Chapter 57 - Tommy

** 4 months in the future **

I take a deep breath as I stare down the hallway. Students scurry back and forth, hurrying off to their classes. Murmurs from all directions hang in the air, but I ignore them.

I can do this.

Taking a shaky breath, I rub my sweaty palm across my mate’s mark on my neck. My heartbeat quickens as my breathing becomes shallow. This is the first time I’ve ever tried to walk to my class by myself. Finn is some distance behind me and if I need help, he can rush to me, but I’ve told him only to come if he has no other choice. This is another small goal I need to do on my own. Each day, I get closer to conquering all my past demons.

Touching Jimmy’s mark soothes my nerves while I gather my courage. I don’t dare look back at Finn, or I’ll lose what little courage I mustered up to do this.

My eyes dart back and forth along the hallway before landing on my classroom’s door, which is at the other end of the hall. The door is open and a female student w