Everything Has Changed

Can't Back Down

-TODAY-

I walk into the cafeteria alone, scanning the room for the slightest hint of Zach. I walk to get into the line for food and decide to look for him after I’ve gotten my food. It takes me ten minutes to get through the line. I pick up my search for Zach, my stomach jumping when I see him smile and wave me over. I walk over, tray in hand to the nearly full table. A group of girls sitting with Zach stare up at me as I get there and take my seat next to Zach which he saved.

“Guys, this is Ashleigh. She’s just moved here from Camden in New South Wales. Be nice.” As he says ‘Be nice’ staring directly at the blonde haired girl who didn’t look too happy to see me, my stomach turns. I don’t want any trouble.

“It’s nice to meet you guys.” The others turn their heads except one guy who just stared at me. He sticks his hand out from across the table and I shake it.

“The name’s Jackson Mackay. Welcome to Heights.” I smile and take a bite out of my apple. He is kinda creeping me out.  Zach notices my facial expression and leans over to me.

“Jackson has social issues. He goes to a psychologist because he was severely bullied, like you. He’s a real sweetheart actually.” I look at Zach and smile. I wish I had met someone like him sooner. It would’ve really helped, but I guess I had Jayden, Trent and Will on my side. Wonder what they’re doing now.

-TRENT P.O.V-

Should I call her? I really want to call her. I haven’t seen her in a year. She meant the world to me in that year and I haven’t been able to forget about her and what she would be doing right now. She moved because of my friends. Because of the people I hung out with. And I didn’t try to stop it. I didn’t try to make it change. I just let it happen because I didn’t want to get hurt. Now she’s gone. I have no friends and she’s probably got a better life.  Ashleigh and I were like twins. We knew each other so well for that year we knew each other. I wanted to ask her out and I tried but I failed miserably multiple times. I hate not having her back with me. I hate the fact that I could’ve done something to stop the bullies. I hate knowing that she’s not coming back.

“Trent; honey, school.” Mum knocks on my door and I break out of my trance and throw the picture of Ash and I in the open drawer of my bedside table. I’m already ready for school but don’t want to go anymore. I remember my fourteenth birthday party when she grabbed a guitar and sung ‘Hummingbird Heartbeat’ by Katy Perry for me. In that moment, I felt a true connection. I felt a love for her that I hadn’t exactly felt before. It was different. Like I wanted to be her boyfriend. I’d only ever had enough courage to ask one girl out ever, and that was Liz. After Ash finished, she ran off the stage and hug me so tight. She whispered Happy Birthday and told me that that was her present from her and asked whether it was okay. I told her it was and she hugged me tighter. I could see Liz watching us from the other side of the room and she looked really annoyed. I remember Ash kissing me on the cheek and my face going red. Her laugh was the sweetest thing I had ever heard, making me blush even more. The night continued on with not many people talking to me but my eyes always searching for Ash. No matter where I was, I managed to find her. She always stood out. It was either my feelings taking control or her big blue eyes. It’s easy to get lost in them. It’s been two years since that party and nothing’s changed. I still get lost in her blue eyes. I am lost and the only way I would be able to be found is if she came back to me. If she was the one who saved me.

-ASHLEIGH P.O.V-

“You ready for your first P.E class at Heights?” Zach nudges me as I get up to take my tray back to the lunch lady. I stumble a little and he grabs my arm, bringing me back to equal balance.

“Yep. Bring it on.” I hand her my tray and walk out with Zach and Jackson.

“Well, you better watch it. We’re doing cross country and Zach is the current reigning champion.” Jackson says with a smile. He’s so proud of his friend and you can tell he just wants friends. Zach’s face turns red as we round the corner to the door to the girls locker room.

“I wouldn’t say that. I’m just good at it.” He runs his hand through his hair and smiles sheepishly. I laugh at him. He doesn’t know what I can do yet and I think he would be surprised. I wasn’t that good at cross country when I was just starting high school but as I’ve gotten older, running just took me away. I would put my earphones in and just run. Not caring where I was going or where I would end up. I hit Zach’s arm, playfully and smile at him.

“You haven’t seen me run yet.” I push open the locker room door to find the three cheerleaders who were sitting with us at lunch standing in the middle of the room, waiting. I smile and try to push my way past them. “Beca, Jaime, Ellie, hi, can I get through please?” Beca lifts me up and bashes me into a locker, the sound of crashing metal ringing in my ears. She lets go and I fall to the floor where she commands me to stand up again. I stagger up and Ellie slaps me so hard that blood gushes out of my nose upon impact. I wipe it away with my sleeve and walk away. Rule 1: Don’t fight back physically. Beca runs up behind me and tackles me to the ground, pinning my arms down. Rule 2: Think before you speak.

“If you EVER go near Zach again and look at him the way you looked at him at lunch; I will personally throw your worthless body halfway to hell. You don’t deserve him.” She gets up as I kick her off me. I look directly in her eyes.

“Last time I checked, he didn’t have a girlfriend and he doesn’t seem like the type of guy to go out with someone like you.” She draws back her fist but I catch it in my hand. Rule 3: Take self-defence classes. Beca looks pissed at my comment and spits in my face. 

“You better watch yourself Ashleigh because if you try and make a move on him. Well, let’s just say you won’t live to see graduation.” She kicks the backs of my knees on her way out, causing me to fall. I hear her bitch posse laugh as they follow her out. This won’t break me. This isn’t the first time. I stagger up again and wipe the blood from my nose to stop it flowing into my mouth and onto my white shirt. Attempt failed. I stick a tissue in my nose, wipe down my face and change into my sports clothes, walking out looking like someone who has just had surgery, with my bloody nose, black eye and messy hair that I quickly tied up into a messy bun on the top of my head. I jog out to the sports oval and find Zach waving me down. The teacher yells out “3 K RUN GO!” and I sprint ahead in front of everyone else to stay the furthest away from Zach. I don’t want any confrontation from Beca or Zach so I guess my perfect friendship, or what I thought was perfect, was destroyed.

“ASHLEIGH!! ASHLEIGH!! WAIT UP!” I start to run even faster than I was to get away from Zach and to not get hurt again. I hear Beca’s annoying high pitched laugh coming up behind me and I sprint to get away from them. “ASHLEIGH!” Zach slowly but surely catches up to me and grabs onto my arms forcing me to stop.

“Zach, leave me alone.” I try to pull myself out of his reach and get back into the race but he seems determined to keep me where I am.

“Why are you ignoring me? Beca said something, didn’t she?” I nod and he smiles at me. “Don’t worry about her. She’s just annoying.” I manage to wrangle my arm away from him and start running. “ASHLEIGH WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” He catches up to me and I just continue looking straight ahead; my eyes not leaving the approaching group of other runners.

“I don’t want to risk moving again.” I mutter and he looks directly at me while running.

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t want to be bullied again and if I hang out with you, Beca’s gonna make my life a living hell. She said so. Apparently you’re hers.”

“She’s a liar. I’m nobody’s. No matter what she says.”