Chapter 3

The bruise was still as big and purplish black as it was yesterday. I decided not to put makeup on it since every teacher bought my story and it was pouring again anyways.

I grabbed an apple from next to one of the lunch ladies and looked out at the cafeteria. I took a bite of my apple as I decided where to sit-in the back corner at one of the tables that was always empty. I hate lunchtime at school. It's a playground for torturers. Yesterday was scarily quiet so I knew that today was going to be eventful.

I sat down at the table, thinking about last night. My parents didn't come home until eleven and even then they were too… occupied with each other to even remember me, thankfully. Though I would have preferred them to occupy each other quieter.

I leaned back slightly in my chair and bounced my leg, eating the apple. Today I was wearing an engulfing hoodie and the same jeans. When you only have two pairs of jeans you have to wear each until they are visibly dirty. I need new ones, I know.

I searched around the cafeteria, not fully understanding what I was looking for until I found it. Or should I say them.

Jared, the girl, and the handsome man sat in the corner across the relatively small cafeteria. The girl was animatedly talking as Jared laughed. The handsome man was staring down at his food. He looked up every few seconds and then forced his head back down, like he was struggling with himself.

The handsome man seemed to disappear yesterday, I didn't see him anywhere and Jared and the girl sat at lunch without him. I don't know why I even cared at all. But I was intrigued by him.

Then he looked up, meeting my eyes. His eyes held frustration and pain, but also another emotion that I didn't understand. I wanted to look away, embarrassed the man caught me, but I was stuck. I subconsciously wanted to stare at him, to take in his every feature, to study him, to know him. The pain in his eyes tore at me, bringing me pain. I just wanted to ease his pain.

I smiled smally and reassuringly at the handsome man. As if to say, it will be okay. He perked up, surprised. A smile graced his lips and he looked as unused to it as I was. But all the same, his smile was down right gorgeous. It wasn't goofy or stiff, just beautiful and happy. Real happiness that seemed to soak into my body, making me feel slightly better.

I tore my eyes away from the handsome man, terrified of the calm feeling that swept over me. I felt… secure for the first time in years. A decade at least. And it was completely addictive, yet terrifying.

I stood, heading to one of the garbages to throw away the remainder of my apple. After I threw it out I turned and ran straight into a guy behind me.

I looked up with wide eyes at the guy. He was tall and had long hair that waved past his shoulders. He glared at me, light eyes blazing. I glanced at his shirt, which had water all over it. I winced.

"I'm sor-"

The guy growled and shoved me backwards. I fell onto my butt, hitting my head on one of the nearby chairs and my hand scraping something sharp on the floor. I heard a few gasps throughout the cafeteria. The guy in front of me was shaking, his body moving like an earthquake. I brought a hand to the back of my head, which stung worse than the bruise on my eye. I looked at the guy, eyes wide and terrified.

I stood up quickly and took a painful step back. Suddenly a man was standing in front of me, blocking my view of the guy who pushed me. He was tall, extremely tall and muscular. Also familiar. The man was shaking also. There were a few growls, inhuman growls that made me step back again.

"Are you okay?" a girl's voice gasped from beside me. I felt someone touch my arm and I flinched. I looked at the girl and recognized her to be the girl with Jared and the handsome man all the time. Then it clicked that the man in front of me was the handsome man. "Did he do that to your eye?!"

"No," I said quickly, not wanting it to become a big deal. The girl looked at me worriedly. "I'm okay. Really."

"But, you're bleeding!" she stated. I looked at her confused and followed her eyes to my hand. It was scraped up pretty badly. I frowned.

"I'm fine."

"Come on, I'll help you wash it," she said, grabbing my wrist and tugging me along with her. I shook my head.

"Really I'm-"

"I'll help you wash it," she repeated with finality and I shut my mouth. She pulled me along to the girls bathroom leading off of the cafeteria. The girls in the bathroom made faces at us and left in whispers. I rolled my eyes.

The girl pulled me to one of the sinks and turned on the water. She put my hand under it and I winced at the cold water.

"My name's Kim by the way. Kim Connweller."

"Marlene Dawson," I nodded. She smiled at me. I smiled awkwardly back, not used to the feeling of the smile on my lips.

"What happened to your eye?" Kim asked, eyes focusing on my cut hand. Jeez, the girl is like a doctor.

"Got hit with a baseball."

Kim looked at me skeptically. Her eyes examined my face and she shook her head.

"I don't think so. My little brother got hit with a baseball and it looked different. You look like you got punched."

I kept my face straight on the outside, but inside my throat was closing up. I bit my lip and chewed on it nervously.

"Who are you? Dr. House?" I laughed awkwardly. Kim frowned for a second, but a grin eased its way onto her face.

"I wish. Trust me."

"I should probably go apologize to that guy."

Kim looked at me incredulously, her eyes wide as she shut off the sink and dried off her hands. I raised an eyebrow at her and she scoffed. The warning bell sounded.

"Embry? The guy that pushed you? Like Paul would let you. Sorry but I have to get to class. I hope I'll see you again, Marlene," Kim waved and disappeared from the bathroom.

Paul? Who's Paul?

A/N: Another day, another chapter. Hope you enjoyed!