Bad News

"Don't even think about it," Saphy, my close but nosy friend, hissed at me. I hadn't noticed she saw me staring longingly across the playground...at him.

I stood up, fixing my hair. "I've made up my mind," I looked her right in the eyes and swiftly turned on my heels. "Fine Bella!" she called out, "but don't come back crying like you did last time."

I ignored her and focused on putting one foot in front of the other, grinding the gravel with each step. I could hear the blood pumping in my ears and my heart fluttered every time I looked up.

I had always felt sorry for him, ever since he moved here last term. Schools not been easy for him and I could tell his life at home wasn't any easier. He never seemed good at making friends - all the boys here hated him.

That's probably why he was sitting alone again, pretending to be on his phone but really he just didn't want to look lonely. He was wearing the same SnapBack he always wears and ripped jeans which look at least five years old. I'd heard many rumours about him which were floating through school; one about how he had gotten really upset when the football team stole that hat. Maybe his dad had bought it for him before the 'accident'.

I bit my lip trying to think of something to say as I drew closer to him.

"Um hi," was all I had managed to stutter. Great. He looked up but I couldn't tell if it was relief or annoyance painted across his face. Either way, he ignored me and went back to tapping his phone. As I sat down next to him, I looked over to Saphy who was making comical

hand signals for me to come back. I grinned at her and faced towards him. "Jason, I know you don't have many friends an-". He interrupted me, staring his golden eyes into mine for the first time. "I don't have friends? So you came over here just to tease me?" Fuck. Brilliant Bella just fucking brilliant. "No, that's not what I meant,"

I quickly tried to get through to him before he shut me out completely, "I just wondered if you needed some company? We have all the same classes together and I..I'd quite like to get to know you?" Silence. Ignored again. I was about to turn away when I heard him sigh, "you don't want to get involved with me." He stared intensely down at his feet. "Why?" I could see the pain in his eyes and wanted desperately for him to let it go. "Jason?" I tried again, placing my hand on his shoulder. He flinched but I didn't move it, this time I'm not going anywhere. "I'm bad news."