K O A

"You what?!" My eyes widen at what Opal just told me, my cheeks burn as her red teary eyes stare back at me, silently waiting.

"I..." She rubs her arm, her eyes fall to stare at the ground beneath her, mascara dripping down her flushed cheeks. "I um.." Her eyes frantically sweep our surroundings. She looks tiny in her bashful state, her red hair tangled due to the chilly wind blowing around us, making her shiver, hugging her own body, trying to find any sign of warmth that her body has to offer.

She chews on her lower lip, covering her face with her hands and inhaling the cold air that surrounds us, lifting her head her eyes narrow to look at me. "I love you, Koa."

O P A L

Koas' blue eyes blink repeatedly, unsure of what he should say, his mouth gaping at sudden surprise. He raises his hand shakily, rubbing the back of his neck. He pulls on the collar of his hoodie, trying to let the cool air in. He closes his mouth and rubs his face, staying silent.

"I'm sorry. I.. shouldn't have said anything." I rub my puffy eyes, "Koa, I don't want you to die. You mean more to me than you'll ever know. It hurts, it really hurts me to know that you are in such pain and want to die. I'm so so sorry that you have to go through all this, I would never wish this on anyone. It's so... nauseating. Your dad is a ruthless, awful man. He should be in prison. My heart aches for you. I can't say I understand what you're going through, because I don't. But I can relate to you on other aspects. Like Mark."

My head throbs at the thought of Mark, thinking about him, makes my skin crawl, it feels like he's touching me, my skin burns. "Not that thats nearly as close to what your going through, I'm not comparing what happened to your situation, but I guess.. I know what it's like to feel vulnerable and invaded."

I wipe the tear from my cheek that managed to escape. "Please Koa, I can't imagine a world without you. You have so much hope, there is light on the other end of the tunnel. You may not be able to see it now, but if you keep running you will one day be able to see just how bright that light is."

I shake my head at the thought of Koa not being here. "I can confidently say that my heart would be broke without you. If you can't live for yourself, then live for Knox and Princeton, their dam would break without you too. I know what heartache feels like. I cried for a long time when you left me, I thought you hated me, I thought I did something wrong."

His gaze is empty, like he's not there, like everything I'm saying is going out the other ear. " I will fight for you Koa, I'm not going to be leaving so easily."

We stare at each other in silence, I wish he would just tell me what he's thinking, I can't stand this silence, unable to tell what's going through his mind. "Koa?" I press my lips tightly together, scared of what he'll say, if he says anything.

His face reddens and his forehead wrinkles, he rubs his eyes with the palms of his hands. He sits down on the curb, holding his head in his hands. I sit down beside him hesitantly placing my hand onto his knee cap. "Say something." My voice comes out wobbly, its not hard to tell I'm trying so hard not to break down. "Please." I mumble, almost incoherent.

He lifts his head, tugging on his dark hair. He turns his head to look at me, his eyes dark, like its not even him in there. I curl my fingers around the scarce grass peaking through the cracks on the side walk, pulling the yellowed, dried up pieces out of the ground. I stay silent, anticipating an answer, an answer that doesn't seem to come.

I twirl the grass around my fingers, I wish he would realize there is good in the world despite his extremely hard times. He needs to see himself the way I see him. He's a great guy, there's still hope left for him. He is loved, I hope he sees that.

"Wow... I can't believe you." He looks at me, like I'm disgusting, like I'm a piece of old garbage, or maybe something worse.

I open my mouth to say something, but he's quick to interrupt. "You are selfish."

"Wha-"

"I can't believe you, Opal!" He spits, his face red as a tomato, his jaw clenches tightly and his nostrils flare, his hands balling in his lap. "Go home."

"But-"

"Fuck off Opal, I don't want you here. You're a selfish bitch. I don't want you around me. Leave me alone. Don't bother talking to me, you are wasting both our time."

"Koa-"

"Save it. I don't give a flying fuck about you Opal, it's best if you leave me alone. Take your prissy zippy ass away from me."

My eyes burn as the tears flood my cheeks. He grabs the dandelion from his hair and crushes it in his hand, tossing it to the ground. It feels like he took a knife and left open wounds all over my skin. "Koa I thought-"

"Drop dead."

My heart sinks in my chest. Why is he saying such hurtful things to me? I was trying to be there for him, comfort him, be a friend, give him the love he deserves and needs. I feel motionless, like I'm unable to move my legs, like I'm cemented to the ground. "You... you don't mean that."

"Get bent Opal."

I sob into my hands. His words hurt, the way he looked at me hurt worse, like I'm scum, useless, a mistake, worthless even. His eyes say it all, there's no denying it. Maybe he's right. Maybe I am all that. "I guess I should."

"Then leave already."

"I... I can't."

He picks himself up, shoving his hands into his hoodie pocket. He glares at me, like I did or said something wrong. "Then I will." He walks back the way we came from, leaving me alone in the cold, leaving me alone in downtown Maplesgrove.

The last time I was alone at night I was at the gas station and ran into Mark. It burns as I gulp. My skin shivers and my hands shake, this feels like déjà vu. I have to go through downtown in order to get back home. I feel a headache forming and my skin itches, hives forming on the surface.

I steady myself, pushing my wobbly legs up. Forcing myself to walk, covering my head with my hood, trying to lay low, away from the sight of others. A light sprinkle forms over the city, slowly drenching me in cold rain.

My skin crawls, I have a bad feeling about this. But I have nowhere to go, the last time I checked my phone was dead, just my luck.

A man with no teeth and splotchy skin jumps in front of me, "Hello there. Would you like to buy-"

"No thank you." I hurry past him, walking at a fast pace. Glancing over my shoulder I see that he's moved on to a new customer. I sigh in relief, turning to look back at where I'm walking.

"Miss, are you okay?" A man smiles politely at me, stepping in front of me.

"Yes."

"Do you need a taxi?"

"Oh, I'm afraid I can't afford one. Thank you for the offer, I better get going."

"I would gladly take you home, free of charge."

"That's awfully kind, but I'm going to have to decline your offer."

"I don't bite, I promise." He exchanges a kind smile, he runs a hand over his slick back hair.

"No thank you." I push my way past him, but feel something firmly grasp my shoulder, stopping me dead in my tracks before stumbling backwards into the mans hold. My eyes widen in panic, as I let out a scream his hand is quick to cover my mouth. I swing my elbow back, hitting him in the face. He falls to the ground, as I start running he grabs my leg, causing me to fall and hit my head on the side walk.

My vision becomes fuzzy, my eyes feel like their spinning in my head. I raise my hand to my head, groaning in pain. I look at the tips of my fingers, blood dripping off of them and onto my dress. The man presses his finger against my lips, hushing me. I dig my nails into his cheeks, making him scream.

His fist comes barreling into my eye, repeatedly smashing his fist into my face. I feel weak and worn out. He flips me over in a patch of dirt, he lifts my dress, his finger tips graze the hem of my underwear before tugging on them, slowly lowering them. I stretch my arm and reach for a rock, bashing it over his head.

I push myself up, his body falls limp and his head has a gaping hole, blood creating a puddle around him. It feels like I can't catch my breath. Just as I pull my phone out of my pocket, something hard and rough collides into my temple, my phone falls from my grasp, breaking on impact.

I feel my body drop, rocks piercing into my skin. The man that I had hit lays still, the dirt collecting all the blood that pools around him. My eyes threaten to close but I fight the urge. A pair of worn out boots enter my field of view, I try to lift my head to see who the person is, but I can't bring myself to it, my body is to weak. My eyelids fall heavy until I can no longer keep them open.