Broken

Chapter 1

I walk into my first class just as the bell rings. My biology class stinks of gas and I can only presume some Freshmen thought it would be funny to switch on the gas taps before first period. I make my way to my seat at the back of the class and ignore the stares I'm all too used to from other people in the class.

I take my seat alone, sat at the double desk at the back of the classroom and pull my books from my bag. I used to sit with Leah but she left to go to college in Louisiana last semester. I miss her actually, she was a really lovely girl.

Professor White rushes into the class carrying all his folders and books, telling everyone to quieten down as he takes a seat at his desk at the front of the room.

"Okay, sorry I'm a little bit late," He pushes his thick glasses futher up his nose as he speaks, "but I'm here now so open your books to page 60 and let's get started."

Suddenly the door flies open and a boy I've never seen before mooches in, holding his bottom lip between his fingers. Professor White stands from his seat and greets the boy who sluggishly leans against the doorframe, putting his heel back to stop the door from hitting his back.

"I guess I can't shout at you for being late since I was late today myself." I hear him mutter over the low chatter of the rest of the class. I can see most of the girls whispering and giggling at the good looking boy, I hear numerous comments being hissed across the classroom.

"Damn, look at that jawline."

"He's wearing a bandana, that's so hot."

"His legs are better than mine."

"I love his flannel shirt."

I scoff at their petty little comments and carry on reading from my biology book until I hear the chair next to me scraping against the floor. I look to my left and see the new boy sat next to me, digging through his bag. He pulls out some books and a pen and drops them onto the desk before giving me a brief smile.

"Hey." He whispers.

"Hi." I reply, looking up from my book.

"Harry." He introduces himself, lowering his head to see my face.

"Rhianne." I look up again to give him a small smile.

He nods and looks to the front of the classroom where Professor White is loading up a presentation on the board.

"How come you were sat alone?" He hisses, northern British accent obvious in his deep voice.

I don't know how to reply, I can't exactly say it's because nobody likes me and the girl that was forced to sit next to me moved away.

"My friend left to go to college, so now I have no partner, haha." I simplify the answer, it's still basically true.

"Oh, shame." I see dimples pop in his cheeks as a small smirk forms on his pink lips.

For the rest of the hour we sit in silence, listening to what Professor White is explaining about blood cells, no speaking, just working. There's too much awkwardness between Harry and I and I'm relieved when the bell for second period finally rings. I shoot up from my seat, grab my bag and hurry out of the classroom without another look at him. I have English next and luckily I sit with Kerrie. I can relax for an hour.

I'm good at English, I'm good at the creative writing aspect of English as well as reading, I love reading. I've got more books than I can actually read, but I've loved the ones I've already read.

When I get to my English class Kerrie is sat in her usual seat next to mine. She waves excitedly when she sees me and I hurry over to her.

"Have you seen the new boy?" She gushes, slapping her palms to her rosy cheeks.

"Urm, I think so?" I'm not sure if Harry is the new boy she's on about.

"Bandana, tall, gorgeous." She explains. I can see the lovehearts in her sparkling blue eyes.

"Oh, Harry. Yeah, he sits next to me in Biology." I calmly tell her even though she's freaking out. Why is every girl I see falling to their knees for Harry? He's just a new kid.

"You're so fucking lucky! What's he like?" She tugs the ends of her chestnut hair and leans closer to me.

"Well...he's British." I don't know what else to say but it seems to be enough to make Kerrie blush and possiblly fall even more in love with him.

"He's been excluded from his last 3 schools and arrested 8 times." She sounds almost...proud?

"For what?"

"Fighting, damage of property, underage drinking, disrespect to authority."

"What a dick."

"Come on Rhi, he's hot."

"Doesn't mean he can go round being an asshole."

Actually he seemed pretty nice when we briefly spoke in Biology but this new information is kind of off-putting.

The class drags, partly because Kerrie doesn't talk about anything but Harry and because we have a substitute Professor today. I was hoping to talk to Professor Clarke about the homework essay but I guess I'll have to forget it.

By the end of the day I haven't seen Harry again, nor have I seen Kyle at all. He wasn't at his usual lunch table but I convinced myself he must have been at football practice or something.

While everyone else leaves through the main entrance, I sneak behind the sports block to the bike sheds where I climb onto the thin metal roof of the shacks before jumping over the brick wall separating the school from the secluded alley in the backstreets of town.

I begin walking towards the end of the alleyway, leading me out onto the main street when I hear a shout from behind me.

"Hey freak, thought I'd see you back here."

I stop in my tracks, frozen by the sound of the devil herself.

"Where you going? To see daddy- oh wait, he has a restraining order doesn't he?"

"Piss off Jasmine." I manage to growl.

"Oh but why would I do that freak?"

"Is that the only name you have for me, because it's getting old."

"Alright, daughter-of-a-woman-beater, ugly bitch, daddy's little punching-bag, freakish nerd-"

"Shut the fuck up!" I scream at her, feeling the sting of tears building in my throat. "Please just leave me alone, for once, please." I sound so pathetic, but I don't care. I don't need her shit.

"Aw, gone all teary have we baby? Just like when daddy beat you and your mommy? Did you cry then?" She carries on taunting me, taking a step closer.

Her blonde hair falls in soft strands against her cheeks and far down the back of her ugly leather jacket. She twirls a piece between her manicured fingers as she laughs at my horrified expression.

"You bitch." I spit, slowly taking steps further away from her. She laughs her witchy heckle and turns on the heel of her pristine converse, turning away from me and bouncing back down the alleyway.

I let the tears escape and they don't stop until I get home.