Lovely Thunder

Chapter One: Hallways

Six years after “Two Way Heartbeat”. Serenity High School. Passing Period.
I was so furious. My best friend, Alyssa, was sitting in her locker, afraid. Afraid of the jerk who had decided that calling her names was a good idea, to the point where she thought she should hide. I could feel her trembling inside her locker. “Luna?” she whispered. “Are you still there?”
     I wanted to smack him. Brendan. This was his fault. I checked my watch. There were eight minutes until the passing period was over. I had minutes. “Be right back, Alyssa,” I growled. I ran, knowing where to go. The alley behind the janitor’s closet.
     When I got there, Brendan and his friends were all huddled in one corner, chewing absently on Pocky sticks, something that almost everyone did in Serenity High School.
     I narrowed my eyes at them, and Brendan and his girlfriend, Erica, finally noticed my presence and stopped making out.
     “Watcha doin’ here, Buttercup? Ya lookin’ for a little playmate?” Brendan said, looking down at me with a satisfied smirk. The boys in the corner snickered.
     I felt a disgusted scowl rise to my lips. “Don’t talk to me, idiot. And don’t act so confident either, unless you’re fine telling the principle what really happened. Three years ago, was it?” I can tell I hit the spot with that one as the smirk disappears from his lips.
     Brendan stalked forward a few steps slowly until he was right in front of me. He stared at me for a moment, then slapped me. I glared at him, my eyes narrowing. “How does it feel, nerd?” he said.
     I looked down at the ground, considering what to say. Then, “A wise professor once told me that every cell in your body is destroyed and replaced every seven years. I find it comforting that, one day, I will have a body you will never have touched.” Surprisingly, these words did not come from me.
     They came from Erica.
     Tears in her eyes spring as she stared in disbelief and disappointment at Brendan. Then she walked silently out of the alley, leaving Brendan clawing at the air after her. He almost left the alley, running after her, but then he stopped abruptly and whirled around toward me, his eyes burning into my skull.
     “This is all your fault.” Brendan tried to punch me but I saw it coming. I ducked and walked near the exit.
     “Next time,” I said, “don’t even go near Alyssa unless you want me coming after you.” Then I turned around and left.