugged at him.

"Nothing-" beginning to put on some powder, my eyes in the mirror moved from my face to his as I noticed he was getting closer. "I'm just guessing Paris doesn't know you have a girlfriend?"

Scratching at the back of his neck, he stopped walking once he was situated next to me, sharing the same mirror.

"Your point?" He began to pick up brushes from my bag and poke at them or run them in circles upon his palm.

Scoffing, I shook my head at his reply. Why did I think that he'd reply with something else? Try to talk his way out of it and say something along the lines of 'it's not what it looks like'.

Am I mad because he didn't lie? Maybe it's nearing to that time if the month.,.

"You don't see anything wrong with cheating?" With my eyes still on my face, I could see from the corner of my eye how he had put down my brushes and hopped on the side to sit.

"It is what it is" He shrugged. Snapping my head around to face him, his expression was the complete opposite of mine , amused.

"You don't think that's fucked up?" Feeling the anger starting to boil it's way to the surface, I thought it was best if I got myself out of there.

"Why does that anger you so much?" He laughed.

Beginning to shove my things into my bag, I slung it over my back and started to make my way out of there, praying that no one was out there to see Brooks follow me out.

"Because it just does." I snapped.

Falling in sync with my steps, I sighed in frustration. Could he not just leave me alone?

"It didn't seem like that yesterday?" He said with a hidden laugh behind his voice.

Dropping my jaw, I glared at him in disbelief, was he kidding me? I was the victim in that situation.

Lowering my voice as we passed a group of people, I tried to keep my breathing under control.

"You're the one that.... bit me, okay? I didn't do anything."

Walking in front of me, he span around so he was now facing me.

"That's the point." He smirked. With one last wink, he walked off in the direction of his friends making me feel even more frustrated.

Did he have a point? I mean, I didn't do anything?

How could you have done anything? It was done within seconds, it happened so fast.

Yeah, that's the reason.

•••

Chewing on the end of my pencil, I tried to reach my head around what I was going to start writing for my sociology essay.

Glancing around the classroom with my pencil securely in my mouth, I stopped and stared with curiosity on my face as I swear I had just seen Eli run past.

Seconds later, 2 other guys had ran past which if I was right, was not a good sign.

Shooting up from my seat was just some sort of reflex. With the whole class staring at me, Mr Coleman had lowered his glasses down the bridge of his nose and cocked a bushy eyebrow.

"Miss Rodgers?" His thick Irish accented voice asked.

"I need to pee" I nervously rushed. People began to snicker and laugh, but Mr Coleman had hushed them.

Before he had a chance to finish saying 'go ahead' I was out of there within a shot.

Running down the hall, I couldn't see any sign that anything had happened. Tangling my hands in my hair, I don't know why I was getting so worried. I had only known the kid about 2 days and he's only said about 2 words to me since I've been in his house.

Those words were 'dinner's ready'.

Running further down the hall, I pushed open the doors and nearly jumped at the loud echo of a locker being hit.

Poking my head around the corner, I saw how 1 guy had Eli pinned up to the locker by his shoulders, while the other stood shoulder to shoulder with his friend.

They both were clearly taller and a lot more bulkier than Eli, I think I had seen them around school before, their names were Liam and Terrance. They were both on the same football team and both probably had the same iQ as a rock.

"You think you're funny, Carter?" Terrance yelled. Upon Eli not answering, he slammed him against the locker again.

"I think I'm hilarious, is that what you want to hear Terrance?" Terry obviously didn't like the sarcasm in Eli's voice, as he made him wince by a punch in the gut.

This was getting way out of hand.

"Hey!" I shouted. Stepping forward, all of their eyes were on me and neither of them looked happy.

"Let him go." I stopped in my tracks as Liam had made a daring step towards me. Terrance put his arm out to stop him, and I was super surprised he was still able to keep Eli's feet off of the floor.

"Look Sweet cheeks, why don't you turn around and forgot you saw this, yeah?" Narrowing my eyes at him, I could almost sense the arrogance sweating from his pores.

Walking up to them so I was directly next to Eli, I ignored the way he had jerked his arm away from me as our my arm brushed his.

"I don't need your help." He bluntly snapped. Ignoring him once again, I tried to stand in front of him so he would be lowered to the ground.

"Do I look like I'm made out of candy, bitch boy."

Terrance's eyes had shot up a fraction due to my remark, I don't know if he was surprised I had said it or just because it was a shitty insult.

It's still pretty early in the morning, okay? Sue me.

"What did you just call me?" Dropping Eli to the floor, he had suddenly grabbed a fist full of my top, making the hem of my shirt rise and show off my stomach.

Normal people would have just apologised and shut the hell up, but nooooo, I had to be different didn't I?

"I called you a bitch boy. You know a derogatory term for a submissive male who's kinda a sissy. You should be familiar with this term?" Feeling his grip tighten on my shirt, I was about the clench my eyes shut to prepare myself for the impact of his hand, but was dropped before I could do so.

I was surprised to see Eli had punched him in the jaw.

Stumbling back into Liam, I peered up at Eli who protectively stood in front of me with his fists balled at his sides.

"Don't ever hit a woman, Terrance." His voice was low and pretty damn frightening.

Liam had made a step towards Eli, probably to try to do the same as he did to Terrance, but 10X worse, but Terrance had stopped him once again.

Still holding his jaw, you could see the slight bruising already. His lip was also cut pretty bad, how hard could Eli punch someone, Christ.

"You're gonna regret this, Carter. You hear me?" He growled.

Eli stayed silent, and soon enough Terrance and Liam had stalked off in the opposite direction.

Once they were clear out of sight, Eli had turned around and I had clambered to my feet.

"Thanks for-" I almost screeched as he had kicked one of the lockers to interrupt me.

Stepping towards me, my back had hit the locker, and my teeth grasped my bottom lip.

"When I say I can handle something, I mean it." His voice was dark and I felt like he was on the edge of losing his shit, and beating on me like a pair of drums. "I've dealt with Terrance before, I can deal with him again."

"I thought I was helping-"

"Well you didn't, did you? You almost got yourself punched." Avoiding his eye contact, I swallowed the lump in my throat and tried to think of something to say.

He was right in a way. I didn't really help the situation.

"What were you fighting about?" I blurted out without thinking. "You said that you've dealt with him before? Why don't you tell Brooks or-"

I shut up once again as he hit on the locker beside my head. Because that didn't hurt or anything.

Jumping slightly, I clenched my eyes shut at the impact of his hand on the harsh metal.

"I don't need my brothers to intervene, we're not the fucking Brady bunch." Running his fingers through his hair to keep it out of his eyes, my eyes followed his ever movement.

Suddenly pointing his finger in my face, I jerked my head back - hitting it upon the locker. "And if you tell any of them about this, I swear I'll-"

"What are you two doing?" Snapping our heads to the direction of the voice, standing there was Noah holding a half eaten cupcake in one hand, and his phone in the other.

His dark eyebrow cocked as his eyes kept moving back and forth from his brother to me.

"Are you two trying to bone?" His voice sounded serious, yet a hint of amusement laid behind it.

It's like Eli and I couldn't disagree fast enough. Eli had stopped hovering over me and moved to stand closer to Noah.

"It's the school halls, Noah!?" I screeched.

His face had relaxed and took another bite of his cupcake before shrugging his shoulder casually.

"I've done it before."

It was as if it was a thing to be proud of. I could still see the skeptical look on his face as he looked at Eli's slightly ruffled clothes, but he made no move to go on.

"Why am I not surprised.." Eli mumbled under his breath. Picking Up his backpack  from where he had dropped it, he had looked back at me warningly after Noah nudged him with his elbow.

"Don't be jealous Eli, live and learn brother, live and learn." Noah laughed. Gulping at Eli's look, I had tried to join in with Noah's laugh, but stopped at the echoing sound of my heart beat.

I was afraid if had opened my mouth, then both of them would have definitely heard it.

Was Eli going to threaten me?
Did Eli just threaten me?

Feeling a nudge on my leg, I had broken away from my thoughts and was now peering up at a puzzled Noah.

Hey, wasn't he meant to be angry at me still?

"You okay? You look a bit pale." That's because your psycho brother just scared the shit out of me.

You know what, instead of nodding my head and lying like any out her girl would in some cliche story. I marched passed Noah and stood directly in front of a frustrated Eli.

"How dare you threaten me." I seethed. Pointing my finger in his face, I tried to get as close as I could without it being creepy. "I was trying to help your scrawny ass, and this is how you repay me? With a threat?" Looking him up and down in disgust, I scoffed right in his face.

"Well screw you." Nudging passed him just like he did to me, I headed back to sociology without even a peep from my teacher.

Eugh, and I still didn't know how to start this essay.