Again, thanks for the reviews. Here's the next chapter :)

—

When I heard my alarm go off in the morning, I was surprisingly happy. Even with all of the crap that happened to me yesterday, I couldn't bring myself to be mad. Now I bet you're wondering "why is she happy?"

The reason I was happy was simple. Yesterday I almost killed myself. Today I'm alive and healthy.

It was good enough for me.

I decided since all of the things people tell me only make me feel worse, I'm just going to not listen to what they say. Nothing Cassidy tells me will hurt me anymore...at least, I hoped not. But you guys should know by now that I never get what I hope for.

I put on some brightly colored skinny jeans and a graphic t-shirt before grabbing my bag and heading off to school. I walked through the doors of that place with my head held high, ignoring all of the stares I got. I wasn't sure if they were staring at me because of what happened yesterday, or if it was because for once I wasn't dressed like a grandma. I didn't care enough to find out the reason. I just walked over to my locker and began catching up on some reading before the bell rang.

Once I was getting really into my book, I heard a voice call out my name. A male voice. I put in my bookmark and looked up to see Austin running down the hall toward me.

"There you are Ally. I heard about what happened yesterday and I wanted to apologize for not being there" He gave me a sympathetic smile and I gave him a genuine one.

"It's fine, Austin. There's nothing for you to apologize about" Even though my brains were telling me not to let him in, my heart was telling me that I needed a friend. I highly doubted what Cassidy told me was true now. If he really felt that way about me he wouldn't waste his time talking to me. Or so I thought...

"No Ally, I really feel bad. I mean, I'm your friend and I wasn't there to stand up for you. I feel awful" I smiled again. Man, did that boy know how to make me smile.

"I'm your friend?" I whispered, completely taken back that he considered me a friend.

"Well I'm pretty sure we're past acquaintances so yep, you're my friend. But anyway, I really feel bad and I was wondering if there's anything I could do to make you feel better" After he told me that, I figured this might be the only chance I've got at having fun, so I told him exactly what I wanted.

"I want you to go out with me. Not like a date, just as friends. I've never done that before" Instead of looking at me like I was weird, Austin gave me a big smile. What he did next surprised me and my feelings.

He grabbed me by the waist and pulled me in for a hug. Even though I was shocked, my arms soon found their ways around his neck. The hug felt nice. Even though it was short, it felt nice. He gave me this feeling that I've never felt before. I wasn't sure at the time what the feeling was, but looking back on it now I'm positive.

It was love.

"So when school gets out meet me on the front steps and I'll take us to the mall, is that okay?" He asked.

"The front steps? Are you sure you don't want to meet somewhere in the back so people won't see I'm with you?" I asked, confused because no one wants to be seen by me. The only person who likes to be seen by me is Cassidy, and that's only when she's making fun of me.

"I don't care if people know I hang out with you. In fact I'll just go ahead and announce it. I'm hanging out with Ally Dawson today after school and we're going to have the best time of our lives!" He shouted, gaining the attention from many of the students. I grabbed his arm (ignoring the electricity), and told him to shush.

"Austin be quiet. People are watching!" I whispered/yelled. I couldn't help but let a smile form on my face. Austin really was the sweetest guy, but he was really stupid for putting his popularity at stake.

"I don't care if people hear me. That was the point in yelling. Look Ally, I just want you to know that not everyone is like Cassidy. That girl is, excuse my language, the biggest bi*ch I've ever met" I laughed at what Austin told me, surprising myself at the sound I made. I hadn't laughed in over three years and all it took for Austin to make me was a simple insult to the girl I dislike the most. Wow, telling you this now makes me realize just how much of an effect that boy had on me.

The bell rang, signaling to us it's time for first block. I said a quick goodbye to Austin before making my way to class. When I was only a couple of steps away, Austin called my name again.

"Yeah Austin?" I had asked him.

"You look really pretty today" After he said those words I thought I saw a blush appear on his face. Now I know I was wrong. A blush did appear however, on my face before I thanked him.

—

It was the end of school and I was about to make my way to the front steps when something stopped me. Cassidy. She was standing right in front of me wearing some low cut shirt that I'm not even sure how it was allowed in school. Her breasts were pretty much falling out. It was very disturbing.

"What do you want?" I snapped at her, taken back at my tone of voice. I never sound mean, I just guess that Cassidy brings the worse out of me.

"Hey slut, heard you're going to meet up with Austin" I cringed when she called me "slut". I'm not even close to one and I know that, but it still hurts to be called one. Especially whenever it's coming from an actual one.

"Yes, Austin and I are going to the mall. He should be on the front steps right now so if you'll excuse me, I'd like to go meet him" I tried to walk around Cassidy but she just shoved me back.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you" She said, smirking at me.

"And why not?" I asked getting really annoyed by her.

"Because he's only using you. All he wants to do is get in your pants. He's probably already fu**ed every other girl in this school and your the last one. I don't know why he'd do you when he could always come do me another time" Not one second did I believe that. Austin was too nice of a guy to be sleeping with every girl, especially C-ass-idy. You get it? C-ass-idy? Because she's a total a**? Anyway, let me continue.

"Like I'm gonna believe that for a second. I know for a fact that Austin Doesn't like you. He told me himself today" Cassidy gave me her famous eye roll (something that never fails to annoy me), and continued to talk.

"Yeah right, what did Austin say to you?" I debated whether I should tell her or not but the angry side of me told her before I had time to register it.

"He told me you're the biggest bi*ch he's ever met" My eyes went wide when I realized what I said. The look on Cassidy's face after I said that scared me to death.

"You little bi*ch! Austin would never call me that! You're lying and just for that, you're not going out with him today" Cassidy grabbed my arms and drug me to a closet. She opened the door and shoved me in, locking the door in the process. I started banging on the door and screaming but nobody listened to me. Eventually I just slid down to the floor and started sobbing. Austin's gonna think I stood him up all because I'm too stupid to keep my mouth closed. Why was I such an idiot? Why am I such an idiot?

I checked my watch and it was now 4:30. I'd been locked up for an hour and a half. I thought that I'd just be locked up in there until school starts the next day. When those thoughts came to my mind, I couldn't help but cry even more. Little did I know that those tears saved me. I heard a small knock on the door and the sound of a female's voice.

"Is anyone in there?" She asked.

"Yes! Please help me!" I cried.

"Oh my gosh! What're you doing in there? Never mind just wait, I'll go get the keys from the janitor" I heard the girl quickly turn around and soon enough the door swung open with Trish and the janitor standing right in front of me.

"Ally? Good Lord, what happened?" She asked, actually sounding concerned.

"Cassidy happened. She got mad at me and pushed me in here. I've been locked up since 3" Trish gasped at what I had told her. Her expression soon turned from surprised to angry.

"I really hate that girl! So Ally, are you okay " She asked.

"Yes, thank you. I was afraid I'd have to stay in there until tomorrow. But may I ask, why you're at school so late?" I asked her.

"Detention" She answered. I gave her a sympathetic smile.

"Yeah, apparently there's a no punching rule at the school" She said. I laughed, knowing she was talking about when she punched Cassidy yesterday. She joined my laughter and we talked for a bit more.

You know, it was nice to talk to someone. Even if she wasn't necessarily my friend she was still nice. And that was enough for me.