Chapter one

Lunch break. The part of the day most people looked forward to. The canteen was pearly white, delicious smells wafting down every possible corridor, and into every room.

Big groups of friends stood together. A cluster of giggly girls with make up to hand. Boys with hoodies, clearly showing the teachers they were breaking the rules. Little year sevens whispering together. Girls and boys reading or studying, those children were an endangered species.

And there was Jack. Sitting at his usual table, alone. He felt uncomfortable. A gang of girls were coming closer to him. Company never worked for him, most people acted as if he was invisible.

Sighing, he stood up and left, but as he was about to step out, he heard harsh laughter.

He came back in, to see most of the canteen grouped around a couple of year tens and a young looking boy with brown hair and skinny frame, he looked smaller than Jack, maybe year seven? The boy had what looked like the leftovers from somebody's meal on his front and was crouched on the floor in fear.

"Poor kid" Jack muttered, making his way towards the crowd. He wondered if he could help, he was tall, but he himself was skinny and could easily be beaten in a fight.

Suddenly Jack saw an angry looking red head with a mass of fiery curls push her way through the crowd and without hesitation punched one guy in the face.

"Leave off him right!" she said, standing in front of him, her face thunder.

The boy with the punched face reluctantly retreated.

"Hey!" another one said, pushing the girl. She answered by kicking him on the shin, he and the other ran off.

"You ok mate?" she asked, helping the boy up.

"Uh yeah, thanks" the boy said quickly, before running off.

Jack watched the girl stalk off by herself. He followed her, and walked beside her.

"Err..Hi..um, what you did there was quite impressive" he stammered.

She looked at him. "Yeah, well them idiots well deserved it". She paused. "I'm Merida, you?"

"Jack" he said.

"Well, see ya round"

"yeah..see you" Jack walked away. He looked back at Merida. He hoped he had a class with her, she looked like she was different from the others, but she looked feisty and fearless.

Maybe that was a good thing.

Well, whatever happened tomorrow looked better