Chapter 4

The lesson passed by in a blur, Mrs Wilson paused the movie. "Alright class, you may back away. For next period." She smiled looking around the class her eyes landing on Keira's. 

Our next lesson was study period, we had to meet up in the library that was joint to the computer room. I chose to sit in the library prefering to be on my own, Kiera made sure I was alright before she went nextdoor to use the computer, "I'll come back so we can walk to lunch." She smiled walking to the door. There were only a couple of other kids that chose to read over the computers. 

I browsed the bookshelf searching for a book to read, my step-father set fire to all my books in the wheel barrow when he first moved in with us. I picked a book up from the shelf, my father had bought me it before he died, I was surprised to see it in a school library. The Darkest Minds. I found my way over to a comfy seat in the corner of the room. Fishing out my glasses from my bag I made sure no one was looking before I put them on. "Hey." A boy interupted me three chapters in. "I'm Aaron." Peeking up from behind my book I saw a guy staring at me with a huge grin on his face. I had no idea how long he had been there for. 

"I'm Sky." I replied, continuing to read my book. 

I could feel his gaze burning into me, it was very off putting. I remembered this boy from my last class, I didn't feel comfortable being so close to him, but still he edged closer. He reached out to brush a strand of my hair behind my ear, but my reflexes were quick enough to catch his wrist. "Don't touch me." I warned, quietly shoving his hand back. He looked slightly offended. 

"Oh sweetie, I'm on the football team. I could have any girl I want." He hissed in anger, a look of pained rejection resting on his bitter face. 

"Sky." Keira's voice called out. It was lunch time thankfully and she was rescuing me. I placed my book back on the shelf. On our way to the lunch hall we were passing some of the younger years as they made their way back to class, my brother and Conner were in a small group of boys. 

My brother rushed over to me giving me a slight hug. "Sky." He smiled as he saw me, "Krystal's being causing trouble." He said looking concerned.

I shrugged it off, "You're alright though?" 

"Yeah, I'm good. This is Jake, his older brother is in your year. These are Ryan and Lucas." He said pointing to his frinds as they gave me and Keira a slight wave.

"Hi, Sky." Connor smiled before they all darted off to their lessons following the bell.

We found a seat in a booth towards the back of the hall and sat down with our trays. I just had a sandwich but Keira appeared to go all out with her food, spag bol with garlic bread and cake for dessert, a packet of crisps and an apple on the side. We spoke briefly inbetween bites, until someone dropped down in the seat beside Keira. "Hey guys. Mind if we sit?" A chirpy voice sang, Sophia. 

"Sure." Kiera smiled, looking at me. 

"Sorry about earlier." Sophia apologised, "Victoria is horrible." She smiled sympothetically.

"Krystal's worse trust me. It's no big deal." I shrugged taking a small bite out of my sandwich.

The boy I recognised as Zach sat next to me with his tray. This wouldn't be good if Kyle saw me in a group. I knew I wasn't allowed friends, one may have been okay but three, I was dead. As if my though conjured him, he appeared at our table. "Move." He all but growled at Zach, who sat there with an amused look on his face. I kept my head down avaoiding eye contact with everyone. 

"Move. Now." He repeated, Sophia glanced to the side as if looking for someone.

"Look... whoever you are, I'm eating, I'm not moving. And Sky doesn't want me to move, do you Sky?" He asked, I shook my head silently. I wanted to avoid Kyle for as long as I could. 

As if to goad him Zach stretched and put an arm over my shoulders causing me to wince slightly as it brushed a bruise. I was sure Kyle saw that. "You better watch yourself Zach Cairns." Kyle huffed and walked away, steam blowing out his ears. 

"So, little mouse... are you gonna tell us who that was?" Zach asked looking at me with concern in his eyes. 

"That was my step-brother." I answered, "And you just pissed him off." I stated.

"That's your brother?" Sophie raised her eyebrows in shock. I nod in response finishing the last bite of my sandwich. 

"Where's Ben?" Keira asked changing the conversation which I was thankful for, Zach removed his arm from my shoulder. 

"He's at practice, it's hard work being the captain of the football team." Zach snickered. 

"Then why aren't you there?" Keira smiled.

"I was hungry, figured missing one practice would be fine. I mean I am the best one on the team, I need to give them time to catch up..." He laughed. 

I smiled at the pair thinking they would be an adorable couple. Keira glanced at me through her thick eyelashes, as if she needed help to talk to him. I have her a shrug and she rolled her eyes, as if we were having a private conversation. "Subtle guys..." Sophie broke the silence and we all laughed. The bell rang signalling the end of lunch, Keira and I headed towards the gym for PE, just as we reached the door it was swung open and I felt a sharp pain as I walked into what felt like a wall, but was actually a guy. Ben.

Sparks spread through me as he put his hands on my arms to steady me. A small gasp escaped my lips as I look into his piercing blue eyes, it was as if time stood still and we were the only two people in the world, as fireworks exploded in my arms from his touch. Keira cleared her throat causing me to break away from his grip and glance at her.The voices of the students around us became known again as I muttered an apology to him as I tried to slip past into the gym. "So you're in Pe now too?" He asked with a smirk his eyes trained on me, I couldn't help the blush as my cheeks heated. It was as if I had lost my voice. 

"Move now." Krystals voice pierced the corridoor as she shoved me aside. She reached out her hand to him, "I'm Krystal." She smiled pushing her chest out slightly. I quickly rushed into the gym to find a seat, I expected Keira to be following me, but I was surprised when I saw him sit beside me.

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. He smiled softly, "Hey." He whispered as the rest of the class filled up the seats. Keira sat next to him on the other side. "I'm Ben." 

"I know who you are. Your friends sat with us at lunch." I shrugged. "I'm Skylar, but I go by Sky." I replied.

His smile spread to his eyes, as they appeared to sparkle. "I'm Bently but everyone calls me Ben." 

Krystal was sat a few rows doen from us, I looked making sure she couldn't hear us. "Sorry about my sister." I apologised. 

"What are you doing after school?" He asked. 

"I... Uh, I have to go shopping." I whispered, the gym doors opened and two teachers walked in, the room fell into complete silence. 

The teachers introduced themselves as Mr Wall and Mrs Sheera. They tld us the classes would be split in two and read out a list of names that would be in each of their classes, unfortunately I was in Krystal's and Victoria's class. I hoped it wouldn't be too bad since Sophia and Keira would be there too. "We're having a party on friday. I hope you'll be there?" He asked, his smile melting my heart. 

"She'll be there." Keira answered for me. 

I met Matt outside the main entrance, Connor was stood with him. "Can I uh walk with you guys?" He asked, "Kyle drove off without me." 

"Sure, but we have to stop off for groceries." I said ruffling his hair, he was slightly taller than me, they both were, I was only five foot three. 

"I'll help." He smiled at me in thanks. "I don't get why they hate on you so much, you've never been nasty to me." Connor said as we walked down the mainstreet into town. 

I shrugged, I didn't talk much when they were around. I didn't trust them to not take anything I said back to our step-father. "How was school, did you guys have a good day?" I asked looking from him to Matt.

"Yeah it was alright." They answered in usion. "But Krystal has been saying stuff about your dad and it got back to Matt." Connor continued, "I sided with Matt and Krystal lost it. I wouldn't blame you if you punched her again." I was tempted, but last time she provoked me into punching her, her dad and her brother took turns beating me until I blacked out. "I know you can take her." He smiled. 

Browsing through the supermarket, I took the opportunity to buy more stuff since there were three pairs of hands this time to help carry the bags home. By the time we were done we each had three bags, on our way home we walked past Mr Matthews, he was going out for dinner with his daughter but stopped to say hi to the tree of us and thanked us once again for our help this morning.