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Five years later

"Have you got your lunch?"

"Yes."

"Have you got petrol in the car?"

"Yes."

"Have you got your uniform right?"

"Yes."

"Have you—" I began, but Colin interrupted me. He hastily pressed his lips against mine, successfully silencing me.

"Yes, Mum, I have everything," he said sarcastically with an exaggerated eye roll. "Can I go now?"

I frowned at him, planting my hands on my hips. "I just want this to go well. This is a big deal."

"I know, but I'm not stressed."

"Which is making me stressed," I pointed out with a sigh.

"Hayley." He laughed, gripping my shoulders. He shook me slightly as if that would calm me down. "It will be fine. Breathe."

A smile danced across my lips as I stared at the boy I love. It was Colin's first day as a fully qualified builder. He had received a job offer at a very well-known building company who hired the best of the best. Therefore, I was freaking out. With Colin's unstable reputation, it was amazing that he has been granted this interview. I just didn't want anything to go wrong.

"You look very smart," I smirked as my heart rate decreased and I felt my slight hysteria ebb away. He always knew what to say to make me relax.

He had filled out more since high school. His chest and arms were a lot more defined now, as he did a lot more manual labor. His skin had darkened from sun exposure, and his hands had become rough and callused. His usual dark hair had been streaked by the sun, and freckles dotted across his nose and underneath his eyes.

"Why thank you." He smirked back, knowing very well how good he looked.

Colin and I had finally moved away. We moved to a different state for a fresh start. So far, it had been successfully working in our favor. Colin, as previously mentioned, has been offered an amazing job which he was starting today. After years of long hours and bad pay, he finally made it. I bounced from retail job to retail job as we moved around until I finally landed a job as a receptionist for a doctor.

It was bizarre, actually. At first, it was just a job to pay the bills. But working in that environment really showed me what it was like to help people. Just like Anthony did for me at Downright High, I needed to give back what people had done for me. So I decided to go to university. Yeah, big change, I know. It's amazing what could happen over time. I was in my second year of studying to be a nurse. It was ridiculously hard, but surprisingly, I was enjoying it. I wanted this, so I was going to work hard for it.

Despite a brief period a couple years ago, Colin and I had been better than ever. We would be technically dating for five years next month. I never thought it would be possible for someone to stand me for this long. And vice versa.

We discussed that we would like to be engaged by the end of this year. I told him straight up. I didn't want a surprise proposal, and I didn't want a wedding. We would decide a time to get engaged, buy the ring, sort out what we needed to, and then we would elope. It was what I wanted, and he was beyond happy to avoid the effort and ridiculous amount of financing that goes into a wedding. Who would we invite anyway?

My years at Downright High seem like a lifetime ago. I hated the place, but I was grateful for being sent there. I would never have met Colin otherwise. Occasionally, I drove past the place and thought about my time there. Some horrible things took place inside the walls of Downright High. Those memories would forever burn in my mind. I still had nightmares about it. I didn't think I would ever be able to forget what happened.

Absently, I raised my hand to the scar that was slashed across my abdomen. My scars were constant reminders of what I had been through. Colin and I mutually decided that we needed to remove ourselves from the same town as Downright High. We both needed an escape.

I was still in touch with my grandfather, but we only saw each other on occasions such as Christmas or birthdays. We talked enough to be updated with each other's lives, which was nice. Jeremy was the only one we kept in contact with out of everyone. Chase moved to America with his new girlfriend (after recovering from Imogen) and had been living there for three years. Other than seeing his name pop up on Facebook every now and then, I didn't hear of him much.

Jeremy often would come over for barbecues and whatnot. He recently broke up with his girlfriend, so he was enjoying the "freedom of flying solo." Since nothing tied him down anymore, he was considering moving states with us.

I spoke to Anthony every now and then. He was married now and had two little terrors running around. He had his hands full, and so did I. We spoke when we could, but that was about it, really.

Mr. Johnston (felt weird to still refer to him like that) and Imogen were still locked up doing time. I tried not to think about them often. They were a part of a life I didn't like to acknowledge. They weren't worth my time or energy.

"Okay, I have to go," Colin said, running a hand through his constantly messy hair, successfully pulling me from my thoughts. He fumbled for his bag. He leaned over the counter and pressed his lips to my cheek. "Love you."

"And I love you," I replied with a smile.

"Are you going to Jer's to organize the move?" he asked me as he began striding to the door, glancing down at his watch.

"Yup."

"Okay, see you tonight then."

"Good luck!"

The door slammed behind him, and the apartment fell silent, as always. We've looked into getting a loan and purchasing a house within the next few months. I thought it would be a nice change from the one- or two-bedroom apartments we've been living in.

A sigh escaped me as I began to get ready to head down south to visit Jeremy. I agreed that I would help him look into apartments near us. He had no idea on anything like that, so I offered to help him get organized.

I slipped on a loose shift dress. Hastily, I ran my fingers through my long dark hair while slipping my sandals on. It wasn't long before I was sliding into the driver seat of my very own car. I was very proud of that. It wasn't anything too fancy—a white 2009 Lancer—but I adored it. It was something I saved hard for and could call mine.

The hour-and-a-half drive wasn't too long when I had Eminem blasting in the speakers. Yes, I was still a die-hard fan of Eminem. Guess not everything changed.

"What's up, girlfran,'" Jeremy twanged as I openly walked through his front door without knocking.

My reply was our fists bumping together. Jer already had the laptop set up on a real estate website. Exhaling, I collapsed into the computer chair and began to browse through the website.

"It's getting hot in here," he cried out, fanning himself theatrically. He pointed at me to take the next line. I gave him a bored stare.

"So hot," he continued in a high-pitched tone, cupping his hands around his mouth in an attempt to make his voice sound like an echo.

He pointed at me again, and I didn't even bother to acknowledge him.

"So take off all your clothes!"

I rolled my eyes at him as he continued to bust some moves beside me. He sighed dramatically, resting against the desk.

"Moving has changed you."

"Please,"—I laughed—"I'm trying to help you."

"Oh, yeah, any luck?" he asked, as if he forgot the reason why I was here.

"There's a couple, but the rent is pretty steep. I'm trying to find something cheap that's closer to us."

"That would be good." He nodded, tapping his chin. "You do realize I'll be coming over for sleepovers all the time, yeah?"

"Yes, I gathered as much."

"Listen to you, old, wise Hayley," he mocked, poking me roughly in the shoulder. "You've gone all serious on me."

"It's called growing up. Don't worry, it will happen to you sooner or later."

"Ouch." He sighed, feigning hurt.

I bit my cheek as I smiled. I finally found a semi-decent apartment. Only thing was he would have to move in with two other people. He seemed open to the idea, so I agreed I would go look at the place with him on Monday.

"Thanks, Hales," he said, patting me on the head as though I was his pet. "Want some nachos?"

My phone vibrated loudly against the table. I glanced down and saw that Ameika had messaged me. She wanted to know if we could do lunch.

"No can do on the nachos, amigo. Got places to be, people to see. Another time?"

"Yes, ma'am. Ciao," he said, faking an Italian accent.

I gave him a quick hug and a salute as a farewell.

Ameika and I were still best friends. I hung out with her quite regularly. Whenever I was coming down to visit Jer, I'd organize something with her as well or vice versa. Jordan finally got over his shyness and asked her out. They were still dating, which was great, meaning I got to see him a lot as well. She was actually pregnant.

I didn't talk to Gabe much, unfortunately. Things were never the same once he found out I was dating Colin. Sure, if we saw each other on the street we'd say hey, but we didn't bother to keep up-to-date with each other. Colin was more than happy with the distance between us, of course.

"Hi," Ameika said, wrapping her slender tanned arms around my neck. Her cheeks were flushed, and her sun-streaked hair was smoothed back into a hasty bun. She was wearing a vibrant orange maxi dress that hid her baby bump quite well, considering she was getting quite rotund.

"Hey." I grinned back. "How's everything?"

"Exhausting." She laughed, brushing back loose tendrils of her hair and collapsing back onto the uncomfortable plastic chairs positioned beside the table. "Everything is so tiring. How are things with you?"

"Yeah, good. It's Colin's first day on his new job that I was telling you about, so I've been a nervous wreck all night."

"It's Colin. He picks up everything easily, he'll be fine."

Our lunches were always just a catch-up session, mixed with whatever gossip we had heard lately. It usually breezed by pretty quickly as we always had so much to tell each other despite texting most days.

After spending longer than necessary discussing what shoes would match her dress for the baby shower, we bid our farewell. I knew I was going to do it. As soon as I slid behind the wheel of my car, I headed in the direction of Downright High. Easing my car to a steady halt, I gazed out my window at the tall fences. I watched the now unfamiliar guards strolling outside the perimeter. I let out a shaky sigh as I thought about what happened there. I could still feel the ache in my chest as my heart slammed against my ribcage in terror. I would never forget the extraordinary feeling of fear I felt that day. Absently, my hand drifted to rest on my stomach. My scar was still there.

Dragging my eyes away from the school of hell, I rested my gaze on a girl who looked about sixteen, sitting in the gutter just out of sight of the school. I did a double take. The girl had a slender build, tanned skin, and long dark hair that cascaded down her back in vicious snarls. The large bags surrounded her indicated that she was the next victim Downright High was going to swallow up. Without thinking clearly, I turned the engine off. I wandered toward the girl.

She peered up at my arrival, her green eyes void of emotion, just like mine had been. It was honestly like staring at a reflection of myself. She had her mouth twisted into a bitter scowl. Her black nail polish was chipped and her boots tattered from overuse.

"Who the hell are you?" she asked, dropping our brief eye contact.

She folded her arms defensively across her chest, staring determinedly on the ground. I shook my head slightly, my lips involuntarily parting. It was honestly scary how much she reminded me of myself on my own first day at this school.

I chose not to answer her question.

"Have you been sent to Downright High?"

"Obviously."

"Do you have anywhere else to go?"

"That's none of your business."

It was my turn to fold my arms across my chest. I studied her for a moment. She wasn't bad. She was just lost.

"Would you believe me if I told you I used to go here?"

She didn't reply. She did glance up at me however. Despite being dressed in casual clothes, I knew I looked nice.

"I didn't want to come here, but I had nowhere else to go."

"Touching story," she said dryly.

A genuine smile danced across my lips. She glanced up and frowned. Despite just having lunch, I decided that I was going to take her out. I was going to help her. I was going to give her the guidance and help she would need to build a better life for herself.

With a reassuring smile, I placed my hand in front of her.

"You're coming with me."

Thank you for reading this story! I hope you enjoyed it. :)

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