Dear Society...

Chapter 3

When I first saw her, it never crossed my mind that anything would ever happen between us.

I was walking, alone, as per usual, across the messy battleground of the school canteen. Carrying a half full lunch tray and trying my hardest to blend in and not be noticed. Which isn't the easiest job mind, being the most popular unpopular kid to bully in the whole grade. I had my headphones in and face tilted down, fringe covering my eyes and as it turned out, pretty much my entire vision. Too bad I only noticed after I walked straight into the sweaty grey t shirt of my favourite blonde jock.
The entire contents of my lunch spilled across the floor, although the red saucy mess of the pasta managed to climb it's way into the waistband of his jeans, and turn that yellow mop of hair a satisfying shade of orange.

Oh boy, here we go.

Before I could even open my mouth to say a word I was lifted up off the floor and pinned against the wall by two strong hands. Glittering green eyes full of fury bore into my face, carving out my painful and most certainly embarrassing future in one, long glare.
"What the hell do you think your playing at? Huh? I really liked this t shirt fag boy, and so, I'm pretty sure it's fair if I ruin yours"
With one swift movement I was flung from the wall and into a nearby table, crashing into the metal legs with an echoing crunch. Red hot ache began to spread across my shoulders and the side of my head, along with a dripping warm liquid in a matching shade. I braced myself for the next impact, but it never came. Instead, a voice rang out among the laughter.

"Aw Jace, found another kid to take out your feelings on?"

Looking up slowly I saw a girl. Not stunningly pretty, or model thin. It wasn't that clichèd love at first sight moment in so many high school movies these days. She wasn't ugly or anything, don't get me wrong. Just normal. Well, aside from the black stud snakebites and the kind of light ginger hair that everyone is forever fighting over (Is it actually strawberry blonde?). Sat around a table with a couple of giggling spectators she glared with an amused sarcasm at my messy and somewhat annoyed assaulter. The bluey-grey irises sparkled in the bright cafeteria lighting as she stood up and walked over with an air of defiance to stand directly in front of him. Which looked pretty ridiculous, seeing as the boy was around 6 feet tall and she in fact, was so short she only just about reached mid chest.
"Look who's joined us folks, some midget ginger come to defend another member of the emo cult. How sweet."
Everyone laughed, even the girl. Smiling in an act of fake innocence she crossed her arms and looked the bully up and down like a disappointed teacher staring down a misbehaving pupil. Gesturing in a parody of forgetting something she spoke.

"It's really interesting isn't it, I mean I would have thought someone as big and tall as you would have some intelligence. Maybe that empty head is just to match the obvious absence of anything downstairs. Such a shame, I mean you've got so many sluts chasing after your pants and nothing to entertain them with"

Wow. A few people laughed, and there was a chorus of amused gasps from the now assembled crowd of people. Even I couldn't stop a smile from sneaking it's way onto my face.
The subject of her joke was most certainly not entertained, green eyes narrowing and the skin of his now red face creasing up in fury. The smile that had appeared a few moments earlier vanished as quickly as it came. I could see the skin of his knuckles turning white as he clenched his hands into fists. I swallowed nervously.

This was not going to end well...

With a grunt he stepped forward, pushing the girl backwards with both arms extended. She stumbled but didn't fall, regaining balance and staring her attacker straight it the eye, a challenge glittering behind the lashes. Advancing like a predator moving in for the kill, Jace struck out and caught her wrist in his grip, pulling her back and clamping onto the skin so hard you could see it growing red underneath his hand.

"You want to play, midget, I'll give you a bloody performance. Maybe you should stick that interfering nose back into your book and stop getting involved in other peoples issues. No soul and no common sense. It's a wonder you can look in the mirror every morning you worthless slag heap. I've got slut's chasing after me huh? Well at least somebody wants me, because no one will ever want you" he spat, loading as much hate into the words as humanly possible, finally letting go and shaking off his hand as if he'd touched something disgusting.

I cringed in the shadow of the table, every word sinking into the silence and hanging there like an ugly and festering storm cloud. The girl's face was blank and showed little emotion, a flicker of annoyance sparking in her gaze. Her arm dropped back to her side, red fingerprints like a criminal brand visible clearly against the peachy pale skin. No-one spoke, the tension in the room reaching its climax.

Brrrriiiiiinnnggg, Brrrriiiiinnnggg!

Like an arrow piecing the sky the afternoon bell rang, shattering the silence. Slowly the crowd began to disperse, groups getting back together and abandoning the two pupils that still remained in a stand off at the centre of the cafeteria. The only exception, as per usual, was me, still sat in a heap under the table watching the whole thing like you'd watch an R rated horror movie. Breath held, body tense, expecting at any moment to be the victim of a surprise jump scare or horrific attack.

Thankfully, after a few moments, Blondie hissed one final insult and marched off, pushing with a shove past the girl and disappearing behind a swinging pair of double doors. I exhaled in relief, pushing my now bloody and sweat stained fringe from out of my eyes. It was at that moment I realised that the girl was staring at me expectantly. An awkward exchange of glances and raised eyebrows ensued, until she finally walked over and crouched down to meet my level. I swallowed anxiously. This was probably the closest I had ever got to a girl without being physically assaulted and or stolen from in the process.

What ever you do Caleb, don't say something stupid...