Bloody High schools…can be torture.

Risty Maskell and Silver15

Disclaimer: We don't own anything remotely connected to LOTR. Though we wish we did, we don't. So damn.

Summery: Just another high school fic. Read and find out. OK?

Author Note: I was supposed to be doing my Sociology coursework, but I started writing this instead. So I guess I'm going to get in trouble again. Oh well, what else is new?

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To be completely honest, although I can be myself if I'm just around a few friends, I get nervous around a lot of people. So, while the others talked amongst themselves, I sat and watched them. Occasionally I was asked a question and I would answer it politely before dropping my head again.

Across the room, Billee and Legolas were talking quietly, their heads close together as they laughed about something. Next to me, Jamie was giggling at something that Frodo had said. I couldn't help smiling at that. I knew she liked the guy, I could tell from the way she was acting. It would be something to tease her about later.

Quickly, I stood up and slipped out of the room. I need to be alone for a while. My head felt heavy and I really needed some air. I made for the main door and stood outside, trying not to think about my parents. It's strange, when I'm at home I can't wait to come back to school but when I'm at school I start questioning the way my parents behave. I love them, deep down I really do. I just don't understand what I've done to them to make them hate me so much…

Around dinnertime, Jamie came looking for me. I knew she would. She looked relieved when she saw that I was all right.

"I was worried when you disappeared like that" she told me. "You should have told me you needed some air. I would have come with you"

"I just wanted some time alone" I explained. "You know I don't like being around lots of people. I tried my best, but it all got a bit too much"

"I know," she said, giving me a quick hug. "And I'm proud of you for trying"

"Thanks. Is it dinner time yet?"

"Yeah" she pulled back and looked at me carefully. "Are you coming?"

"No, I don't feel too good" I admitted. "I have a headache and I don't feel much like eating. You go in, I'll see you later"

"If you're sure" She began to walk away, then turned back and looked at me carefully. "Emma?"

"What is it Jamie?"

"You haven't been…hurting yourself again, have you?"

"No" I said guiltily. "Not for a long time now"

"Good, I'm glad. It's just that if I find out that you have…you know I can't keep it a secret, don't you?"

"I wouldn't expect you too," I told her. "Besides, I don't do it any more" Jamie still looked worried. I didn't blame her; I knew that I hadn't been acting like myself all day. "Go on" I added, giving her a small push. "Go and find Frodo and the others. I'll be fine"

"Okay then" Jamie smiled and walked away. "I'll see you later"

"See you" I called back. I hated lying to my best friend, but the way I saw it was that sometimes you had to tell lies to protect people. I was just trying to protect Jamie.

I took a long walk right the way around the outside of the school. It was very peaceful, mainly due to the fact that everyone else was having dinner.

I was walking around for the second time, when I collided with someone. Startled, I looked up and found myself looking straight at Boromir.

"Sorry" I mumbled, looking at the ground. "I guess I wasn't looking where I was going"

"It's fine" Boromir replied, also looking at the ground. "I was looking for you"

"Why?" I asked, rather surprised. Not many people know I exist, let alone come looking for me. "Did you want something?"

"I just wondered if you were okay," Boromir said quietly. "When I asked Jamie where you were, she said you didn't feel to good. I just want to make sure…"

"I'm fine, really. Just a little headache, that's all" I smiled at him, although I couldn't quite meet his eyes. "It's just the excitement of coming back to this place. I'm sure I'll be fine when lessons start tomorrow"

"What do you think of this place?" he asked me. "I really didn't want to come here"

"Why not?" I asked. Boromir shifted uncomfortably.

"I guess…I just didn't know what it was going to be like" he said quietly. "I'm rather nervous"

"That's perfectly normal," I said with a shrug. "It wasn't my choice to come here. My parents decided that they didn't want the bother of looking after me"

"I'm sorry"

"Don't be," I said immediately. I'm not one for pity. "It's been hard, but I hate people feeling sorry for me. Anyway, I was really scared when I first came here. But now it's almost like my home. The only thing I have at home that I don't have here is my dog. I miss him when I'm here. But he's the only reason I go home at all"

"I see. What about the teachers?"

"Oh, they're great" I said honestly. "Providing you work hard and follow the rules, they even let you have a little fun occasionally. Yeah, it's better than I thought it would be"

We both fell silent. It was beginning to get dark and we could see the stars above us. Indigo would have said it was romantic, but I'm really not into all that romantic stuff.

"I think I'll go back," I said finally. "I want to get to bed before the others come in"

"I'll walk back with you" Boromir said with a smile. "If you don't mind, that is"

"I don't mind. Come on, I'll race you to the main door"

"You're on" he sprinted off immediately. I had to put all my energy into keeping up with him. We reached the door at the same moment and laughed.

"I guess we both win," he said. "I never expected a girl to be so fast"

"I'm a half-elf," I told him, pulling the door open. "Besides, I do a lot of running"

We paused at the door to the common room. From inside we could hear many of our friends. Boromir hesitated and then looked at me.

"Are you going to come in?" he asked. I shook my head. "Well then" he continued. "Thank you. I feel much better now. Maybe I will see you tomorrow"

"Maybe" I agreed. "Goodnight, Boromir"

"Goodnight Emma" he called as I headed to my dorm. Once inside, I got undressed and quickly jumped into my bed. And as I lay there, I found myself looking forward to the days ahead. After all, tomorrow lessons would start and we would begin to get back into a routine. And with a bunch of cute, new guys around, things were going to get interesting.