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Amelia's POV 

"Let him go.”

The hallway stayed frozen. My heart hammered so hard against my chest. I really wished I could take the words back. Your stupid mouth, Amelia. This was definitely not ending well for me.

Zane didn't move, his hands were still on Leo's. He just stared at me, his head tilting slightly. Then a grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Well…” He chuckled.

"This is new.”

Jaxon exchanged a look with Mason before both of them burst out laughing too.

"She's got guts," Jaxon muttered, laughing louder.

A few people around us joined in until the whole hallway seemed to be laughing at me.

Zane finally left his hands. Leo opened his hand with a sharp gasp.

Without looking down, Zane nudged him aside with the toe of his shoe. "Move."

My fingers curled into fists, every instinct screaming at me to do one thing…Run or at least apologize. But instead…I stayed where I was, acting as fearless as I could.

Zane slowly stalked toward me, his steps echoing down the hallway…or maybe I was just imagining that.

He stopped right in front of me, close enough that I had to tilt my head back to meet his eyes. He smelled faintly of fresh grass and sweat from practice.

"So..." He smirked, amusement written all over his face. "You're the brave one."

I opened my mouth to speak but ended up saying nothing, my words were stuck in my throat.

His smirk widened. "Cute."

Heat rushed to my face, I hated being called that.

He tilted his head, his eyes roaming my face. "What's your name?”

I held his gaze, refusing to say a thing.

Behind him, someone called out, "She's Amelia Carter."

I closed my eyes….Great.

"Scholarship student," the leader of the cheerleaders added with a smirk. "Nursing."

Voices rose around us. "She's a scholarship student? She's so dead."

"She actually stood up to Calloway, has she lost her mind."

"She's insane.”

I glanced back at Zane but he was still staring at me. 

"Amelia." He rolled my name across his tongue. "Hm." His gaze drifted to the loose strand of hair that had fallen across my face. He lifted his hand, reaching for my face.

I flinched instinctively, moving back.

His hand stopped in midair, a grin spreading across his face. "You remind me of a little bird….tiny and shaking.” He smiled. “but still standing." He chuckled.

I forced myself to hold his gaze. "I'm not scared of you."

That was a very big lie, I was beyond terrified.

He leaned in closer, his voice dropping low so only I could hear. "I was getting bored…this is going to be fun…" He straightened, shoving both hands into his pockets. 

Come on," he called to Jaxon and Mason. "We're done here.” He turned, leaving without another word. Jaxon and Mason fell in behind him, still laughing.

The crowd opened for them. Then, just as quickly...it closed again. The students began drifting away in small groups, their eyes still lingering on me.

I stayed where I was, my legs wouldn't move. My heart still hammered against my ribs, and only then did I realize my hands were shaking. What... had I just done? I stared at the space where Zane had disappeared, half expecting him to turn around and come back. Only then did I remember…."Leo." I spun around, he was still on the floor, his broken glasses beside him.

"Oh my God…” I hurried over, crouching beside him. "Are you okay?"

He avoided my eyes. "I'm... fine." He whispered.

"You don't look fine." I picked up what was left of his glasses. "I'm so sorry."

He shook his head. "You don't have to apologize. I should thank you, you saved me.”

"I know." I swallowed. "I just... I'm sorry this happened."

His shoulders slumped. "It wasn't your fault."

I looked down at the broken frame in my hands. "This shouldn't happen to any of us." For a moment, none of us spoke. 

Lena crouched beside me and started gathering Leo's scattered papers. "Here," she said softly, handing him the last notebook. "Are you okay?"

Leo gave a quick nod, keeping his eyes on the floor as he took it from her. "Thank you.”

He stood slowly. "I shouldn't have bumped into him."

"You barely touched him," I said.

A sad smile crossed his face. "But that doesn't matter here, does it?." He adjusted the broken glasses, even though they no longer sat straight on his face. "I'll see you in class."

Before either of us could answer, he walked away.

“Amelia…” Lena grabbed both my shoulders, her eyes so wide, they could fall out. "Do you have any idea what you just did?"

I let out a shaky laugh. "I was there, wasn't I?"

""You stood up to Zane Calloway. I don't think you realize what you just did.” She lowered her voice.

"I couldn't just watch, Lena. I couldn't watch that."

"I know." She sighed. "I know." She reached over, squeezing my hand. "But now they're going to remember you, you'll be the next target."

Her words settled heavily in my chest…Remember me. That was exactly what I'd been trying to avoid. 

My thumb rubbed over the Blackthorne crest on my scholarship card. I used to wear it with so much pride.

"Amelia!” Mum's voice cracked with excitement as she waved the envelope above her head. "You got into Blackthorne!" 

The words blurred through my tears. "I got in…”

She laughed, pulling me into the tightest hug I'd ever had. "You got on baby, you did it….”

I nodded against her shoulder, the tears slipping from my eyes now. It had been my dream since I was fifteen. Blackthorn University….the university everyone talked about, the place where futures were made.

Mum cupped my face with both hands. "I'm so proud of you." 

She still smelled of fresh detergent from the laundromat.

"I'll make it worth it," I'd promised. “I'll study hard. I'll make you proud, momma."

The memory faded as quickly as it had come. I used to think getting into Blackthorne meant I'd finally made it.