I'll catch you if you fall

Authors note

Thought I'd try this story out. This is a bit different, J.B isn't dead…I know that was the plot of the story but… Oh well! I don't own The betrayal of Natalie Hargrove, only this storyline and Leave a review please xxxxxx Love ya!

Ch.1 So not funny…well, maybe a bit.

Natalie's POV

I walked into the school gates briskly, my mid-thigh length dress swishing around my body in a, if I do say so myself, rather sexy way. Hands wrapped around my waist and a familiar voice whispered in my ear "Guess who." I giggled and spun round, pecking my long-time boyfriend Mike's lips with my own. "Hey babe."

"Hi gorgeous. You look beautiful today."

"Why thank you." I stepped back slightly and looked him over, black skinny jeans and a t-shirt that showed off his amazing muscles. "Not so bad yourself." I nodded in approval. We linked our arms and began to walk towards the school block.

"Tal! Hey Tal wait up!" I swivelled on my heel at the sound of my old nickname and saw a skinny girl with her thick blonde hair swaying back and forth at the speed of her running. She skidded to a stop in front of me, her bright sky blue eyes wide. "Amy? What are you doing here?" Amy was a girl I had once known, years ago when we used to live in the same trailer park. "I just started, it's my first day. My dad went and got himself killed over some loan so I got adopted by this filthy rich gay couple!" I wasn't sure whether to say 'I'm sorry for your loss' or 'Yay congrats!' so I just settled for "Wow."

"I know right!"

"So, are you ok…I mean with the whole…issue…about your Dad?"

"What, oh I'm fine. He was a stupid bastard anyway, never really cared."

"Well then, congratulations I suppose."

"Thanks, well. See ya!"

She jogged off towards a group of cheerleaders waving at her; they must live near her or something. I was about to walk away when something caught my eye, Amy was giggling and wiggling her fingers at someone near the school gates, hey! I had taught her the giggle and wiggle! I turned to see who she would be using such a sacred piece of flirting material on, and wished I hadn't.

Justin Balmer was leaning against the wrought iron fence; he blew and over exaggerated kiss to Amy, then turned his head to talk to an older boy in a leather jacket, sitting on his motorbike. Tommy, Justin's older brother. Justin must have said something not nice because Tommy leapt of the bike, came through the gates and grabbed Justin's shoulder. He looked around and, seeing me and Mike, started dragging Justin towards us. "Oh Christ." I muttered under my breath,

"Mike, mate, Justin here has decided that he's not coming to school today, I need to make sure he does."

"Piss off you absolute llama lord!" That was it, Mike cracked up.

"Mike! Not funny, I need your help!" Tommy's voice was offended.

"So sorry Tom but llama lord!" Mike paused for another bout of laughter "Come on its pretty funny."

Justin wrenched his shoulder away from Tommy, only to have Mike grab his arm.

"He's right mate, you've got to actually attend school at least twice this semester to get Palmetto Prince." I stared open mouthed at Mike. Why was he discussing Palmetto royalty with Justin?

"Fuck Palmetto." Tommy walked away, apparently happy leaving J.B in our hands. Coach Prev, commonly called Coach Perv by students walked over just in time for Justin's show to begin.

"Fuck it, fuck my parents, and fuck my brother, fuck coach perv, yes I'm talking to you! And fuck you aswell!" That last part was directed at a freshman walked past, who promptly dropped her lollypop and ran for the school block. "Mr Balmer, control yourself!" Coach Perv tried to get J.B to stop shouting but he wasn't having any of it. He ran for the gates, with the Coach on his tail. "What the bloody hell was that all about?" I said to Mike.

"Well you can't really blame the guy for going a little loopy, he just found out that his dad, the guy who murdered his baby sister, is going to get out of jail if he doesn't go and give evidence. If he gives evidence then his dad's gang is going to be after his head. His mother won't accept witness protection and J.B can't go by himself." Mike stopped for breath.

"His baby sister? When did he have a baby sister?"

"Nat! Do you not remember, her name was Abigail-Rose, he was gushing about her for weeks."

"No, doesn't ring a bell…Sorry."

We walked hand in hand to the school block, the whole student body seemed to be in shock at J.B's outbreak, well, the younger ones anyway. Us older ones had experience it before so just carried on as usual.

Abigail-Rose, I remembered clearly although I hadn't let on to Mike, I had met her many times in the few months she was alive. A beautiful baby girl, exactly what Mrs Balmer needed after all that had gone on with Tommy's motorbike accident.

But she had been cruelly taken by her own father, stabbed repeatedly all over her fragile little body, the news had made me sick to my stomach so I had mentally blocked it from my mind. Seeing J.B in the drawn, weak state he's been in pushed me over the edge, I had never wanted or would ever have needed to see him like that. Like a weak structure of glass, like any sudden movement would destroy him. Not something you'd wish on your worst enemy.

Authors Note

Thanks to Thatsjustusxx for the help on this, although I changed what we discussed slightly. Please review on this as I don't know if I'll continue it… Thanks!