"What do you want, Cassandra? I don't have time to deal with you right now," I tell her as I recover from her slap.

She glares at me darkly and threatens, "You move, and I promise you'll regret it. You don't have little Miss Nerd here to save you, so I'm going to take advantage of that."

All of a sudden, she pushes me backwards, slamming my back against a tree. "What is wrong with you?" I ask, ignoring the pain I feel in my back.

She laughs, and it comes out as an evil sounding laugh. "I'm tired of you acting like you belong. You're a little tramp who is nothing more than a criminal. Stop trying to be someone you're not."

I roll my eyes and stand upright, pushing her slightly away from me. "What's gotten into you?"

She grits her teeth and pushes me back into the tree, making me feel pain in my back again. "Stop talking to me like you have the right. I'm tired of you trying to act like you're this strong person when I know that you're just covering up all your emotions."

I stand upright again and begin to walk away. "I'm not wasting my time on you, Cassandra Beckham. Say and think whatever you want, but you'll never be right about me."

I feel a push on my back, and I fall on my face as Cassandra growls, "Shut up, idiot. You're nothing but a worthless tramp. Show a little respect for the person that can make your life an even worse one. Don't mess with me."

I spit the dirt out of my mouth and stand up, meeting her eyes. "Threaten me all you want. I'm not the one at fault."

"Ugh!" she shouts and then pushes me again with all her strength. "I hate you, Maya Walker. You're worthless and will never amount to anything. I don't know what Nick Caldwell sees in you."

"Are you serious? This whole thing is about Nick?" I demand as I stand, ignoring the new pain I'm beginning to feel from being pushed down.

Before I know what's happening, I feel a sting on my cheek, and I realize that she slapped me again. "How does this make you feel? Helpless?" she taunts as she pushes me back down.

Suddenly, I find myself having to bite back tears as memories of my childhood flood back. "What is wrong with you, Cassandra? What have I ever done to you?"

"You're family ruined my life. You have ruined it! You walk around like you're the victim when I'm the victim! I'm sick of you acting like you've done nothing wrong, and I'm sick of you pretending that you don't know what I'm talking about!" she yells.

I begin to try to stand back up, but she pushes me back down and kicks my side. I let out a groan and say, "I have no idea what you're talking about, so why don't you stop this?"

I feel another kick. "Is little miss criminal begging for me to stop?"

Another kick comes, and I try to reply, but I hear a voice yell, "She's not, but I am. Stop!"

I hear Cassandra's feet shuffle away from me, and I sit up slightly to see who it is. It's Alli, and it looks like flames are coming out of her head. She walks up to Cassandra and glares hard at her.

"Why stoop even lower, Cassandra Beckham? Beating her up isn't going to make you feel better. I know all about people like you, and I suggest you stop. Get out of here and don't lay a hand on my friend again," Alli commands forcefully.

Cassandra glares back at her but runs off after saying, "Just you wait, both of you. I'll get you back."

As as soon as she's gone, Alli comes over to me and helps me up to my feet. "Did she hurt you very badly?" she asks with concern.

I shake my head. "Just a little bit of pain in my back and side. I'll be fine."

Alli nods her head. "If you say so. Do you want me to help you home?"

I shake my head. "My home isn't here."

She looks at me with confusion. "What do you mean? If you're home isn't down here, then why were you walking down this path?"

I almost laugh at her confusion, but I steadily reply, "My uncle's house is here, and I live there. That doesn't mean..."

She nods as though she understands and finishes for me, "It's your home. I get it. Now, do you want me to help you to your uncle's house?"

I pause and then let go of my pride by saying, "If you can."

"Anything. Now, let's get you to the house," she replies cheerfully as she begins to walk beside me.

I feel pain in my side as I take slower steps. It's not completely umbearable, but I've never realized how strong Cassandra actually is. My back is also beginning to feel a little more sore.

I glance over at Alli as we walk, and I realize how understanding she is. She didn't question why I consider my uncle's house not my home, and she didn't question me further on the pain. She's not speaking as we walk. She seems to get that I'm not someone who talks after something like this happens, so I feel grateful about that. Maybe, she's not as bad as I thought.

We get nearer to the house, and I lead her to the back door where the entrance is to the second kitchen. I begin to walk up the steps to the house and soon realize that Alli isn't following me. Instead, she is standing behind me at the bottom of the last step.

I turn around to face her. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow," I pause and then softly add, "Thank you."

She smiles at me. "I'll see you tomorrow, Maya."

She begins to walk away, but I suddenly find myself calling out to her, "Wait!"

She stops, and asks as I run back down the steps toward her, "Yes?"

"Do you have a few minutes to spare?" I ask her without any of my usual hesitance.

"Sure," she replies cheerfully.

After she says that, I hurry inside the house and set my backpack down. I even call out to Emma and tell her that I am going to the beach. I hurry back outside and lead Alli down to the private beach.

I sit down on the sand, and Alli sits down beside me. We sit in the sand quietly, neither of us really knowing what to say. This is new for me. Not once since I've moved here have I ever sat down with a girl and tried to talk with her. Not once has any girl tried to get to know me.

"So," Alli begins, interrupting my thoughts, "has Cassandra ever done something like that to you or anyone else?"

I shake my head. "No. That was different. I've never seen her like that before. I don't know what set her off."

"I'm sorry I didn't get there sooner to help. I only knew something was up because I heard someone yelling as I was walking in the direction of my house," she replies.

"It's fine. There's no way you could've known. But, I do have one question for you," I say.

"Ask away."

I turn to where I'm almost square to her and slowly ask, "What did you mean when you said that you know about people like her?"

She takes a deep breath and then smiles at me. "You're not the only one who has faced a bully like Cassandra."

I pause as I realize that I might have been wrong about Alli. "You were bullied?" I ask straightforwardly.

She nods. "Pretty badly. It happened at the place I lived before I moved here. That's part of the reason I moved here."

"So, you told your parents?" I ask.

She gives me a sad smile. "My dad only found out a couple of months ago. My mom had died a few months before he realized what was going on at school."

"She died," I state, but it comes out more like a question.

She nods and stares at the ocean. "It's been hard for us, but we've slowly been getting through it together."

I don't say anything in response, so we just sit in a comforting silence. How can I tell her how sorry I am that her mom died? How can I say that I misjudged her? How I can I tell her that my situation is similar to hers? How can I ask her all the questions that are swarming around in my head?

I can't, so I guess that's why I find myself asking her just one question, "Does it ever make you worried that you're able to be so open with people?"

She looks back at me and gives me a smile. "I'm not usually open with anyone because I'm not used to being able to talk to someone besides my dad. You're different, though. For some reason, I feel drawn to you. I guess that's why I want us to be friends and why I told you what I've experienced recently. I feel like we're sort of similar."

I sigh and whisper, "More than you realize."

"Have you ever thought about telling someone about what you've gone through?" she asks, letting me know that she heard my whispered statement.

I let out a slight laugh and reply, "I don't really think I want to go back to a shrink again."

She laughs. "It isn't that bad. I've been going to one since I moved here."

I laugh again. "Must not be the one I had to go to a few years ago."

"Maybe not, but Maya, an expert can help you out a lot. I know I've been learning a lot," she replies.

I sigh. "Not for me."

"Okay, just don't let yourself bottle up your feelings for too long. You're going to blow one day, and it won't be pretty," she tells me.

I just nod. We sit for another few minutes before she stands up and tells me she has to go. I nod again as I stand up and even smile at her. She smiles back and then walks away in the direction of the path leading back to town. I wave goodbye to her, even though she can't see me wave. I sit back down in the sand and stare at the ocean.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. The constant sound of the tide coming in and going out again gives me a feeling of serenity after everything that has happened in the last few days. The flashbacks and dreams have made me jumpier, and Cassandra's "attack" doesn't really help me with that part of my life. Now, I even find myself beginning to let go of some of my barriers. It's wearing me out.

"Maya?" I turn around at the sound of someone saying my name and see Nick behind me.

"Yes?" I ask as I turn back around and wait for him to come over to me and sit down.

He does just that and says, "Principal Beck said that I can move forward with my idea."

I sigh and reply, "That's awesome!"

"Maya, are you okay?" he asks me with concern.

"Just tired, like usual. It's no big deal," I tell him.

I look over and see him nodding his head. "What're you doing out here? Aren't you usually eating dinner right about now?" he asks, changing the subject.

I sigh again. "I just needed to have some time to think to myself. Don't worry, I told Emma where I was this time."

He laughs. "If there's anyone I'm going to worry about, it isn't you. I think you can handle yourself in just about any situation."

I sigh and stand up, wincing at the pain I feel in my side and back as I stand up. "If only you knew," I mutter, making sure he can't hear me.

He stands up and stands in front of me. "Are you okay? You look like you're hurt."

I look up at him and give him the best smile I can and reply, "Just fine. I'm just a little sore."

He raises an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"

I nod and begin to walk in the direction of the house. "I've got to get to dinner. I'll see you later," I say.

He continues to walk beside me and replies, "Do you think Emma would mind if I joined y'all for dinner?"

I stop and look at him with an 'are you serious' look. "I'm pretty sure she loves you, so I think she'll be excited to see you."

He gives me a mischievous look and in mock seriousness, says, "I think she's a bit old for me. Should I be worried?"

I roll my eyes and whack him with my hand. He lets out a deep laugh that warms me, and I suddenly find myself laughing along with him. We walk up to the deck and into the house, still laughing. It's only when my uncle walks into the room that we stop.

"What's going on here?" he asks.

Since I'm in a good mood, I just reply in a normal tone, "Nothing. Inside joke."

That makes Nick laugh again for some strange reason, paving the way for me to start laughing again as well. My uncle looks back and forth at us in confusion. Soon, Emma walks into the room and also stares at us laughing our heads off for no apparent reason. We laugh even harder when we see her.

When we finally manage to calm down, Emma asks, "So, you two need to tell me something? I've never seen or heard Maya laugh, so I'm intrigued to know what has her so tickled. Care to explain, Nick?"

Nick chokes back another laugh and unsteadily replies, "Just an inside joke. Now, do you mind setting an extra place at the table?"

"I'd love to have you join us! Let me go set that place. Oh, Sam, why don't you follow me," Emma says excitedly as she leads my uncle out of the room.

I look over at Nick, and he smiles. I find myself smiling back. Maybe dinner won't be so bad this time.