Authors Note: Thank you so much to everyone who has stuck with this story. I apologize for it being long but I promise things will start to change in the next few chapters. Warning of self harm, drinking, abuse. Thanks for reading:)

Olivia slid into her seat right as the final bell rang for history. She pulled out her notebook even though she knew she wouldn't be taking notes. She never did. There was no need. One, she didn't care enough and two, she already knew most of what was being taught to her. History had always been her favorite subject.

droned on about Belgium 1831. It wasn't anything she hadn't heard before so Olivia tuned him out. She watched the clock and took occasional sips from her water bottle. She didn't want to be obvious about what was in there and she knew her limit so she wasn't too worried.

Before she knew it, the bell was ringing. As Olivia shoved her stuff back into her backpack she heard making final announcements but she ignored those as well. As she was passing his desk he held up a hand, "Olivia, I need you to stay for a few minutes. We need to talk."

"I have somewhere to be so can we do this another time?" She wouldn't look directly at him because she had a feeling he would see through her.

"Actually no, we can't. Take a seat while I talk to Missy then we'll chat."

Olivia debated just leaving anyways but must have read her mind because he looked over at her as she took a step, "I'm serious, Olivia. Sit."

She plopped back down and pulled her phone out, sending a quick text to Kevin letting him know she was going to be a few minutes late. She hoped this wouldn't take long but looked really serious. She watched as he finished his conversation with Missy before turning back to her.

He didn't say anything for a few minutes but instead walked to the board and started erasing that day's lesson.

"Um ?" Olivia questioned, breaking the silence, "If this can wait, I really-" she stopped talking when he spun back around and sat down on the corner of his desk.

"This can't wait, Olivia. But you'll forgive me if I need a few minutes to collect my thoughts."

She bit her lip and reached for her water bottle, "Don't even think about it. I have my suspicions that there isn't really water in that and you're in enough trouble as it is. Don't make this worse. I'm getting really sick of turning the other way and I'm only doing it right now because I'm more worried about other aspects of your life."

Olivia dropped her hand, shocked at how angry and disappointed he sounded, "I'm sorry, it's…"

"Don't lie to me, Liv. Please just don't lie to me anymore. Do you think you can do that?"

Olivia kept her mouth shut, she didn't know where this was going but she didn't like it.

"Your grades. Did you know you're failing all of your classes except study hall which is impossible to fail unless you just don't show up? Did you know that you're actually close to failing study hall because you tend to skip at least once a week if not more? Did you know your teachers have all come to me, as your homeroom teacher, with weekly updates and concerns?"
He looked at Olivia and saw past the drinking, past the make-up covered bruises, past the disinterest and saw a girl who was in so much pain and hurt that she didn't have anywhere to go but down.

"I need you to talk to me, Olivia. I can't defend you much longer so I need you to open up and tell me what is going on, please," he stood up and moved closer to her and sat down beside her, "I'm begging you to tell me what has happened to you and what I can do to help."

Olivia kept her lips pressed shut. This was her chance and she couldn't force herself to speak. She looked around the room and composed herself, "Nothing is going on. Everything is fine."

Cory blew out a puff of air, "Fine, we'll do it your way. How are things at home? Things ok between your mom and her boyfriend?"

"Yup, never been better," she gave him her most dazzling smile, "Things are great. I really think he's going to propose to her soon."

"Olivia, come on. We both know that's not true. You need to give me something."

"How would you know?"

"We're next door neighbors, there's a lot that I know that you probably don't."

"Yeah well you're wrong on this one."

Cory stood up suddenly making Olivia flinch. He had his back to her before he whirled around. The anger and hurt on his face mirrored hers momentarily but she fixed that and made her face blank, "The walls aren't soundproof Olivia. Every night I can hear the shouting, the yelling, the breaking glass, and the random thumps. I'm kept up wondering if the next loud noise I hear will mean an ambulance will be on the way and you'll be carted off in it," Cory dropped down to his knees in front of Olivia, "I'm scared for you Olivia and once I get all the information I need, I need to go to the authorities."

Olivia shoved herself back from the desk and stood up, " , please," her eyes were pleading with him but she didn't know what else to say. He saw that wild, caged look in her eyes and it scared him.

"Then talk to me. If you don't talk to me then I have to do this. I can't ignore it anymore. You have until tomorrow to decide what you want to do."

Olivia grabbed her bag and stormed off. She got to the door but stopped before fully leaving the room. She looked back and saw him still on his knees in front of the desk, "I hope you know that I will never forgive you if you ruin my family," and with that she left the classroom.