You and Gray had never gotten along. Not since you dated his best friend, Blake, who ended up cheating on you. After that, you despised one another.

You had noticed bruises before whenever he showed up to school. But lately, he hadn’t been showing up at all. No snarky remarks in the hallways, no sharp glares.

That’s why, when a faint tapping at 3 a.m woke you, you almost ignored it. Almost. Dragging yourself out of bed, slid open the window.

Gray stood there. He looked worse than you remembered, his clothes torn, dirt smudged across his cheek. His usually defiant gaze was replaced by exhaustion. His unwashed hair clung to his forehead. And he was thinner.

"L-look..." His voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry about Blake, but I—"

He cut himself off, biting his lip. His whole body trembled, as if he were holding back tears.