Beside You || Luke Hemmings

Chapter 1

[ S T E V I E ]

School.

Just the sound of the word makes me cringe.

It is the hell hole where teenagers are forced into different social groups.

Some are the popular, rich, obnoxious. The perfect way to describe Amanda Richards. She is the queen bee of high school, and has been since freshman.

But some are the nerdy, fairly wealthy, and socially invisible - me.

I admit, I am challenged when it comes to making friends or boyfriends. I have one friend, who just happens to be gay. His name is Chris, but he lets me call him Christie. Nobody else.

Also, people know me as "the parent-less girl". You read that right.

I have no parents.

My mom died in a car accident on her way home after picking up my trifold from Staples for my science fair project. My dad, however, gave up on my sister and I. He left when I was 10 and we haven't heard from him since.

The whole reason why I have no parents is because of me. If I didn't ask my mom to pick up the trifold, we would all be one happy family. My sister assures me that it wasn't my fault, but I knew that wasn't true. I couldn't move on, even after 6 years. I feel like....

I feel like I killed my parents.

I know, I sound like I am blowing this way out of proportion. But if you really thought about it, I am right. It's all my freaking fault and I can't change it.

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On a much happier note......well, not really.

I sit at the lunch table with Christie every single day, in the corner of the cafeteria where the light flickers and dies. We are out of attention and so we can talk about whatever.

Christie always tells me about his gigantic crush on the quarterback, Ashton Irwin, who was in a relationship with Amanda Richards. Honestly, he wasn't my type. None of the guys here are my type. Actually, I have no idea what my "type" is. I guess all of these guys are just ugly to me.

Anyway, I was forcing Christie to say hi to Ashton right now. "Why? He is totally going to ignore me!" Christie whined. "No he won't! He is too nice to do that." I explained. "Fine. But you owe me." he huffed and stop up from the table. He staggered to the popular table and stood at the head. "H-Hi, Ashton." he blushed, waving shyly. "Hi, Chris." he greeted politely.

"Well, well, well! It seems like the little gay has a crush on Ashton!" Amanda snickered. The whole table laughed except for Ashton. Christie looked taken back with hurt. "Amanda, cut it out." Ashton commanded.

"Baby, I'm just getting started."

"Oh, and how about the little love note you left in his locker last week?" Amanda taunted. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a folder piece of paper. Christie already had tears in his eyes and he was reaching for the paper, but Amanda kept pulling it away. "Amanda, please don't!" he begged. Ashton was so confused by now. Amanda smirked and unfolded the paper, clearing her throat.

"Dear Ashton, I've had a crush on you since the 7th grade. I know you don't feel the same way, but - "

I couldn't just watch from the sidelines. I stood up and ran over to Christie. I gently pushed him back and grabbed Amanda by her Ralph Lauren collar to look her in the eyes. Amanda was practically dangling from my fist as I was glaring at her. She dropped the note and it fell to the floor, where Christie scrambled to picked it up. "You bastard." Amanda muttered, struggling out of my grasp. I still wouldn't let her go.

"You know I am." I smirked. "Stay away from Christie, you obnoxious little shit." I growled.

"What if I don't? I am just as strong as you." she scoffed. I could sense a hint of nervousness in her voice. The people sitting at her table started chuckling. "You can't even get out of my hold with two hands, while I am using one. Still strong?" I challenged. "Stevie, put her down. She's not worth it anymore." Christie whispered in my ear.

I nodded and threw Amanda down to her seat again where she stumbled and almost fell off. "Think about what I said." I snapped at her, and Christie dragged me away. "That was totally unnecessary. But totally awesome! Thanks, Stevie." Christie laughed. I hugged him, despite all the stares from around the cafeteria.

At least I wasn't invisible anymore.