I have a question for you.

Well, it's more of a question for me.

Have you ever been so bored that you can't even keep your head up, your eyes open, and at least try to stay awake and pay attention in class? Currently, I was struggling to do either of those.

To make matters worse, I was in History class, a place where Christopher Columbus is praised for discovering islands around the world when half of them were already inhabited by tribes before he even made it there.

I wasn't one for History, never, actually. But combined with my frustration and exhaustion, hearing my teacher go on about a man who I know for fact committed more crimes than did any good for any country in the goddamn world pissed me off.

"Christopher Columbus was a fraud," I exclaimed, my eyes flickering to the front of the class. Mrs. Smith pivoted on her heels to face me and I rose my head as eyes penetrated through me, including Mason's.

I ignored them and focused my attention on Mrs. Smith. "Why do you think he's a fraud, Michelle?" She asked and I shrugged nonchalantly, my eyes boring into hers. "Well I don't know Mrs. Smith, maybe it's because everyone thought he was this amazing man making history in the world when in reality he was a sick bastard with too much power in his hands.

He was dubbed a catholic hero, Mrs. Smith. When in fact this man -- this quote and quote, hero enslaved thousands of people in Hispaniola, he sold girls of ages 9 to 10 into sexual slavery which he admitted himself in a letter, he also captured a Carib woman and literally allowed his crew member to rape her and that's just some of the horrible things he's done.

Yet we sit here and we praise this man who did so little change to the world. And we allow people who actually impacted the world with good morals pass us by. I'm not gonna sit here and listen to this shit because a dead man can't get me a job in the future." I exclaimed as I slumped back into the chair, a smile on my lips at the shocked expressions assessing me.

"What are you going to do about it then, Michelle?" She challenged and I cocked my head to the side, a chuckle escaping my lips as my eyes flickered down to the book in my hand. I grabbed the pages which were all on Christopher Columbus, stood up and raised it before me.

"This," I said as I tore the pages from the book, smirking at the gasps that echoed around the room. Mrs. Smith eyed me furiously, her lips downturned into a frown, "you are vandalizing school's property, Micelle! Go down to the office now!"

"I don't give a hoot." I spat as I dropped the torn papers onto the floor, grabbed my bag and sauntered past her. I pushed the doors open and stepped into the empty hall, deciding that I'd just go home. I know I was a bit dramatic back there but it was the only way to get out of class.

And plus I've always wanted to do something this badass before.

"Michelle!" I clenched my jaw tightly and sped up my pace, ignoring the shuffling of feet behind me as I hightailed towards the school's entrance. "Dollface wait!"

"The hell do you want Mason!? And how on earth are you out of cla- you know what I don't care, leave me the hell alone, okay? I'm not ready to have a conversation with you."

"Dollface it's been three days, when will you talk to me!?" He pleaded as he rushed in front of me, blocking my view from the door. I folded my arms over one another and glared up at him, his lips were turned down in a frown, and his eyes- god his eyes were so innocent. Don't fall for this, Michelle, not yet.

"Mason, get out of my way."

"Michelle, please. I'm sorry okay, I'll keep saying it until you believe me. I'm sorry about kissing that girl and being an asshole to you and hurting you, god. When I realized what I did the next day and I came down from my anger I cried because I didn't wanna hurt you but I was so angr-"

"You see, Mason this is why I don't wanna talk! I know that you're mentally ill and you can't control your emotions! But you can control your actions, despite being angry at me nothing forced your lips down onto that girl's own! You could have screamed at me, made me cry, cussed me out, anything and I'd forgive you in a heartbeat but this? You knew what you were doing!

Despite being angry I know you're aware of your actions! I don't understand what you're going through to the full extent and I'm trying but it's so difficult, Mason! Sometime's I wonder if it's worth it. . .the constant fear that one day I wake up and you don't love me anymore."

I wiped away the tear that trickled down my cheek and quickly manoeuvred around him and marched towards the door. It took a moment for him to move as the hallway was silent until I could hear his shoes scraping against the floor behind me.

I pushed the doors open and stumbled outside, blocking out the sound of my name escaping his lips as I trekked towards my car. "Baby, wait!" He cried out as he grabbed my wrist and spun me around to face him.

His eyes were glossy with tears and the expression on his face crushed me as he slipped his hands into mine and brought it against his cheek. He leaned his face into my palm and sighed shakingly, "please don't give up on me. Michelle, please, I can't afford to lose you. I j-just, I hate myself so much and you're the only person who makes me like myself a little more. If you're gone I don't know what I'd do.

You don't need to talk to me now, you don't need to forgive me now either, but please tell me that you won't leave me. I'm trying and I hate that I can't control my emotions but you're right, I can control what I do with those emotions and I purposely hurt you more. I'm so sorry, god I'm sorry dollface. Just don't leave me, please."

A tear trickled down his cheek and I struggled to keep mine at bay as I wiped his away, our eyes interlocked with one another intently. This look on his face, I've never seen it before. So desperate, I've never even seen him cry and although he hurt me, it still pained me to see him hurting.

"I promise, I won't leave you, Mason. I love you. . .okay? But I just need time to cool off." I said and his eyes flickered shut as he sucked in a harsh breath, "o-okay, I understand."

"Awe, how sweet!" A familiar voice exclaimed, followed by a round of applause. Before I could react Mason's hands were already on my waist, tugging me backwards so that he could stand in front of me, blocking my view of Kaleb.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" Mason spat and a chill ran down my spine at the venomous tone of his voice, almost as if his words were a knife slicing through my back. "Mason! How are you? Long time no see. I can tell by the look on your face Michelle didn't tell you about our encounter at the lake, you know. . .when your tongue was down another girl's throat."

I winced and tightened my grip on Mason's hand. The wound was still fresh and he knew it too by the way his hardened expression fell and his eyes flickered towards me, guilt etched over his face.

"You stay the hell away from Michelle or I swear to god I will murder you with my bare hands, Kaleb." He growled dangerously low and Kaleb's eyes swivelled towards me, his head arching sideways, "you have Mason doing your dirty work now? First me. . .then him, who's next, Michelle?"

"Shut your damn mouth, Kaleb." I seethed through gritted teeth as I tried stepping forward but Mason pushed me back gently, his fiery gaze still penetrating through Kaleb's. "You always have the knight in shining armour to your rescue Michelle, just like Faye, then Damien and Ryder. . always a man protecting you."

"You know damn well that was all on you! Don't put any blame on me! I never asked you to do what you did!" I cried out and he raised his hands in surrender as his eyes flickered back towards Mason. "Better be careful, Mason. . .don't wanna get sent back to Canada now do we? Not after what happened," he chuckled as he began to retreat.

"I swear to god Kaleb, you come near Michelle again and it's me, you and death." Mason snarled. Kaleb's eyes met mine once again and he smiled faintly, "I'll see you soon, Cupcake." He said before pivoting on his heels and marching away.

I clenched down onto my fist, my breathing had suddenly decided that it would be difficult for me and I ran a hand through my hair frantically. "Baby, are you okay? I promise I won't let him hurt you, on my life, Michelle." Mason exclaimed as he pulled me into him, his arms encircling around me.

I hugged him tightly as I tried my hardest to get that image out of my head. The image of Faye Mcflare and what Kaleb did to her.

•••

"Look, Kaleb, I think you're being rash! I said I wanted revenge but this is too much okay? Deceiving her and holding her against her will in her house is dark and twisted and I don't wanna be a part of this! What if she calls the cops on us again and we get arrested, again!"

"Cupcake, we need to do this! That bitch got us arrested and she needs to pay for it. And I'm gonna shut her up, there's no way in hell I'm letting her go free. You got in so much trouble with your parents and the law because of her, and you were the one who said she needs to pay!"

"Yeah but not like this, Kaleb, please! I was thinking a prank or something not another crime!"

He shook his head lightly and unlocked the car, "I'm sorry, Cupcake, but I'm doing this, you can stay or come with. I'm not changing my mind, it's gonna happen whether you come or not." He said before slipping out and slamming the door shut.

I watched anxiously as he sauntered up the driveway of Faye's house, his head tilting towards me for a second then back at the house. I nibbled down onto my nails as he raised his fist and knocked on the door. "Shit," I cried out as I unbuckled my seatbelt and flew out of the car.

I ran up behind him just as the door flung open and Faye stepped out, her eyes assessing us peculiarly. "Michelle, Kaleb, what are you doing here?" She inquired and Kaleb forced a smile, "we need to talk, Faye. Can we come in, please? It'll only be for a while."

Her eyes flickered to me and I tried to tell her no subtly so that Kaleb couldn't see me. Our eyes interlocked for a moment and I widened them, hoping that she would get the memo but unfortunately she didn't.

"S-sure come in then,"

No.

Kaleb stepped in behind her, a smirk plastered on his lips and I grabbed his hand to tug him backwards but be brushed it away and flashed me a glare. "So do you guys wanna talk about what happened last week because I'm not sorry that I called the cops, you guys were vandalizing private pro-" before she could finish the sentence Kaleb suddenly struck her behind the head and I screamed as she collapsed onto the floor.

"Kaleb what the fuck are you doing!?" I cried out as he grabbed her from under her arms and hoisted her limp body upwards. He dragged her into her kitchen and lowered her body down onto one of the chairs.

"I'm doing what needs to be done." He said nonchalantly as he began to slap her face to stir her awake. "You're crazy, you're freaking crazy, Kaleb. Let's leave, leave before this gets out of hand than it already has!"

"Michelle I literally just attacked her and you think leaving is an option!? I'll definitely be sent back to prison so I'm gonna finish what I started!" He seethed out as he slapped her once again. Her eyes peeled open slowly and she groaned in pain.

"Shit, shit, shit, I should never have come with you, goddammit, I'm going to jail. . .I am going to jail!"

"Calm down, Cupcake, I won't let that happen to you." He exclaimed as he grabbed Faye by her chin and arched her head upwards roughly. "Hello sweetie pie," he cooed, his eyes darkening as he peered into her. "W-what do you guys want?" She cried out hysterically.

"Revenge, for calling the cops on us. I've been arrested one too many times bitch and because of you I have one more strike and I might be sent to a juvenile detention center and let me tell you, I despise those places." He exclaimed, his jaw clenched tightly as he glared down at her.

"Kaleb, please." I pleaded and he motioned for me to shut up, his eyes never faltering from hers. "What do you want from me huh?! I see illegal shit and I report!"

"I see fucking snitches and I teach them a lesson." He snarled as he etched his face closer to her ear and smirked, "I hope you like screaming," he whispered and suddenly I watched his face contort in pain and Faye suddenly bolted from the chair, landed a kick into his thigh and raced out of the kitchen.

I stood frozen in my spot, trying to comprehend what the hell just happened until Kaleb snapped me out of my reverie. "Stop standing there for god sakes, Michelle! We can go to jail!" He screamed as he raced out of the kitchen.

The sound of Faye's pleas for help sent a chilling feeling down my spine and I stuffed my knuckles into my mouth and bit down onto it anxiously. I remained frozen, unable to move from my spot as Faye continued screaming, followed by grunts until a loud thud emitted from the foyer.

Kaleb sauntered back into the kitchen, a fist full of Faye's hair in his hand as he dragged her behind him, ignoring her ear-piercing screams that filled the house. I stumbled back, my eyes wide in fear as I flickered them towards his stoic face then her horror-stricken one.

"Please let me go! I'm sorry, p-please don't hurt me!" She cried out and Kaleb shoved her onto the floor. I whimpered softly, my blurred eyes finding hers as she peered up at me, pleading silently. "K-Kaleb stop, please. This is going too far." I exclaimed as I moved towards him. He jutted a hand out and shook his head slowly, his icy stare flickering towards me.

"Cupcake, you're gonna wanna leave now or cover your eyes for what I'm about to do next." He suddenly said and my eyes widened as he retrieved something from his pocket. I stumbled back and gaped at the gun in Kaleb's hand.

"KALEB WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?"

"No, no, no please, please I'll do anything, please don't hurt me!" Faye cried out. I stumbled towards her and crashed down onto the floor and used my body as a shield from the gun raised to her head. Kaleb frowned deeply and growled as he cocked the gun, "get out of the way, Cupcake."

"No, y-you're not gonna hurt her."

"Cupcake." He growled dangerously low and I bit down onto my lips hard as a sob racked through my body. "No!"

"GET OUT OF THE GODDAMN WAY MICHELLE!" He placed his hand onto my shoulder and shoved me away roughly. I crashed into the tiled floor and watched in horror as the gun went off and a bullet pierced through Faye's head, blood gushing out from the wound that penetrated through her skull.

She swayed from side to side until her body went limp and she tumbled back onto the floor, her lifeless eyes interlocking with mine as her head lolled to the side, blood pooling underneath her. I sobbed loudly, unable to hear Kaleb's frantic calls as I laid there, motionless, unable to tear my gaze from hers.

She was dead. She was dead because of me, I could have stopped this, I could have stopped him but now. . .now she's dead. She's dead because of me.

I remained numb, even when Kaleb's arms slid underneath me and he hoisted me over his shoulders and dragged me out of the house. Numb when he shoved me into the car and frantically buckled on my seatbelt. Numb when we got home and he washed the blood off himself and me.

Numb when he crawled into my bed and reassured me that everything would be okay.

Numb until I lost myself within Faye Mcflare's lifeless eyes.