Welcome back to Seacrest, Are you ready for more?
Volume 2 of the Heartbreak High series.
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Lucas is back in business, picking up to shattered pieces of his life as a new year dawn's on Seacrest bringing about new challenges, new romance and even...
We sat under the bleachers, the distant hum of school life muffled by the shadows around us. I spilled everything to Jazz-the way they all looked at me, like I was something they couldn't bear to touch. The way their words hung in the air, cutting through me like knives. By the time I finished, my throat felt raw, the weight of it all bearing down on me.
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Jazz took my hand, her eyes soft with concern. "It was that bad?" she asked quietly.
I nodded, the words sticking in my throat. "Cory's such a dick," she said, her voice laced with anger. "I'm sorry, Lucas. You shouldn't have to go through that."
But the apology didn't ease the tension knotted in my chest. I stared at the ground, the weight of every stare, every whisper, pressing down on me. "It's not just Cory," I whispered, feeling the fear creep into my voice. "It's everyone. They all look at me like I'm some kind of freak."
The memory of Ronnie flared up in my mind, the shame and fear hitting me like a tidal wave. I clenched my fists, willing the memory away, but it lingered, reminding me of every time I'd felt this way before. "I don't feel safe here, Jazz," I admitted, my voice trembling with the truth.
She sighed deeply, her expression softening. "It'll die down, Lucas," she said gently. "You just have to tough it out." "Will it?" I asked, my voice heavy with doubt.
She didn't answer, just looked at me, the silence between us growing heavy. Then the bell rang, its shrill sound breaking through the tension.
"That's lunch," she said, trying to sound cheerful. "I've officially skipped an hour of pre-calculus. Let's get out of here."
"Actually..." I hesitated, the thought of walking into the cafeteria, of all those eyes on me, making my stomach twist into knots. "Can we stay here? Eat under the bleachers?"
She gave me a warm smile, squeezing my hand. "Of course. I'll text Stephen and Ethan, tell them to grab our lunches and meet us here."
She started typing on her phone, then looked up at me. "What do you want?"
"Nothing," I muttered, the idea of food turning my stomach. I hadn't eaten much since Alec left. I'd tried drowning my feelings in snacks that first night, eating until there was nothing left in the pantry, but it hadn't helped. Now, the thought of food made me feel sick.
Jazz paused, concern flickering in her eyes. "Lucas..."
"I'm fine," I said, forcing a smile that didn't reach my eyes.
She looked at me for a long moment, then nodded, though I could see she didn't believe me. "Okay," she said softly, "but you're not skipping lunch. Even if you're not hungry, you need something."
I nodded again, but my heart wasn't in it. The shadows under the bleachers felt like a shield from the rest of the world, but I knew we couldn't stay here forever. I felt Jazz's hand in mine, warm and reassuring, but the weight of everything pressed down on me, making it hard to breathe. "You're not alone." She said quietly.
