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There’s a faint reseuy I fell for my sophomore year: tall, dark hair, hazel eyes He shaves his head now, his ears are a bit deforiness that wasn’t present when I first iness always existed and I was too naive to notice

Matt turns and heads to the front right corner of the cafeteria Tohere the other Black Fire fighters sit and in the exact opposite direction of Kaden and Jax Matt doesn’t look back to see if I follow because he knoill He controlled me then--even when there was blood on his hands and blood on ht I had built disintegrates He controls lance at my brother or cousin My cheeks are on fire and I stare at o, Jax and Kaden found e at a party My body shook, my teeth chattered and all I could think was that Matt was stronger than Jax and Kaden

Withwith the proof, I lied I protected what I loved--I protected Jax and Kaden, and then walked away fro A decision I still bleed over

With a few hushed words, the guys seated at Matt’s table disperse, leaving me and him somewhat alone in the crowded cafeteria None of them make eye contact with me because each of them is fully aware that they had a hand in what happened They’re the ones that pointed out Conner’s drug use to ed me to talk to Matt because Matt wouldn’t see as in front of him

"He’ll listen to you, Haley You’re the only one he listens to"

Nope, he didn’t listen to e to speak badly about Conner to Matt A right hook to the head is a great deterrent

Matt crosses his ar what’s mine"

No, that job belongs solely to him

Matt used to hold me in his arms He’d caress my face, my body I realized too late ere an inferno and that I had been chained to the stake He touched me He kissed me He said words to me no one else ever had Hewith Matt, I don’t care if I ever feel special again

"Because of ere to each other," he says, "I’es a spot of dried ketchup on the orange tiled floor Telling hi since then has changed He steps closer and cold sweat breaks out along my neck

"I hated it when you wouldn’t talk to me," he whispers Once upon a time, he whispered the words "I love you" into ret can slowly kill a person from the inside out

"You have never wanted to hear what I’ve had to say," I respond