School was a blurry figment of daily monotony that could drive even the most stable person mad.

It was a wonder anyone ever escaped alive.

I almost didn't.

I was determined to make sure she survived, though.

Something had happened to Cami—something unspeakable that forced her to retreat into her mind and shut out the world.

She was a billowing tuft of sunshine in a broken cast—a fragile paper doll with the eyes carved out and shadows left to replace them.

She hasn't let me speak to her I'd gotten lost in her eyes; fuck.

Those damn eyes.

They haunted me even when I closed my own, following me down deep into the depths beneath my conscious thoughts.

She was there the night before in my dreams, laughing and talking with me like she had when I'd taken her to the lookout.

She was fiery and wild and argumentative and utterly uncaring about the way I dressed, the piercings, the attitude...

the scars, physical and otherwise.

She was unlike anyone I'd ever met—and maybe it was because some of our traumas matched like twin flames burning in a tunnel of malcontent, but she called to me in a way that had my grip on my surroundings fading and falling away.

We were in a deadly game that danced and sang to the tune of our pasts, and I didn't know what would happen once we reached the final note.

We had two classes together before lunch.

It didn't matter how hard I tried to pay attention to the class, though. My eyes were always on her.

Cheeks flushed and eyes wild, she drew mindless circles on her notebook with red ink—the lines so thick and stained it colored the page like scarlet blood against pale white skin.

Cami was staring off into space for the next class, hands clenched so hard her knuckles were white with the force of her stress.

Parker was staring holes into the side of my head, but I didn't care. I didn't give him a second thought as Cami's breathing increased and a lone tear slid down her cheek.

What was going on in that mind of hers, locked in a death-grip by her traumas and thoughts that must've been drowning her?

What had caused her so much pain, so much grief in her young life?

I knew the answer wasn't all that simple.

Most probably thought the same of me—what had happened to me that made me want to take my own life just a few short years ago?

The answer wasn't simple. It never was.

Sometimes, there were never really any answers, either.

Sometimes, the not knowing was knowing enough to make sure that what you were doing wasn't just for the pain of it all, but for the escape and the freedom that felt like flying when you finally fall asleep.

That blissful, deep black abyss.

Sleep, if only for eternity.

Colton stood minutes before the bell rang pulling out a note excusing him for an academic advising appointment before lunch and his bag slammed into Cami's shoulder as he ambled down the aisle toward the door.

"I'm so sorry, are you okay?"

Colton was crouched by Cami's desk, eyes staring intently into her own, but she refused to look back at him.

Her eyes were pinned to the blackboard ahead, where the teacher fumbled around with different books on her desk.

We were supposed to be reading the new chapter we'd just been assigned for 'Of Mice and Men' and while everyone else was focusing on the book in their hands, or rather, the phone they were hiding behind their book, I was more interested in what was happening at Cami's desk.

"Cami? You alright?"

Colton waved his hand in front of her face, but she didn't move.

She was a statue, unmoving, unblinking.

Motionless, save for the shaking of her thin, delicate frame.

He placed a hand on her back, and she flinched like the touch had burned her.

A drop of blood dripped from her palm onto the floor, and I suddenly realized just how hard her hands were clenched.

My legs rocketed me upwards quickly, like they had a mind of their own.

I was at Cami's desk in an instant, grabbing Colton's arm and yanking him upright while pushing him back simultaneously.

"What the fuck, dude?"

"Language, Mr. Wright. Grey—oh, uh...please, go back to your seat."

I didn't move an inch.

Though, neither did Colton.

"Mr. Wright, why don't you head on to your advising appointment."

Every eye was on the two of us, though not Cami's. From my peripherals, I could tell that she sat still, the shaking becoming more and more noticeable. Soon, everyone would understand exactly what I was beginning to realize.

Heat and anger and pure fire burned in the gaze of my eyes, and if I'd been gifted with the power, Colton would've been a smoldering pile of dust and ash in this moment.

"Dude, sit the fuck down. What's your problem?"

Parker was at my side, though I wasn't sure when he'd gotten there.

I stood tall at my large height that towered over Colton's shorter frame.

Cold, hot fury roiled through my veins at the thoughts of what he could've done to receive such a visceral reaction from Cami, and all of them were enough for my mind to start begging me to end this motherfucker right here and now.

I could've sworn I saw a bead of sweat appear on his forehead, but he wasn't backing down as he bowed his chest up, but his head barely reached my shoulder.

It was comedic, really.

"What's wrong, Greylon? Cat got your tongue?"

I stiffened at the use of my full name, but didn't let it show.

"Or wait...was it a noose?"

He didn't get another word out of his mouth before my fist was buried in his face.

The pain stung so good, I almost wish I could've relished it longer, but then he was rearing back to get a clip in against me.

Parker's hand caught Colton's fist before it could be directed toward me, and then I watched in amazement as my brother laid out one of his friends and tumbled to the ground with him, punch after punch after punch until Colton's face was nearly unrecognizable, blood dripping all around mixing with the one single drop of Cami's that had fallen on the ground.

Not even a single drop of her blood drawn from her own hand—or anyone else's— was acceptable.

I'd make sure anyone who tried to fuck with her got exactly what they deserved; Parker just beat me to the punch—literally—on making sure Colton received his fair share.

I didn't stop to watch on any longer than I needed to.

The crowd had formed, the resource officers for the school were being called and the teacher had already ran out of the room for help.

I dropped to Cami's side and pried her slim fingers from her palm and winced at the bloody mess she'd made of her hands.

I didn't waste time grabbing up her things before helping her up and holding her tightly against my chest under my arm, her bag slung over my other arm as shouts and yells echoed throughout the small classroom.

Mori walked up to us, frantic and panicked, but I brushed past her. Now that I had Cami under my arm, I wasn't letting her get caught up in this mess. I was getting her out of here as fast as I could, and then I would get answers as to what really happened.

Or I wouldn't.

I deflated as I realized I couldn't force answers out of her, especially in the state she was in currently.

Students and teachers usually avoided me and gave me a wide berth in this school, but with Cami attached to my side and shaking like a leaf, we attracted more than enough curious glances as I picked our pace up in the hallway as Mori was still running after us, a vengeance in her voice that I was surprised could come out of such a tiny person.

It didn't matter; I was getting Cami the hell out of this school.

"Grey! Where are you taking her? What the hell happened?"

I had never wished to be able to speak more in that moment than I ever had before.

What the fuck does she think happened?

Did she not have eyes?

Colton was clearly harassing her, right in front of everyone.

What he must have done to her to get that kind of a reaction out of someone so full of wild, passionate light...

I could barely stop the bile from rising up in my gut at the thought of the things that he could have done.

I was strangely protective of Cami, especially after only knowing her for such a short amount of time.

Maybe it was the fact that from Parker's stories about her, it felt like I'd already known her before we officially met, but it was something different than that, something deeper and more intrinsic.

She was like my fellow soldier in the foot war of life; sitting there in the trenches with me while the gasoline skies doused us with artillery fire.

She was a haunted and anguished duplicate that reflected the person I stared back at in the mirror each morning and night; a battered warrior desperate for the fight to finally end.

Cami didn't hesitate when we reached my bike and I handed her the helmet. She'd need it more than I did.

She had more to live for than I did. I just wished I could convince her of that.

This would be my one last purpose in this meaningless life. Maybe I could make it mean just a little bit more for someone else.

I could make her realize just how much life was worth living—for her.

I could show her the truths and the highs and lows, the elegance and the madness, the beauty in the face of despair.

I could do for her what I could never do for myself—and then I'll have accomplished everything I needed to.

"Where are we going?"

Her voice was a melancholic zombie rendition of the once colorful chime I'd grown used to hearing.

I wanted to hear that voice scream and rage against the unjustness and depravity of the world.

I wanted to listen to her sing and cry and yell at me with that same fervor and passion she'd barely shown to me the night before at the lookout.

But instead, I settled for something that would hopefully wipe that lethally calm expression off her face and replace it with one of peace instead.

"It's a surprise."

She didn't question me as she slung her leg over the side of my bike and ignored the blatant stares of every single student who'd filed outside for the mandatory drill that followed in-school fights.

Her arms clutched my waist so tight I was afraid she'd crush my ribs, but at least she didn't wince when her hands made contact with the leather of my jacket.

I kicked the leg stand and balanced our weight, the engine roaring to life underneath us as Mori and some of Parker's friends started power-walking their way toward us, like they had any reason that would make me stay.

They were in the rear view mirror by the time I peeled out.

Cami rested her cheek across my back, and I could've sworn she breathed a soft, whispered "Thank you," against me.

She stopped shaking the moment we hit the highway.