Chapter 3

I had never been one to remember my dreams, typically when I remember them they tend to not be dreams. I was smart enough to know that.

So there I was in some type of foggy passageway filled with moving black shadows.

"Typical" I whispered bitterly.

Normally a person would think they had passed on to the after life. I wasn't normal.

"Alright someone around here needs to answer some questions!" I shouted but there was no reactions.

"I'm the mediator" I didn't even need to shout that last part. Suddenly I was important enough to be visited by some guy dressed as a spartan.

"You again?" he asked me, but before I could answer he shook his head "No, this isn't the same form of before."

"Huh!?" I questioned losing my patience "Where the hell am I?"

I thought the emotionless spartan laughed.

"You need to leave. There are no answers for you hear"

And like that I felt my eyes pop open and no oxygen in my lungs.

I started coughing uncontrollably trying to steady my breathing. My body felt heavy and cold.

"Hey, take deep breaths" I heard a familiar voice that I couldn't help but get annoyed at.

"You..what are you doing here" I intended to sound tougher but it came out as meek.

"You collapsed in class. Luckily for you this is a hospital."

I stared at him, squinting my eyes as hard as I could.

"Jesse was it?" I asked.

He nodded "At your service"

I felt suspicious towards this character, somehow similar to how I felt towards Paul at the moment but there was no hatred nor disgust. Just nerves...that part I hated.

The moment his liquid black eyes made contact with mine the pressure in my chest seemed to burst. My outward expression however were tears.

What the hell?

I quickly covered my mouth and put my face down.

Stop crying you idiot, stop it! Why was this happening? I feel like my body is acting on it's own.

"Hey...are you okay?" Jesse asked, his voice gentle and sincere.

Somehow his approaching only made it worse. My chest was feeling heavy once more but I didn't feel like collapsing. I felt something...much different.

"I'm sorry..." I said trying not to sound hysteric. "It's just..."

Yeah...I didn't know what I wanted to end that sentence with. It's just I feel some connection with you doesn't make me sound crazy enough.

I had to come up with a lie, and not one that made me sound like a hormonal teenager to a massively attractive college student...

Luckily for me I didn't have to. Well...no...not lucky.

Paul was here.

He saw me first, eyes full of concern and arms ready to comfort and hold me.

That is...until his eyes landed on Jesse.

Paul's comforting hand balled up into a fist. I may be wrong but it looked to be shaking a little.

I realize to some girls when your boyfriend who claims to love you see's you in tears next to another man who may or may not be to close to me right now, this reaction seemed completely rational. However a simple "It's not what it looks like" wasn't going to cut it.

I knew that. I don't know how but I did. All that rage that was building up in Paul's tall stature was directed at Jesse.

That sparked a new pressure on my chest. My body once again decided to once again act on its own.

I dashed in between the distance of him and Jesse and spread my arms out in his defenses.

Surprising everyone, mostly myself. I stared at his eyes

"Leave him alone"

Paul scoffed "So what. You remember now?"

"Remember what?" I firmly stood my ground as he approached me.

Paul shook his head "Nothing, I'm taking you home." he grabbed my wrist and began dragging, quite literally dragging me away.

I wasn't one to yelp in pain when grabbed aggressively so I didn't but let me tell you. It hurt. A lot.

I didn't look back but hearing Jesse's movements excited me a bit.

"I take it you're her boyfriend then?"

Oh no...

Paul stopped on his tracks "Yeah, what of it?" he turned around to look at him. I didn't look at Jesse but Paul was giving him an icy sneer.

"Just that, it's not really a kind way to treat your lady. Especially when she just fainted"

My wrist paid the price for that one, Paul was strong. I don't think he realized how hard he was squeezing. I tried not to let out any sounds of pain.

"It's none of your business how I treat her." Paul answered

I did look at Jesse this time, his eyes focused on the grip he had on me.

"You're stopping her circulation" Jesse sounded calm but his fist seemed ready to strike Paul if I asked him.

Paul chuckled and freed my wrist, I immediately started massaging it. "Well aren't you the observant one."

As I was nursing my wrist Paul turned to me "Is this why you've been so distant lately!? Is it because of him!?" he demanded answers from me but I had none.

I didn't like being accused of things. I was starting to get angry myself.

I shook my head and glared hard at my so called boyfriend "What is wrong with you? I just met him today."

Paul loomed over me he seemed frustrated, his eyes were burning. "I've done so much for us and then THIS" he gestured at Jesse "is what I find"

I was so confused "You're being ridiculous..."

"Hey" he said aggressively "hey look at me" he ordered and I obeyed though I'm my scowl was intimidating enough to make his tone soften. Even if just a little.

"I don't want you coming here anymore. You don't need to Suze"

"What...?" I almost laughed at what he was asking. "No way, I worked to hard to get into this course"

Paul spoke through his teeth "Sure you did..." fully frustrated he said "I can bribe who ever I need to, to get you into whatever college you want. I don't understand why you're even taking these extra classes" Paul's gestures were becoming more and more aggressive. "I'm taking you home now" he made a grab for my wrist again but I was too fast and pulled my hand away.

"I'm not going anywhere with you." I spoke normally, which was strange considering I've been bottling up so much anger towards him.

That seemed to trigger something in him, fury flinched through his face for a second but then he started laughing.

"Suze..." he spoke my name more smoothly and tried to put his hand on my shoulder. I shrugged him off.

"You really don't want to make me angry..." he spoke quietly.

Jesse scoffed "Alright, I'm stepping in now" and walked in between the two of us. That didn't last long as I wouldn't allow Paul anywhere near him. Jesse and I seemed to compromise by standing besides one another.

"I told you, it's none of your business"

"The threats and aggression's you're making make it my business"

Paul was tall but Jesse was taller, I knew it killed Paul having to look up to him.

The staring felt like hours until finally Paul turned to me and asked "Are you coming with me or not"

I folded my arms across my chest "I already told you no"

With one final look at Jesse, Paul stormed off. "Of course this had to happen" he mumbled.

When he long gone Jesse turned to me "You know miss, if you're in an abusive relationship there are places that can help"

I laughed "Right..." I couldn't very well tell Jesse everything I had been feeling and how I didn't think Paul was the abusive type he was implying but more of a controlling type which was another form of abusive, but like anyone could control me.

"What's with you girls and bad boys?" he asked to himself "You grow up getting everything but you still crave something you shouldn't"

"Please don't assume such things...Jesse..." I didn't mean to say his name so awkwardly "how do you know it isn't the other way around?"

"Suzannah" he smiled pulling up a file "It says here you have perfect, grades, attendance, and you're vice president"

"Okay well that's all incriminating but trust me. I'm the bad one"

"Sure whatever you say" he put the folder back.

"Why do you have that anyways? also why was Paul here?" I asked. I was super confused at this point.

"Well, you fainted and I had to look for your information" he smiled at me...could teeth be that white and perfect? "He was listed as your emergency contact"

I felt sick to my stomach again "That's awful" I said without thinking.

He raised an eyebrow at me, which was when I noticed a scar. Ignoring my pounding headache I tried to listen to what he was saying.

"What was that?" I sounded delirious

"I said you need to get home Suzannah. You're not looking so well. Here lay down."

I shook my head "I'd rather sit. It feels better to sit..."

His expression became gentle and he patted my head.

"Have we met before?" he asked