To Fall So Deep

School the following morning after everything with Kathleen was sure to be a difficult conquest for Nina. She hardly slept, and when she finally found an ounce of peace to help her fall asleep, it was already time for her to wake up and get ready for the day. There was no trying involved however. She slipped on her uniform and pulled her hair into a low ponytail at the nape of her neck. Downstairs on the table waiting for Nina, was a bowl of oatmeal and fruit. Next to that was her bottle of prescription anxiety medication.

Corrine.

Nina sat down and picked at the oatmeal, forcing herself to eat. She barely recovered from months of malnutrition, and refused to go back into that state. Nina heard a jingle come from her school bag, and without even looking at her phone she immediately knew who it was: Harry. She had 10 missed calls, and 12 unread texts. All from Harry, pleading to know what he had done wrong. But it wasn't even him who had done wrong, it was her. And Nina didn't even know where to begin.

She took a pill from the bottle, and swallowed it with her orange juice just as Corrine walked in, "Ready?"

Corrine wasn't in her typical school attire, but a pair of jeans, a nice shirt, and a peacoat.

"Casual Monday?" Nina questioned, eyeing Corrine's outfit choice.

"I've called in sick. I'm going to the hospital to be with Kathleen after I drop you off. Your father is doing campaign stuff to buffer the blow from Styles. I can't leave your sister alone," Corrine explained.

Nina nodded, "I understand."

"Let's get you to school before you're late," Corrine said, and turned on her heel. Nina followed suit, flicking the lights off behind her.

Nina stood in front of the school, more nervous than ever-- the anxiety pill only taking off a slight edge. She took a deep breath in, closed her eyes, and counted to three. She stepped one foot forward. Then the next. Then the next. She passed by a few students who ignored her presence, and some, didn't even acknowledge her even though they clearly saw her pass.

Maybe school won't be too bad?

Nina thought to soon. She entered the school's courtyard, and as she trudged from one end to the next, the atmosphere instantly changed.

"Slut," a student yelled from across the courtyard. A few chuckles followed. Nina held her head down low and ignored the ignorant comment.

"Homie hopper!" someone sneered. Again, Nina ignored it. A boy, who Nina has never seen except for a few occasions in the hallways, materialized in front of her. Her head popped up, startled, after bumping into his body. His hands grasped her hips.

"What about a morning kiss for me?" the boy taunted. "I promise I won't fall in love, and playing me won't be an option."

Nina didn't know what to say, and instead ripped his hands from her body. She sidled away from him and continued walking. Her attempt to enter the main corridor of the school prematurely ended, when Jezabelle and her crew of cronies stepped in front of her. Nina swallowed, as she looked up at the queen bee who towered over her with arms crossed on her chest. Jezabelle's expression was one of utter wickedness, as she deeply glared at the cowering girl before her.

"Where do you think you're going Nina?" Jezabelle questioned with snide.

"Please, just leave me alone," Nina pleaded in a whisper. She stepped her foot forward, but Jezabelle pushed her down, as her friends created a barricade around Nina.

"I just want to talk Nina," Jezabelle stated with a grin. She leaned down and grasped her collar.

"Let me go," Nina cried.

"Not until you explain to me why you're such a little slut who wants to ruin lives," Jezabelle's voice changed in intensity-- from a snarky whisper, to an angered bellow. She let go of Nina's collar, pushing her down in the process. Nina quickly stood up to meet Jezabelle's eyes.

"Desmond Styles is a conniving liar, and is stringing things to make it look like my family is unfit for Ashford's perfect puzzle," Nina spat.

"Desmond Styles only speaks the truth. You're a horny tramp… moving from one boy to the next, playing them like some kind of game. Robbie told everyone what happened the night of the party Nina. That he tried to help you, and confessed his feelings for you,"

"That's all bullshit Jezabelle! Robbie Henley should be convicted of harassment!"

Jezabelle cackled, "you're such an idiot. And you need to stay away from Harry! He's my boyfriend, and we're meant to be together. He's too good for your indecent ways."

Nina couldn't hold in the tears anymore, and they plummeted. She tried to barge through the student body barricade but as more of her peers came into the courtyard, they enclosed the circle tighter. Jezabelle's words stopped, but became the cue for the nasty remarks to begin spewing from everyone else's mouths, pushing Nina around.

"Player," push.

"Skank," push.

"Lunatic," push.

"Cunt," push.

"Home wrecker," push.

The vulgar remarks that swirled chaotically around Nina, jabbed her with a sting like no other. She refused to fight back, letting her tears do all the talking. Her peers continued to thrust her around the circle; adding another slur to the repertoire with every shove until Nina's body grew limp. She collapsed onto the grass, burying her wet face into the palm of her hands. Her neatly pulled back hair was out of its elastic, and became a tangled mess engulfing her face with a dark silky rampart.

Nina was safe nowhere, and limited to hiding places. The only place she really felt safe, were in the arms of Harry. But after leaving in a rush the previous day without an explanation, and not replying to his endless calls and texts, Nina was sure that he despised her. All she wanted in that moment was to feel Harry's warm embrace around her body, his gentle forehead kisses, and to breathe in his warm, welcoming scent.

"What the hell is going on here?" a voice yelled. There was a shuffling as the students created a pathway, their heads turning towards the stern voice. It was Harry. "Jezabelle, what are you doing?"

"Teaching Nina a lesson," Jezabelle answered, her tone simmering down to innocence.

"Nina?" Harry's attention quickly readjusted to the defenseless girl trembling on the ground. He kneeled down in front of Nina and gently grasped her wrists, trying to pry them away from her face, but she wouldn't budge, "baby, it's me."

Nina's head slowly lifted from her hands. Her eyes were bloodshot and tainted with distress, "Harry?"

In the instant of seeing Harry's gleaming green eyes staring deeply into her's, Nina fell right into his strong arms. He hugged her protectively, rubbing her back as he whispered into her ear, "I'm here now baby, I got you."

Harry lifted Nina off of the ground, one arm draped around her back, and the other around the front. With his protection, Nina walked with Harry out of the circle of terror. Jezabelle stood with alarm as she watched Harry pass her. She grabbed ahold of his arm,

"Baby, what are you doing?"

"I'm not your baby," Harry coldly responded, echoing the chilling words that once came out of Nina's mouth.

Jezabelle yelled for Harry, but he ignored her pleas. He concentrated on Nina, bringing her to a vacant area of the school where mostly old offices stood. Harry held Nina for a moment, before separating. Her head hung low, and Harry lifted her chin with his fingers,

"Please stop crying. It's killing me."

"You're not mad at me?" Nina finally spoke.

"Mad? Why would I be mad?" Harry questioned.

"For leaving your house without letting you explain. For not answering your calls or texts. I'm sorry Harry. I just don't know what to do anymore. My whole family is broken... I'm broken," Nina breathed.

"If you're broken, I am too," Harry responded, truth in his eyes. He kissed Nina's forehead, and brought her in for another tight embrace. The morning bell rang, and students began to infiltrate the corridors. Not letting go, Harry pulled away to look at Nina, who stood staring back at him.

"Thank you," Nina said, a teardrop lingering beneath her eye. Harry wiped it away with his thumb,

"Anything for you… till the day I stop breathing, remember?"

Hand in hand, Harry and Nina walked to their homeroom together. All eyes stared in silent as they entered the room, and took the empty seats by Leina and Elissia. Jezabelle sat with her arms crossed over her chest, and her eyes red-- she'd been crying. The wolf pack glanced at the couple, but quickly looked away when Harry turned to look at them.

"Mates?"

"Harry, you know we can't…" Louis couldn't even finish his sentence. He was torn.

"Come on, this is bullshit and you know it Lou," Harry stated. "Liam?"

Liam shook his head, "we know. It's all crap. But mate, the wolf pack were all shown in that newscast last night. My parents think--" Liam stopped, trying to carefully choose the right words to continue, "let's just say after the video, my parents wanted to bathe me and wash the dirt away. And that goes for all of us."

"You're taking the fucking piss outta' me Liam. Guys, you're my best mates… and you know first hand that the video is bull," Harry insisted.

"We know!" Zayn pressed.

"Then why are you refusing to associate yourselves with me? With Nina? Stand up for yourselves, for God's sake," Harry was disgusted by his friends' behavior. "Niall? Please, don't leave my side."

Niall didn't respond. He didn't know what to say, and he couldn't bring himself to look at Harry or at Nina. He simply took his books, stood from the desk, and quietly left the room. This action killed Nina, because she knew that Niall was torn the most, and instead of taking sides, he took none. Harry and the rest of the wolf pack have been best friends for years, and now he was pleading for their friendship, all because Nina stepped into his life.

"I'm sorry Harry. I gotta go, I can't do this right now," Nina declared. She got up from the desk, clutching her schoolbag and hastily walked out the classroom, bumping into Professor Goodwin in the doorway.

"Nina!" Harry called out, following Nina out the door.

Nina power walked down the empty hall, and Harry ran after her. He grabbed her arm, and she turned around,

"I can't be here. This is all too much."

"I know baby, I know," Harry cooed, taking Nina's face into his hands. "Let's skip school. I know a place where we can be safe."

Notes

Happy Friday guys!

Here's chapter 23 and I really hope you're enjoying the story so far. To all my new readers: thanks a bunch for not just clicking on this story, but for taking the time to read the craziness that's in my head. I really appreciate it. To the readers who have been here since chapter 1, thanks for sticking around!! I usually update once a day, but I've decided to stop, and instead I will update every other, or every few days. This will give me more time to write, re-write, edit chapters, and for others to find this story and to read it. I also want to keep my studies a priority too. Aaaan, I'm developing a new story as well... It won't be posted for a while, but I want to spend some time figuring it all out. Anywaysss, please leave me feedback if you have any, vote up, subscribe, and tell all your friends about it!

Have an amazing weekend everyone!

-Erica Jaine <3