I turned and met a pair of darkened, malicious glaring eyes. Austen towered over where I sat, his arms folded and a crew of beefy boys stood behind him. I noticed that his nose was bruised and looked sore from Gerard's punch, making me inwardly smirk. "Why hello there, Krissy," he said, his tone pleasant but with an undertone of venom. The effect was kinda killed, though, by the fact that his voice sounded muffled and slightly distorted thanks to his nose injury. I raised my chin bravely, keeping my expression cool. After all, what could he do in a crowded cafeteria? I put on my best posh accent, made even better by my original English one. "Wow, Austen darling, I must say, my Gerard has made quite a change to your face, hasn't he? I rather like the improvement myself, it looks good on you." I heard a few laughs - or giggles in Mikey's case - from the boys sat around me. I even spotted a couple of smirks from the boys backing Austen, of which I was proud. The hid their amusement well, though, ever faithful to the leader of their clique. Austen clenched his fists and leaned down to my face, so that we were at eye level and he could glare straight into my face. "Listen, bitch. You and your faggot boyfriend better watch your step around me, got that? Trust me, you won't like what I do to you if you make me hurt you." His words were pretty frightening, especially teamed with the look on his face, but I wasn't about to show weakness. That was like surrender. So I kept my expression and tone pleasant, a light smile on my lips. "Well, Austen, you might want to think twice before you try violence on us. Didn't work out so well for you last time, did it?" His face flushed, and I grin a little wider. We held our stares a while longer, neither of us wanting to be the one who looked away first. I didn't even blink. Eventually, he leaned back and stood over me once again, arms crossed over his chest. "You wanna watch that mouth of yours, Krissy. You'll end up regretting it." I simply rolled my eyes, and he stalked away, drawing the eyes of several people. I saw lips begin to move as gazes darted between the two of us, rumours beginning to fly like sparks, slowly igniting a flame. I sighed at the sight, knowing I was in for another week or so of stares and speculation, than I turned back to the table and launched the guys into a completely ordinary conversation as if the whole confrontation had never happened. At first they seemed uneasy, but I remained stubbornly cheerful and soon they dropped their negativity and got back to their usual bubbly selves. Frank took it upon himself to tell me a hilariously funny story about Mikey's encounter with a fork and a toaster. "I swear," he gasped. "I thought we were all gonna die. I honestly thought he was gonna blow us up!" Frank, Ray and I all burst into fits of laughter, while Mikey blushed and flipped us all off, pulling a sulky face. Still giggling, I leaned over and ruffled his hair, making him squirm. By the time the bell chimed, we had all but forgotten the little encounter. I breezed through the day, quite happy, until I wandered into art class alone. I felt a pang of loneliness there - this class was mine and Gee's time together, it was like a special daily hour reserved just for us. I settled in the back of the room, pulled out my sketchbook and, after a moment's thought, I began to draw him. I focused on all the details of his face that I had long since memorized; his high cheekbones, his pointy nose and soft lips, his deep, pretty eyes. I was so consumed shading a tangle of dark hair falling over his face, that I didn't realize there was someone stood over me until I heard him speak my name. I jumped and snapped my book shut, looking up. A boy I had never spoken to before stood over me. He was largely built, with sandy blonde hair and green eyes. A very stereotypical popular-boy appearance, I thought. I racked my brain trying to come up with a name for him, and recalled thay he was called Jason. He folded his arms. "Is is true that Austen tried to get off with you?" My jaw dropped in disbelief. "What?" I very nearly shrieked. I glanced over to Austen, who was busy chatting with a busty, giggly girl and paying me no attention. Jason smirked. "That's what I heard. Isn't that why Gerard punched him? Because he tried to get a piece of your ass?" I glared at the crude, obnoxious boy. "No, that is NOT what happened." I muttered. He nodded. "Didn't think so, to be honest. Austen has standards." I snorted and nodded at the girl who was now running her hand up and down Austen's arm, leaning forward so he could see right down her low-cut shirt. "You call that standards?" I asked mockingly. Jason just through me a look, and stalked over to where the couple sat, murmuring something to them. The girl looked over at me and scowled, a look that should have sent me flying. Austen, on the other hand, just shot me a predatory grin and then returned to flirting with her. I sighed and continued drawing until the bell, when I swung my bag over my shoulder and left as swiftly as possible. I hurried alone toward the exit amongst the stream of teenagers all headed the same way. That is, until a strong arm plucked me from the sea of bodies and yanked me down a deserted corridor. Before my mind could register, I was slammed against the lockers there, sending pain through me sharply. I opened my eyes and met several pairs of dark, menacing ones.

Notes

Ugh, this chapter really annoyed me. I had the whole thing written, and then my fucking phone decided to crash and lose it all. So I had to write it all again, hence the delay. But here it is, the second attempt at writing this! And don't hate me for the cliffhanger, I think we already all know that I love using them at every opportunity. While i'm here, I'm gonna do some shameless advertising. Any of you guys on Twitter, do me a favour and check out the account @mychempictures. I co-own it with someone else, and we'd love it if more people would get have a look and naybe follow us! Thanks in advance ^.^ love and hugs to you all! Xxx