"We are here." I announced as I parked my car in the school's parking lot and looked at my side at Chase.

Although I didn't want anything more than go out and run to Eleanor and spend time with her before class, I sat in my seat and looked at my best friend who looked like shit. I wasn't going to leave him alone this time. He was my brother and right then he needed me.

He was leaning his head on the headrest and had his eyes closed. There were dark bags under his eyes, his face was a bit pale and his hair was a mess. In total, he looked to be sick but in fact, he had a hangover plus a thought that was bothering him, obviously something about Mia.

"I still have a headache." he groaned and rubbed his face. "I feel like shit."

"Next time when you wanted to drown yourself in alcohol think about the next morning." I sighed and stared at Chase for a moment before continuing. "What is wrong, Chase? Your hangover can't be that bad. What is truly bothering you?"

I watched as he opened his eyes and stared at the roof of the car. An uncertain look covered his eyes and his brows were furrowed.

"Mia." he finally said and looked at me and I was shocked to see worry and anxiety in his eyes. "You were right. I had made some impression on her on the night that we went to the fair. What if I have ruined everything with last night?"

"Come on!" I said and rolled my eyes. "Didn't you hear how worried she was for you?"

"You said she was afraid to meet me in a drunken state." he said and looked away, out of the window. "What if she sees me as an asshole who is always drunk? What if she is now more afraid of me?"

"Even at the fair night, she knew you are an asshole who is drunk most of the time." I answered. "Man up, Chase. She said that she wants to talk to you. Just listen to what she has to say."

"Let's smoke." he said and opened his door to get out. "I need a fucking packet, to be honest."

I did the same and together we walked to the back of the school where the junks like us would go there to smoke and avoid the teachers and school staff. We had almost finished our first cigarette when we heard someone calling us.

"Chris! Chase!"

We turned our heads to our left and saw Hector and Vincent coming to us, dragging a small whimpering boy from his collar. Their eyes were glinting wickedly and instantly I knew what were they about.

"Fuck!" I dropped my head and cursed and shut my eyes tightly.

Not long ago, I would enjoy bullying and tormenting kids in our school just like Hector and Vincent. I would have the same glint in my eyes if even not worth it. Even the thought of what kind of the devil I was, was making me want to vomit.

I heard Chase let out a string of profanities under his breath. I knew he was not in the mode too.

"Guys, look what we have here." snickered Vincent as Hector threw the poor boy who looked to be a freshman on the ground.

The boy let out a muffled cry of pain as his petit body hit the concrete floor and curled himself into a ball.

"You pathetic bitch!" sneered Hector and hit the boy with the tip of his boot a bit hard, making the boy whimper in pain again, and Vincent snort.

My heart clenched at the sight of the little boy and my mind suddenly filled with one memory of Eleanor. The image of her scared eyes after one of my mean pranks on her filled my mind. I had said the exact same words to her

"You pathetic bitch!" I scoffed and cornered a very scared Eleanor in a corner.

It was a gloomy rainy afternoon after school. We had caught Eleanor in the backyard, our territory as she had tried to leave school in rush, and we didn't miss the opportunity to make her miserable just so we feel better.

I could visibly see her small body trembling from fear while she was clutching her bag tightly to her chest, not taking her fearful eyes away from mine for a second.

I put both of my hands flat on both sides of her head, hearing my friends's snickers behind me, basking in the feeling of empowerment that tormenting her was bringing to me. She was disgusting to me.

"You think you are too perfect, huh? Too clever?" I seethed angrily as I looked down into her eyes. "Answering the question I couldn't answer just to make yourself more precious for the teacher and announce me as a dumb person?"

She gulped fearfully and shook her head slowly, clutching the bag even more to her chest.

"You are disgusting." I spat in her face, enjoying the tears that gathered in her eyes at hearing my words. That was how I had felt when I had a fight with my dad the night before and when he had said how disappointed he was in me.

"You think you are so better than us?" I questioned with a calm yet venomous voice. "Let me guess, mommy and daddy should be so proud of their little girl. But let me break the news to you, James. You are nothing other than a disgusting piece of shit."

I smirked and watched in satisfaction as she gasped and hurt filled her eyes. Then, I yanked away her bag and toss it in the nearby garbage bin that was full of food waste that had become sticky with rain. Her crying intensified, yet she didn't utter a word, just desperately watching her bag being thrown away.

"You repel me." I spat once again and walked back from her. "Come on, boys."

My three friends laughed hard probably at seeing Eleanor's face.

"See you soon, bitch!" sing sang Chase as we walked away, leaving Eleanor to her misery.

I wanted to throw up at recalling the memory. What kind of a sick person was I? Pulling my anger and frustration because of my own failure down on an innocent person who was physically weaker than me. Just to make myself feel better by making them miserable?

Was I even considered a human?

Those thoughts raced through my mind as I stared motionless at the kid on the floor. Defenseless, physically weaker than my idiot so-called friends, and scared, just like my Eleanor.

I feel safe when you are around. You are a great boy, Chris.

Eleanor's admiring words rang in my mind and her angelic voice filled my brain cells. No! I wasn't that son of a bitch anymore. Never again.

I stepped forward and gently helped the scared boy to his feet. "Are you fine?" I asked softly as I dusted off the boy's shirt. His eyes shot open and he looked at me fearfully but with shock as well, not expecting me to treat him that way.

"What the hell are you doing?" asked Hector in disbelief. Between him and Vincent, he was more wicked and more talkative. Vincent was almost brainless, always following others.

"Back off, Hector." warned chase with a hard tone, having my back.

I bent down and grabbed the boy's bag and handed it to him. "Go," I said. "And I'm so sorry."

The boy didn't need to be told twice. He quickly turned on his heels and dashed away. I then turned and faced a fuming Hector and Vincent. Chase took a step back so he was standing beside me. Both groups were glaring daggers at each other.

"So the rumors are true." scoffed Hector and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "You have become a pussy."

"Watch your fucking language, you piece of shit." I snarled, clenching my fists angrily.

"What rumor?" asked Chase and rolled his eyes bored.

"That the great Chris Harrington has gone fucking soft." sneered Vincent, looking up and down at me with disgust. "That he is now as soft as a teddy bear, all lovey-dovy with his new girl."

"If that means that I act like a human and not a rabid animal, then I welcome the rumors wholeheartedly." I answered firmly, meaning each word. "I have had enough of acting like a fool. It's time to grow up. I suggest you do the same."

"Come on, mate." said Chase looking at the boys in front of me with disgust. I was sure the same thoughts that were in my mind were also swirling in his mind. We always would think the same. "I don't want to make my day more shitty by dealing with these deepshits."

We turned and began to walk away but what that fucking bastard said next made me freeze and my heart skipped a beat.

"So all it took was a girl for you to back away and take you down from your throne." scoffed Hector. I turned my head staring at his smirking wicked face. "Was fucking her this good? I wonder how she feels naked under ...."

He didn't find the time to finish his sentence. The next second I had him pinned under me as I punched the living daylights out of him. Chase was also engaged with Vincent, keeping him away from me, and letting me take my revenge.

To insult me was one thing, but to insult my innocent girl in this disgusting way by degrading her dignity was something else. All I could see was red as I delivered punch after punch to his face. When I was satisfied with the amount of blood and bruises he had on his face I stopped.

I spat on his face and stood up. "Don't you fucking dare insult her like that ever again, you mother fucker." I growled. "If I even see you around her I will murder you. Keep that in mind."

Chase also released Vincent who had a black eye, a split lip, and a bloodied nose. He shoved Vincent toward Hector. "Take that piece of shit and get out of my sight." he seethed. "Whatever friendship was between us is over. Curse those fucking days we were friends."

Vincent helped a groaning Hector to his feet and they scrambled away. Chase and I stood there, panting slightly watching them screw away.

"Whoa!"

We both whipped around startled at hearing Mia's voice behind us. She slowly came out from behind the wall and stood there, looking at us with wide eyes full of astonishment and admiration.

"You beat the shit out of those assholes." she said with a string of admiration laced with her voice. Her eyes hardened as she looked at where the boys had disappeared. Her tone was hard too as she uttered her next words. "Although they did deserve it. Those bastards."

"Mia!" whispered Chase as he looked at Mia with a mix of worry, nervousness, and helplessness. I was sure he was going to faint any moment.

Mia's eyes softened as she looked back at Chase and she stepped forward. "Are you fine?" she asked softly and Chase only nodded slowly. Mia smiled slightly and fiddled with the hem of her jacket.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I was looking for you and knew I would find you here. I wanted to talk to you but it's late now. We should go to class. We will talk later."

She turned to leave but stopped and once again glanced at Chase. "I'm so proud of you for saving that boy." she said quietly but we heard her nonetheless. She then looked at me too. "I will tell Eleanor as well. You two have really changed."

She then practically sprinted away and I swear her cheeks were flushed. I watched in amusement as she rushed away and then glanced at my rooted friend beside me. He seemed to be under some sort of spell. His eyes were distant and a funny look was plastered on his face, a look of bewilderment and happiness.

"She is proud of me." he whispered.

I laughed and shook my head, wiping the blood from my knuckles with a tissue. "Let's go to the class." I said.

Soon, after we washed our hands from any sign of blood, we rushed to our first class. Chase was cursing himself all the way to the class for not pulling Mia away and talking to her. But my mind was occupied by something more drastic.

As we were walking, more and more memories from those times I had bullied Eleanor were playing in my mind one by one, making me hate myself more and more by second. The sadness, hurt, helplessness and other depressing feelings that would fill her beautiful eyes will forever hunt me especially now that I knew what kind of a hard life she had had.

Soon we stepped into the class and I stood frozen on the door frame and locked eyes with the girl I had hurt badly in the past and now I was attracted to so much. I watched as relief washed over her face and she began searching my body certainly looking for any injuries. Mia who had sat beside her and was staring at Chase must have told her about the earlier event.

I didn't deserve this girl one bit! She deserved much more than me.

I walked toward her, watching Chase grab Mia and pull her out of her seat. "Chris, sit with Eleanor." said Chase while gently pushing Mia to sit in a row behind. "Mia and I should talk."

I nodded and sat on Mia's previous seat and immediately was bombarded by Eleanor. "Are you fine? Are you hurt?" she said and quickly grabbed my hand, looking at the scratched skin of my knuckles. "God! You should clean this. You shouldn't have done this."

"Angel, it's okay." I said and forced a smile on my face. The warmth of her hand was sending waves of peace through my uneasy soul.

I watched her staring up into my eyes. I didn't deserve her concern one bit. I didn't deserve her kindness. I didn't deserve those eyes staring at me with feelings other than disgust, hatred or etc. I didn't deserve to be with her and the thought was awaking the dragon in my heart, making him claw at my heart and burn my soul with his roaring fire.

"I'm fine." I responded and looked away from her, unable to look into her eyes anymore.

From the corner of my eyes, I saw her frown, obviously confused by my sudden behavior. She opened her mouth to say something but thankfully just then the teacher walked in and she stopped.

Good! I couldn't have faced her questions right then. I didn't know what to say. I knew I didn't deserve her, I knew. But the thought of not having her was certainly killing me.

Fuck! What should I do???

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A/N: Hello, dears. Please vote and comment and tell me if you liked this chapter.

Thank you

Ela :)))))