CHAPTER 2

I tugged on my short skirt as I walked into the hallway, ready for class and looking for Lucy.

I was too busy crying, I didn't text her back after last night.

Hopefully I don't get to hear her gushing about thier date or see hickeys he had given her all over her neck today.

“The ugly duckling arrives” I heard the voice of my usual bullies as I walked towards my locker, it was too late to turn back now.

I let my head drop so I would not look at their faces and be reminded of my nightmares.

“What is with that green blouse?It's so ugly my eyes are becoming sore” Tatiana, the annoying girlfriend of Spencer said about my blouse and he kissed her cheek before laughing.

They were surrounded by other boys and girls, littering the hallway before class.

“Give me my twenty bucks Jerry, I told you her hair would still be tangled today. You didn’t expect her to change overnight did you?” Imani said to one of the boys and the rest laughed before he dug out his wallet and placed the dollar note in her hand.

I was surprised Caine was not with them today, he was usually their leader who led without speaking a word.

He was a wicked bully who moved silently, you never knew his next move.

"Guys she's wearing a mini skirt today" Jojo announced and I groaned inwardly.

Sadly enough for me, they sat directly opposite my locker today so I had no choice than to be near them and hear these awful things about myself.

"Ohhhhhh" they all cooed in unison before bursting out laughing.

"The audacity" Tatiana said snickering.

"I guess it was because Lucy wore one yesterday, I loved that skirt she wore. Did you see it?"

"I did, is that what she's trying to copy? She failed woefully with a straight F" 

"What does Lucy even see in her anyways, she's too much of a hot baddie to be hanging out with shrek here"

"That's mean" Jerry said and they all started laughing 

"Shut up Jerry, don't make it look like we're doing something wrong here and have the teacher on us" Jojo said shutting him up.

The books I gathered from my locker fell from my hand and some of the boys snorted before chuckling.

"Isn't that Lucy's book? No wonder she hangs around with her" 

"I mean if I get a useless, human deformed werewolf to do all my dirty business, I would keep them on a leash at all times. I envy Lucy" 

That was not true, Lucy really liked me to be her friend and that was why we're friend.

“More like half baked” Spencer said and the group laughed loudly again.

“Medium rare” someone chipped in and the group laughed again.

“Shut up Spencer before I tell on how you wanted to beat your meat to Miss Abby’s picture during break in your car” Lucy said out of nowhere and my heart leaped with joy.

"Ewww, you did that?" Tatiana, his girlfriend pushed his hand away from her shoulder, suddenly the whole group turned on him.

The school bell rang signaling the beginning of school lessons and Lucy used her foot to push one of the books on the ground to me before walking away.

“Come on Jaz” she said and I hurriedly gathered all the books, closed my locker and ran after her.

“Thank you” I said to her as I finally caught up with her.

"Did you do my assignment?" She asked as she went through her phone.

"Yes" I nodded handing her her books but she was already inside the class so I hurried behind her to get a seat.

We both sat down and she slammed her phone down before turning to me angrily.

"Why didn't you reply my text?" She asked me coldly and I started to stutter while my mind ran wild with lies to give her.

It came up with none.

"You know what, never mind. I got you something" she said and started digging into her bag.

I started to feel guilty, I was hating on my friend for being with the boy I liked, that was awful of me.

As I bit my lip wondering how to apologize, a figure sat in the empty seat next to me.

Caine Creek.

God, my heart started to flutter and I could feel my blood drum in my ears.

I could not control myself as I could not control my mouth.

“Hi” I said to him but Caine ignored me, he didn't even spare me a glance.

I was about to try my luck again before Lucy spoke up. "It's a Swarovski bracelet.... Caine baby, how are you?" Lucy's speech towards me forgotten as soon as she sighted Caine.

She tossed the bracelet on my desk carelessly.

"Hi" Caine simply said to her before looking away.

God, his voice was hoarse with a low rumble.

It stirred something within me.

“Jaz move. I need to sit next to Caine” Lucy nudged me in my rib harshly.

“Okay” I sighed before gathering my stuff.

But Miss Abby choose that exact moment to come into the class.

“Sit your ass down Campbell, quiet down class” she yelled at me and I quietly sat back down in my seat.

But when I turned to look at Lucy, she was seething with rage, her face red and a vein throbbing in the middle of her forehead like it always did whenever she was furious.

I could not do anything about it so I looked away, but I caught Caine searching for something in the corner of my eye.

“Do you need my pen?” I asked him as I noticed what he was looking for.

He stared at me and the pen in my hand. 

"I have an extra one" I reassured him but my heart was beating wildly.

His hand stretched and he quickly collected the pen from my hand without a word.

A happy smile danced on my lips as I searched for the other pen in my bag.

It felt like I was breathing the same air he let out during the lesson.

But that smile did not last for long, because Lucy accosted me after class.

After most of the people have left the class, she slammed her fist in my desk, startling me and making me jerk in fear.

"You just had to be a bitch, didn't you?" Lucy said to me in a deathly steely tone.

"What?"

"I see what you're doing, you're trying to steal Caine from me" Lucy accused and I started to shake my head.

"No Luce, why would I..."

"Shut your ugly mouth you stupid ogre. You already told me you liked him" she was seething, while fixing her hair.

"I swear, that's not it"

"You know, I tried to be a good friend to the most ugliest girl in school. I protected you and sheltered you from your bullies and you decide to be a whore and take my boyfriend away From me"

Boyfriend? My mouth dropped open.

"That's right, Caine asked me out and you better start getting comfortable with that. But from now on, stay away from him"

"Luce"

"And I'll let Spencer and the rest explain how much of a jump scare you are and how ugly you look to you next time. And I will let them eat you to your bones" she finished, stood up and left the class without another word.

I hated myself.