Forever Together
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Twilight characters or anything Twilight related.
I thought you guys would like hear more about Lucas's girlfriend in this story, Meghan Valentine. :)
Outtake 8
October of junior year:
Lucas's POV
"Lucas. Lucas!"
"Huh, what?" I asked looking around seeing Tiffany snapping her fingers right in my face.
"Were you even listening?" She asked.
"Yeah, lim of x to 3 is 8/4 which equals 2." I said.
"Lucas, I'm helping you with chemistry, not calculus." Tiffany said and I looked at my notes and opened textbook to see sure enough that they're for chemistry judging from the elements of the periodic table.
"Oh, sorry." I said sheepishly. "Okay, I wasn't really paying attention."
I am at Tiffany's house on a Friday night where she is helping me with chemistry in her room where I have to learn about combining the elements. It's easier said than done. How the hell do scientists do this? I just hope this isn't involved with computers when I go to college.
"Is everything okay Lucas?" Tiffany asked closing her notebook and taking a good look at me. "You seemed a bit bothered about something." That caused me to sigh.
"To be honest with you Tiff, no, I'm not." I said closing my notebook as well.
"What's wrong?" Tiffany asked.
"It's Meghan." I answered.
"Is she sick?" Tiffany asked.
"No, but something is wrong with her." I said.
"What is it?"
"You tell me." I said.
Flashback
Friday Afternoon
"Hey, thanks for the ride, babe." I said to Meghan as I got into her car. I just got off of work after only four hours at Starbucks and Meghan came to pick me up since my car is in the shop due to engine problems.
"Don't mention it baby." Meghan smiled as I gave her a kiss before she started driving to my house.
How is it that Meghan is my girlfriend? The most beautiful girl in school, hell, the whole world, is dating me. Compared to her, I'm okay looking at all and almost close to six feet. Then add that Meghan's now a cheerleader for the school and yet she's dating a swimmer like me. All the boys were assuming that since Meghan's a cheerleader, she and I would be yesterday's news but no, Meghan's still loyal to me. Apparently the guys believe cheerleaders only date basketball or football players. Boys, we're in a new generation now. We don't stick to the status quo forever.
Anyway, I always doubt myself to believe I would end up having Meghan since I'm… well… how do I say this nicely about myself? Okay, different. I'll put it that way. I don't look like Meghan's type but yet she loves me for me. It makes me happy about that though.
"So how was work today?" Meghan asked.
"Pretty slow," I shrugged. "The only two things that actually happened was the old lady giving me a fifty instead of a five, no matter how many times I told her what it was, she claims that's what she owes me, and there's the part where this girl received her order of beverage from me and left but then came back giving me a pamphlet with a note saying she wanted to say hi to me but saw that I was busy adding her number that goes 'Text me…' which made it really awkward." I said causing Meghan to giggle. This isn't a first; ever since I started working, girls have been… I don't how to say this exactly, they have been treating me… different. I mean as in… they treat me like how they treat guys like Matt or Cooper with the smiles and the flirting. But that would mean that girls are interested in me. Since when? Girls were never interested in me when I try to ask them out before and now they are? Sometimes I don't understand women.
"Should I be jealous?" Meghan teased.
"I wouldn't really worry about her." I said. "She looks a lot like my grandma Julianna when she was young and I don't wanna think about the thought about me and that girl together." I shuddered.
"Are you sure?" Meghan asked playfully as she pulled over on my driveway. "This girls sounds like she wants you."
"Even if she does, you don't just give a note to someone to tell them hi, just say so in person." I said. "And anyways, she can't do anything to get in between me and you. My heart belongs to you and you only. She's not like you; smart, kind, loving, got some serious girl power and most of all, beautiful." I smiled. That's when all of a sudden, Meghan's expression changed when she tensed up in her seat.
"Get out." She said.
"What?" I said in confusion.
"Get out." Meghan said a little louder.
"Meghan, did I say something wrong?" I said reaching over to gently grab her hand.
"Stop bullying me!" Meghan snapped yanking her hand away from me. Huh?
"What did I do?" I asked.
"I don't want you to treat me so different Lucas." Meghan said, turning away from me.
"Meghan, what are you talking about? All I did was complimented on how beautiful you are." I said.
"I said get out!" Meghan snapped causing me to flinch as I quickly got out of the car.
"Um, I'll call you later?" I said more in a question as Meghan reached over and slammed the door shut before she pulled out of my driveway and took off leaving me all confused… and hurt.
End of flashback
"I tried calling her back a few hours later to check on her but she wouldn't answer. She didn't respond to my e-mails and text messages and she ignored my tweets and video calls." I finished as Tiffany listens.
"Oh my gosh." She said.
"Please tell me what I did wrong." I said to Tiffany, begging. "Did I do something to cause Meghan to snap at me? If it's about that girl who gave me her number, can you call her and set her straight?"
"Honestly Lucas, after what you told me through all the conversation between you and her, I don't think you did anything wrong and yet Meghan makes it sound like you did." Tiffany said.
"I don't know what when wrong." I said. "One minute we were having a playful conversation and the next minute she snapped at me like I'm the bad guy. Please tell me it was a woman thing."
"The only woman thing that involves snapping is pregnancy. And I know for sure that's not the case." Tiffany said, adding a small chuckle. Of course not, Meghan's father, Mark would beat the hell out of me for sure… and possibly file court on me. It'll give his excuse to now hate me.
"Then what did I do?" I asked. "What should I do?"
"I think Meghan just had a bad day." Tiffany assured me. "Just give her some space, but keep up on her. I'm sure she'll come around."
"You really think so?" I asked hopefully.
"I know so." Tiffany smiled. "I know how much you love Meghan and care about her. I know she feels the same way about you since she always talks about you with me and Hannah."
"What did she say about me?" I asked.
"Oh you don't have to worry about that." Tiffany smiled, waving it off like it was nothing.
"Gee thanks." I said as Tiffany giggled.
"Come on, let's get you focus on chemistry." Tiffany said reopening her book causing me to groan. Man, I was hoping to get out of it.
The rest of the weekend was… difficult. Meghan and I still haven't talked to each other since Friday. She still hasn't responded to my calls. I wonder what her parents are thinking when they see her. I hope Mark doesn't make the wrong assumption. My parents can see the worry look on my face. You can't hide it from my dad's cop senses.
I just don't understand what Meghan's problem is. She accuses me of bullying her. How am I the bully? I'm not a bully, I was the bullied. I don't think it works that way. I'm worried about how this affects our relationship. I don't wanna lose Meghan as my girlfriend, but what can I do to fix this? The main question is,
What is the problem?
It's Monday which means for us, it's time for school. If you're Cooper, you complain about being bored as hell. For everyone else, I hope you have plans after you graduate high school. During school, Meghan still hasn't talk to me but we went on with this façade to not give the boys' hopes up about us.
Right now, it's fifth period and my friends and I have American Lit with Ms. Warner, going over the book on Animal Farm.
"In what ways did Snowball and Napoleon vie for pre-eminence?" Ms. Warner asked from reading her book.
"Bring in the mama!" Cooper declared earning a weird but amused look from Ms. Warner.
I rolled my eyes and answered. "They talk it out."
"No, they go to war." Matt said who is sitting next to me with Cooper behind him.
"Why can't they talk it out?" I asked Matt.
"They go to war." Matt said to me.
"Uh okay Matt, you and me against Lucas, like old times." Cooper said as he and Matt shook hands when Matt nodded and then both of them turned to me as I had an unbelievable look on my face.
"They talk it out!" I said.
"They go to war!" Matt said.
"Let's get him!" Cooper said. But before either of them could move, I quickly reached under my desk and pulled out two Nerf guns and Matt and Cooper covered themselves as I was shooting multiple Nerf darts at them rapidly. Matt and Cooper lowered their arms having the 'What the hell was that?' looks on their faces at me.
"Should've talked it out." I smirked as I spun the Nerf guns in my hands stopping to give each gun a blow at the place where the darts came out and strapped them back under my desk while I heard Trevin and Ryan laughing their heads off. … And Emanuel was laughing as well. I thought having one class with him last year was enough.
"You had Nerf guns taped under your desk?" Cooper asked me.
"I had them taped before the first day of school started." I said.
"How did you know you need them for this class?" Matt asked me as Cooper removed the darts that were stuck on him.
"Who says this is the only class I had my Nerf guns taped under a desk?" I asked smirking as Matt and Cooper leaned away from me as Ms. Warner giggled and continued with her lesson.
"Snowball announces his plans to modernize the farm by building a windmill, Napoleon has his dogs chase Snowball away and declares himself leader later on." She said. "George Orwell made the two characters prime examples of what happens when many conflicts don't end well between two sides during the story. Anyone wanna guess what comes next? Meghan?"
Meghan, who is sitting in front of me, lifted her head from her notes facing Ms. Warner.
"Please stop picking on me." She said.
"What?" Ms. Warner said in confusion as Tiffany raised her hand.
"Napoleon took things his way and ends up in an opposite direction for the farm." Tiffany, sitting in front of Matt, answered.
"The windmill ended up a success, but when it got destroyed through a violent storm, all animals were convinced that Snowball sabotaged their project," Ms. Warner explained as she walked around the classroom. "He soon brings treasons to other animals that are in league with Snowball. Meghan, no one should be texting you in class." She said to her kindly and I looked to see Meghan on her phone. I was about to look over her shoulder to see who Meghan was texting but she put it away before I got the chance. Who was that? If it's a guy who somehow has Meghan's number, now I have to be prepared for Meghan to change her number, again.
"I agree." Meghan said and then turned around to face me. "I don't like it when you say that about me." You have got to be kidding me. We're still going on about that?
"Okay since when has calling someone beautiful an insult?" I asked. "You were fine with me calling you that before and now you're not, what gives?" I said as Ms. Warner continues.
"As you remember, Mr. Fredrick attacks the farm. Even though the animals won, Boxer took the hit." Ms. Warner said as she returned to the front of the classroom facing us. "What does this part of the story relates to us in real life?" She asked causing Hannah, who is sitting behind me to slowly raise her hand. "Hannah?"
"People would get hurt even though they know what they're up against?" Hannah asked.
"And that led them like how Boxer would end up." Meghan said, looking down at her desk. Ms. Warner looked at Meghan and then at me and my friends.
"What's going on?" She asked. Meghan was silent as Matt, Cooper and Hannah had confused looks on their face when they and Tiffany turned to me while the rest of the class listens.
"Meghan thinks I'm bullying her because I said something she doesn't like now." I explained to Ms. Warner.
"Well a bully is someone who says things a person doesn't like." Ms. Warner said. "A bully is someone who uses power and intimidation to hurt others. There is a difference between conflicts with a friend and a bully. So don't just throw a word around."
"There are other words that you don't need to throw out as well." Meghan said as she turned to face me.
"What, beautiful? What do you have against someone calling you that now? The word that describes who you are?" I asked.
"I asked you not to, why do we have to talk about this?" Meghan snapped.
"Because, the most powerful tool anyone can use is the ability to solve a conflict with words." Ms. Warner said as I looked at Meghan.
"Meghan, since when has me calling you beautiful ever been a bad thing? It's the truth about you, not just from me but from everyone. And I'm not saying that to get something out of you, I'm being completely honest with you being beautiful outside and inside, your own definition of beautiful."
It all happened in a flash when I felt a sting that burns on my cheek as the whole class gasped.
"Meghan!" Ms. Warner said in shocked as I turned with my hand on my cheek where Meghan slapped me as she gathered her things and was out the door in seconds. I got out from my seat and followed after her before anyone could stop me. Actually, I don't think Ms. Warner minded.
"Meghan!" I called as we were out of the building and in the parking lot. "Meghan! Meghan! Meghan, come back here!" She ignored me as she was in her car. "Meghan, come on. Open this door! Meghan, please!" I said but she continues ignoring me as she pulled out of her spot and drove off as I watch her leave the school premises. Before she did, I thought I saw something where Meghan's eyes are as she blinked a couple of times.
"Lucas!" I turned when my friends caught up to me.
"Are you okay?" Tiffany asked.
"Not exactly." I said as I felt the burning on my cheek.
"Dude, I can't believe your girlfriend bitch slapped you." Cooper laughed causing Matt to smack his head. "OW!" He cried.
"Way to be sensitive." Hannah said to him.
"What happened bro?" Matt asked me.
"I wish I knew." I said as I looked at where Meghan took off. "Guys, I'm worried about Meghan."
"What did you do?" Hannah asked.
"Don't you think I would know what it is?" I asked. "Something's not right here, my cop senses are making me go crazy!"
"Lucas, we'll find out what's wrong. We're here to help." Tiffany said.
"Meghan's our friend and we'll help out whatever problem she has." Hannah said.
"Yeah bro, we'll figure this out together." Matt said.
"Even if things don't end well. OW!" Cooper cried when Hannah slapped his chest.
After school ended, we called Meghan to meet us at Starbucks. I'm not technically on duty but I will help incase I'm needed. Now why is Meghan meeting us there? Ask Tiffany who came up with a way to resolve a conflict.
Cooper came over to us with two cones of each with a scoop of chocolate ice cream. He handed one to Matt and then one to Hannah. The two of them had towels on their arms as they accepted the ice cream from Cooper. Hannah then gave the ice cream for Tiffany and backed away as Matt gave one to Meghan and did the same. They joined me and Cooper as Tiffany and Meghan stared at each other.
"Bro, are you sure you want Tiffany to go through with this, especially fighting with ice cream?" Matt asked me.
Yeah, see Tiffany has come up with a special way to handle a conflict and from what we remembered in history, someone fires the shot in the air and the other person took it the wrong way and shot that person and killed him. Tiffany thinks that the best way to see where this problem was going if it involves me is that if Meghan fights back, then it does involves me but if she stands down, then something is wrong but it has nothing to do with me.
"Tiffany volunteered to do it on my behalf to find out for herself. You know how she understands people." I said. "Besides, I can't fight girls that have no fighting experiences in my level and plus business today is slow and that ice cream is about to expire tomorrow anyway." I added with a shrug causing Matt to understand completely.
Tiffany and Meghan walked up to each other, turned around and was back to back. Tiffany then got down moving her shoulders around on Meghan's back.
"What are you doing?" Meghan asked.
"I'm itchy." Tiffany said playfully as she stood back up against Meghan while I felt an annoyed twinge. Okay I know Tiffany's a girl but nobody rubs their back against Meghan's except me!
"Alright Tiffany," Cooper said as he came over to her. "As the one who challenged this duel, you get the first shot. You take three paces, turn and fire." He said moving his hands around in motion.
"How do you know how to do this so well Cooper?" Hannah asked.
"We do this in basketball practice a lot. We always see who gets the first shot at half court." Cooper shrugged and walked over to the middle to get out of Tiffany's way.
"Okay ladies, ice cream ready." Cooper said as Tiffany and Meghan got in position. "One," They took a step forward. "Two," They took another step forward. "Three," "They took one more step. "Turn," They did so facing each other. "And fire! Wait!" Cooper halted. "Something's not right here." He said as Matt shook his head while I rolled my eyes and Hannah giggled seeing Cooper in the middle where Tiffany and Meghan are facing each other unaware that when he was counting, he was taking steps with the girls. As soon as we pulled Cooper out of the way joining us, he said, "Oh" He chuckled when he realizes it. "That would've been bad." Actually, that would've been hilarious but we'll save that for next time. "Fire!" He said signaling the fight.
There was silence as Meghan and Tiffany stared at each other. We looked at Tiffany since she gets the first move. She stared at Meghan and then at her cone. She then turned to Hannah and handed it to her.
"And that boys, is how you resolve a conflict." Hannah said as she took a lick and stared at it. "Hmm, this taste one day before expired." She said to me.
"Okay babe, please take the hint and let's move this all aside." I said to Meghan who is still holding her cone.
"This will be over when you all stop treating me different." Meghan said.
"You are different, we all are." Tiffany said to her. "That's what makes us special. That's what makes you special. You're the nicest and most beautiful girl we know and we love you for it. Accept it."
Meghan just stared at Tiffany and walked over to her as Tiffany held her arms out for a hug. Without warning, Meghan shoved the ice cream right in Tiffany's face. The rest of us were speechless as the ice cream fell off of Tiffany's face while Meghan turned around and stormed out of Starbucks into her car and drove off.
"Tiffany, are you okay?" Hannah asked as she gave her the towel.
"I'm fine." Tiffany replied calmly as she wipes her face off from the ice cream that was on her face. Fine? How can she fine after what my girlfriend just did?!
"Tiffany, I'm so sorry about that." I said.
"It's okay Lucas," Tiffany said as she was done cleaning her face as we all sat down. "It's not your fault. And it's not Meghan's either."
"What do you mean? How are you okay with all of this?" Cooper asked.
"Because that's not Meghan. That's not Lucas's girlfriend and that's not our friend. This isn't Meghan at all." Tiffany said.
"So it has nothing to do with me?" I asked.
"It does, but you're not the cause of it. You're more… linked to it." Tiffany said.
"Well then what could've happened that changed her all of a sudden?" Matt asked.
"I don't know but it's making me all worried. I'm worried that… this could be the end… for me and Meghan." I said sadly.
"Dude, relax." Cooper said giving me a light slap on the shoulder. "It doesn't look like Meghan wants to break up with you even though she's way out of your league." He said and this time, no one smacked his head.
"Yeah bro, something must be going on that doesn't involve your guy's relationship." Matt said. I hope so but what is it then that's making Meghan act like this? This isn't my girlfriend that I know and love. Why can't my cop senses just tell me?! I thought as I was running my hands through my hair.
"You know, this reminds me back in middle school how I was shorter than most people and someone would say that…" Hannah's voice trailed off and she looked like as she was somehow lost in her thought, looking down at a distance. "Oh my gosh." She said quietly.
"What?" Tiffany asked.
I turned my head and noticed that Hannah's staring me with a look like she just realized something.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked feeling weirded out.
"You gots to go." Hannah said to me.
"Huh?" I said in confusion.
"We needs more towels." Hannah said suddenly. What? "Tiffany needs more towels."
"No I don't." Tiffany said.
"Get her more towels!" Hannah said to me and the guys.
"Okay, okay!" I said as we got up.
"We're going!" Matt said as we entered behind the counter.
"Damn, what got her panties in a bunch?" Cooper said to me and Matt.
"Cooper!" Hannah said in a warning tone causing us to scramble to the back room in fear looking for towels.
Geez, first Meghan and now Hannah? What is with these girls? Is this a woman thing that I don't wanna know about?
Hannah's POV
As soon as Matt, Cooper and Lucas were in the back room and out of ear shot, I scooted closer to Tiffany.
"Hannah, what's going on?" Tiffany asked. I turned my head to check that the boys are still in the back room which they are and then turned back to her.
"Of course Meghan's beautiful, she's the most beautiful girl in school to everyone not just to boys but girls too who admire her for not caring that she's beautiful. That's what we love about her." I explained.
"So what's the problem?" Tiffany asked, not understanding this.
"Somebody doesn't." I answered.
"Huh?"
"Meghan doesn't want to be herself because she feels different, because a bully makes you feel different." I said. "A bully made me feel different about myself and made me feel bad about it before."
"But why would Meghan think I would do that to her? Why would she think Lucas would do that to her? He's her boyfriend, he would never treat Meghan that way." Tiffany said. I thought for a moment.
"I think Meghan was trying to get Lucas to hear her." I said.
"Hear what?" Tiffany asked like it doesn't make sense. "Why does Meghan keep talking about a bully if she knows that Lucas is…" Tiffany trailed off until, "Oh no." She said and I nodded as if I've proven my point. Tiffany got up and left Starbucks, got into her car and drove off. As soon as she did, I turned my head to see the boys coming back from the back room.
"Wait, did Tiffany just leave?" Cooper asked as he, Matt and Lucas exited the counter when they noticed Tiffany's absence.
"Yep." I said getting up and coming over to them.
"Then what the hell are we supposed to do with these towels?" Matt asked showing the two white towels in his hands.
"Oh they're not for Tiffany." I said taking them both from Matt.
"Well then who are they for?" Lucas asked.
"They're for you." I said to him.
"Me?"
"Yep," I said as I gently pushed Lucas back behind the entrance to the counter. "Stand right there." I said as I tied one end of the towel around Lucas's wrist leaving him confused.
"Hannah," Lucas said. "What are you even doing –"
"Don't," I cut him off, facing him. "Mistaken my wrath because of my size because I've lived with two younger brothers who are taller than me by a foot and I can still be intimidating so don't make me use it on you!"
"Okay." Lucas said raising his free hand up in surrender as I tied the other end of the towel that is tied with Lucas's wrist around a handlebar that is underneath the counter for towels.
"Look, I know we get on each other's nerves a lot, but this time, what I'm about to do to you is a serious business. I'm doing this for your own good because I care about you Lucas; I'm your best friend and you have to trust me." I said to him as Lucas was confused.
"Uh last time I checked, a best friend doesn't tie another best friend behind the counter where he works." Cooper said to me.
"Besides, I'm his best friend, we're bros." Matt pointed out as I turned to them.
"Well if you guys are his best friend, you would understand why he needs to be tied up." I said holding out a towel for Matt and Cooper causing them to look at each other in confusion.
"You what, I'm just gonna do it." Cooper said taking the towel from me. "One, because I don't need an explanation and two, because I want in on whatever action is going on." He said going to the counter with Lucas. "Sorry man." He said to Lucas as he tied Lucas's wrist to the other handlebar with the towel.
"Okay Lucas, I'm about to tell you something and I need you not to get mad." I said to him as Cooper jumped over the counter and joined me and Matt.
Lucas looked at how he was tied up and chuckled as he looked at me. "Hannah, if this is about what happened to my science gerbil in the sixth grade, I already knew it was you that killed it a long time ago." He said causing my eyes to widen at how he knew.
"Okay one, I'm sorry but for the record, I didn't kill him, I just… accidently let him out and he crawled out the window and… didn't get to the other side." I said. "And second, that's not it."
"Heh, well whatever it is Hannah, I'm not gonna get mad about it." Lucas said like I was being ridiculous. Well let's hope my plan works.
"Something's happening to Meghan." I said. Just as I feared, Lucas's expression slowly turned from a smile to a frown.
"What." He said quietly.
Tiffany's POV
After what Hannah was telling me, it all made sense about Meghan's behavior. I just can't believe it. How could I not see that? I understand people, I should at least understand what's going on with Meghan. I'm just glad Hannah told me first before Lucas because I'm sure he wouldn't like it one bit. Let's hope Hannah can hold Lucas off long enough while I talk to Meghan.
A few minutes later, I arrived at Meghan's house. Her parents are not home so I let myself in. I walked upstairs and opened the door of her room and saw her sitting on the edge of her bed hugging herself like she was cold.
"We need to talk." I said as I sat on the bed next to Meghan.
"I'm sorry for shoving ice cream in your face." Meghan said. I saw her eyes were all red and watery, there were shadows under them.
"That's not it," I said. "This isn't about the conflict between you and me or you and Lucas or you and us, your friends, this is a conflict that you're lucky I came here first before Lucas because he wouldn't like this more than I do. Why would you keep this quiet and not come to us?" I asked feeling hurt. "Why didn't you just tell us that someone is bullying you?"
Meghan didn't answer right away as fresh tears came out of her eyes. "I'm scared." She said quietly. "I didn't want you guys to see me like this, especially Lucas. I guess I did a good job being undetected from his cop senses, haven't I." She said as she wiped her eyes.
"You thought it would just go away?" I asked as Meghan nodded her head.
"It's getting worst now." She said.
"Do you know there's a difference between a conflict between a bully and a conflict between you and Lucas?" I asked.
"What?"
I answered that when I pulled Meghan close to me embracing her in a hug, comforting her.
"I called Lucas a bully," Meghan said. "I slapped him, and then I ice creamed you. I'm hurting people. I'm sorry."
"It's okay, and I'm sure Lucas will understand as well. I know he wants to help you as well." I said.
"But why?" Meghan asked as she started crying. "Everything that has happen these past few days involves him. If Lucas finds out, I'm afraid of what he'll think and… I might lose him." She said as she continues crying as I started rubbing her back to soothe.
"Meghan, Lucas isn't like that. He loves you. And you shouldn't be doing this alone at all, I'm here for you and so is Lucas. And also Matt, Hannah and Cooper. We're all here for you. We're your friends. Whatever is going on between you and this person, we'll be with you no matter what you think." I said as Meghan was able to calm down. "Now we got two things to worry about."
"What's that?" Meghan asked, sniffling. That's when my phone was vibrating. I answered when I saw Hannah's name on the screen calling me.
"Hello?" I answered.
"Tiffany, so remember what happened in the sixth grade of what became of that science gerbil?" Hannah asked.
"He's coming isn't he?" I asked understanding what she means.
"Yeah, Lucas is on his way and he's not too happy about this." Hannah said and I hung up after that turning to Meghan.
"That would be two." I said to her.
Meanwhile during the conversation…
Lucas's POV
"Someone's bullying Meghan?" Matt asked in shocked.
"Who?!" Cooper asked, demandingly as his knuckles tightened so hard that I'm sure his nails would break through his skin.
"I don't know who but I'm certain that's what happening to her. You remember how I was like when someone was bullying me in middle school." Hannah said to Matt and Cooper and turned to me.
"I had to tie you up before I told you what someone was doing to Meghan because I know how much you care about her since you now have that boyfriend protective material." She said to me. "And when it comes to the people you care about, well, despite you don't have Cooper's muscles, your strengths can be… unpredictable. Remember how you took out the entire football team in middle school, as a seventh grader before you got your black belt?"
"Oh that was one hell of a lesson to the football players alright." Cooper said.
"Yeah, never mess with Lucas by taking his Fruit Rollups." Matt said as he and Cooper nodded their heads as I just stood there listening while trying to get every inch of myself in control feeling the blood boil inside me that's causing me to shake breathing through my nose.
"Okay, I think I did it right." Hannah said.
"Oh Hannah," Matt said, shaking his head. "Hate to break it to you girl, but you messed up big time."
"What do you mean? I shouldn't have told him?" Hannah asked, turning to them.
"Nah, he would've figured it out anyway from his cop senses but that's not it." Matt said.
"Then what did I do wrong?" Hannah asked looking at where I'm standing and seeing if she left out something.
"Well one, you used towels." Cooper said as I looked at the towels that are tied to me to the handlebars.
"What should've I used?" Hannah asked.
"Eh, it wouldn't matter anyway." Cooper said as he and Matt pulled Hannah, who is confused, when they all took a step back just as I grabbed the towel on my right and pulled it hard for a few seconds causing it to pull out the handlebar right off the counter so easily where you can hear the sound of wood being ripped off from a few saw dusts flying around softly.
"Oh." Hannah said as I did the same thing with the other towel on my left.
"If there's one thing we should know about Lucas, when it comes to the people he cares about, nothing can hold him." Cooper said as I got the towels off of me. I saw Hannah pulling out her phone just as I left Starbucks.
I was driving in my car that is now fixed heading to Meghan's house. My hands wouldn't stop gripping on the steering wheel so tight and I couldn't help myself breathing so hard from this anger.
I can't believe that someone is bullying my girlfriend! Why?! What did she ever do to them? Why would this person do that to someone like her? I think the bigger question I should really be asking is why Meghan didn't tell me about this! How could she? It already hurts enough how she behaved towards me and when she slapped me but keeping this quiet from me hurts the most. What did this person do to make Meghan act like this? I'll figure out what to do if it's a girl, maybe my dad will arrest her but if it's a guy, I swear to god I will so bring the hurt on him so badly that he'll wish his mother had kept her legs crossed. The way I was able to break those handlebars was only a warm up, even though it'll cost me this week's paycheck.
I arrived at Meghan's house and I saw Tiffany's car already there. Of course she is. I thought as I got out of my car and went inside and upstairs. When I arrived at Meghan's room to see it closed, I opened the door and when I did, stuff came falling down in front of me and I saw tons of filled boxes spilling out, some drawers moves aside, a swivel desk chair spun around when pushed and many other things going down as Tiffany and Meghan were backing away.
"Or not." Tiffany said as I stepped over the fallen items and turned to Meghan who looked scared.
"Why would you not tell me about this?" I asked her.
"I should be fighting my own battles, Lucas." Meghan said.
"No you shouldn't and you don't have to, Meghan!" I said. "That's the point of having friends. That's what our relationship is about, you should always tell me what goes on in your life and vice versa with me. And did you really think that there was anything you could put in front of this door to keep me from helping you?" I asked flailing my arms around.
"Lucas, calm down." Tiffany said, coming over to Meghan who was sniffling. Okay, I do deserve a good beating for being hard on my girlfriend but can you blame me for how upset I am for two reasons? That's when I turned when I heard footsteps coming upstairs and into Meghan's room.
"Meghan, did you really think you could keep this kind of stuff from us?" Hannah asked.
"You expect that we were gonna let you take care of this problem all by yourself?" Matt asked.
"Yeah, what did you think we were gonna do? Oh by the way I took some cereal." Cooper said as Matt, Tiffany, Hannah and I had disbelief looks on our faces at Cooper holding out a bowl with a spoon. "You're out of milk… now. OW!" He cried when Hannah reached over and smacked his head.
"You know, I don't like it when one of us has a problem, we always help each other out and Meghan thinks she's the exception." I said turning to her.
"I'm sorry, I should've told you. I just… didn't want to make you all feel like burdens." Meghan said.
"Meghan, what kind of people do you think we are? What did you expect from me? No matter how bad this is, whatever it is, I'm here for you no matter what, because I'm your boyfriend." I said.
"Plus you're not just Lucas's boyfriend, you're his friend." Hannah said to Meghan.
"And you're not only his friend, you're our friend too." Matt said.
"Yeah," Cooper said setting down his bowl. "We're here for you. Together we can overcome anything."
"I told you." Tiffany said to Meghan giving her a smile. Meghan looked at her and then me and then everyone else and I felt my cop senses telling me that she feels unsure.
"But what if you're dealing with someone who –" Meghan was interrupted when her phone gave out a ding. She pulled it out and looked at her screen before putting it away. "Who just won't stop?" She finished.
"Then we won't stop either." I said. "We won't let this person get away with this. We're not gonna let them get to us that way; that's what gives them power. No matter what this person has against us, we're not gonna back down. I won't back down, I won't let this person hurt you anymore." Meghan just stared at me as tears were coming out.
"Come here," I said to her softly with my arms open as Tiffany gently ushers her to my arms as I wrapped them around Meghan when she is in them.
"I took my anger out you. I called you the bully. I hurt you. I hurt your friends. I'm so sorry." Meghan said as she started crying.
"Shh," I said as I rubbed her back. "It's okay. None of that matters. I'm here for you. Always. I love you." I said to her softly.
"I love you." She sniffled, earning kiss on her head from me as I hugged her.
"Come on guys." Tiffany said hugging Meghan from behind.
"Awe!" Hannah said joining in.
"Group hug!" Matt said happily doing the same.
"Ah hell yeah!" Cooper said getting in on it as we all hugged Meghan in a group circle to show her how important she is in our group.
I'm glad we have cleared the air of Meghan's behavior and I'm also glad to have her back to where she was with me, but we still have one main conflict. We have a new one now; this unknown bully who's hurting my girlfriend.
My friends and I didn't press on with Meghan about who is the one hassling her after what she went through yesterday but we are ready to stop this person that is responsible for hurting her. Whoever this person is, he or she made a big mistake. You mess with my girlfriend, you mess with me and don't even think about underestimating me. You know what they say; you mess with the bull, you get the horns.
It's American Lit again and we were expecting another interesting lesson from Ms. Warner about Animal Farm, but instead, we see Ms. Warner standing behind her desk until she lifted her head up facing the class.
"I want to talk to you." She said. "I know there's something going on here." She said mostly to me and my friends.
"Do you want me to tell you what it is?" Meghan asked.
"Do you want to, Meghan?" Ms. Warner said coming in front of her desk. "From what I've seen, you haven't told your parents or me and I respect that."
"It ain't good." Matt said.
"I thought so. You're in on it?" Ms. Warner asked Matt.
"Yep." Matt nodded.
"And you're in on it?" Ms. Warner asked Hannah.
"Of course." Hannah said.
"Lucas, of course you're involved in this." Ms. Warner said to me.
"Yes." I said.
"The right way?" Ms. Warner asked. I looked at Ms. Warner and it looked like she saw through me. Of course she would, she knows me too well. She knows about everything about everyone.
"Definitely." I answered.
"The right way Lucas," Ms. Warner said. "What you do now doesn't make you who you are, you should already know that from the very beginning. Got it?" I nodded my head.
"Tiffany?" Ms. Warner turned to her.
"Everything will be alright. It always is." Tiffany answered.
"Why do you think that it always is? Cooper, what's on the board?" Ms. Warner asked pointing at the whiteboard that reads "Friendship" and underneath it "Growth" in black marker.
"The top one?" Cooper asked slowly.
Ms. Warner chuckled. "That's right." She smiled.
"And you're about to tell us about the second one." Cooper said.
"Yes." Ms. Warner said.
"What do you know, jocks can be strong and smart." Cooper grinned as he leaned back in his chair.
"Nothing's more important than friends when you go through life." Ms. Warner said. "Even if you're alone when they aren't around, when they're not with you in person, there's always someone you can turn to; a parent or a teacher or even a stranger, its okay to ask for help."
I looked at my friends who looked at me and then at each other.
"That's because there is so much out there waiting that makes it easier for you guys." Ms. Warner said.
"How do we fight that?" I asked.
"That's where growth comes in," Ms. Warner said. "Relying on each other. Grow together. But sometimes you have to grow by yourself. But whatever it is that makes its way to you, it's just shadows."
"Thanks Ms. Warner." I said as she smiled and looked around.
"Haley," Ms. Warner said. "Trevin, Ryan, Bri, Emanuel, Connor, Allie, Rob, Liam, Gabby, Jordyn, A.J., Monica, Darien, Zoey, I know there are lots of groups of friends in here. And I know you guys know too." She said with pride as we all smiled to her. "Learn from each other. Continue to grow. And always know that I'm here for you. I care about you all like you're my own."
And with that, the bell rang signaling the next class.
After school, my friends and I are at my house sitting in my room figuring out what to do now after what we've learned from American Lit.
"Okay I know what Ms. Warner says is right but Meghan, if you want, I am more than happy to teach that guy a lesson for you." Cooper said to her.
"Sorry Coop but if anyone's gonna do the beating it's me. I'm the boyfriend after all but don't worry, I'll save some for you." I said as I wrapped my arm around Meghan while Cooper and I bumped fist.
"Thanks you guys but no." Meghan said causing me to be confused. "You wouldn't want to do that."
"Come on, he doesn't scare us." Cooper scoffed.
"He's a she." Meghan said. Oh.
"I'll still do it. OW!" Cooper cried when Hannah smacked his head.
"No you won't Cooper and it's not because you can't hit girls." Hannah said.
"We got this." Tiffany said pointing at her and Hannah.
"Thank you but still no." Meghan said.
"Well we tried." Hannah said.
"Okay good, you're gonna face this one down, but how?" Matt asked Meghan. She pulled out her phone facing us.
"You wanna know what she's been texting me about?" Meghan said. "She's been insulting me, very harshly; saying things about how I get attention from boys, being admired by girls, the attention I get. She states that I'm not even real, that I'm nothing but fake. Um Lucas, ow." She said.
"Oh sorry." I said loosening when my hand was gripping onto Meghan's waist so tight. Can you blame me for what I'm hearing? How dare this girl call my girlfriend fake for who she is!
"Oh this girl doesn't know shit." Cooper said.
"Yeah, you shouldn't let this girl get to you, Meghan. She's probably just jealous." Hannah said.
"She didn't do this out of jealousy, I can assure you that. And there's more to it." Meghan said. "She found out something about me, and she says that she'll tell the whole school about it."
"Um Meghan, in case you haven't noticed, the whole school knows pretty much about you." Matt pointed out.
"Yeah and I know every single thing about you when we started dating." I said to her.
"They don't know everything, neither do you Lucas." Meghan said. What?
"What don't I know about you, Meghan?" I asked as the others were confused. I mean I know her full name, her birthday is on Valentine's Day, she's from Sacramento, California, her father Mark is a lawyer who well… does not like me I would say, her mother Lynda does landscaping, she's a cheerleader and honor student like me, she is someone whose got serious girl power, she's very nice to others, she blinks a lot and it's not Morse code to the boys saying 'Please rescue me,' she loves Justin Bieber, a lot, what don't I know about my girlfriend?
Meghan took some deep breaths. "I can't believe I'm about to tell you."
"You don't have to say it." Tiffany said.
"No, I do." Meghan said taking more deep breaths. "I'm just… just worried about… what you guys would think of me when I tell you this."
"And that is…?" Matt asked.
"I wasn't always like this," Meghan said. "Being extremely beautiful, dress pretty, falling for cute boys, never did cheerleading at such a young age, getting the attention of boys, going fan crazy for guys like One Direction, Justin Bieber or Channing Tatum, I was totally the opposite of what I am today. I was… I was a… nerd."
Whoa! I thought as my friends and I were gaping at Meghan at what we just heard.
"That makes so much sense of what Meghan sees in Lucas." Cooper said still looking speechless. So were Matt, Hannah and Tiffany that they were too speechless to hit Cooper.
"Yes, I was always into my studies for fun, I wore glasses, had braces with a few zits, I talk about smart things, I dress by the rules and I had no one but my books." Meghan said.
"I think we know what happens next." Matt said.
"Yeah, you were bullied." Tiffany said as Meghan nodded her head.
"After freshmen year, I gave myself a new makeover; I started wearing beautiful clothes, wore face masks to remove my zits, got out of my braces, wore contact lens, started being more social with what's in and out, a typical pretty teenage girl thing." Meghan explained. "The next year, everyone started treating me different. I've received a lot of attention, especially from boys trying to ask me out but I never dated, not after how they treated me before. That was before I came here."
"And now this girl will reveal that to the whole school." Hannah finished for Meghan earning a nod. Okay, now I know the real Meghan. I just didn't see that coming, at all. Anyway,
"Meghan, if I'm not allowed to put myself down for being a nerd and not okay looking, why should I let you do that to yourself?" I asked her.
"Your situation of being a nerd is different than mine." Meghan said, being unable to look at me.
"So what?" I asked as I placed my finger under Meghan's chin getting her to look me. "Did you really think if I found out about this, I wouldn't want to be with you anymore? Is that what's been bothering you?" Meghan nodded her head.
"Babe, I don't care about what you were like before or what you are now, I love you for being you. That's the only thing I care about." I said.
"Really?" Meghan asked me and I nodded my head.
"I wouldn't love you any different if I found out about the real you." I said. "Plus, I think it's cute to hear that you're a nerd." I said causing Meghan to blush as I pulled her close to me for a hug. "I love you."
"I love you Lukey-pookie." Meghan said.
"Meghan." I groaned as Matt and Cooper snickered earning a dirty look from me. Why does she always call me that?
"What, it's cute." Meghan giggled.
"Not as cute as me calling you Meggy bear." I teased causing Meghan to blush furiously of red as she slapped my chest as I chuckled.
"Okay, so we know what this girl is threatening Meghan about and what she'll do. Now what?" Hannah asked.
"I'm not sure." Meghan said. "I don't know what to do. What do I do?" She asked looking at me. I looked at her and then at my friends.
"You look at your friends," I said. "And you realize that no matter what you are or what you do, we'll always be here for you." Meghan looked around to see me and my friends smiling to her causing her to slowly smile seeing that we're here for her all the way. Because that's what friends do. Because that's what I'm here for as her boyfriend.
Narrator's POV
(A/N: You are about to meet up with Meghan. You are given the role of the one bullying her. She calls you to meet her after school and she'll be speaking to you. Follow along.)
Meghan is sitting alone in the commons of the campus after school. There was nothing but silence, except for when Meghan lifted her head hearing the footsteps of the person coming over to her. Meghan got up from her seat when her bully approached her.
"Thank you for meeting me." Meghan said to her. "I know you probably have something to say, like you always have something to say, but now it's my turn to talk. You need to listen and you need to watch."
"Yes, I'm not who people think I am." Meghan continued. "They think they know everything about me, even my boyfriend thinks he knows me, but they don't. You do though. And you're not gonna put me down because of my past that you found out by telling everyone about it to make me look bad. Because I'm gonna do it."
At that moment, Lucas, Tiffany, Matt, Cooper, Hannah, Haley, Trevin, Ryan, Bri, Emanuel and many other students appeared gathering in the hallways joining Meghan with Lucas by her side facing her bully.
"I may be the most beautiful girl to everyone in this school where boys try to get my attention, being a cheerleader and being admired by everyone, but deep down, I was the girl who hides behind the glasses, a nerd. That's who I was before and that's who I'll always be." Meghan said to the bully. "I wouldn't be who I am now if it weren't for these people, my friends." She continued. "Because it's true friends that accept you for who you are, regardless of your past."
"I do however want to thank you though." Meghan said to the bully taking a step towards her. "Because this was hard, especially telling about part of my life to the one person I love. But I've embraced it. So thank you." She said with a smile.
"Wait, where are you going?" Meghan asked seeing her bullying turning around and walked away.
Lucas came over to Meghan's side and took her hand.
"Look at that babe," He said as they watch her bully continue walking away. "The farther away she goes, the smaller she gets." He said as the bully disappeared and he gave Meghan a proud smile as Meghan went up and kissed his lips while everyone applauded to Meghan for standing up for herself.
Lucas's POV
The next day of school, everything was back to normal, if you know what I mean. The bully was no longer a threat to Meghan since her idea to make her look bad backfired and was not heard of again. My relationship with Meghan has gotten stronger than before. The only problem is the same as always for me. Boys are still trying to ask her out even though she's taken by yours truly even though they knew what she was before. Either they don't care or they're just too blind to picture her as a nerd. Seriously, there should be a law against going after someone who is in a relationship and should be punished for it. Why can't Mark help me out if he has something against me dating his daughter?
"Well, we did it." Meghan said one morning before school starts.
"You did it." I said as we were walking down the halls hand in hand. "Friendship and growth, remember?"
"So what happens next?" Meghan asked.
"Beats me," I shrugged. "Whatever it is, you can handle it, and I'll be here for you."
"And I'll be there for you." Meghan smiled as I gave her a kiss before we arrived at my locker.
"So guess what Lucas," Meghan said as I opened my locker. "My psychology class is making us do a project for our presentation of our choice of topic."
"That's sounds cool." I said as I grabbed my textbook for Calculus putting it in my bag. "So what's your presentation gonna be about?" I asked putting my textbook for French in my bag next causing Meghan to smile and I picked up something from my cop senses that is making me feel a bit cautious for some reason.
"Well, since you accepted me for who I am regardless of what I was before comparing you with the other boys, I thought I'd do a little experiment to see if people would treat me differently if I look as I were before to study the effects of their minds." Meghan explained, smiling bigger. "And I'm starting off with you as my first subject as I wear these." She said holding out something small for me to see.
"Glasses? Really?" I asked chuckling as I reached into my locker and pulled out my textbook for AP U.S. History. "As honored I am to be part of your experiment, my reaction and behavior to you is not gonna change based on how – oh my god you look so smart and hot!" I said with my mouth open in complete dumbstruck when after I closed my locker, I turned to see Meghan wearing those black frame cat eye glasses on her face causing me to nearly fall to my knees as I lean on my locker for support.
"That's not all," Meghan smiled as she touched her glasses lifting them down as she looked at me, peering causing me to gulp as my heart started racing. "Algorithms." She said causing me to be completely stunned how she said something so smart in that tone.
I must have been frozen because Meghan giggled and cupped my face closing my mouth to kiss me causing me to snap out of it.
"Come on." I said taking Meghan's hand.
"Where are we going?" Meghan asked as I started leading us out of the hallway. "Class is that way." She said in amusement.
"I need to show the guys I have one smart and beautiful girlfriend." I said as Meghan started giggling.
I'll say it again, how is it that Meghan's my girlfriend?
I hope you enjoyed that chapter. Please review.