By the end of his first week, Adrian hated college. It wasn't the place that was bad. No, the college itself was excellent. It was the people in the college that he hated.

It seemed that Sarah had told all of her friends to harass Adrian and Elizabeth as much as possible and apparently, Sarah had a lot of friends.

So in between, every class Adrian found himself being "accidentally" knocked into. The first time this happened he and his books had fallen to the ground but the times after he came to expect it and steeled himself against it so he didn't fall over but it was still annoying.

And then well he was in class wads of paper and spit wads were thrown at his head well his things kept conveniently disappearing.

And whenever he tried to eat in the dining hall, food was mysteriously thrown at him.

The same thing was being down to Elizabeth and it sent Philippe and Tessa into a fury. They did their best to make people stop snapping at them and even threatening harm to a few but the harassment didn't stop.

Tessa tried reporting to the headmistress about the harassment but she did little to help them angering Tessa even further.

Adrian knew that he could always dropout if he wanted to. It wasn't like he actually needed a college degree anyway. I mean he lived beneath an opera house with the Phantom of the Opera. He didn't need a job for that life. But still Adrian was determined not to turn tail and run like a coward. No, he was going to stand his ground and fight.

No matter how much it cost him.


Tessa smiled as she sat down on the ground of one of the college's many courtyards. She leaned back and laid her head down on her bag closing her eyes.

It been a month and a half now and things hadn't changed. Adrian and Elizabeth were still harassed regularly and Tessa and Philippe still defend them although it made little difference.

Tessa sighed with a frown. At least it was Saturday, which meant that it would be easier to avoid the bullies that seemed to be everywhere.

"Why hello there gorgeous."

Like she said, they were everywhere.

She opened her eyes to see Blaise Leon grinning down at her from where he sat next to her.

"What do you want Blaise?" She asked sitting up.

Blaise was one of Adrian and Elizabeth's worst tormentors and as if that wasn't bad enough he had been pursuing Tessa since they had first met.

"Well I was just walking around and I saw you my little sleeping beauty out here all alone," Blaise said, "and I couldn't let the opportunity go by."

"Great," Tessa said sarcastically rolling her eyes.

"Hey come on," Blaise said. "You have to admit that I have a better chance at getting you when you're alone instead of with your friends."

"You don't have a chance at getting me ever," Tessa said grabbing her bag and standing up.

Suddenly a hand shot out grabbing her wrist. "Blaise let go," Tessa said trying to pull away from the boy but he held firm.

She looked down at Blaise to see that all of the humor had left his face. He now had on one of the most serious faces Tessa had ever seen and it unnerved her. Blaise had never looked like this.

Blaise stood up not taking his eyes from Tessa's face. "Why do you keep rejecting me?" He asked and his voice was as solemn as his face.

"Maybe because you harass two of my best friends to no end," Tessa said.

"Only because you need to ditch them," Blaise said.

"Oh yeah?" Tessa said use to this argument. She had heard a thousand times from all of the harassers' mouths. "And who should I be with instead?"

"Someone worthy of what you are," Blaise said. "You need to be…heck you deserve to be with someone of equal class."

"Someone like you?" Tessa scoffed. The smirk that her words brought to Blaise's lips only proved to unnerve her further.

"You catch on quickly," He said. "You need someone like me. Someone with money and power."

"Sorry but no thanks," Tessa said, "I'm all set." She turned away from and tried to leave but Blaise suddenly increased his grip on her wrist and pulled her back against his chest. He brought his lips down so close to her ear that she could feel his hot breath against it.

"You're not going anywhere," He growled into her ear. Tessa shivered.

"Blaise please let me go," She said.

"No," Blaise said. "I'm going to show you why you should be with me."

"Blaise seriously let go," Tessa said. "You're hurting me."

"No," Blaise said. "You're not going anywhere. Not until I'm done with you." He began dragging her away but Tessa dug her heels into the ground and pulled back hard. This only made Blaise give her wrist a hard yank so that she nearly fell over. "Didn't I already tell you?" He said giving her wrist another yank. "You're not going anywhere."

"Yes I am!" Tessa said trying desperately to free herself from his grip.

"No your not!" Blaise said yanking on her wrist harder and harder "You're coming with me!"

"Like hell I am!" Tessa said. They kept fighting like this for a long time until a voice as cold as ice sounded across the courtyard.

"Let her go."

Tessa and Blaise knew who the owner of that voice was and their heads whipped as one to look at the person standing there although they had different reactions to the person. Tessa was one of happiness and relief well Blaise merely sneered at the person.

"Well if it isn't the little freak," He said.

"Nice to see you too Blaise," Adrian said. "I see you're still an asshole. Now do as I told you to do."

"What let Tessa go?" Blaise said. He let out a snort. "Yeah right." Adrian's eyes narrowed.

"This is your last chance," He said. "Let her go."

"My last chance?" Blaise said raising his eyebrows. "Ooh I'm quaking! What's little Adrian going to do to me?"

"Oh nothing much," Adrian said. "Just put his hands around your neck and suffocate you."

"What the hell are you—AH!"

Adrian lunged at Blaise so that they fell to the ground with Adrian on top straddling him. Before Blaise could move a muscle hands descended on his neck clenching it tightly. Blaise's hands shot up to grip Adrian's arms trying to pull his hands off but Adrian's grip only intensified making him gasp and sputter for air.

Tessa meanwhile was watching this with wide terrified eyes. She rushed forward and gripped Adrian's shoulders trying desperately to pull him off Blaise. "Adrian!" She said. "Adrian please stop! You're going to kill him!"

Adrian ignored her and tried to push away from him with his shoulders but she held on tight. "Adrian please!" She said desperately. "Adrian please stop it! You're scaring me!"

Her words shocked him. Especially the last lines.

"You're scaring me!"

He was scaring her.

Adrian released and stood up so quickly that he sent Tessa sprawling back onto the ground.

"Adrian…" She said. He turned and looked back at her and she was surprised to find his eyes wet with tears.

"I'm sorry for scaring you," He said. "I guess it's just what monsters like me do."

"What?" Tessa said. "What are you talking about your not a monster." But Adrian just shook his head.

"I never should have gotten close to you," He whispered. "Never." He then turned and ran off ignoring her cries of his name.