-recommend listening to the song while you read-

Bishop allowed the words of Sing to You by Monty Datta to soothe her restless brain. The soft beat helped her to feel as though the pain would slowly fade away. She mouths the words, swaying her body slowly. The music played from her iPod. She wasn't allowed to have a phone. Her dad was too much of a control freak for that. She tugs softly at her hair, closing her eyes as they tear up, moving her hips, completely diving into the song. 

Fresh cuts on her thighs bled down her legs. Her hands brushed against them, painting them red. She held her face with her bloody hands, trying not to cry. She fell to the floor, blood coating her.  

Bishop was pretty, really. But she had never felt so hideous.

-

"Owennn," Sage sings, her pearly teeth flashing as she smiles. She looks radiant- in a skin-tight pastel pink skirt and a long-sleeve black shirt tucked in. Her black heels clicked on the hallway floor as she walked over to him.

"Hey, Sage, what's up?"

"Oh, nothing," she says, looking up at him. Even in heels, he had a few inches on her. His brown hair was up in a man-bun. "Your hair looks nice," she told him, tucking a loose strand behind his ear.

"Thanks," he says, grinning. 

"Mhm." She licks her lips. "So."

"So," he says, starting to walk back to where he was headed- the cafeteria. 

Sage walks with him. "We have a date tonight, yes?"

Owen stiffens, enough for Sage to notice, but not enough for her to say anything.

"Yeah." He goes to run his hand through his hair, before remembering it's up. "Yeah. I'll pick you up tonight. Around six."

Sage smiles. "Do you remember where I live? You went there once- for my party.

"Yeah, I remember."

She giggles. "You say 'yeah' a lot."

"Yeah," he says, flashing a grin.

Sage rolls her eyes playfully. "Well, I've got some cheer business to attend to, so I'll see you later?"

"Yup."

"Better," she says, touching his arm softly, before walking away. She knew he'd be watching her, enjoying the view. She turns a corner and walks to the vending machine. Sage looks at the food, feeling her stomach grumble. 

"Hey, you," a male voice says. A boy with chocolate skin and a muscular build walks up to Sage.

"Chris," Sage says, turning around. "I missed you. You were gone for so long." She pouts.

He smiles cockily, brushing her hair back and leaning down to kiss her neck. "I know, baby. I'll try to stay out of iss for you."

She hums, resting her hand on his neck. Her red acrylic nails press against his skin. He presses his waist against her stomach. "Feel what you do to me?" he growls.

She laughs softly, gripping his shoulder. 

"Want to leave?" he murmurs.

"Mhmm." 

"Let's go."

They leave, hand-in-hand, Sage's giggles echoing in the hallway.

-

Owen catches himself looking for her. Her. His love. He enjoyed the attention Sage gave him, but she wasn't who he truly wanted. The lunch room is so loud, but he hears none of it. He's so focused on the thought of her, nothing else matters. Owen stands and leaves the cafeteria. He walks right out the school doors and to his car- a light blue 2010 Toyota Corolla. 

Owen knows where she lives. Most boys do. Bishop was known as a slut; a whore for money. She wasn't allowed to get a job, because of her dad. So when he wasn't around, she would have boys come over and pay her for... well. Sex. Blow jobs. Those type of... things. Kolby, a football player, convinced Owen to try it. Right away, Owen knew that she didn't really want to do it. He emptied his wallet to her and didn't want anything in return. Bishop had started crying. Owen held her.

"I want to take care of you," he had said.

She hadn't responded.

Owen lets out a deep breath and hurries to her house.

-

"I don't know. She's cute and all, but I don't think she's gay," Mallory says, picking up a french fry.  

Sarah looks at her, baffled. "I thought we agreed that she could be closeted."

"Yeah. Could be."

Connie shrugs and leans into Charlie's arms. 

"Ugh, why can't I have what you two have?" Sarah asks. She looks across the room at Derek and her chubby cheeks blush pink. Sarah was a bigger girl. She wraps her arms around herself self-consciously. "I don't think Derek would ever go for me."

"Even if he doesn't, you'll find someone," Mallory assures her.

"I found someone," Connie pipes up. Charlie nuzzles her neck in response.

"That's different," Sarah says quietly.

Mallory hugs her. "Well we love you, sugar bear!"

Sarah laughs it off, but really she wants to cry. Mallory didn't have the desire for a relationship and Connie was in one. They didn't get it. "I'm gonna dump my tray," Sarah says. She passes Derek on her way and he glances at her. But he didn't really see her. It was like he saw right through her. Sarah bit her lip and looked at her feet as she hurried to get back to the safety of her table.

-

Owen bangs on the door. "Bishop? Bishop! I know you're here."

Bishop cries silently, her white earbuds in her hands. They are coated in dried blood. "No," she says, but her voice cracks and she's barely able to speak from crying so hard.

"Bishop," Owen pleads.

Bishop crawls to the front door. Her house is dark, causing her bloody face to look monster-like. She unlocks it and it clicks. Owen swings the door open. He sees her on the floor and kneels next to her, wrapping his arm around her and shutting the door. 

"Oh, baby," he murmurs into her tangled hair. "It'll be okay. It's all going to be okay. I'm here. I'll always be here."

Bishop whimpers and buries her face in his chest. "It's everywhere," she whispers.

"The blood?"

She nods. 

"That's alright, we'll clean it up." Owen soothes her.

Bishop throws her arms around his neck. "I love you, Owen," she breathes and falls asleep in the most comfortable place she could be; his arms. 

Tears stream down Owen's face. "I love you, too."