I Thought Forever was a Promise

1. New Boy

   I sat at the back of my class, sketching on my supposed to be notes; turns out that: U.S. History really wasn't my strong suit. Especially with this teacher, Mr. Wanstead who could never speak above a monotone. My eyes darted from my notebook to the clock. 

    Five more minutes till lunch. 

    I sighed slouching into my seat. My pencil flowing fluidly over the paper. "Ms. Fractus?" my head snapped up in attention and Mr. Wanstead was standing directly infront of my desk his hands crossed infront of his chest. "Yes sir?" I asked quietly. 

   "Do you have any idea what we have been discussing?" he asked snidely. I bit my lip and shook my head. "Maybe you should put your sketches away and pay attention then, hmm?" he said raising his eyebrow. I started to put everything away just as the bell rang. Scrambling to pick everything up I ran eagerly to my locker. 

   Quickly putting everything in the bottom I shut my locker turning around I was shoved back into my locker. The com's knob dug into my spine and I looked up to see Brian Bouck. And let's just say him and his little ring of friends disliked me, his little girlfriend and her friends disliked me even more so.

   "I heard you were talking shit about Lyssa," he said sharply. "Lyssa" was his girlfriend, Elisa was the other head of another ring of people who didn't like me. Why, I didn't know. They were the typical highschool couple. Brian was tall and bulky with sandy hair and green eyes, played football, basketball, and baseball. She was a cheerleader, sideline and competitive, and ran track; tall, sun-kissed skin, blonde, green eyes. Like I said, most cliche couple.

   "I didn't say shit about your play thing Brian," I spat back sourly. Okay no, this was not the reason that they didn't like me. I just became this way after awhile, figured you had to have some sort of defense when all they wanted to do was start shit. 

   He grabbed up the collar of my V-neck shirt, and shoved me into the lockers again. "You little bitch," he hissed raising his fist. I didn't flinch, just stared at him. After awhile you get used to getting hit everywhere you went.

   He was going to do it. He'd done it before, and people watched, either not caring or too afraid he'd turn on them too. So they all walked by seeming unfazed. It happened almost every other day. 

   "Brian!" a familiar voice shouted. Brian looked over and dropped my shirt, "Why don't you fuck with someone your own size?" Brian huffed annoyed but turned and started heading for the cafeteria. I looked over and smirked at Marcus. He was my best friend here, about two years ago he was the only one who would stand up to Brian and his little followers. And I found a place I belonged with him and his friends. Marcus was like the brother I never had, well the brother that took care of me and protected me like a brother was supposed to. 

   Marcus had dark brown hair that was down to his shoulders that he often pulled back into a man-bun. He had olive skin, dark brown eyes, he was tall and a bit skinny but damn he hit hard. Today his hair was brushing his shoulders in his natural waves and he was dressed in all black. I pushed my "nerd" glasses back onto my nose where they were supposed to be and went up to him giving him a hug.

   "Mase, you really have to stand up to them some day," he said hugging me back. I shrugged, taking a step back and looking up at him. "There's no point, he'd keep hitting me and it would just be worse at my house because I got suspended," I said. He nodded in understanding and I looked over his shoulder to see another boy standing behind him.

   I didn't think that I knew him, but then again Lakewood was a pretty big school. And I wasn't much for paying attention. Marcus saw me looking at him and cleared his throat, "Mason, this is a new student Malum, Malum, Mason," he said gesturing to each of us in turn. 

   He raised his and and I took a step back, bad habit. Tends to happen when everywhere you go you get tossed around. But he had only raised his hand to shake my hand. My cheeks turned pink as my nerves calmed and I shook his hand. He'd raised his eyebrow but now his expression was neutral as I shook it and he said, "Nice to meet you." His voice was deep and rough. His hand was big and calloused.

   He was even taller than Marcus and had dark brown shaggy hair, hazel eyes, strong jaw and chin, he was buff. He kind of looked like he could beat the shit out of anyone at any given moment. And that someone could be me, so I just nodded. When he released my hand Marcus pulled him back a foot or two whispering into his ear, "She's skiddish around new people," thinking I couldn't hear him. But I acted like I didn't and Malum nodded. 

   Marcus grinned at us and clapped his hands together, "So? Get lunch?" Malum shrugged and nodded as if saying "why not?" 

   "I'm not really hungry..." I lied. I was starving. I hadn't eaten since lunch last Friday. Marcus gave me a stern look, "You don't have a choice." I sighed in submission. There was no point in arguing, either I got my own lunch or he would get his own and make me eat some either way. 

   So we walked down the hall to the cafeteria and I tried to ignore as everyone started to stare at me. Seeming to judge my every move, their eyes watching me like hawks until I disappeared into the kitchen to grab my food.