I walked around the corner of the school with my backpack and my guitar. I took another step forward and was violently pinned against the wall. It was Terrence. A stinging sensation filled my cheek as he put his hand against the cold concrete wall.

"Next time you decide to not listen to me, it'll be a lot harder." He whispered in my ear. "Let's go." He grabbed on to my forearm and dragged me to his car. Tears made their way down my face. Life just gets better and better. "Suck it up, bitch." He said.

He stopped the car in front of my house.

"Be ready for the party tonight." He said before speeding off. I guess I was going after all.

I ran into my house and fell to the floor in tears. I dropped everything and ran into the bathroom and grabbed a nearby razor blade that I keep hidden. What would be one more cut to the family? What was there to live for? Both my dad and mother are rarely around. I had a boyfriend that mentally and physically hurts me. I was always called names by him and told that I was always wrong. He rarely listens to me. He always blames me for everything that goes wrong. I'm just his punching bag. Maybe that's his way of showing his love. I really don't know.

I looked at the mirror examining my reflection. Taylor's voice ran through my head, "Hey, fatty." That's all I heard. Nothing else. I pulled up shirt and slid my finger tips across my stomach. "Fatty. Fatty. Fatty." Taylor's voice repeated. The tears kept flowing. I'm tired. Tired of everything. I looked down at the previous cuts remembering when I first cut. I was 12, but my best friend, Trenton Cole Bailey Scout, who was 13, got me through all of the suicidal thoughts I had since I was seven. He always tried to stand up for me when I was bullied, but he just made things worse for himself. He was already bullied in his own grade and when he tried to stand up for me, he was bullied by my grade too making it impossible to have friends. One day, he didn't walk to school with me, which worried me. I had thoughts that he was sick even though he never was sick and he had never missed a day of school. I had thought about him all day. At the end of the school day, I still hadn't heard anything about him. When I walked home, I had gotten a call from my mother. She was crying and she finally managed to say, "Trenton died." I didn't believe her and ran home. My mom hugged me tightly as the ambulances surrounded Trenton's house. I remember falling to my knees crying. After everyone calmed down, my mom explained to me what happened. Trenton had hung himself with his belt because of all the bullying. I still blame myself for everything. I could've changed his mind. I was in love with him even though I was only 12 at the time. My first love was pried away from me. I never got a chance to tell him. I was too scared. I've always wondered how he felt about me, but I'd never get to know. I guess that's what pushed me over the edge. That night I cut for the first time. It felt like the pain was flowing out of me and it still does.

I put the blade against my wrist applying a little pressure. My phone vibrated from my back pocket causing me to jump and drop the blade inches away from my foot. I pulled out my phone. It was Justin.

Justin: Ayyeee what do you think?

I opened the video of Justin with his guitar singing a song and my tears instantly stopped. His voice was flawless. It was like an angel was singing. It was as if the world stopped and it was just he, his guitar and I.

Me: flawless

Justin: Haha

I walked downstairs remembering my mom always leaves a note on the refrigerator. It read:

Demetria, I'm working at the radio station from 6:30 am to 2:30 pm and I have to work at Marshals from 5:00pm to 11:30pm. Just order pizza for dinner tonight. Money is on the counter. I love you so much! xoxo

-Mom + Dad

'How do they do it?' I thought as I grabbed my guitar and started where I left off.

I looked up at the clock. 9:25. I had just finished watching Nightmare on Elm Street with my little sister, Madison. I got up and ran into my room and changed into a sleeveless mid-thigh blue dress with pink flowers imprinted on it. I covered up my arms with a black leather jacket. I added my mom's black belt and cross necklace before slipping on a pair of black converse. It didn't matter whether you had nice clothes or a big house for people to bully you. It mattered whether you were an easy target or not and I was. Two honks came from the front yard. I ran downstairs opening the door.

"Where are you going?" Madison asked.

"A party." I said.

"But, it's Wednesday."

"That means nothing in high school." I replied while putting my phone in my jacket pocket before meeting Terrence outside.

We finally arrived at the party. It was so big, people were pouring out of it. We walked inside and I was immediately attacked by the beat. I just wanted to dance, but all Terrence wanted to do was talk to his friends. He took a hold of my hand and lead me through the sea of people to his friends. No one seemed to notice me. I kept my eyes open for Miley or Selena.

"I'm gonna get something to drink." I lied. All they handed out at these parties was alcohol and I don't drink.

"Okay." Terrence said. I walked away feeling his eyes watch me until I made my way around a corner.

I adventured into the other room that was also filled with people. I looked around and my wondering eyes made direct contact with Taylor's devil eyes. I looked down and walked away, hoping she wasn't following me. I lead myself to another room filled with people and my eye caught Justin from a distance. The new kid is already at parties. He had already been looking at me. He pushed his way through the crowd and I met up with him half way.

"Hey!" I said loudly over the music.

"Hey!" He replied. I felt someone jump on my back. I turned to see Selena's head resting on my shoulder.

"You made it!" She yelled. I nodded my head as she looked up at Justin. "Oh." She smiled wide and got off of my back. She walked away backwards and held up a heart with her fingers and laughed. I face-palmed with embarrassment.

"Oh my God," I mumbled removing my hand from my face.

Justin laughed. I saw his lips move after, but I wasn't sure what he said.

"I can't hear you!" I yelled as if it was going to help. He grabbed my hand and led me to the backyard where it was extremely quiet and only four people were out here talking amongst each other. Justin and I sat down on a wooden chair swing and started talking.

"So, do you come to these parties often?" He asked.

"Sometimes. It just depends." I said. I heard Rihanna's Pour It Up come on from inside. "This is my song." I whispered the lyrics.

Justin smiled. "You're a cutie." He said. I tried to hide my smile, but thankfully my phone rang. I pulled it out looking at the caller I.D. Dad. It had been forever since he called.

"I have to take this. I'm sorry." I excused myself and walked about three yards away.

I put the phone up to my ear. "Hi, dad." I said.

"Hey, Demetria. How are you?" He asked yawning.

"I'm good and you?"

"I'm fine."

"I miss you so much." The thought of not being able to at least hug him brought tears to my eyes, but I knew some people had it worse.

"I miss you too. Well, it's late. I should get going. I just wanted to tell you that I love you."

"I love you too."

"Bye."

"Bye." I heard him hang up before I could speak, but the words slipped out after. I made my way back to Justin who was waiting patiently. "Sorry about that." I said.

"No it's fine." He replied.

"DEMI! COME HERE, BABY!" I heard Terrence yell from a distance in a loosely tone.

"I have to go." I stoop up.

"Call me later." I nodded and made my way over to Terrence who was definitely drunk or at least that's what his breath was trying to say.

I followed him to a room upstairs. Mistake number one. He sat down on the bed with his legs stretched out.

"Sit down, baby." He said. I did as told and sat down next to him staring at the T.V. in front. Mistake number two. He took off my leather jacket and threw it on the floor before slithering his hand up my dress. I slapped his arm away and in return he quickly slapped me and rolled on top of me. "This isn't the time, sweetie."

"I'm not having sex with you." I said sternly. He didn't say anything and attacked my neck with kisses. Kisses that weren't real. Kisses that meant absolutely nothing. Kisses that screamed sex. "GET OFF!" I shouted as tears streamed down my face. I wasn't going to loose my virginity to him. I pushed and punched, but he didn't budge. I bent my knee and stroked a blow in his crotch. He fell to the floor in pain holding the place where I had kneed him. I ran to the door, after grabbing my jacket, but he pushed me against the wall causing my head to make contact with the wall making a loud thud.

A random boy busted through the door. Terrence lightened his grip. "What's going on in here?" He asked looking over at us. I knew this was my only chance. I ran out the door and downstairs only to be stopped by someone.

"Whoa. Whoa. Whoa." A boy's voice said. I was too deaf by the music to figure out who it was. The boy's hand gently lifted up my chin and lucky me, I was face to face with Justin. He wiped away my tears and held me tight. I don't know what it was, but I felt safe. I felt protected for once.

"DEMETRIA!" Someone yelled. I turned around and found Terrence at the top of the stairs.

"I have to go." I quickly told Justin before running out the door into the pitch-black night with the full moon's light shimmering down on me. I was going somewhere. Somewhere, but nowhere.

"Hey, Demi! Wait up!" I heard Justin and footsteps continue to get closer to me. He finally reached me and I didn't bother to look at him. "You're bleeding." I touched my head and looked back at them. They were covered in blood. He took off his white shirt and handed it to me. I took it out of his hand and pressed it against my cut. "What's wrong?"

"I'm fine." I lied in a soft tone thinking about Terrence and what he would do the next time he saw my face. I did wonder why I felt so safe in Justin's arms. I mean, I just met him today.

"It's gonna be alright." He said as we continued walking. He was wrong.

" You don't know that! You have no idea what I contently go through every fucking day!" I yelled.

"Tell me, then." He said looking down at me. He wanted me to tell him what it was like to be me. I had never told anyone what it was like to be me.

I took a deep breath. "...Imagine seeing the world black and white and-"

"You're color blind?" He cut me off.

I laughed. "No, not like that." He smiled and gestured for me to go on.

"Imagine seeing the world black and white." I continued. "You're always scared, scared of what others think about you. Always wondering if people can find your flaws. Not being able to breathe because of the people around you that are constantly suffocating you. It's like screaming wondering if anyone can hear you. Every word blows you away. You're always thinking. It's like not being able to defend yourself." I finished.

Justin looked at me with concern in his brown eyes, but he didn't say anything except, "Sorry."

"Don't feel sorry for me." I said. "I probably deserve it." I mumbled.

"What?" He asked.

"Nothing."

I watched as a droplet of water fell down onto my nose. And another. And Another. Seconds later, it began to poor down hard. I put my leather jacket over my head and looked over at Justin. He didn't have a jacket, just the same sleeveless jean jacket he walked into Algebra with that wouldn't help much. I offered him mine, but he refused.

"How far is it where you're going, anyway?" He asked.

"I'm really not going anywhere." I admitted.

He grabbed my hand, for the second time today, and walked me a couple of blocks to a blue two-story house with a red truck parked in the driveway. By this point, we were soaking wet. He unlocked the door and let me in. I stayed on the welcome mat not wanting to get water on the hardwood floors unlike Justin.

"I'll be right back." Said Justin as water dripped off of him and onto the floor. I nodded and he vanished behind a wall. I looked around without actually relocating. There were a bunch of photos set up on a doorway table in the foyer. They appeared to be pictures of Justin when he was only a toddler with a short brunette, probably his mom. Justin came back with a towel in one hand a folded clothes in the other. "I thought you might want to change into something more dry." He said handing the towel and clothes to me. "The bathroom is down the hall to the left." He pointed out.

I followed his directions and made it to the powder room locking the door. I removed his white shirt from my head and noticed the bleeding had stopped. I stripped down to only my underwear and bra shivering the entire time until I put on the clothes Justin gave me, which were a pair of gray sweatpants and a white V-neck T-shirt, after I dried myself off with the towel including my hair. I looked in the mirror. What was I doing here? I just met the guy this morning? For all I know, he could be a kidnapper or just extremely nice, but why me? I walked down the hall with my wet clothes in my hands and let my damp hair rest on my shoulders. Justin had changed into basketball shorts and a similar shirt he had given me.

"Do you know what time it is?" I asked remembering my mom gets off work at 11:30 and I'm supposed to be home. He took out his phone and turned it on.

"11:24." He said looking up from his phone.

"I think I should get going." I said heading over to the front door. "Thank you," I paused. "for everything." I opened the front door and took a step forward.

"You want me to take you home?" He asked making me turn back around. I looked at the rain that was still pouring down.

"Sure." He grabbed his keys out of his pocket and brought me to the red truck that sat still in the driveway.

I gave him directions to my house and before I knew it, we were there. I thanked him once more.

"Bye." He said as I opened the car door a little.

"Bye." I closed the door before he waved and sped off. From that point on, there was only one question running through my head. Why was he so nice to me?