Broken || h.s. AU (Special Edition)

Chapter 3 - Motives

*trigger warning: anger management, bullying*
If you come across a trigger that wasn't prewarned, let me know so I can fix it. Stay safe.
Chapter 3 - Motives

Julia's P.O.V.

I stare after his retreating figure as his arms swing stiffly in irritation. But after he's disappeared from the lunch room, I've suddenly lost my appetite. So I slide the pink foam tray down the table and into the trash can, sitting there silently until they dismiss us to go back to class.

The rest of the day drags on uneventfully. Whenever I see Harry in the hall, the only thing that happens is he glares at me cautiously as if he's the one expecting for me to yell at him.

As I'm sitting in Biology, I'm staring off into space, drawing aimless swirls along the edge of my paper. I'd already taken this class in my old school so I couldn't care enough to pay attention to the slideshow. The only thing on my mind is a certain curly-haired, tattoo covered, icy-eyed boy.

He could accept and understand when I snapped back at him, but he's lost the instant I treat him fairly. Is he really so adapted to unkind treatment that a polite gesture is suddenly a hostile ploy? It would definitely explain at least a portion of it.

The bell rings and I gather my books together and hug them to my chest, quickly walking out of the class.

As soon as I step out of the room, I barely take my first step when my shoulder is rammed, nearly knocking me down. I grunt, looking around at the flow of traffic.

Everyone is rushing in the same direction, all cheering. I frown in confusion as I follow the current of moving people. A sharp gasp escapes me as I see what all the commotion was about.

Harry.

He has a boy up against the wall by his throat, punching him in the gut.

"Harry!" I shout, shoving through the crowd. I make my way through, shoving my books and supplies into the arms of the first person I see before I run to him. "Harry, stop!" I plead desperately, grabbing his arm and pulling on it.

He looks back at me and grunts, snapping angrily "Diana, leave me alone!"

I huff, pulling on his arm more frantically. He ignores me, slamming his fist into the gut of the boy again.

The boy coughs, barely catching my gaze for a brief moment. I can see the desperate plea in his eyes in the short second before he screws his grey eyes shut again as another blow is landed.

I groan, quickly shoving myself between the boy and Harry, breaking Harry's grip on the boy. The boy's knees buckle, falling to the ground.

Harry steps closer to me, shaking all over furiously. "Diana! What part of 'leave me alone' don't you understand?!" He demands, catching my wrist. I wince, pulling hard on his grip, to which he only tightens.

"Are you stupid?!" He yells. I grunt with effort, ripping my wrist free from his death grip.

"Apparently I am to think that there was a possibility of you having a brain!"

Harry freezes in disbelief and the whole crowd surrounding us roars in response. The boy is still kneeling behind me, trying to catch his breath. Harry continues to stand there in silence as the ring of students continue to jeer, some encouraging me and others yelling mocking comments at Harry.

But not one person is on his side.

I can see humiliation in his green, dangerous eyes that are locked on mine and daring me to say something more. But I have to swallow back the urge to glare him down. Instead, I turn my back to him, turning to the freshman behind me. I kneel by him, ignoring the shouts of protests at my abandoning the fight.