Tragedy girl

VIII

**Lukes POV**
Its just usual Monday at South New York High. I walk the crowded halls to my locker. These guys Mason and Harry are being stupid to some girls who are wearing very tight skinny jeans and revealing tops. I grab my books for the first period from my locker. I shut my locker and turn around and see Cass. Next to her is a girl who looks about 15 and another girl about 17.
"Cass!" i wave to her and she ushers her friends over to me. She isn't the same year as me but our parents, well her adoptive parents, are close friends.
"Hey Luke. This is Jess and Ryley. I think Jess is your year. 11th grade?"
"Yeah," I smile at Jess and she shyly looks away. She has beautiful shoulder length blonde hair and the greenest eyes. She is a tiny bit shorter than me.
"What's your schedule?" i ask her. She hands me a piece of paper and i study it.
"We have chemistry, English and PE together today."
"Cool can you like show me where to go and everything." her accent is adorable!
"Sure."

<><><><><><><><><>

As we walk down the halls together i notice a couple of other guys staring at her. I cant help but feel a little protective over her. I put my hand on her back and she doesn't squirm or move away. She smiles quietly and i direct her to English.

I sit in my assigned desk next to Amy Jenkins and Caleb Rogers. There was an empty desk behind me and im guessing Jessica would be put there. She stood timidly at the front waiting for the teacher to show her some attention.
"Ah you must be Jessica!" Miss Sterling, the English teacher said when she saw Jess.
"Im Miss Sterling. Why dont you take a seat behind Luke there." she said pointing to the desk behind me. I grin at Jess and she smiles back pushing some of her beautiful blonde hair behind her ear.

As Miss Sterling carries on with the lesson. My mind keeps wondering back to Jess. Why did she move here? How does she know Cass? What was it like in New Zealand? I feel a tap on my shoulder and i whip around to find Jess grinning at me.
"Hey have you been listening? cos im lost!" she whispers to me. "Miss Sterling was kinda just talking about some movie and i zoned out. Were you listening?"
"Nope sorry! When she speaks she does speeches so I only listen if it has something to do with writing." i say.
"Ahem." i turn around; Miss Sterling is frowning at us and the whole class was staring as well. My friend Joe starts laughing and Miss Sterling sends him an icy glare.
"Detention. The three of you." She announces. The teacher narrows her eyes on to Jessica.
"And on your first day" she shakes her head, sips from her coffe mug and carries on with the lesson. I risk a quick look back at Jessica and her face is red as a tomato.

<><><><><><><><><>

I walk into the cafeteria with Shaun and Joe during interval. They both go off to a group of huligans who i don't like, so i scan the area for Jessica. I hear a gaggle of giggles behind me and see Amanda Johnson, Laura Lester and Violet Ray talking to Jessica who is on her own.
"Oh my god! Is your top from your grandma. Ha! i mean turtle necks are sooo out!" Amanda snarks. Jess catches my eye and looks at me desperately. Laura and Violet giggle at Amanda's comment. I step forward between Jess and the girls. I hate interfering with these bitches especially Amanda. But Jess was suffering and it would only get worse.

"Piss off. Go pick on someone your own level of bitcheness" i retort, protectively.
"Oh Luke. That's not what you told me last night." Amanda said flirtatiosly.
"Ugh you mean last year."
"Whatever. Have fun with hobbit." She steps forward just to emphasize the point that she taller than Jess. Then with a flick of the hair, the three girls waddle off in there expensive heels and fake smiles.

"Thank you Luke" Jess thanks me, obviously relieved. "The last thing that i needed was to start being bullied, again, after what i have just been through." I want to ask what she means but i figured if she wanted to tell me she would've done it already.
"No problem. I have had, ah, experience with dealing with them." Jess smiles and we go find an empty table.

<><><><><><><><><>

After interval we had PE together. The sport we were playing was soccer. I absolutely love soccer, and im guessing from Jessica's reaction she does to. Most of the girls sit out for the physical sports; i find that so stupid. Some of them call themselves feminists, but all they are is the typical stereotype of girls who don't give a damn about anything but there hair and nails. And im not exaggerating.

A girl called Millie only plays because her boyfriend does. And today Amanda decided to play, even though she never does. Coach Kingsman assigns us to a team: red or blue.
"Luke, Amanda, you three boys and Millie. Your red." i was kind of hoping i would be in Jessicas team.
"Mason, Joe, Harry, Caleb, Shaun aaand" the coach studies Jessica then looks down at the roll.
"Ah and Jessica."

We take the field and Shaun the only non sexist one is talking to Jessica while the other boys are looking at her like coach put a dead frog in their team. The whistle blows and we start. Mason kicks the ball to Harry and he dribbles it forward. I sprint towards him and tackle easily. Jessica runs forward and tries to get the ball off me but i quickly pass it to Amanda. Jess smiles at me and sprints off towards her.

The game goes on and so far so good. During the second half Jessica got more ball which is good. She was dribbling towards the goal and was just about to shoot when Amanda ran in and pushed her over. To everyone else it would've looked like a tackle but from here it was obvious. Jess landed heavily on her back and groaned in pain. The coach ordered for someone to take her to the nurse. I volunteered.

I put my arm around her as we walked and she didnt pull away. Her hand clutched her back in pain.
"I was a victim of her bullying once." i start
"We were together for nearly a year when i found out she was cheating on me the whole time. Broke up with her then like any smart person would; then she tormented me for months. Just recently her boyfriend dumped her for some other bitch and since then shes stopped bullying and has been trying to get with me again."
"She's messed up. You deserve better." Jess says looking innocently up at me. I only just met her but I really want to get to know her.

<><><><><><><><><>

I wait outside the nurses office for Jess. She comes out with a packet of painkillers.
"Hurts like hell." She said as we walked back to PE. I rub her back gently and comfortingly.
"So why did you move here?" i ask eventually. She sighs but starts explaining.
"The only people that know this story is my family and my boyfriend and a friend from New Zealand" damnit shes not single.
"My dad left us when I was really young. I lived with my mum and my sister in New Zealand. Recently i was driving me and my mum home when we went out for lunch and we were in a pretty bad car accident. I was in a coma for a week i think and my mum had brain injuries and died before i woke up.

"Im trying to do long distance with my boyfriend, Lucas, but im not sure how long that will last." Jessica said.
"My dad being the other living parent came to New Zealand and took me and Ryley here. We actually only arrived yesterday." I admit, i was surprised she was telling me this. Most people would have made up some story. But she trusts me enough to tell me this.
"Wow. im so sorry" i look at her and noticed a few tears straying from her eyes.
"Dont be. Its not your fault."
The school lunch bell broke our sad silence.
"Well tragedy girl; we've got some detention to go to." i say to Jess. She giggles quietly and we head to detention.

WELL THATS CHAPTER 8!! YOU MET LUKE! I PROMISE YOU WILL KNOW MORE ABOUT HIM NEXT CHAPTER. THANKS FOR READING I REALLY APPRICIATE IT! HANG IN THERE FOR CHAPTER 9
-LEXIE XOX