I unlocked it with sharp stabbing pain blazing across my body. Leaving was my only choice. I’d put this off as long as I could, but I wasn’t coming back to another second of this.

Rushing around my room, I grabbed my bag, fire radiating through my side with each move, and filled it up with clothes. My sketch books went in next.

A groan and groggy sound came from downstairs.

I shoved my hand into my cash stash in the ceiling vent above my bed, biting out a curse at the long reach, which felt like someone had taken a fire poker to my side. The money, some paper, and some clothes were all I was taking with me. I gave a final glance around the room—the only thing I’d miss was the view.

My feet hit the stairs, sounding like a stampede of animals had broken free from the zoo, but it was only me. The spot on the floor where he’d been was empty. I tightened my hold on the bag. The only things that mattered to me were in there.

Bottles and glass clinked in the kitchen, but I didn’t care. He could keep his ass in there, I was gone.

The slam of the door behind me felt like the slam of a vault, never to be opened again. Outside, I looked around, trying to orient myself. My car sat in the driveway. I shoved my hands into my pocket and pulled out the keys, throwing my stuff in and reversing out of the driveway, bottoming out at the end of the steep slope.

My back ached. My side screamed. And my head was fuzzy.

I needed Bay.

I needed to lay my head in her lap as she stroked my hair and kissed my lips, telling me it would be all better. If she said those words, I’d believe her. Glancing at myself in the rearview mirror, I saw my blood-stained teeth and a bloody nose. Droplets trailed down my shirt.

I wasn’t going to bring this to her doorstep. I wasn’t going to show up bruised and beaten.

There was only one other place I knew. I sent a message.

“Fuck, man. Please let me call someone.” Knox rushed forward the second I got out of the car.

I shook my head. “It’s done. I’m not going back. We graduate in two weeks. I’ll sleep in my car if I need to.”

“Don’t be an idiot. Of course you can stay here. It’s not like I haven’t offered that before.” He seethed. Knowing my friend was so pissed on my behalf helped a little. At least there were a few people out there who cared about me.

I took a step, hissing and clutching my side.

“Let’s get you inside.” Knox grabbed my bag and walked me around to the basement steps. “Do we need to go to the hospital?”

“No. I have to play at the Bedlam Bowl tomorrow.”

“You can’t play like this.”