"What's going on?" Billy spluttered between sobs. He kept wiping his face with his now soaked jacket which made his voice sound muffled. The feeling of victory from escaping the hell hole that was the cafeteria disappeared and morphed into something much more dreadful, far worse than when she'd managed to drag Zoe from the same predicament nearly a month ago.

Mary finally arrived at their destination end quickly dragged Billy alongside her. There before them was the empty music room, quiet as always. For a moment, she teased, fearing that she would see Callum sleeping in the corner as per usual. She didn't think she could hold back the anger and resentment, even against someone like him. Thankfully the only things that moved was the dust. Sighing Mary started to inspect the damage on Billy, but one look at his face made her stomach lurch.

Tears were streaming down Billy's face right when he started to break down. He squatted down to the floor, attempting to bury his howling sobs into his soiled arms. The sobs worsened the longer Mary stood there frozen and staring. Never in her life had she witnessed such distress before her, not even back home.

Mary felt even worse as Billy covered his mouth with his hands to further silence his cries. At that moment, all though of Rothford, of the school, and even revenge wiped from her mind. Heat swirled around the corners of her eyes and the tears threatened to pour from her own lashes.

"No. Billy, no. It's okay. I'm here. Don't worry they aren't here anymore. Shhh shh," Mary said reassuringly, patting in on the back.

"I'm sorry. Mary go. Don't look at me like this. A guy shouldn't be crying— "

"Oh, be quiet," Mary snapped, taking a tissue from the from the table beside them and wiping the food from his hair.

"No seriously. You should be in class," Billy protested, but instead of seeming firm, the congestion from crying merely made him sound winded.

"No one in their right mind will expect me to be in class after that," Mary retorted and abruptly the thoughts of Rothford returned to her brain. She really wished there was disinfectant for the brain. "Anyways, the F4 is in my next class. You don't want me starting another fist fight, do you?" She teased.

Billy managed a small smile and the image instantly reminded Mary of Jaime. How could anyone in their right mind target someone as nice as Billy?

"Did you know about this red card thing before?" Mary asked carefully, hoping to God she didn't instigate another round of sobs. However, Billy appeared to have mildly recovered and he began to pick at the fries and strands of random food spluttered all around his person.

"I found this red thing in my locker. It didn't have anything written on it or nothing. I'd just assumed it was a card delivered to the wrong person," admitted Billy, throwing a random cucumber into the waste bin to their right. Mary frowned. That still didn't make any sense.

"When did you find the card?" Mary demanded, remembering that she and Rothford last met right before the first bell. Billy watched her questioningly and then considered for a minute.

"I think it was second… no third period," said Billy more confidently.

"So not before school started? Was it there when I left you and Zoe this morning?"

"No definitely not," Billy denied, shaking his head.

"How are you so sure?" Asked Mary.

"Because, Zoe was making fun of my locker the whole time. She was going on about how you weren't your usual self this morning and then when I took out my Math book, she started gushing again about how empty it was. Scared me to tell you the truth," said Billy. Mary laughed.

"Have you talked to Daniel Rothford at all since coming here?" Asked Mary.

"Not without you next to me. He didn't seem friendly the first time I met him," Billy said. He wiped his nose with the tissue and proceeded to clean himself more while Mary watched.

There wasn't any other explanation. Rothford placed the red card after Mary's meeting with Dr. Appollan. So that's how he was going to play this. He actually thinks we're are at war.

"That maniac!" She shouted in rage. Billy jumped and fell over to his side, but Mary could hardly pay attention. When she got her hands on him, he was toast. Target her friends! The images of Zoe crying with eggs all over her head returned to her awareness. The thought acted like diesel fuel, escalating the fires had lit and were now surging her awareness. She glanced at Billy quickly and the rage increased exponentially. At that moment hatred unlike any she had ever felt in her life seared through her body. Mary didn't know how but somehow, she needed him to lay off her friends. She didn't care if he books checked her, pelted eggs at her, or even hit her. As long as Zoe and Billy were left alone it all didn't matter. She could handle it.

Where was he? Where was the prick? Mary thought to herself as she roamed the halls. The school half empty now, students remaining for study groups or clubs chatting near their lockers as she passed, Mary and Billy had hidden out for the remainder of the day in the music room to avoid the school. Guessing by Billy's reaction, everyone was eager to get their kicks out of Rothford's new victim. At least that was what she'd told him before warning Billy to stay in the musical room until she left around the corner and then escape to his car waiting out front. But honestly, Mary just felt that he wouldn't be able to handle any more stress. Billy had barely uttered a word since the incident in the cafeteria. There was a black eye developing around his right eye and his clothes were soaked. Forcing down the urge to hug him in comfort Mary had left, out to find the culprit. She knew Rothford would be at the school. She could feel it.

Thankfully, Mary's own uniform had survived the cafeteria assault all except her jacket. She carried it with her as her feet pelted through every corner she could find. After annoying Mary at her house, the teacher's office, and even Jaime's school, she was well aware that he had remained to see her reaction. The guy seemed to really relish in her misery.

A sigh escaped Mary's lips as she found herself in another dead end. Just another few months before University, she thought. You can take it. You can make it. A ring came from Mary's pants pocket and she pulled out her phone. It was from Zoe.

"Left ur stuff at math room. Had to go home my mom called."

"Np. We can talk later." Mary typed back and managing another gaze around the hall, Mary proceeded towards the math classroom.

Sure, enough her school belongings were hidden under the seat that Mary normally occupied. Bending down to retrieve it, she suddenly heart someone enter the room.

"Elson!" Shouted a familiar voice and Mary froze. Rising to her feet she found Rothford regarding her silently. Nobody moved. Nobody talked. The shock of seeing him made Mary forget for a second what was going on. And then it all came rushing back as Rothford smiled coldly at her. He shut the door, not taking his eyes off her for a moment as he did so. She almost laughed. Did he really think cheap moves like that were going to scare her? No. Again her fear was all gone. Mary wasn't sure why and at the moment she didn't care. At that moment all she wanted to do was to hurt him. Make him suffer. Make him back down for everything he had done.

"You!" Mary roared abruptly. She faced the demon who dared to call himself a man. "Where the hell have you been? I've been looking for you."

Rothford shrugged as if she were a child asking for a toy. "Why? Did you miss me?" He taunted with a sneer.

"You disgust me! Explain yourself!? Billy is a dear friend of mine; how dare you attack him for no reason. He has nothing to do with you. Why attack him?"

Rothford stared at her coldly, the smile disappearing, and crossed his arms over his chest. Silence ticked on by between them and Mary was starting to lose the remaining patience she had.

"Well? Don't just stand there? SAY SOMETHING YOU BASTARD!" Screamed Mary, her voice ringing through the small room that even her ears rang.

"He had it coming. Wait no, that isn't it. You," said Rothford, pointing his finger at her, "had it coming."

Mary gaped at him. Rothford took several steps into the room. "At the end of the day it is all your fault and I hope I managed to teach you a lesson."

"My fault? How can it possibly be my fault? I'm fed up having to waste my breath talking with dumb-witted, brainless idiots like you," replied Mary in annoyance.

Rothford cool demeanor vanished replaced by a shocked confused expression at the gull she had to insult him.

"Dumb? Brainless? Hey, you don't mean to say he has more brains than me?!" Rothford demanded. At this Mary couldn't help but gape at him. What on earth was he spouting about now"

"Who? Billy?" Mary asked, surprised at the train of the conversation.

"Yeah that new money friend of yours! I can't stand it! Watching the poor kids have fun!" Rothford yelled into her face.

Mary regarded the boy in front of her head to foot. "What in the world has it to do with you? We're minding our own business. Billy hasn't even talked to you and you let the whole school attack him." Mary said waving at the wall.

"Elson are you trying to act stupid?" Rothford said through gritted teeth. "This could have all ended if you just confessed today like I suggested."

"I'm not confessing to something that isn't true!" Mary shouted back, but it came out croaked. Her throat burned and the room was becoming really hot. "I didn't start this. This 'war' began when you attacked Zoe. I tried to mind my own business, but you insisted on attacking me for no reason— "

"There was a reason!" Contested Rothford. Mary gave him a withering look.

"Being a pig-headed moron doesn't count. You know what I'm going about this the wrong way," Mary said, suddenly coming to realize something.

"Then call off this war, Elson! Do as I say!" Rothford demanded before grabbing both of her shoulders. Mary recoiled at his touch and tried to get away from him.

"Get your hands off me!" She protested falling against one of the desks as he shook her vigorously.

"I'm not the bad guy here!" He insisted shaking her some more. Mary wished he would stop. Her stomach was twisting uncomfortably.

"Stop," Mary said weakly, pressing on his shoulders. His touch was hurting her now and Mary tried desperately to get away.

"Escaping from Dr. Appollan was just the beginning. How long do you think you can keep fighting me? Huh!?" Rothford said. The room was spinning worse now. No please don't let her get sick here. Please body don't do it.

"Poor Amelia. She must be so ashamed of you," Mary whispered, glaring at the boy before her with hatred. Rothford froze and gaped at her in surprise, clearing not expecting those words to come from her. "YI won't call off the war. If you leave me alone, I will leave you alone. No one in their right mind would allow themselves to get constantly badgered and just let it go. Zoe and Billy are like siblings to me. Targeting them won't make me call off anything. You should know that if you even call herself a brother— "

"Don't presume to know anything about me!" Rothford growled, squeezing her shoulders even more before they were both falling.

Mary let out a breathless cry before her back screamed in pain and a heavy weight fell on her. The force of Rothford's weight over hers took the breath out of her.

"Ah bloody hell," muttered Rothford. Mary took a bit longer to recover herself. Her entire body ached from the day's events. And then she found herself inches from Rothford's face.

He seemed to come to the same realization at the same time as he stared back in shock as well.

"What in god's name are you doing?" Mary said in a low threatening voice.

"Wait," Rothford replied cautiously. "It's not what you think. I didn't mean it—"

"Likely story!" Mary snapped struggling to get to her feet but failing since Rothford's feet were over hers. "Get off me!"

"Hey listen! I tripped, it wasn't on purpose", Rothford tried to explain but Mary wasn't having it. She reached and pushed him away by the shoulders. Rothford moved away hesitantly, a look of guilt crossing his face. And… was his face getting red? No, Mary thought rising to her feet and wiping the dirt off her pants, impossible.

"Stay away from me!" Mary warned, pointing a finger at him.

"Look! It was an accident!" his face was beat red. Mary regarded him, bewildered.

"If it as an accident then you have to repay me," Mary said, an idea popping in her head.

"Pay?" Rothford said confused and then he raised his eyebrows. "How much?" he started to pull out his wallet and Mary recoiled at the disgusting thing.

"I don't want your money. Put that away!" She hissed in irritation.

"You said pay!" said Rothford exasperatedly. Mary groaned and slapped her hand against her head. It was like talking to a giant 6-year-old.

"I meant that I want you to lay off Billy. If you have an issue with me, I'll take you on. I won't go at your friends and you won't go at mine."

Rothford regarded her silently for a minute.

"You won't go after Callum," Rothford confirmed.

"Callum? What in the world made you think I was?" said Mary aghast. Rothford chuckled and started to put his wallet away.

"Alright. Fine. I'll just deal with you."

"Call off the red card on Billy," Mary demanded.

"Fine. Then what about you?" he asked, amused.

"I don't care about me. I can take whatever you got. Just don't touch me again!" Mary threatened and Rothford's face paled.

"Hey, I told you I didn't mean that—"

But Mary didn't wait for a response. A second later her hands where grabbing her bag and walking out the door.