Alex's POV:

I quickly ran down the hall to the nearest bathroom trying to ignore the pain in my arm. I quickly slid down the tiled wall and pulled the bottle out of my hand unscrewing the cap and drinking. The liquid burned as it went down my throat. I was about to bring it back up to my lips when the door swung open revealing Mitchie standing there looking at me with disappointment evident in her eyes.

''Fuck'' I grumbled mainly to myself.

''Really Alex!?'' she shouted at me her worried look turning to anger. ''You think drinking is going to solve everything?!'' she snapped again as she took a step towards me I tried to scoot backwards across the floor but was already in the corner. She reached down taking the bottle from my hands before throwing it as it smashed against the floor into pieces. I jumped at the crash it made before looking up to see Mitchie staring down at me.

''I'm sorry I can't help it'' I whispered not looking up to meet her eyes.

''Are you seriously that dumb!? Why would you fucking do that!'' She continued to shout as I tried to hold back the tears that were in my eyes but it didn't work, they soon spilled down as they silently trailed down my cheek. Mitchie's face softened slightly but she still didn't move.

''I'm sorry okay?'' I shouted as I pushed myself to my feet. ''I'm sorry to be such a disappointment to you and I'm sorry that I'm such an idiot!'' I screamed in her face as I broke out into sobs as my breathing became uneven. Mitchie's expression flashed with hurt as she just stood there in shock whilst my whole body continued to shake as I cried.

''Lex...'' she spoke quietly but before she could say anything my knees gave way as I was about to fall to the floor in tears Mitchie quickly pulled me into her as I collapsed into her arms. She bent down to sit on the floor bringing me into her lap as she held me tight. ''Why?'' she spoke so softly I barely heard her but I could still hear the nervousness as her voice shook slightly.

''I'm scared Mitch'' I mumbled looking up at her before burying my head in her neck.

''I know you are Lex, I know'' she sighed heavily as we just sat there.

It felt like hours had passed by the time the bell had rung signalling the last period before lunch. Before Lunch, FUCK. What did Nate want? What was he going to do? So many questions were running through my mind I didn't even notice that Mitchie had now stood up and was staring down at me confused.

''Alex, you okay?'' She asked and I just nodded putting on a hopefully convincing smile before standing up as we walked towards our next period in silence.

Mitchie sat at the front whilst I was at the back alone which left me with more time to panic. As we walked into the classroom and Mitchie went to her seat I sighed dreading this next hour but still hoping it would pass as slow as possible. The lesson wasn't that bad, well that was because I wasn't really paying attention but occasionally I would look up and see Mitchie staring at me as our eyes met but she would quickly just smile and look away again.

My luck soon passed as the bell finally rang signalling our lunch period. I got up and started to pack my stuff away as slowly as I could, occasionally looking up to see Mitchie already waiting for me by the door. I shuffled out towards her. ''Finally'' she said.

I chuckled slightly. ''Sorry, I need to go to my locker quickly I'll meet you at the table?'' I asked and she nodded before turning and walking away. I waited before she had gone around the corner before heading towards the boy's bathroom. I knew I shouldn't do this and just ignore Nate but that would just make matters worse.

I looked around making sure no one was watching before I slowly pushed over the door sticking my head in looking around. No one was there so I stepped in shutting the door behind me and walking over to the sink to sit on the ledge to wait. It was then that I heard a click and looked up to see Nate stood by the door as he locked it from the inside before walking up towards me. I jumped down off the side to come face to face with him. His expression was un-readable as he reached out to grab my wrist pulling me closer to him before he whispered in my ear.

''I bet you're wondering who your mystery caller is'' his words hit me like ice as I tensed up at the thought which made him laugh to himself. ''If you be a good girl he won't have to hurt you...'' he continued as pushed us both back slightly towards the wall. ''you don't want to know what will happen if you don't listen'' he said before drawing back and smirking at me. I didn't know what to do. The words were tearing through my head as I processed them again and again.

''What do you want?'' My voice was shaky and that only seemed to make him laugh even more to himself.

''Well..'' I jumped slightly as my back finally hit the wall as I looked up to meet his eyes. He still looked amused but his eyes were dark. ''I haven't quite decided on that yet but for now this will do'' he leaned in to kiss me but I quickly turned my face sideways so he made contact with my cheek. I heard him growl slightly. ''Oh big mistake'' he barked out before grabbing my face hard with his hand forcing me to look at him. ''Now, I won't tell your little unknown buddy about it this time but you sure as hell aren't getting away with anything'' he spat as he stepped backwards slightly.

I took that chance to run for it but that was a mistake he grabbed my shoulder propelling me into the wall whilst still grabbing me firmly as my head snapped back to hit the wall behind me and I heard a crack as my head started throbbing. ''Please don't'' I looked down trying to avoid his eyes.

''You should of thought of that before'' he snapped before pulling me forward slightly as he made a fist swinging at the side of my face. Pain coursed through my as I fell down to the floor using my arms to break my fall. ''I was going to let you go easy this time Alex but you always bring this on yourself. This is your fault, you make everyone around you hate you'' he spat and I felt tears brimming in my eyes again.

''No... That's not true'' I whispered to myself.

He bent down to my level lifting my head up by yanking my hair as I yet out a small yelp. ''It is true, you don't see anyone coming to help you or hear anyone even calling your name to find you do you?'' he asked again and then there was silence. You could easily hear the voices from outside but he was right not one of them was looking for me. I didn't want to believe it. Nate always twisted things.

''No you're lying'' I said before he brought his foot back kicking me in the side as I doubled over in pain.

''Get up'' he demanded but I didn't move as I continued to hold my chest over my rib cage hoping the pain would ease a little but nothing. ''GET UP'' he shouted but I still didn't move, I wanted to but my body didn't let me. He brought his foot back again kicking me with as much force as possible as I let out another cry as I jolted up slightly before landing back on the floor. I was sure I heard a crack that time.

My vision was blurred as he pulled my head of the ground by my hair before letting go as my head collided with the floor again. I heard something vibrating near my head and I looked up to see my phones screen lit up, before I had time to move he had picked it up looking at the message. 'Alex where are you – Mitchie' Aww so sweet isn't she'' he said glaring at me before he made me sit up and I cried out in pain keeping my arms cross across my chest. ''Shame she doesn't know when to back off, lights out Alex'' He said before pulling his arm back and punching my face again as I fell back to the floor before everything was doing black. The last thing I saw was his feet walking away and then I was surrounded by darkness.

Mitchie's POV:

I was sat at the table in the cafeteria waiting for Alex. I was starting to get worried it doesn't take that long to go to your locker and then walk here. I took out my phone sending her a message.

M: Alex where are you?

I sat and waited for like 10 minutes but there was no reply. I couldn't sit around doing nothing any longer so I got up and headed out into the hallway. I turned around the corner to see a crowd of people near the door to the boy's bathroom. 'Stand back'' The teacher who had grabbed Alex's arm earlier was stood near the door trying to get people to move away. I walked up to join crowd trying to find out what happened.

''What's going on?'' I asked the nearest person. She turned to look at me before speaking up.

''Some girl was beaten up in there, she's not waking up'' she said a confused look on her face. ''What type of sick bastard would do something like that'' she said.

I suddenly felt like I was going to be sick. No no no, It couldn't be Alex. Please no. She had to be okay.

''Hey are you okay you look kinda pale'' the same girl asked me as stared into my eyes. I just shook my head trying to push forward past the crowd and towards the door ignoring the confused look I was getting from most students.

''Mitchie stay over there'' The teacher looked at me holding his arms out as a barrier to stop me from getting past as I tried to duck under his arms someone came up behind me putting their arms around me to stop me struggling.

''LET GO'' I shouted. ''LET ME SEE HER'' I screamed and kicked about trying to get free.

''Mitchie calm down please'' His voice was shaky but I recognised it, Justin. I turned around in his arms and fell into him crying.

''Tell me she's going to be alright Justin'' I said my voice muffled slightly by his shirt. I pulled back to look up as the school doors opened and two paramedics rushed into the building and straight to the bathroom. I watched through teary eyes as they brought Alex out on a stretcher. One side of her face was completely swollen whilst there was a small gash across her cheek on the other. There was also some sort or bandage on the back of her head but I couldn't see much from here. They started towards the door and I managed to get free of Justin's arms running behind them.

''NO'' I screamed as Justin wrapped his arms around me again as they loaded Alex into the ambulance. One of the men looked at me before up to Justin.

''Only one of you can come with us'' the man spoke and Justin looked down at me.

''You go Mitchie'' he said nodding whilst trying to hold back his own tears.

''Are you sure?'' I asked and he nodded. I hugged him before climbing into the back of the ambulance and grabbing Alex's hand. ''Your gonna be okay Alex'' I whispered.

A few hours later and I was in the waiting room still, Justin and Max had now joined me whilst we waited for any news. A doctor walked through the door with a clipboard in his hand.

''anyone for Alex Ru-'' I didn't even let him finish his sentence.

''YES'' I said jumping up from my seat quickly followed by Justin and Max. The doctor nodded walking over towards us. ''Is she okay?'' I questioned before he could even open his mouth to speak again.

''She's doing alright. We managed to get the swelling on her face down a bit and stitched up her cheek. She did receive a concussion, she should be fine after a few days but-'' Oh god, buts' were never good. ''She has a couple of cracked ribs'' I heard Justin gasp from behind me along with Max. ''Do you have any idea who could of done this?'' He asked and I turned to look at Justin and Max, they both had that knowing look on their face but no one spoke up. ''Okay then, we'll have the police speak to her later, you can see her now'' he said as he lead us towards her room.

Max and Justin walked in but I hesitated by the door looking in at Alex's limp body as more tears came to my eyes. This was my fault, I should have done something sooner. Cursing to myself under my breath I turned away walking back down the hall into the bathroom. I just stared at myself in the mirror, before eventually looking at myself became too much. I could feel my breathing becoming faster as I gripped the edge of the sink. This had gone too far.

She lives in the shadow of a lonely girl
Voice so quiet you don't hear a word,
Always talking but she can't be heard,
You can see there if you catch her eye,
I know she's brave but it's trapped inside,
Scared to talk but she don't know why