We The Wallflowers

six

                     [  just big hills  ]

"Fancy seeing you around here, Klutz." Someone whistled from behind me suddenly.

I turned around and found a tall guy towering over our us. The dude was tanned golden and wore a varsity jacket much similar to Jason and Kyle's. Except his was dyed yellow.

He was also undeniably hot, athlete hot. Insert a crowd's eye rolls and gagging noises.

But despite his bulging abs and biceps, he had a mean look. The kind that belonged to a delinquent who picked fights with anyone who gave them a mere glance. If that made any sense. The claw marks that ran down his cheek to his jawline didnt help in making him less intimidating.

"Go away, Jake." came Stella's blunt reply.

She got up and shuffled away. She didn't get too far when the jock blocked her path with an arm. A couple of people around us were now watching. Someone even pulled out a bag of popcorn and started crunching on it.

Crunch crunch.

The jock taunted meanly, "What's the big hurry? I just want to talk to you." He had spoken loudly and got the attention of most of the people in the cafeteria. Everyone stared, even the rowdy table of jocks and cheerleaders stopped throwing food at each other. The spectacled kids in a corner peeked from their thick books.

Stella gave the crowd a quick once over. She was probably aware that everyone was now listening.

Gulping, the blonde replied. "About what? About how you tripped me yesterday and I fell on top of Mr Ambridge?"

Mr Ambridge? As in the principal?

"That was pretty good." Admitted Jake. He had a mean grin plastered on his face. Stella looked over his shoulder and gave me a pleading look.

Help.

That's it.

I got up from my seat and walked over. As I stood in between my best friend and hot asshole, I snarled.

"Fuck off."

Adjusting the sleeves of my sweater, I narrowed my eyes at him.

The volume of whispers and murmurs heightened instantaneously. Hell, I wished everyone would just mind their own business.

I hated being the center of attention but this was one of those moments I couldn't walk away from. Batting an eyelash and pretending you didn't see your best friend get picked on was a huge no no.

The Best Friend Handbook 101, Section 35 stated clearly: If you ever see some dumbass pick on your best friend, give the a-hole a whooping and send them home crying for their mama.

However, I was sure no one was going to give anyone an ass whooping today.

Unfazed, the dark haired jock simply jutted out his chin. "Do I know you?"

I turned to Stella and gave her one of my signature looks. The 'shut your mouth s shit doesn't hit the fan' one. Once she gave me a quick nod, I inhaled.

The lie slipped off my tongue just as easily as the others.

"No. No you don't."

That was a stupid lie. But thankfully Jake was too dumb to notice.

We knew Jake. I knew him. He was one of the bullies back from middle school. Self centered Jake Templeton, the school's number one Hype Beast. He was the kid who always wore a new pair of shoes to school everyday.