Just Watching// l.h.

Chapter 3

Aleigha above (She has darker hair)
Aleigha P.O.V.

The next week, I walked down the hall with my head hung low as always. I never understood what I did to them that made them hate me so much. When I approached my locker, Mariah stood there looking at me.

"Hey," she says. I nod and type in her combination. This had been our routine for a week. She said hi, I'd open her locker, and we'd just have a brief conversation. Then we'd leave. "Thanks." I nod again, opening my locker. She just stands there.

"Everything okay," I ask.

"I know you might not want to," she says. "But would you maybe like to walk to class with me?" I stare at her like she's crazy. "I know what you're thinking. Punk and nerd don't go together." I frown. "Aaaand I just realized I called you a nerd. Sorry. I'm not good with this whole friend thing."

"Friend," I ask. She smiles a bit.

"Yeah," she replies. "I don't really hang out with any girls. All I have are four idiot boys." She laughs and I go along with her because it was true. They were idiots. Especially the blue eyed one.

"If we do hang out," I say. "Can it just be me and you? I'm not good around boys." She nods, completely clueless of the bullying again.

"My boyfriend and I aren't on good terms anyways," she says. I wonder what happened. "So?"

"Sure," I smile. "I'd love to." She smiles.

"All right," she says, starting to walk. I follow her. I freeze once I see a group of four boys cross the corner. It's like they all moved in slow motion, my fear raising up. They stopped as well once they saw me with Mariah. I look down, quickly, not caring if Mariah noticed.

"Hey," I heard Michael say. I flinched at his voice. I look up quickly and meet a pair of blue eyes but look away again.

"Hi," Mariah answered. It was weird being in their presence, without being hurt already. It was just cause Mariah was with me. I heard Calum clear his throat and Ashton cough.

"How are you," Michael asked.

"Perfect," she replies, grabbing my arm and pulling me around them. I flinch and wait for a shove but it doesn't come.

"Mariah," Michael tries to stop her.

"I'm gonna be late," she says, dragging me along.

"Since when do you care about being late, Riah," I heard a mostly unfamiliar voice say. I turn and see his blue eyes meet mine again. He had rarely ever talked to me before. Besides that one time in the hall. Once again, he just stood there, staring.

"Since I just did, Luke," she says, tugging me along again. My eyes never left his blue ones until crossing the corner again.

Luke P.O.V.

I never realized how beautiful she was. Her hazel eyes were so beautiful, shining through the lenses of the glasses. Sometimes her brown hair would fall in front of her eyes but she would tuck it behind her ears. I noticed a lot from just watching her. She had mostly a girly style to her. She was beautiful. I was stuck in a trance until Michael shoved me a bit.

"Snap out of it, Hemmings," he says. I roll my eyes.

"What do you need," I ask.

"For the tenth time," Ashton mumbles.

"Shush, Ash," I tease.

"More like the millionth time," Michael says. "Are we ditching today?" Some part of me wanted to see her again.

"I don't know," I hesitate.

"Who are you and what did you do with Luke Hemmings," Calum says.

"Seriously," Michael follows up. "What's happening with you?"

"I just think we should stay for once," I shrug, lying. They were so clueless when it came to me lying. The bell rang.

"We're already late anyways," Michael says. "We might as well just skip." I glare at him. "You know, since we won't be humiliated in front of the whole class."

"You guys can go," I say. "I'm gonna stay." They looked at me like I was completely crazy. "Might as well make my parents partially proud of me." Michael looks at me suspiciously.

"Something's up, Hemmings," he states. "And if you're lying, I'm gonna find out eventually."

"Figures," I tease. "You are 'Michael Clifford. Super Detective who doesn't even show up to class half the time so technically can't be a detective.'" He pushes me, lightly.

"That was the longest title ever," he replies.

"It's the truth, though," I state.

"I'll see you later, Hemmings," he chuckles.

"Bye guys," I say. They all wave and walk the other way. It was really odd being without them. I followed them all the time, so being alone was odd. I just walked in the direction that Mariah and Aleigha walked in. Crossing the corner, a small body ran into me. A high shriek sounded as I stopped the body from hitting the floor. A pair of familiar hazel eyes meet mine. My arms were now wrapped around her waist as hers were around my neck, holding her up.

"Hey," I say, smiling.

"Hi," she squeaks out. Adorable. Absolutely adorable.

Sorry that the chapters so short. I've been super busy with work :/