Love That's Sweet

Chapter One

Lucas POV

And so it Begins

Smoking was a dirty habit. I was well aware of that, but I still did it anyway. The back of the school probably wasn't the best place to do it either, but it wasn't like anyone would stop me. None of the teachers had caught me yet, only the janitor had, but he hadn't seemed to care. Probably because he wasn't paid enough to.

Ugh. Sometimes I just needed a break, some time to myself to just forget about my stupid troubles, but no matter what I did, trouble always ended up finding me one way or another.

Before I knew it, I heard a loud mess of cheering and yelling coming from the cafeteria. The commotion inside only grew louder with time, wearing on my patience. Because it was lunchtime, the noise hadn't seemed that out of place to begin with, but there was only one thing that got people this excited, and I wasn't interested in getting myself involved in it at all.

Not long after things sounded like they had gotten out of control, some kid came running out the back, interrupting me in the middle of my smoke.

Now what? I wondered, as he froze up the second he noticed me.

His face seemed unfamiliar, but I didn't make much of it. His longish, blonde hair was well groomed, his clothes were all clean cut, his skin was pale, and the rest of him was scrawny and thin. By his reaction to my cigarette, I suspected him of being nothing more than just another innocent high school student.

Probably a new kid.

"Oh, I'm sorry..." He apologized, staring at the ground, unable to even look in my direction. "I'll, uh, just go now."

"Wait." I called out, tossing what was left of the cigarette to the side. "What's going on in there? Another fight?"

"Oh, uh... I think so," he hesitated, then looked at me. "And you are?"

"Lucas," I replied, stepping past him as I headed inside.

There really was no doubt about it. Not only that, it was also obvious who had started it too. I guess I couldn't blame the new kid for not knowing, but he'd catch on soon enough.

"So did Eric beat the crap out of him already, or is he still just messing with the poor sap?"

"What?" He seemed surprised I was still talking to him, even as we both made our way towards the crowd gathered around the cafeteria entrance. "Oh, sorry, I'm new. Who's Eric?"

"Eric Warner. Tall. Black hair. Tough guy. Kind of hot. Short tempered..."

Eric was the school bully, in a sense. Walking around, threatening and beating up anybody who crossed his path, or happened to catch him in a bad mood, he had quickly established himself as the toughest guy in school. This was his first year at this high school, and everything had changed when he showed up. Because he was a complete psychopath, none of the students dared to stand up to him. Because he came from money, none of the teachers or staff did anything about him either.

Rumor had it that he had gotten kicked out of all the private schools his parents had sent him to, and even though he still caused a lot of trouble here, it was easier for them to cover up his actions. This gave him the power to do whatever he wanted, basically.

Spoiled brat.

"Figures." As I got closer, I was able to spot Eric right away, though I couldn't see his latest victim.

"Does this happen a lot?" The new kid asked me, scurrying to my side, seeking cover.

"Much too often."

I'd seen enough, and began making my way down the other end of the hall, back towards the Art room.

"Aren't you... you're not going to watch?" The new kid asked me.

"Are you really going to keep watching?"

I had only planned on taking a quick break anyway, then head back to the art studio to get some work done. Now that my break had been interrupted, it seemed like the perfect time. It wasn't like I had anything better to do.

"...whatcha gonna do about it?" I could hear Eric's loud mouth shout, even from all the way at the end of the hall.

"Please stop! I'm sorry..." I heard his victim cry out.

That's when I suddenly rushed back, recognizing the second voice in the fight. Pushing people out of my way, I managed to get a better view of everything, only to find Vince caught up in the middle of the whole mess.

Vince, you idiot!