The following morning at Excel High School felt different heavier. Whispers trailed behind Amelia the moment she stepped through the gates. Some were about the dodgeball incident, others about Lucas. His boldness in standing up to Jason had turned heads, but it also painted a target on his back.
Amelia kept her head down, hoping to stay invisible. But that hope shattered the moment she walked into class.
Lucas was already there, leaning back in his chair like he didn't have a care in the world. His easy confidence stood out against the tension hanging in the room. Jason sat at the back with his usual group, but the cold edge to his expression promised trouble.
Amelia hesitated before sitting down. The air felt like a stretched wire one wrong move, and everything would snap.
"Morning, sunshine," Lucas said softly as she slid into her seat.
She shot him a warning look. "Don't call me that."
"Noted," he chuckled, but his eyes softened. "You okay?"
No. She wasn't. But admitting that would only make her feel weaker. "I'm fine," she muttered.
Lucas didn't push, but his gaze lingered a little longer before turning to the front of the class.
By lunchtime, the day had grown worse.
As Amelia approached her locker, her stomach dropped. It was wide open and empty. Every book, every notebook gone.
Her throat tightened as a cruel voice rang out.
"Looking for these?"
Jason stood at the end of the hallway, a handful of her notebooks dangling from his fingers. His grin widened as he raised them high.
"Give them back," Amelia demanded, trying to keep her voice steady.
"Come get them," Jason taunted, his friends laughing around him.
She wanted to run to avoid another public humiliation but she was tired of feeling weak. Gathering every ounce of courage, Amelia started toward him.
Before she got halfway, Lucas appeared beside her.
"You've had your fun," he said, his voice low and cold. "Give them back."
Jason's smile faded, but he didn't move. "Or what? You think I'm scared of you?"
Lucas took a step closer. "Maybe you should be."
The air grew heavy with tension. Every student nearby had stopped to watch.
Amelia's heart pounded in her chest. She didn't want a fight not because of her. But Lucas's expression was unreadable, like he was ready to snap.
Jason's smirk faltered just a little. He shoved the notebooks into her chest, knocking her back a step. "Fine. She's not worth it anyway."
Lucas didn't respond. He simply watched as Jason and his friends walked off, their laughter fading down the hall.
Amelia clutched her notebooks tightly, feeling her hands shake.
"You okay?" Lucas asked, his voice softer now.
She nodded quickly, even though her heart was still racing. "You didn't have to do that."
"I know," he said, his gaze steady. "But I wanted to."
And for a second just a second Amelia wondered how much more she could push him away before he stopped wanting to help at all.
Later that day, the rain returned soft and steady as Amelia walked home. She usually hated the rain, but today, it matched her mood.
Halfway down her street, footsteps sounded behind her.
"You really like running off on your own, don't you?"
She turned to find Lucas, his hair damp from the rain, walking beside her like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"You don't have to walk with me," she said quietly.
"I know," he said, flashing a grin. "But I'm stubborn."
A small, reluctant smile tugged at her lips.
They walked in silence for a while, the rain pattering softly around them. For once, it wasn't uncomfortable. It was… peaceful.
When they reached her house, Lucas paused, shoving his hands in his pockets. "You sure you're okay?"
Amelia hesitated, torn between the truth and her usual instinct to push people away. But something about the concern in his eyes made her walls weaken.
"I'm tired," she admitted softly. "Of all of it."
Lucas tilted his head. "Then let me carry some of it."
The words were simple but they shook something loose inside her.
Without thinking, she whispered, "Why do you care so much?"
His smile faded, and for a moment, he looked almost… vulnerable. "Maybe because I know what it's like to feel like no one else does."
Her heart stuttered. There was something in his voice something real. And it terrified her how much she wanted to trust it.
Before she could say anything else, he took a step back. "Get some rest, Amelia. I'll see you tomorrow."
As he walked toward the house next door, Amelia stood on her porch, watching his figure disappear into the rain.
And for the first time in a long time, she felt like maybe just maybe she wasn't completely alone anymore.
To be continued…