Love is a Strong Word

Chapter 3

Luke ran his hand through his already ruffled blond hair. In the usual quiet of the library it was easy to focus and Luke usually loved being here, so peaceful and cosy, but today he wished he were anywhere else. The calming silence of the library was broken by laughing and shouts. Luke scowled as he tried to focus on his chemistry revision. He hated Wednesday's. He dreaded the afternoons he would have to  try to focus on study while the jocks and 'cool' kids hung out at the back of the library, hidden by rows of books. He tried again to block them out and stubbornly read his notes. He was finally getting somewhere when a football flew past and hit his books onto the ground.

Enough is enough. Setting his jaw he got up and snatched up the football which was lying innocently on the ground next to his scattered books. Walking swiftly through aisles he summoned his courage as he got closer to the back. As he walked past the last aisle the group of people sprawled on the couches at the back came into view. There were five of them, three guys and two girls. They were all laughing loudly over something the tall blond had said. As Luke stormed to a stop in front of them they all fell silent, most of them had smirks on their faces. Luke dropped the football in front of them and took a step back.

"Your ball hit my books." When nothing was said from the group he took a breath and continued, " I'm trying to study. Your being too loud, its getting ridiculous. Don't be a dick, just cause your a jock doesn't make you a god or something. At most it just means your too dimwitted to pass anything." Luke waited for something to be said but as the tall blond stood and made a point of flexing Luke gulped. That was Harry and Luke mentaly kicked himself for not recognising him sooner. If he'd known Harry was here he wouldn't have come anywhere near the library at all, let alone say all that. Harry had a record of not being the most forgiving person, he'd been kicked out of three school's before he came here. Luke started backing up slowly as Harry approached him.

"You wanna say that again?" Harry cracked his knuckles, causing someone one the couch to cheer him on. 

Luke had a choice, stand up to him or apologise and hope for the best. With what he had just said, there was little chance he was getting off without a beating. If he had to go down, he wanted to go down well. 

God I hope I don't regret this

"You heard me. I said you're and fucking idiot." Luke saw his face contort with anger and he turned and ran as fast as he could. 

Yup, I definitely regret that.

"You're dead punk!" Harry's heavy footsteps followed Luke as he sprinted out of the library doors and into the courtyard. Luke, already out of breath, needed somewhere to hide. Panting he slipped into the mens bathrooms and hastily closed the cubicle doors. He sat waiting, catching his breath and praying Harry wouldn't find him. Last time he had a run in with Harry it was to pull his friend Matt out of range of Harry's fist. He didn't exactly feel like repeating that. His bruises had taken weeks to heal and no-one believed what had happened, or at least no-one wanted the star football player to be taken off the field for beating some kid up.  Luke was pulled out of his daydreams when the bathroom door slammed open.

"Nice try, but this is the first place I'd look, idiot." Harry's footsteps were coming closer and closer to his cubicle and he wasn't alone. Another person had just pushed the door open and barged in. 

"Oi Harry, he in here then?" Nick, a member of the football team and never seen far from Harry was standing right outside Luke's cubicle. 

"Yeah, check the cubicles." Harry didn't sound too mad but Luke's breath still quickened as they came closer. 

Fuck..I might have been able to take Nick, but Harry's another question. And both of them? I don't stand a chance - 

Luke's thoughts were cut short by a short, bulky boy pushing the cubicle door forcefully into him. Falling backwards into the toilet he saw Harry push Nick out of the way so he was standing right in front of him. Groaning slightly as his back hit the toilet Luke quickly pushed himself up and over the connecting wall. Landing lightly in the next cubicle he dashed out past Nick and reached for the door. As his hand touched the cold metal of the door handle Luke felt his body whip back and be slammed into the wall. As his back collided with the wall he cried out in pain. Harry laughed and let go of his shirt.

"Bet you regret being a dick now, don't ya." Harry's eyes were blazing with adrenaline and Nick was standing beside him, snickering at Luke, who was slumped against the wall.  Luke stifled a smile and instead pretended to groan in pain.

What an idiot. Still, I have to play this right. One, two, THREE!

Luke dashed out of the door, ducking under Nicks grab and out the door. He ran as fast as he could but his back was killing him. Grimancing in the pain he tried to force himself to run faster but as he felt sharp jolts of pain he stopped and turned to face Harry who was close on his tail. 

"Heyyyyyy" Luke smiled at Harry and Nick but when none of them smiled back he tried a new tactic.

"Errr so Harry...mate, I'm sorry about what happened in there. Umm yeah totally my fault. Forgive and forget as they say?" Luke laughed nervously as Harry smiled crookdly and replied,

"I don't forgive...mate." Harry's cruel smile remained in place as his fist made contact with Luke's nose. 

"Prepare to die fuckhead." Nick kicked his knee's and Luke fell onto the ground. The students who were walking past kept their heads down, they knew better then to get involved. Luke tried to push himself back up but was met with a boot to the gut. Crying out he curled into a ball on the ground and moaned, he hurt everywhere. Luke was sure he'd broken something. Harry muttered something to Nick and Luke saw there shoes begin to move away. Harry paused then turned back. Stupidly, Luke turned to see what he was doing and Harry's boot hit him square in the face. Groaning loudly Luke's head thudded against the ground and he felt a tear of pain run down his face.  As blood streamed out of Luke's nose his vision went blurred.

Well if nothing was broken then it sure is now. Fuck this hurts...

Luke's vision completely went but before he completely blacked out he heard a female voice talking.

"Oh shit, Harry you idiot...hey, hey can you hear me?"

Is that...urgh... Rose?

Frowning, Luke blacked out.