Maia POV

" You are NOTHING, Maia. I don't know why I even asked you out! I mean, you aren't good enough to go out with me! Never MIND Say no to me!" Paul hissed, gripping my arm, as I winced with the sudden jolt of pain. I let the tremors of fear ripple through me.
 I didn't realise how he continued to rant on about him asking me out and me declining - If I had, I might have found out that the problem was with him feeling rejected. Instead of focusing on the content of his words, I just focused on the stabbing hurt in my heart. I whimpered.

I wished that I hadn't have humiliated him in front of his friends. Maybe he was a man-whore jerk, but I still shouldn't have turned him down in that way. I should have just said no in a private place, without slapping him for making me out to be a slut. Unfortunately, it was too late now.

" I ... i- I'm s-so ... s-sorry ..." I whimpered between sobs. I just let the hurt dribble fall from my eyes in the form of tears as Paul and his friends laughed at me.

" You are such a wimp Maia! Aww, is the little baby crying?" He grinned, as Jared now threw an insult at me.

" Grow up Maia! Maybe then you'll learn how to be a real woman!" He leered at me, no hint of mercy in his eyes.

I didn't know how to reply to this. Maybe he was right - maybe I was only a silly little girl.
I took a large gulp before saying.

" I ... I k-know ..." I hung my head in shame, for most part directed at me. I couldn't even defend myself! How pathetic was that?

Maybe I was all these things him and his friends were telling me were true ..
Maybe I was worthless.

I couldn't bring myself to look up at the hatred and spite in their gazes. I was afraid that the fire in their eyes would burn through my head.
I just looked at my hands, as my fingers bit into my palm, making them sore. I hid my face behind my hair, hoping that in this action, I could sheild myself from everything, and everyone. Unfortunately, i wasn't that lucky.
Of course I wouldn't be.
Paul brought his face down to my own, and his hands ripped apart my hair barrier and put it behind my ears, making me feel exposed.

" Just remember Maia Shaw: I'll never let you forget that you are an ugly, pale-face SLAG." He spat, and I flinched. Away from him, away from his words, and away from the daggers in his eyes that were tearing my heart from my chest.

Once, I would have never stood for that.
But that was a long time ago.

He was right.

I would never be anything more then a worthless, ugly bitch.

" No ... NO! PL-PLE...ASE ... S - STOP! I - I'M ... S ... SO .. SO-SORRY ..." I Shrieked, waking up from yet another nightmare in a cold sweat.

" Shh honey .. it's okay ..." My mum soothed, rubbing circles in the small of my back. " What are your nightmares about? It must be serious .. This happens every single night. What is it honey?" She asked me.

" M ... my f-fault ... I-It's all m-my fault ..." I whispered over and over again. I was gasping for much-needed breathe, and I could feel something wet streaming down my cheek. I shakily wiped it away, only to find that it was one of many fat, salty tears. My mum looked at me, with despair evident in her eyes. She pulled me into a feirce embrace.

" Nothing is your fault honey ... what ever it is, It musn't be your fault. Don't ever think that, okay?" She spoke with a passion. I just nodded, still trembling.
She didn't say anything after that, she didn't ask questions - just leaving me with a companionable silence.

My mum stayed with me, carefully lulling me, until I could fall asleep once again.

I let silent tears drip off my nose as I faded into darkness..

10.30am

I woke up groggy, and still trembling from the nightmare. I let out a frustrated sigh, more so aimed at myself as I got out of bed and looked into my vanity mirror.

Still ... ugly.

I let out a small whimper.

My eye's were puffy and red from weeping, and my face was a pale white.
I looked at myself and winced in disgust.
I couldn't go out to the beach looking like THIS.

Turning away from that thing- girl in the mirror, I jumped in to the shower, and let the hot water wash away what it could of my troubles.
Of course, every problem surrounding him was always stuck in the back of my mind, or rather, right in the forefront, screaming at me.

I let out another sigh, although this one was distraught and shaky.

" Just remember Maia Shaw: I'll never let you forget that you are an ugly, pale-face SLAG." Pauls voice ringed through my head. I flinched at the hatred in his tone, echoing in my ears. I know Paul, I know.

After showering, I got out, got dressed into my pajama's again, and brushed my teeth forcefully. My hands were still trembling .. Why was I always so scared? Why was I so worthless, that Paul Walker could try anything in his power to make my life a living hell?
Because that's what it was: Just a living hell.
I could feel the flames licking at my skin already, setting my life ablaze, scorching my self esteem into nothing, more so every day.

I scurried out of the bathroom and glanced around my room.

Every wall in my large room was a off-white cream colour, with the single exceptional one that was painted in a deep blood red. Black and gold swirls danced across my walls, with the occasional silver splatter dotted around. Everything in my room was one of those 5 colours, cream, dark red, black, gold or silver - except my dark magnolia coloured laptop that sat firmly on my desk, and th matching 32 inch TV that hung opposite my four poster bed.

I sighed: my room was fit for royalty - it was too good for me. I was far from regal.

Don't get me wrong, I loved my bedroom, but ... it just made me feel like I wasn't good enough...

About a year ago, I met Tyler, my best friend - he had just moved here from Britain. Tyler was confident, good-looking, and such a sweet person - he could've had all the friends he wanted. But, he chose me. Plain, Simple me. I've always wondered why he would settle for me, but i'm so glad he did.
Paul was still tormenting me, so bad that it physicly hurt - and one day, I let it all spill to my best friend. He was disgusted with Paul, and told me that he'd make it better.
One day, I noticed that Tyler wasn't in school.
I went home at the end of school, and when I went to my room, Tyler, my mum, and my Dad, had re-decorated my room - I guess in an effort to make me feel better.
It was so pretty, And I was so overjoyed - Words couldn't describe how happy I was. " A beautiful room fit for a princess like you." Tyler had whispered. I held him into an embrace, so estatic that someone would do this for me, but I still felt a pang of guilt, because I felt as if I didn't deserve it.

Tyler was so good to me ... He deserved so much better ...

Not wanting to dwell on that thought any further, I ran to my closet, dodging the vanity mirror (that'd probably make me feel worse) on the way.
I decided that if I was going to the beach, I would at least have to wear something that made me feel better about myself.
Hurting a bit inside, I put my hand up to my forehead.
You know, just once, i would have liked to think of myself as beautiful.

I put on a gorgeous dark magenta bikini , in hope that it might make me look better. After long searching through my closet, I also found a short white summer dress, and decided that that might look okay over the top.

I left my hair to dry naturally in curls, and ... well, after he made my life a misery, I never found use for makeup. It would never survive the flood of tears that washed it down my face.

Putting on my flip flops, I ran downstairs and, after a quick goodbye exchanged from my parents, I got into my truck and drove down to the beach (Okay, I know that I was only 16 and it wasn't legal, but my dad said he knew the chief of police, and thought it would be okay) .

The drive wasn't that long, but even so, my mind quickly drifted to Paul - Like it always seemed to.

" You BITCH! No wonder no one in their right minds would go out with you ..."

You won't cry, Maia. You can't cry.

" You'll end up alone Maia. No one want's you."

Maia, please. Get a hold of yourself. This is irrational.

" Your a fat, ugly whore. You are completely worthless! You make me SICK, Maia Shaw."

That's when I couldn't help it any more. A lone tear fuzzed up my vision, before dribbling down my cheek.

I wiped it away feircely.
Unfortunately, I couldn't wipe away that twang of hurt stabbing my heart.

Before I knew it, I was pulling up at the beach. I was relieved to say the least: this way I could take my mind off him. I got out of the truck slowly, and shut the door with caution, before I herd a large, booming voice. " HEY MAIA!"

I smiled smally and falsely at the guys, before they bounded up to me. Tyler grinned at me before pulling me into a hug. " We were waiting for you, you know. Where have you been missy?"

Sighing a tad, I embraced him back. " J - Just ... I'm sorry." I said sheepishly.

" It's okay honey." He smiled. I returned his smile, althoguh false, which obviously baffled him, so he must have bought it. I never really did smile normally .. and if I did, it always was shaky, or just a whisper of a sad, small smile, my lips only just twitching at the sides.

Suddenly, I felt burning hands pick me up and put me over a shoulder. I could tell who it was by the mere temperature.

" Seth what are you doing?" I asked - well, screamed.

He just laughed, and started running towards the sea. My breathing picked up dramatically as we headed towards the blanket or clear blue ocean.

" P- Please Seth! No!" I ... laughed? Why was I laughing? I never laugh .. not after he broke me.

Now Seth was knee-deep in the sea, and he carefully was starting to dip me into the water; the ends of my hair were getting wet now.

" Seth! What can I do to stop you drowning me?" I asked, amused. I could feel him grinning up above me, before finally replying.

" I think i'm going to need to tickle you!" He laughed happily.

"What? No -" I started, before he started tickling me, who was still upside down. " Brady! Collin! Ty! One of you help me!" I giggled to the shore, whilst they just grinned at me.
" No can do, honey!" Tyler laughed.

After what seemed like ages, but what was in reality probably only a few minutes, Seth put me upright.
I smiled up at him. He always seemed so happy and sweet - I hoped we'd be fast friends.
I could see him responding back at me with a grin. " Aww, Maia, you're so cute! You're like a little doll -"

His nice words were cut off by my strangled gasp.
I had now turned to the cliffs, where I could see a few male figures and one female figure, and they were jumping ... What were they doing? Were they trying to commit suicide like I did a few months ago? - yes ... I did. I'm not proud of it. My nightmares were becoming unbearable .. I just -

"Don't worry, they are just cliff diving. I can't believe Paul Walker has joined them hall monitors on steroids .." Seth grinned, distrupting my thoughts.

What?
They were all huge ... was one of them PAUL ? Oh no ... Oh no, oh no, oh no.

When he got back to school, he'd be one of them. He'd be huge, and he could probably do a lot more damage ...

I tried to keep calm, although I was hyperventalating inside. What he had done a few weeks ago to my head would be nothing compared to what he could do now. I let out a low choking sound, that the guys back at shore couldn't hear.

" Maia?" Seth asked, worried. " What was that?" Seth was obviously reffering to the strangled noise I just made.

What was weird was, the figures seemed to hear the low shriek aswell, as they all turned round to stare.
All of them except the female had no shirt on, but that's all I could make out really. We were to far away to see anything more in detail.

" I hate you Paul Walker .." I whispered, too low for the human ear. " You huge steroid-taking prick .."

Even though I had every reason to hate him, for some reason, I hated myself even more.

Seth didn't seem to look like he had heard it, but one of the figures started trembling with ... anger?

Only then I realised who it was. Only then did I recognise the anger laced in his posture. Paul.
Did he hear me?
I hoped to god he couldn't.
But I couldn't take the risk.

" I ... I've got to go ..." I whispered to Seth, desparate to get away.

" But why?" Seth looked crestfallen. His face was contorted with hurt. Poor sweet guy obviously thought it was his fault I'd left.

" I ..." I choked out, trying to explain. " I've got to .. Sorry." I couldn't bear to see him look so sad, so I daringly kissed him on the cheek in a sisterly way before dashing out of the water, not looking back to see his beaming face.

I ran as fast as my legs could carry me up to my truck. I heard a chorus of " Where are you going?"s and " We've only just got here"s before I climbed into my truck.

What a wonderful day.

Shitty chapter, I know. BUT, I am loving the reviews! I would be amazed if I got the same amount of reviews again ... It takes up just a few moments of your time, to give me warm, fuzzy feelings, and encoragement to go on with the story. By the way, the Paul imprint will be soon .. Any suggestions on how it should happen? And, by the way, do you like Seth's crush? Just want to know. Also, I might include a flashback of Maia's suicide attempt if you review ;D
By the way, I love each and every one of you,

CaitlinB54

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