Rikki's POV

His words echoed in my head, I will do to your friends what I did to you; it would be all your fault.

It felt like I was back there at the beach. He was pinning me to the sand as I struggled to breathe with his hand covering my mouth. I could see his face, it was so clear.

I panicked and it felt like my heart was going to explode inside of my body.

Just as he was about to grab me I woke up screaming in my room. It was still dark so I guessed it was still late.

I didn't have time to relax after realising that I was dreaming because a wave of nausea came over me and I had to run to the bathroom.

He was like a virus. Just thinking about him made me want to vomit.

I expected to feel better after, but it didn't help. I felt like I was about to cry again but I was all cried out, my eyes couldn't handle it.

I sat on the floor and tried to distract myself with the thought of seeing Zane again.

How was I going to explain to him why I ran out of the juicenet?

For all he knew Jamie was just his old friend, who would never do anyone any harm.

For a split second I thought about telling him the truth, how would he react?

I knew he would be angry, but I was angry too. Would he be angry with me? Would he be able to look at me? Would he leave me?

I couldn't think about this anymore. I hated the idea of hurting him, and that's all that could come from this...pain.

I was in a war with myself. One part of me wanted to tell the people I loved what had happened and to warn them about Jamie. But this other part was much stronger, and wanted to run away and leave all this behind, pretend it never happened and move on.

I stared down at the fresh bruises on my arms and let my eyes wander to the cast that covered my entire wrist, a constant reminder to myself of what had happened.

That night I decided to keep quiet about everything. I hated the idea of lying to the people I loved, but if it would protect them it would be worth it.

I went back to bed and tried to squeeze in as much sleep as I could before the morning came, I needed it.

The thing I loved about mornings was that for a fraction of a second you were blissfully happy having forgotten everything wrong with your life and then reality catches up with you.

I got ready for school as usual. I left my hair down today letting my loose curls hang down over my face.

I caught site of my reflection in the bathroom mirror and almost didn't recognise myself.

I had deep purple bags under my eyes from lack of sleep and my skin was paler than ever. But I just couldn't be bothered to try and fix myself up. I was late enough as it was.

Dad was in his usual spot in the morning, sitting at the table reading the morning paper.

He would only worry if he saw me so I rushed towards the door. "Bye Dad." I said as I grabbed my bag on the way out the door.

I had my back to him when I heard him mumble "Yep, see you later."

I walked faster towards Zane's house, feeling paranoid. Eventually I arrived at Zane's house.

He came out the door to meet me and seemed calm, just like any other day. When we were walking to school there was an uncomfortable silence between us and I knew what was coming.

"So do you want to explain to me why you left in such a hurry the yesterday?" he asked calmly.

"Oh that. Umm...I got a bit wet."

Zane looked confused like he was trying to analyze my answer. "How?"

I searched my brain for an answer, funny how I could never think straight under pressure. "Umm someone must have spilt a drink on the table because when I put my hand on it, well...it was wet!"

I tried to laugh it off but he could see through it. He smiled, still suspicious but easily convinced. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yes" I surprised myself with how easy it was becoming to lie to him, how easily I could hide my emotions. "Stop worrying." I said smiling; I grabbed his hand, leading him out of his house to walk with me to school.

I got through school, just another day. And for a while I forgot, it was just how things used to be.

We sat on the grass enjoying the sunshine warming our skin at lunch. Lewis was telling a scientific story that none of us were really paying attention to him. Cleo smiled attentively by his side, Emma was writing in her notebook, probably making a start on her homework, while I lay against Zane as he played with my hair.

But the memories shot back fresh in head when I saw Jamie across the way laughing and talking with Casey Stewart. I didn't know her well; she was quiet and kept to herself. She had dark curly hair and pale skin.

I felt the sudden urge to protect her, or at least warn her. My heart was racing 100 miles an hour as I watched her walk away to her locker, completely smitten.

I shot up from the ground and followed her. I stood behind her as she shut her locker and turned around, surprised to see me.

"Oh! Hey Rikki!" she couldn't help smiling but I didn't return the gesture.

"I saw you talking to Jamie." I said coldly.

She rolled her eyes and leaned against her locker. "What?" I accused.

"He told me what happened at the party. I'm not surprised you're jealous."

"What?!" I demanded to know why she was being so calm.

"That you made out with him after you had a big fight with Zane. It's okay Rikki, I won't tell him."

I was shocked and disgusted at the web of lies that Jamie had spun to make it seem like I had cheated, And worst of all she was believing it. "You've got no idea what..." she interrupted my angry sentence, "You have no right to stop him from seeing other girls!" she was getting angry now, probably thinking I was the bitter ex. She stormed off and I stood there in shock.

How did this all happen? Everything is such a mess.

A quiet, timid voice behind me took me from my train of thoughts. "R-Rikki?" it asked. I turned around to see Sara Bailey staring me in the face. I knew her from my English class. She had long brown hair and had a natural tan to her skin, she was usually quiet but now she seemed almost scared to talk to me.

"Sara, are you okay?"

"yeah." She answered coldly. She looked down and took a deep breath. "I saw you go off with Jamie at the bonfire."

The shock of her knowledge stabbed through me, it felt like my lungs had been ripped out. I took a shaky breath, reassuring myself they were still there.

"So...nothing happened." I answered panicking.

She let out an uncontrollable giggle and looked back up at me, serious now. "Yeah, I went off with him once. Nothing happened to me too."

I couldn't believe what she was saying, and how she was remaining so calm. What he did to her...to us was wrong on so many levels. It was as if she had just given up and accepted that she was powerless.

I didn't know what to say to her, she stood beside me now rather than in front and we both stared at Jamie from a distance.

It was clear to me what I had to do now.