The school day dragged on, but Amelia's mind remained stuck on what had happened at lunch. Lucas's sharp words, the fierce look in his eyes he hadn't hesitated to stand up for her. No one ever had.
When the final bell rang, she packed her things slowly, hoping to avoid any more drama. But as she stepped into the hallway, Lucas was already waiting.
"Come on," he said, flashing that easy smile as if nothing had happened. "I'll walk you home."
They walked side by side through the quiet streets, the afternoon sun hanging low. Amelia clutched her broken phone in her bag, a reminder of how far Evelyn was willing to go.
"Is your phone completely dead?" Lucas asked after a while.
She nodded. "It won't even turn on."
He sighed, pulling his own phone from his pocket. "I'll text you tonight anyway. If you don't answer, I'll just knock on your door."
Amelia couldn't help but smile softly at his teasing. Somehow, his presence made the world feel a little less cruel.
When they reached her house, she hesitated at the gate. "Lucas…"
He tilted his head. "What?"
"…Why do you care so much?" The question hung heavy in the air, trembling with something unspoken.
For a moment, his playful mask slipped. "Because you don't deserve this. And… I know how it feels to be alone."
His words settled deep in her heart. Before she could respond, he gave a small wave and turned toward his own house.
That night, Amelia sat by her window, staring out at the dim glow from Lucas's room. Her phone was broken but somehow, she didn't feel as disconnected as before.
The next day, the tension at school grew thicker. Evelyn might have backed off for now, but her glare across the classroom promised it wasn't over.
Amelia tried to blend in, but Lucas made that impossible. He walked with her between classes, leaving no room for the whispers to settle.
And it didn't go unnoticed.
During gym class, Amelia sat on the sidelines while the others played basketball. Lucas was on the court, and even from a distance, her eyes kept finding him how easily he moved, how effortlessly he fit in, despite standing out.
"Bet he's just pretending to care," a voice sneered nearby. Evelyn. "Guys like him don't stick around for girls like you."
Amelia swallowed the sting of her words, forcing herself to look away.
When class ended, she hurried to the locker room only to find her gym bag missing.
Panic surged as she checked every bench, every hook. Nothing.
"Looking for this?" Evelyn's voice cut through the room. She dangled the bag in her hands, a cruel smile curling her lips.
"Give it back," Amelia said quietly.
"Make me." Evelyn stepped closer. "Or do you always need your little guard dog to save you?"
Before Amelia could react, a loud bang echoed through the locker room as Lucas pushed open the door.
"Didn't anyone teach you to pick on someone your own size?" His voice was dangerously calm, but his eyes burned with anger.
Evelyn stiffened. "This doesn't concern you."
"It does when you mess with her." He took a step closer. "I won't warn you again."
The room was deathly quiet as Evelyn tossed the bag onto the floor and stormed out, her friends trailing behind.
Amelia bent to pick it up, her hands trembling slightly. "You didn't have to…"
"I wanted to." Lucas knelt beside her, his voice softer. "You're not alone, Amelia."
Her heart pounded at how close he was, the warmth of his presence easing the ache she had carried for so long.
And as she looked up at him, she realized one thing: Lucas wasn't just helping her. He was becoming impossible to forget.
To be continued…