Sup guys. So life remains crazy but I finally got time to update! Here's chapter nine! Enjoy ^-^

After lunch and the gushy makeup session I had with my beloved and idiotic friends, I spent the rest of the day dreading detention with Nick. What was he going to do? Was he gonna yell at me more? Ignore me? Call me more horrible, self-esteem killing names? I honestly couldn't care less if he hated me (he wouldn't be the first person to do it so I'd survive) but I couldn't take anymore shit from him today.

Sighing and fisting my hand in my sloppy bangs, I leaned on my desk sixth period, torturing myself with thoughts of all the possible scenarios of what could happen in detention. When the bell finally rang, I groaned and irritably stood up. Halfheartedly grabbing my backpack and slinging it lazily and dejectedly over my shoulder, I exited the room and headed towards Bright's room, also known as my personal hell for the next hour and a half.

When I reached Bright's door I threw one last longing look towards the bright, welcoming sunshine of outside before forcing myself through the door and into the evil room I had spent far too much time in over the course of the year. Grumpily stumbling into the room, I glanced around and noticed that no one other than Nick and Bright were there. Of course, I thought snidely. The one day I get detention and actually need someone else to be here with me, all of the other delinquent children decide to be good and not get in trouble. Perfect.

Not thrilled with the newfound knowledge that there wouldn't be anyone to save me from Nick and Bright and that I was going to be stuck with both of the infuriating people all alone, I stalked to a seat in the farthest, darkest corner of the room and plopped down in it, sighing and leaning back in the chair. Resting my head against the wall and closing my eyes in the hopes of sleeping, I became aware of Bright's all too happy voice pulling me from my peaceful darkness.

"Lett, where do you think you're going? Front. Now."

I groaned and slammed my head on my desk, emitting a hollow thunk and a grimace from me. I forgot how much desks hurt. Glancing up from the corner of my eye to see Bright pointing to a seat one over from Nick, I groaned again. You've got to be kidding me!

While I was in the middle of my internal dilemma of whether I should just ignore him or actually move to the front like a good student (ew gross), Bright called out, "If you don't do it I'll give you another week of detention."

My head quickly shot up as I stared at him incredulously. "What do you mean another week of detention!? I thought I only had to go for today!"

Bright just rolled his eyes in an arrogant way that gave the impression of him being better than me. "If you went to the principal's office like you were told you would have had only today. However, you didn't go to the principal's office so you got a week. And I am seriously considering giving you another one, Mr. Citali. Care to push your luck?"

I stood up, glaring at the evil man as he smirked triumphantly, and slunk to my new seat in the front of the room. Nick was diligently ignoring me and didn't seem thrilled that I was in the same room as him. Good riddance. Slamming into the seat and shooting a venomous and sarcastic smile in Bright's direction, I put my head on my desk again, closing my eyes and praying for peace.

Now that I was sitting, the fatigue that had been sitting at the back of my consciousness all day attacked and I was aware of just how truly worn out I was. I had been under enough stress in the last six days to last me a month, and after fighting for so long, my body was physically unable to function. My eyes began to droop and I was in desperate need of a nap. I decided to let myself doze off.

I continued to sit and doze in and out of a hazy and comfortable drowsiness. The classroom was remarkably warm and the silence was welcoming and fragile. The sun from the window created a pale canvas on my desk and the warmth spread and blossomed across my back, making me feel relaxed and even more tired. I could feel my breathing slowing and was vaguely aware of the things around me fading into a gray and uncertain blur as sleep tugged at my mind and body.

Nightmares have always plagued my sleep, but since everything had happened with Nick they had gotten worse. From about the age of nine and up, I couldn't recall a night where I hadn't woken up at least once, whether it be from a nightmare or the fact that I just didn't feel safe in my own home. Either way, the images had become horrible. I saw myself and the people I love dying, my friends and Sue leaving me, my mother crying for help as my father beat her, Seiko being beaten by her parents as my father beats me, and Nick and the people I love taunting me with all of the horrible names I had ever been called or had called myself. Hell, there were some nights my own memories were played to me like some sick cinema in my sleep. And I almost always woke up shaking and short of breath as terror gripped me, or some nights I just woke up crying. The nightmares killed me. I was becoming terrified to sleep, paranoid of what grotesque torture my mind would play for me if I did.

But in the warmth of the classroom with the dull and monotonous tick of the clock, the quietly echoing halls, and the sound of Bright's pencil moving fluidly across paper creating a soothing symphony of familiarity, I was finding it hard to keep my eyes open for the first time in about a month.

After what seemed like mere minutes, I became foggily aware of the seat next to me being occupied by a loud plunk as someone plopped down in it. Sighing and lifting my head to glance through the shield of my bangs and see Nick sitting there, I moaned and turned my head back into the comforting shadow of my arms, mumbling into the desk, "What do you want?"

"Did you enjoy your nap?"

I lifted my head, squinting in the bright light of the room as my tired and blurry eyes adjusted, and shot a snide look in said boy's direction. "Of course I did! Especially since a certain someone is bothering me and I haven't had the chance to!"

Nick cocked his head, clearly puzzled, but then realization dawned on his features and he seemed amused. "Lettie, you've been asleep for about half an hour."

"What? No I have n-," I trailed off my indignant rant as I caught sight of the clock and realized that he was actually right. I had been asleep. Feeling slightly embarrassed and looking away, I simply muttered, "Oh. I guess I didn't realize….."

Nick chuckled and said quietly, "That tired, huh?"

I just stared blankly at him, not willing to be forthcoming with the information that I was dead tired and never slept for more than a few hours a night. Why tell him? It wasn't like he could help and I didn't want any more teasing or questions. "Ugh, I can't believe I slept in front of you."

Nick hesitated a moment, clearly waiting for me to say more, but when I didn't, he just sighed and said, "I'm sorry."

Completely shocked and probably looking like a retarded fish, I said stupidly, "What?"

"I said I'm sorry. I shouldn't have blown up on you like that, I shouldn't have said the things I did , and I shouldn't have acted like I know you when I clearly don't. I'm sorry."

I was completely taken by surprise as I stared at the popular and cocky boy that had made it his job to torture me. When had this happened? He was acting nice and I felt bad for being such a jerk, and I kinda wanted to be his friend. It was almost too good to be true. However, then he continued talking and ruined the moment.

"I know you were acting like an ass, and you were a complete and total nightmare, but I guess I asked for it…."

At this point, I cut him off and with a small smirk, said sarcastically, "Is this your first apology? Cause so far it sucks."

He grinned, chuckling despite himself and mumbled, "Hey, I'm trying here! And come on Lett, you have to admit that you weren't being an angel. Actually, you were downright hellish."

I kept my face blank, blocking all emotion from it as I said pointblank, "That's as nice as I get. Sorry to disappoint."

He snorted and shook his head. "Bull. I saw you today with your friends. That's part of why I'm apologizing. I think we got off to a bad start. We're obviously very different people, and we started fighting really fast. I'll admit that you get under my skin better than anyone….,"

"Yeah well you annoy the hell outta me, too," I shot back, refusing to let him do all the talking, especially if he was going to throw in masked insults.

"Oh my God that's not the point! Now will you kindly shut up and let me finish? Look, I walked into your life acting like I had known you forever and I belonged there, and it's clear that maybe I don't. But I really don't hate you. I know I've been an ass, and I've apologized for it. That's all I can do. But I don't want to keep fighting with you. I wanna try and make you not hate me. I think you're a really cool person, and since the first day I saw you I became determined to get to know you. I would really like to be your friend. Do you think we can try to make that work?" Nick finished looking like he was worn out and confused, and I'll admit that I was, too.

I stared at him as I tried to take everything in. My head was jumbled and confused, emotions running through me in a blur of destructive intent, making my heart find it hard to hate the boy in front of me. I needed to hate him. I couldn't let him get close to me.

For those of you out there that haven't caught on yet, I'm not a very trusting person, and Nick hadn't exactly given me any reason to trust him. I had been hurt by him before, and I honestly couldn't afford to have my trust destroyed by another person. I couldn't let him in. So instead of accepting his apology, I suspiciously said, "Why should I believe you? You treated me like shit earlier, have been nothing but an ass to me, and said you hated me. And now that you're all nice you expect me to just say okay let's be best friends? You're either bipolar, stupid, or you want something. Which is it?"

Nick seemed taken aback for a brief moment, and some wretched part of me hoped his temper would flare, making him change his mind before I did something stupid like forgive him. Instead, he recovered quickly and calmly replied, "I don't want anything Lett. I just want to be your friend."

"Okay, then why? What made you change your mind about me when you were so obviously done earlier?"

I watched as Nick paused, clearly thinking of what to say. In that brief period, I wondered if he even knew why he wanted to be my "friend" so badly, or if he was panicking for being called out on a lie. However, when he responded I was blown away.

"I can't really say what drew me to you, or why I'm so fascinated with the person you are. Maybe it was when I saw you alone in the back of the room and how everyone in the class seemed to be in a whole other universe. Maybe it was your longing stare at the sky, and the way you looked like if you could fly, you would be gone in a heartbeat. Maybe it was all of the horrible rumors I'd heard about you being the "delinquent" and "badass" of the school. Or maybe after I talked to you and I began to love teasing you. I honestly can't say.

But today at lunch, when I saw you with your friends, and every single one of them was crowding around you and concerned, something in me clicked. They love you a lot, hell, they adore you. Their eyes light up when they see you, and it's so obvious that you mean the world to each and every one of them. And that says something. If all of those people think you're amazing and love you that much, there has to be something I'm not seeing, some part of you I missed. And then I knew I had missed something when I saw how worried you were about them being mad at you, how you were so sorry that you had caused them any grief. When you were forgiven and you were hugging and laughing and smiling, there was such a genuine happiness there that it was almost tangible. It made me smile. I realized then that you were worth fighting for, even though it's been a hell of a fight."

I sat in wide eyed wonder, staring in absolute shock at the strange boy in front of me. He had caused me so much grief and haunted me with his words, making him easy to hate since the first day I met him. Now here he was, telling me things that were far too nice to come from somebody who didn't know me at all, and it was becoming really hard to hate him. I swallowed hard, fighting the lump in my throat and trying my hardest to keep the rising panic down.

I was afraid of this boy. He was being nice, and he was telling me things that made me feel….I don't know, wanted? He was nicer to me than anyone had been in a long time, and he was willing to fight for me. No one had ever fought for me, and God I desperately wanted someone who would, but I was terrified of it being this boy. I didn't want to be hurt, and I knew that if I let him in and he walked away, I would take the fall, not him. I liked hating him. I liked when he made it easy for me to shut him out like I shut out everyone else, never worrying about the possibility of them getting close to me and hurting me.

Now Nick had gone and shot that to hell. And it was freaking me out. My heart was racing in two conflicting directions and I didn't know which way to go. Part of it was saying give him a chance, he's worth the risk, while the other was screaming run idiot you've been hurt too many times. Images of Pierce and the last conversation I'd had with him surged in my mind, and I felt the paranoia of his betrayal blurring into this reality and tainting my judgment; making me afraid. Of course, I didn't show it in the least; I was still perfectly cool and collected on the outside, and all of my frantic struggles had taken nothing more than a second.

Hesitantly meeting Nick's gaze, I searched for a reason to deny him. I didn't find anything. He looked earnest and slightly hopeful, and I would admit that the small, girlish part of me found him slightly cute in that moment. So, despite my frantic internal mess, I allowed a small and rare almost-smile to steal onto my features as I said, "That has got to be some of the most stupid shit I have ever heard. However, I'm willing to look past your crappy apology and girly logic and I'll give this friendship thing a try. Deal?"

Nick smiled, his perfect white teeth all on display. Sighing in what appeared to be relief, he said, "God you're a pain in the ass! I thought you were gonna say no! And then I would seriously have to kill you."

I snorted. "Pssh. You couldn't kill me if you tried!"

"Could to! And where the hell is my apology? You haven't been nice to me either," Nick said, trying (and failing) to do the puppy dog eyes.

I looked at him and quirked my eyebrow. "I don't apologize to people, Fang. I think you should know that by now."

I watched as his smile grew even wider. "So you've finally decided to call me Fang, huh? I guess that's a better apology than sorry anyway."

I chuckled. "That's good cause you're not getting anything else. Now that that's settled, where the hell is Bright?"

"He went to do some paperwork in the office about three minutes after you passed out."

I cocked my head. "He's not afraid we'll kill each other while he's gone?"

Fang laughed. "Guess not. Oh and by the way, did you know that you drool when you sleep?"

I growled irritably and spat, "I do not!"

"Oh really? Then what's that right….there," he called, leaning in and quickly flicking the corner of my mouth.

"You're gonna pay for that," I hissed, standing up and groaning as he moved to the other side of one of the desks.

"Oh, really? Whatcha gonna do, shorty? Kick my shins?"

I moaned in aggravation as I realized he was a full nine inches taller than me. "Shut up! It's not my fault you're freakishly tall! And at least I'm not gay!"

"What? Who the hell said I was gay?"

"Um, no one. But did you even hear what you just said to me? It couldn't have been more fabulous if a freaking rainbow shitting unicorn said it!"

"I'm not gay! I'm straighter than the pole you dance on you little shit!"

The rest of detention was like that, Fang and I teasing each other and bickering back and forth. We had started a war to see which one of us could annoy the other more and it was kinda fun. I liked bugging him. Just then, the bell rang and I stretched, grabbing my backpack. As I exited Bright's room, I turned and called out, "Oh, Fang? One last thing. Are you sure you aren't gay?"

I watched as Fang growled and threw his backpack over his shoulder, lunging towards the door as I burst into laughter, sprinting down the hall towards the bright sunshine outside. Fang continued to chase me, yelling insults and profanities, and it was clear I had won our little war today.

As I ran outside and into the warm sunlight and the cool breeze, I couldn't fight the smile on my face. Because even though I was terrified of being hurt again, and I couldn't guarantee that Fang being my friend would work out, I could guarantee that it would be fun while it lasted. And that life is worth the risk. And in that moment, that was all I needed to know.

Wow. Just…wow. I really hate this chapter. I can't believe I worked for like, two hours on this piece of shit. At least it's happier than most of my other chapters! I hope you guys don't mind the crappiness and will forgive me since Fang and Lettie are friends now and all the fun can begin.

I'll update when I can, but that probably won't be too soon cuz I've got to finish another fanfic and draw a bunch of crap for different people. Thanks for reading and I love you all for being patient with me and my story. Don't forget to favorite, follow, and review! Till next time!

-Scarlett