Locked (l.h)

Four

Day two at school seems like a whole new experience. I still don't want to go,I know that Luke, Michael, Ashton and Calum will still be there. Only today I'll have a friend.

I'm sitting at the table eating my cereal when there's a knock on the door.

"Hello." I smile as I open the door.

"Hey Jane!" Sarah beams. "Are you ready for school?"

"Hang on, I just need to finish breakfast. I'll be 3 minutes, just come wait in the kitchen." I say as I lead her into my house.

She takes a seat at the table as I quickly shove my breakfast into my mouth.

"Slow down." Sarah says. "We won't be late, you don't have to eat that fast."

"I feel bad that you're waiting though."

"Honestly, don't worry." How did I get a friend as good as her? I've known her one day and she great. She accepts me for being me, she's patient, she's caring, she kind, she's the best friend I've ever had. Even if she's one of only a few friends I've had.

By the time we arrive at school, no one else is there. We sit down on a bench hidden in the corner of the school yard.

"Is this where you stay every morning?" I ask.

"Yeah, no one looks here. Well apart from-"

"Hey Sarah." A voice says cheerily.

I look up to find a tall, black haired teenage boy staring at Sarah. He had silver glasses just like her and a plaid tie seating neatly on his chest.

"Jane this is-." Sarah smiles.

"Hi Jane." He interrupts. "I'm James, Sarah's boyfriend." Sarah looks down at the floor and blushes.

"You never told me you had a boyfriend!" I say, shocked.

"Well, I have only know you since yesterday." She says, tucking a hair behind her ear.

"How long have you two been dating then?"

"2 years and 36 days." James smiles.

"Aww, you've been counting by the day? That's so cute!"

"Well, I love her." He says, taking a seat next to Sarah and putting his arm around her shoulder. "Why wouldn't I want to know how long I've loved her? She changed my life, and made me a better person. I've spent over two years without those guys, and it's improved my life crazily."

"Guys? What guys?"

"I used to hang out with Michael,Calum, Ashton and Luke. We used to go out, get drunk, party, it was great fun at the time. But then I met Sarah. She made me realize I was ruining my life, I should just get on with school and focus on my work."

"I'm guessing they didn't like you too much after that."

"No. They didn't want to know me anymore, they started bullying me. Now I'm just another nerd to them."

"They left you that quickly?"

"Yeah, friendship is nothing to them. They'll leave you as quick as they joined you."

Sarah shakes her head, "Can you see why I told you to stay away from them?"

*

The final bell goes and I can't wait to get home. I throw my bag over my shoulder and wind through the crowded hallway. Just as I can see the door, someone blocks my way.

"Sorry." I mumble. I push past them but they grab my arm.

"This is how we first met, remember, plain Jane?" Luke grins.

Not him. Anyone but him. "I have to go."

"No, wait. You should hang out with us after school."

"Are you going to be drunk again?"

He chuckles, "Maybe."

"Not as drunk as last night I hope."

"I didn't even go out last night."

"Luke, you got super drunk at Ambers party. Do you not even remember that?"

"Ambers? I haven't seen Amber in months."

"You must've been wasted." I mumble as I push through the crowd.

"Hey." He shouts. "What about hanging out?"

I ignore him. I know what guys like him are like, they'll ask to me hang out and then just attack me, or make me take drugs or something stupid.

"Jane!" Sarah calls from the gate.

I smile at her and James, standing hand in hand. They're the perfect couple really, not eating each others faces at every chance they get, but still cutely romantic.

"We're going to this cafe down the road, are you ok walking home on your own?" Sarah asks.

"Yeah, go have fun on your date."

"It's not really a date." She blushes.

"It so is. Enjoy yourselves, I'm not a little kid, I can walk home alone."

"But I feel bad." She whines.

"James, make her go."

"Babe, come on, Jane will be fine." James says as begins to lead her down the road.

"Bye then!" Sarah calls as she's lead through the streets by James.

*

After five minutes of walking just like normal, something unexpected happens.

"Hey." A voice says around the corner.

"No, it's hi you prick." Another voice argues.

"Wait, is it hi or hey?" A third voice adds.

"Shut up." A final voice says.

I continue walking, ignore the voices until.

"Plain Jane, you can't just ignore us."

"Yeah, we're best friends!" A voice laughs.

"You and Luke are practically dating!"

"Mikey, that's just too far."

I speed up my walk, knowing they're right behind me, but I feel a hand on my shoulder.

"No, Jane. You can't leave us."

"Just leave me alone." I mumble.

"Why would I want to do that?"

"Ashton, your scaring her. We just need someone to do our homework, not some terrified freak."

I keep my head down and keep walking.

"Jane, can you do this?" Ashton asks, shoving a pile of paper into my hands.

"Why can't you do it?" I mutter.

"Cause I have better things to do."

"Like what?"

"Like partying."

"Whatever, I'll give it back to you tomorrow."

I push Ashton's hand off my shoulder and continue my walk home. Then I hear the footsteps, running faster and faster.

"Jane!"

"You've got some more homework for me?" I ask, turning to face Luke.

"No, I just wanted to say I um..." He fiddles with his lip ring, unsure of what to say. "I..um... Probably won't be in school tommorow, you know with all the drinking and shit. So I'll need the homework on Friday."

"Yeah, sure." I say as I start walking away.

"And Jane?"

"What?"

"I'm sorry about the others, being idiots. There not very good at the whole being nice thing, I'll make sure they say hello a bit better next time."

"I thought it was hi?" I joke, mimicking what he said earlier.

He smiles, "Maybe it is. See you soon, plainy."