When I walked through the hallways I noticed how everyone had weird looks.

I tried to brush it off and instead went to deposit some of my books in my locker.


"I warned you, didn't I?" I jumped a foot in the air clutching my chest and looked at the culprit. Marlene.

"Tsk tsk...poor you." at this she jutted out her bottom lip. "See if you had listened to me like a good girl that you claim you are none of this would've happened. But no. You just had to be so stubborn." She cackled before leaving, her heels clicking on the floor.

During all the periods before lunch, I kept on hearing snippets of conversation and they all revolved around "Owen and Lyra's fling". I felt disgusted at some of the rumours I'd heard.


"Hey." I looked up at the familiar face of Dustin.

"Hey." I gave him a tight smile.


It was lunch time and I had decided to seat outside by the benches, not in the mood to listen to any of the rumours.

"Is this seat taken?"

I shook my head, "no."

He sat down next to me and we were ingulfed in silence.

"You're probably here to tell me you told me so, right?"

From the corner of my eye I saw him look at me with a slightly hurt look.

"What?"

"You know. About how you kept warning me about Owen and how I was bent on the idea that you were wrong." I looked up at him. "Turns out you were right. So if you're here to say you told me so, do it already."

He gave a short humourless laugh then turned away all the whole shaking his head. "I can't believe you think that of me." He dropped his head as if trying to choose his next words carefully then fully turned to face me. "Lyra, you're...God. You're like one of the most amazing people I've ever come across. And believe me when I tell you this, I hate seeing you in pain. So I don't know why you're saying that." He took my hand in his and squeezed it gently. "I care about you. I really do. Don't forget that."

With that said he gently let go of my hand and left.

**********

"I want to go home." I told Kate when she found me seated outside.

"Hey. Look at me." I did. "You're a very strong girl and believe me when I tell you you didn't deserve to be with that jerk face. You deserve way better."

"But have you heard the rumours?"

"This is high school, Lyra. Everyone is simply here for entertainment no matter how far fetched or idiotic it might sound. So don't listen to them."  Let's get lunch."

"Well I don't want to be anyone's entertainment and I'm not hungry." I mumbled.

"Yeah but you're still going to try and get some food in you before you starve."

"I don't want to see them."

"Then don't look at them. If anything they should be the ones hiding in shame. Not you. Now come on. And keep your head high."

She grabbed my hand, not to gently, and ushered me towards the cafeteria.

The moment we walked in, I could feel all eyes on me. I tried to keep my cool and avoid any eye contact but for some reason I found myself looking at the table I had occupied for months. Just as I was about to look away, my eyes came in contact with Marlene. She gave me a satisfied smirk and it was only then that I noticed what she was seated on, more like who she was seated on.

"You're staring!" Kate whisper shouted.

I looked away and bought my lunch, which happened to be an apple and a bottle of water, before following Kate to a table that happened to be occupied by only one person.

I sat down trying to figure out how this week had started out so well but then took a turn for the worse. I couldn't wait for it to be over and done with already.

"Oh Dustin dear."

The nasally high pitched voice that belonged to no other than Marlene called out.

"That's not even her actual voice. I'd heard her speaking on the phone one day but her voice wasn't high pitched. If anything, she has a normally pitched voice." Kate said.

"What on earth are you doing with losers. Don't tell me. Don't tell me." She held up a hand as if stopping him from talking with fake enthusiasm. "You're trying to feel what it feels like to be a loser right? You're so sweet dear cousin. Just too sweet. I guess there's absolutely nothing wrong with hand me downs righ-"

"That's enough!" Dustin got up the chair scraping against the floor at his sudden movement and grabbed Marlene by the elbow and out of the cafeteria. Throughout the whole incident Marlene still managed to keep a grin on her face.

**********

I dumped the plastics in the bin beside me with a little too much force.

Somehow the day had managed to get far worse. I had been detained for sleeping in class and now I had to stay late picking up all the litter while everyone else was in their way home.

I was about to pick up a broken glass when my hand grazed the broken part, causing it to start bleeding.

"Need help with that."

"I don't need your help." I didn't have to look up to know who it was.

He made to grab my hand but I wrenched it away from him.

"Don't touch me." I seethed up at him and walked over to one of the taps to wash my now bleeding hand.

"I don't know why you're so angry." He shrugged his left shoulder. "You should be happy that I told you the truth."

I glared up at him.

"Look you deserve someone who'll love you and I'm sorry that I can't be that person. But there is someone who's always had his eyes out for you."

"Leave me alone."

"You and I both know I'm right."

I didn't watch him leave but instead tried to clean the cut on my hand.

Epilogue

"Hey you."

He hugged me from behind nestling his head in my neck causing me to giggle a little and turn to face him.

"Hey." I wrapped my arms around his neck while his remaind on my waist.

"What?" I laughed a little at the look he was giving me.

He just shook his head in response as if to say "nothing".

He lifted his hand and caressed my cheek with the back of his hand. Once. Twice. Before leaning in for a soft kiss.

Not matter how many times we'd kissed before I still couldn't get over the way he managed to make me feel each time.

"Okay you two. Break it up there's kids here."

"Kate. Always the party pooper."

"Oh shut up."

I clearly remember the days that lead up to us being together.

It was just right after Owen left the day that I was detained. After finishing up with washing the wound I started off for home but then realised that Kate had left earlier to meet up with her boyfriend who was in town for a few days.

I got out my phone to ask mum if she could pick me up but her phone went directly to voicemail. "Oh great." I continued trying her phone in hopes she might pick up to no avail.

Then I noticed some students were still in school, most likely from practice.

I felt my hand sting and I winced in pain.

"Your band's bleeding. Come on." Dustin led me to one of the taps outside and asked to keep my hand under the water while he went to get something.

When he was back, he had a first aid kit in his hand.

"May I?"

I gave him my hand he wrapped up my hand in a gaze, stopping the bleeding.

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it."

He was about to say something when my phone started ringing.

"Lyra. Sorry my phone was off. Did you need something?"

"Yeah. Can you pick me up?"

"I'm actually just five minutes from your school."

"See you."

"You could have told me you needed a ride home."

"I didn't know you were still in school."

At that exact moment Owen's words came to mind but I quickly shook them off and walked over to the car park.

**********

I was belching to a song that was playing on the radio when I heard the doorbell ring.

I wasn't expecting anyone and mum was not home. When the door opened I was greeted with the familiar face of Dustin.

"Dustin, what are you doing here?"

"I was wondering if you would accompany me to the movies?"

"Uh...like a date?"

"No." He quickly answered then cleared his throat. "I mean it's just a casual thing. You know like friends."

"Uh...I can't." His face deflated at the response I gave him.

"Oh. Okay." He said already retreating.

"But you can come in if you want. I just kind of have to be home because mum's out for a bit."

He'd stayed and watched a movie with me that day. Things between us started to get less tense although I can't say that I didn't guard my heart because I did but a talk with Kate had me opening my eyes to positive things in life and not the negatives and not months later he'd asked me on a date.

On the night of the date he took me to the beach. I was a little skeptical at first wondering why he would take me there.

He had reassured me later after seeing the expression on my face that we wouldn't be swimming. The night was slightly chilly even with my jacket on.

"I didn't know it would be this chilly tonight."

"I don't mind." I had answered him.

After he had spread a blanket over the sand and we comfortably sat down ate his delicious home made food, it began to rain.

"I don't know what happened. I counter checked. Making sure that everything was just right. The weather was suppose to be clear today."

I wanted so badly to laugh at him being flustered but decided against it and instead helped him pack everything in the picnic busket.

He sighed heavily as if in defeat and got in the car but I stood outside.

"Hurry you might catch a cold." He had said.

But instead I just stood there and tilted my head up so that I was facing the sky.

He came over to where I was standing.

"You might catch a cold you know." He said but this time with a curve in the corners of his mouth.

"Was this your plan?"

He looked a little confused before asking, "what?"

"You know? Come over here and then kiss me in the rain?"

"Is that you asking me to kiss you?" By that time he was standing in front of me, close enough to me I lifted my head up to face him.

I didn't reply to his question. I had wanted to hit myself for having had said those words but then he stepped closer to me and leaned his forehead against mine, his left hand touching my cheek.

"Just." He started while caressing my cheek with his thumb. "Let me love you." My heart pounded in my chest and I could hear blood rushing in my ears. Shakily, I nodded my head about to say yes when his lips touched mine.

My whole body was shaking be it from the adrenaline, nervousness or the rain I couldn't tell.

His lips moved slowing against mine as if he was trying to tell me everything he felt through the kiss. I reached up and threaded my hand through his wet locks all the while hoping I could tell him what I couldn't say our loud through the kiss. Alas, we were human so we broke up from the kiss in need of air.

He stared in my eyes both of us sporting a grin before hugging me. I couldn't help but let out a giggle.

After that, Dustin and I went on a few more dates and five years later we are still in love.

The End.