He’s Not So Bad After All

VERA’S CHEEKS WERE still burning as she stormed out of the canteen.

‘I can’t believe Vince said that,' she thought, her mind racing. 'Genesis? My crush? No way!’

She shook her head, trying to push away the idea. Sure, she admired Genesis, but it wasn’t a crush. Or was it? Her face turned even redder at the thought, and she groaned in frustration.

It’s not true, she told herself.

‘I don’t like him like that. He’s just… he’s just cool, that’s all.’

But the more she tried to convince herself, the more confused she felt.

‘Why does Vince have to tease me like that?’

As she hurried out of the canteen, trying to escape her brother’s teasing, something caught her attention. A group of boys stood near the entrance, crowding around a smaller girl. The girl looked terrified, clutching her lunch tray as one of the boys tried to snatch it from her.

“Come on, just give it to us!” one of the boys jeered, shoving the girl lightly.

Tears welled up in her eyes, and she held onto her tray tighter, r