Just Watching// l.h.

Chapter 2

Mariah pictured above.
Aleigha's P.O.V.
Why would he ask me such a dumb question? He was technically a part of the bullying. He just watched. I shook it from my head as I walked down the hall to my locker. As I got closer, I noticed purple hair standing next to my locker. The joys of having your enemies girlfriend have a locker next to yours.

"Damn it," she pounds on the locker. I think her name is Miranda or something. Michael's girlfriend. Calums sister. I put my head down as I walk to the locker next to her. I type in my combination and it opens on the first try. "Hey." I turn to look at her, astonished. I turn around to see if anyone was behind me. She chuckles. "I'm talking to you."

"Oh," I face her. Did she not know who I was? "Hi?"

"Can you try to open my locker for me," she asks, calmly. She was trusting me?

"You trust me with that," I ask.

"Listen," she says. "I have a biology test I'm going to attempt to study for. So I need this damn book to get out of this dump." I blink in astonishment. "Are you going to help me or not?" I still freeze. "Fine. I'll just text my boyfriend-" Michael.

"No!" I exclaim. She looks at me, confused. She really didn't know about him bullying me. "Just tell me." She does and I type it in, opening it on the first try. I grab my books and start to walk away.

"Hey," she stops me. I turn to face her. "Thanks. Sorry for snapping, I just was frustrated." She was nothing like him. "My name's Mariah."

"Aleigha," I reply.

"Nice to finally meet you," she smiles.

"You too," I smile, lightly back.

"I'll see you around," she says, closing her locker and walking the opposite direction.

"Yeah," I say to no one. "See ya."

Luke P.O.V.

It was the five of us, Calum, Ash, Michael, Mariah, and I, walking to our "club" house. We've had it since we were little, always meeting there to be away from the world. It was just our hang out spot. Calum walked with his arm around Ashton, while Michael was giving Mariah a piggy-back ride. Once again, I was the one in the background.

"Lukeeey," Mariah looks at me.

"Whaaaaat," I mock her.

"We need to get you a girlfriend," she says, jumping off of Michael as we reach the house.

"Nah," I say, walking in.

"So, you're just gonna watch us have relationships then," she says, sitting on Michael's lap on the couch. Even if there was a full couch there.

"It's the highlight of my day," I say, sitting next to them. "Watching you guys make out all day." She lays against his chest.

"See, Luke," she says. "You do need a girlfriend. You're jealous." I scoff.

"I'm not jealous of anyone," I say. I roll my eyes, standing up to get water. I take a sip. "Besides, I'm fine without one." Lies.

"You know," she starts. "I met a girl today."

"You're cheating on me," Michael fake gasps.

"One, never. Two, I'm straight. And lastly, it's a girl for Luke," she snaps at Michael.

"I don't need anyone, Ri," I say. Lies again. "I have you guys." I take another drink of water.

"Her name is Aleigha," she says and I spit out my water. I start coughing, violently. I look up to see Michael tensed up and Calum and Ash frozen. "What? What's wrong?"

"No," I say. "That's my answer. Stop before you begin."

"What am I missing here," she asks.

"Nothing, babe," Michael says. "Let's just go home."

"No," she exclaims. "We're not leaving until someone explains to me what's going on!" Deafening silence. She begins to stand up.

"Love, where are you going," Michael follows her. He grabs her arm but she yanks it away.

"Away," she says. "Cause obviously I'm not welcome here." She leaves and slams the door. Silence, once again.

"You need to tell her eventually Michael," Calum says.

"She'll hate me," he replies.

"At least she'll know the truth," I begin. "It's better to tell the truth-"

"Shut up, Luke," Michael snaps. "You have no part in this. All you do is stand there and watch!" I clench my fists. "Then you walk away like you're so strong. 'Oh, I'm Luke. I'm strong because I have friends who are complete jerks to people and I just let them do it.' Well, news check, Luke. We are jerks and I hate it. I hate it so- m-much." He breaks down in tears. This had been the first time Michael had cried since his parents death.

"Michael," I say, releasing my fists.

"Just stop being friends with us, Luke," he says. "Nothing good is coming out of it."

"Acceptance is," I reply. "I'm your friend because I feel like I'm accepted around you. And- and I can be myself." He looks at me. "I don't agree with this bullying thing. I never did. But the one thing that I do agree on is that this friendship is true. It has been for ten years." I pause, waiting for him to answer.

"Thanks, Luke," he says. "I'm going to try to stop."

"You're not gonna try," I start. "You're gonna stop." He nods. For the rest of the night all that was in my head was the words Michael had said. All you do is just stand there and watch, it echoed. I was the real monster.