[One shot]

Today had been great. The sun was up and I'd gotten 100% in all my exams so far. I couldn't wait to go out for dinner with V! The bell rang and I soon found myself rushing outside to meet V by the gate. The next corner was what ruined my day. I looked up, smiling, catching sight of him. There he was, my flawless boyfriend, with another girl, my best friend. I felt my heart skip a beat. He bent down and kissed her. I watched standing there, frozen in time. It was then I felt my heart break a little, like it had been crushed. Once they broke away, he looked up and saw me, standing, tears streaming down my cheeks. My hearts raced. He couldn't see me like this. Turning, I sprinted, as fast as I could, until I reached my home, unlocked the door, ran inside and locked myself in the bathroom, crouched on the floor, shaking, unsure of what to do.

The next day I didn't go to school. I watched the news as I ate dinner, there was a gang that had been kidnapping girls from our school during the last month and I soon found that they had left a note on the school gates yesterday evening:

'Give us a girl or we'll burn down all the students and the school'

My heart raced. Who would be taken away? I thought of V. That was when I made the choice. I had to sacrifice myself to save him. I didn't know what I'd do if he was killed. I had no family, no friends, no-one, but him. I couldn't let him go.

I went to school the next day, heading straight for the principal's office.

'I'll go, sir.'

'What! No, we are obliged not to let any students put themselves in such dangerous position.'

'I've made up my mind'

With that I left. Passing the corridor, I heard V's voice and paused.

'Hey, Emma, will you go out with me?'

'Really V! I thought you were dating Ember?'

'No, I can't date her anymore'

'Then of course!'

I felt my heart begin to race and immediately headed home.

I waited outside school at 6:00 the next day for them, the kidnappers.

'Hey there sweetheart, school make you come to us?'

'Awwe how cute, shame you won't look like this soon'

I felt a metal chain around my wrist and soon I was hung up from a tree, arms chained upwards and legs chained to the floor.

7:00, students began to come in. One of the kidnappers had a gun.

12:00, Lunch hour, everyone had gathered around me and the teachers were no where to be found. Two of them started to strike me, their leather whips cutting open my flesh. I closed my eyes, no reaction. When I next opened them, V was there in the crowd with her. I attempted to smile but found my face shrivelling at the impact of their whips. The green grass below was stained with my blood.

'Awwe, aren't you all happy that this girl sacrificed herself for you?'

At this statement, V's eyes grew wider and I failed to make eye contact.

They stopped and left. I hung there, the students staring in awe, My uniform shredded. Tears streamed down my cheeks. When all the students had cleared out, V was still there.

'Why did you do this' his eyes were watering

'What do you mean?'

'Why did you volunteer'

'To save you' Blood trickled down from my forehead and I tried to ignore it to smile at him.

'WHY'

'Well someone had to be hurt, I didn't want you and Emma's relationship to die like ours, and seeing as my heart had already been broken, I figured that it was time I got hurt for you'

I could feel the tears and blood trickling down my face and before it all vanished, I saw him cry and approach me. He plated a gentle kiss on my lips.

'I love you, V'

And the world faded away.

[two weeks later]

I opened my eyes to see myself in a hospital. V sitting there beside me, hugging me as I returned to consciousness. I smiled and he turned away as tears flowed down his face. Hugging him, I said

'V, I love you'

'I love you too, I'm sorry'

'Thank you'