Magnet Love

8. Lily the Mouse

LILY POV:
"Oi, slow coach, your legs aren't damaged - hurry up!" Shouted Eleanor as we hurried into the cafeteria. I wasn't hungry today so I just grabbed an apple and bottle of water, paid for them at the till and made my way over to our usual table.

"Hey Lil, I hope you don't mind but we decided to move tables to join the boys. There's room if we squeeze" said Maddie as she picked up her tray and made her way over to the far corner of the cafeteria.

"Hey girls, oh and hello cripple, glad you could make it!" Said Max as we approached the long table. I smiled at him before scanning my eyes across the benches, scouting out the most suitable seat.

Suddenly a deep, raspy whisper broke me out of my thoughts as I felt warm breath on my ear and a hand on my strong shoulder. "Welcome back princess, hope those pesky leaves didn't cause you too much trouble on the way in". I turned my head and smiled at the deep emerald orbs gazing into my hazel eyes.

With his hand remaining on my shoulder, Alex guided me around to the end of the bench, where I sat next to Eleanor, with Alex on my other side at the end of the bench.

"Well look who it is, thing one and thing two have returned" Ana spoke, causing everyone's eyes to avert to the cafeteria doors where Lizzie Benson and her sidekick Hayley Walsh strutted in. I had never been unfortunate enough to speak to either of the girls, but I didn't have to personally know them to be familiar with their reputation.

Lizzie was as nasty as girls come, belittling other girls and stealing their boyfriends. She had a cruel tongue and wicked words. She was beautiful yes, but inside she was rotten to the core. Lizzie had long blonde hair and striking blue eyes that caught everyone's attention. She was wearing as little clothing as was deemed suitable - a tiny denim skirt and pink tank top that had ridden up high enough to reveal a strip of skin around her waist and her shining belly-button piercing. Hayley was her sheep, laughing at her wickedness and agreeing with every word that Lizzie spoke, as if she had no mind or opinions of her own. I swear if Lizzie told Hayley to jump off a cliff she wouldn't think twice about it if there was even the slightest chance that it would make Lizzie respect her - sad really.

Whilst I was distracted with my thoughts, the two WAG wannabes approached our table.
"Well well, Ana Tamworth - you have finally found some girlfriends then?" Said Lizzie as she glared at us all, visibly disgusted.
"Interesting choices I have to say. Who are you three anyway?" She further questioned.

I visibly tensed. I hated introducing myself, speaking to anyone new and talking to Lizzie Benson certainly wasn't about to change that. Thankfully Maddie realised my apprehension and spoke for us.

"I'm Maddie Adams, this is Eleanor Buyers and Lily Evans." She said, gesturing her hand to us each individually. My shoulders were raised with nerves as I felt myself being visibly judged by the living Barbie doll, and so I looked down at my hands below the table, twisting my fingers and thumbs as a distraction.

"Aaah Lily the mouse. That's what they call you right?" Lizzie questioned. I tried to open my mouth and respond but no noise came out. I could feel my face flushing red and I wanted to bury my head in a hole - this was so embarrassing.

"Unnecessary Lizzie, you don't even know her so why are you say that?" Alex defended. I was extremely flattered that he stood up for me, but that didn't stop Lizzie.

"What's wrong with you mousey? Cat got your tongue?" She taunted, causing Hayley to burst out laughing and my eyes fill with water.

If I didn't get out of there in the next thirty seconds I knew that I would burst into tears and that would sure give them something to laugh about. I dropped my half eaten apple on to the table and ran out of the cafeteria.

I could hear Maddie calling for me in the distance and the sound of Lizzie and Hayley's high pitched laughs echoed in my ears but I didn't stop. Tears clouded my vision as I continued to run through the halls, not caring who I was pushing out of the way until I reached the field doors.

I continued running across the field until I reached my favourite bench at the back and I collapsed in sobs. I hated how mean she was. Lily the mouse was a cruel nickname that some boys came up with when i was in middle school, mocking my shyness and it had the exact same effect on me as it did back then.

I was ridiculed in front of all of those people, and I was angry at myself for being so weak. I hated how little it took to make me cry. Emily once told me that crying didn't show weakness, it showed strength that you cared enough to show your emotions, but Emily wasn't here to give me a pep talk now and I had no doubt that Maddie, Eleanor and probably Ana too were either looking for me, or Maddie was raging at Lizzie.

I stared up at the moving clouds and tried to compose myself, as I heard breath panting in the distance. I lowered my head to see Alex sprinting across the field over to me, sporting the same worried expression which he had when he found me on Friday night.

I was grateful that he didn't speak when he reached me, instead he pulled me into his arms once again and held my head against his warm, muscular chest. I could feel the outline of his muscles and firm texture of his chest with his heart beating fast against my cheek. The rhythm was steady and soothing, along with the gentle actions of his hand stroking my hair.

"I'm sorry Lily, I should have stopped her before she got that far. She's a bitch" Alex whispered. I raised my head to look at him again, he raised his thumb to wipe the tears from my cheek and gave a sympathetic smile.

We sat together for a while longer in a comfortable silence. I felt safe in Alex's arms and his gentle strokes of my hair continued to calm my mind and steady my rapid heart. It was only when we saw students filing back into the building that we had to move and get back to classes; otherwise I would have been happy to stay like that all day.

We stood up from the bench and Alex extended his large hand, which I gratefully grasped with my small one.
"Look here then" he spoke, turning me to face him as he brushed the remaining tear stains from my cheeks and smoothed my messy hair - which probably resembled a birds nest by this point. I offered him a watery smile as a thank you and he kissed my forehead, causing butterflies to erupt in my stomach and heat to flood to my head.

"Beautiful. Now let's get you back in there before Maddie gets arrested for Lizzie's murder". I laughed at his comment as we walked across the field and back into the building, hand in hand.

AUTHORS NOTE:
Hello again! I hate girls like that. I think every school has their own Lizzie Benson, but at least Alex managed to cheer Lily up!
Vote and comment if you are enjoying the story so far :)
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