I was walking to my locker when I saw her fall to the ground, her stupid boyfriend looming over her and yelling at her. No one else saw it. Anger surged through my body. She was my best friend. I couldn’t let this happen to her. Her boyfriend walked off, leaving her there on the ground. I grabbed my book and walked over to her quickly. She had just started to get up.

            “Spencer,” I said picking up one of her books and handing it to her, “are you ok?”

            “I’m fine,” she said forcing a smile. I could see the tears behind her eyes.

            I reached out and rubbed her arm. “We should hang out tonight,” I said. “It’s a Friday. Let’s go out.”

            “Sure,” she said with a genuine smile. “But I have to check with Josh first.”

            “Spence, do you really have to check with him?” I asked. She looked down at the ground. “Just tell your muscle head boyfriend that you are going out with your best friend tonight and he’ll just have to get over it.”

            “I can’t do that and you know it,” she said.

            “Why not?” I asked, a little annoyed at this point.

            “He’s my boyfriend, Ash,” she said returning the annoyed voice.

            “Fine,” I said. “Just gimme a call later. I gotta get back to class.”

            “Ok,” she said.

            I turned on my heels and walked to class. I couldn’t believe her. She had to ask her stupid boyfriend for permission to go out. After class I met up with Aiden for lunch. He could tell something was wrong.

            “What’s up with you?” he asked as we sat down at our usual table. “You’re acting weird.”

            “I told Spencer that her and I should go out tonight and she decided she has to ask Josh if she can,” I said in annoyance.

            “And?” he said.

            “I’m gonna kill him,” I said matter-of-factly as I took a sip of water.

            “What?” Aiden asked. “Why?”

            “I saw him knock Spencer down,” I said. “He was standing over her, yelling at her. I’ve seen bruises before but she always writes it off as something else.”