*2 Days Later*

It's finally Monday and after a long weekend of doing nothing but sitting in my room wallowing, I've decided I need to try to get my girl back. I know I said that I'd give her time, but the past weekend has taught me that I literally cannot live without her. I've texted her everyday since the fight and she's never responded. I still plan to text her though, at least until she tells me to "fuck off" or I finally get a second chance.

Sadly, it's winter break, so I won't be able to see her at school or anything. We do have practice today, though, so I think I'm going to try to get the guys to fill me in. I just need to know if she's okay or not.

Of course she's not ok. You hurt her you asshole.

Not even trying to deny my inner thoughts, I continue the drive to the football stadium. This is also my first time seeing any of the guys or Wyatt. Since they all heard how much of a dick I was, they haven't said a word to me. I've gotten a few from Candace, but that's mainly because she's still pissed and the 'words' are just cuss words.

After getting to the stadium, going to the locker room, changing, and then heading to the field, I finally see the group I need to talk to. Running over, I set my gear down and slowly head towards Wyatt, Jingles, Tank, and Mouse. Tank sees me first and his smile instantly drops into a malicious sneer. He taps Wyatt and that makes them all turn. I just ignore their glares and walk into the circle.

"Umm hi. Look, I know you guys hate me, but I just need to know how Lainey is. Please. Just let me hear if she's ok." I plead hesitantly. I watch as Wyatt's glare turns into a look of pure anger.

"You don't get to say her name. And you know what, she's not fine. All because of you, so I recommend you fuck off before I make you." He sneers out.

"Please, Wy. You have to let me talk to her." I say.

This is apparently the very wrong thing to say because Wyatt's eyes turn deadly and before I know it, I feel a fist connecting with my jaw. He has me on the ground in seconds, pounding into me, but I just lay there.

You deserve this.

She's hurt because of you.

I continue to lay there, as those gut-wrenching thoughts rip through my head. Even though Wyatt is smaller and his hits probably won't leave a mark for more than a few days, I know it's helping him get his anger out. I wait until I guess someone decides it's been long enough and he's pulled off me. I sit up to see Tank and Mouse holding him back, while our teammates and coaches rush over.

"What the hell happened?" Coach yells.

"I was beating this no good, son of a bitch into the ground for hurting my sister. That's what happened and I'd like to get back to it." Wyatt bites out, looking no less angry or sorry.

"Scott! You know the rules. I don't tolerate fighting, no matter what. You have shit, leave it off this damn field. Go pack your stuff, you're suspended until next year." Coach says to him.

No way is that happening.

"I provoked him. The fight was my fault and no action should be taken against him." I state out and begin to stand, so I'm in front of coach.

"O'Conner, I'm not an idiot. I saw the whole thing." Coach says.

"Well you saw wrong. Nothing happened here but a couple of guys rough housing. The punishment for that is sprints, not a suspension." I say confidently.

"This true?" He asks Wyatt, who just looks at me dumbfounded and nods his head.

"Fine. Both of you stay after for sprints. And the rest of you, get off your lazy asses and let's start practice." Coach yells and blows his whistle.

None of the guys talk to me for the rest of practice, and I know Tank let a few blocks go, so I'd get hit. I don't care, though, I deserve that and so much more. I do notice that Wyatt just ignores me rather than continues to glare. Hopefully he'll tell Lainey what happened and she'll see I truly am sorry.

_____________________

It's the next day and I can't stop thinking about her. All I've done is sit in my room and practice what I'm going to say to win her back. There's still been no replies on my texts, not that I can blame her, and radio silence from my friends.

My face, from Wyatt, should go back to normal in the next couple of days. I have some bruises and a fat lip, but that will all go away soon. I wonder what Lainey thought when she heard that story. Did she think, maybe I'm not the bad guy I showed her that night?

No asshat. You hurt her and she shouldn't forgive you.

True, but I want her to so bad.

I think it's around 2:00 a.m. and I can't sleep. Every time I close my eyes, all I see is the pain that filled hers when I yelled. I can't get that image out of my head. The look of anger on all the guys' faces, shock on Candace's, pain on Lainey's, and fear on Katie's. It seems the only person who doesn't haunt me right now is Dylan, though I'm sure he'd beat me up too if he understood what I did.

Taking out my phone, I pull up my lifeline for the past few days. I scroll through and see every message I've sent to Adelaine. The small text below them say 'read' but there's been no replies. I hope she feels better after reading them. Maybe she'll see how sorry I am.

I make sure to tell her I love her every night because I still regret how we first said it. The small bubble shows 'read' but again no reply. I sigh, turn off my phone, and shut my eyes. Her pained image immediately pops into my head and I know I won't be getting any sleep tonight.

______________________

It's Thursday, so about 6 days since I hurt Laine, and I'm currently standing outside Candace's house. No one is talking to me and I just need to make sure she's ok. I need to see her, if only for her to tell me to leave her alone.

Shaking off my fear, I slowly bring my hand up and rap my knuckles against the wood door. I wait a few beats before I hear soft footsteps coming towards the front. I hold my breath and hope for my angel, but the door is pulled open to reveal Candace. Upon seeing me, she becomes a very angry looking Candace.

"Nathan. What the hell are you doing? You can't be here right now." She sneers out.

"Please CeeCee. Just let me talk to her, we need to work this out." I plead.

"Look, I don't disagree that y'all need to talk it out, but it's not going to happen today." She says a bit softer.

"Why? Why not today? Just let me see her." I say and try to go into the house. She puts her hand on my chest and stops me.

"Just trust me on this, Nate. Not today." She says sternly. She's about to shut the door when I hear soft sobs coming from the other room.

"Is that her?" I ask sternly. She doesn't say anything but only gives me a sad look.

"Shit! Let me through Candace." I say and start to push her out of the way.

"Nathan stop! You need to give her space." She replies and again blocks my entrance.

"Like hell I do. My girl is in there crying and I'm going to go comfort her." I state.

"That's not a good idea. You'll just make it worse." She says sadly.

"You don't know that. Now move out of my fucking way before I move you myself, Candace." My voice raises and I go to pick her up and move her away, but am stopped by a calloused hand on my bicep.

"I'd recommend you get your hands off my woman and step the fuck back." A low growl says.

I turn to see Jingles with a look of pity and anger mixing on his face. I slowly remove my hands and back away a few steps from the door. He then positions himself between Candace and me and faces towards me again.

"Nate. Candace is right, you can't go in there right now." He repeats what his girlfriend says.

"Why not? Please, man. I can't bare to hear her cry." I'm back to begging. His eyes fill with sorrow and he places a strong hand on my shoulder.

"I'm sorry, man. But no. She's crying because of you." He says sadly. The sentence is enough to make me take another step back as guilt and pain flow through me.

She's crying because of you.

You did this to her, again.

"Look, you need to just give her time. She's hurting so much because she loves you. Give her time to figure all her emotions out and then she'll come around." Keith states. I nod my head and he walks inside, closes the door, and turns off the porch light.

Knowing I won't be able to just walk away, I slide down the wall and sit on the Smith's front porch. I let every feeling of pain, anger, pity, hurt, guilt, and everything else wash over me. I sit by the door and do nothing to stop the knife twisting into my gut.

You deserve this.

She's hurt because of you.

With those thoughts in my head, I torture myself for a few more hours before sleep eventually overpowers me and I close my eyes. It's freezing outside and the position is going to kill my back, but if this is what I have to do to be close to her, then I will. I'll sleep on this damn porch for the rest of my life if I have to. Anything to get the love of my life back in my arms.