Grace hung her head as she lumbered through the school hallway, she felt as though everyone's eyes were on her………judging her………shaking their heads.

They all knew what she had done………how she'd broken the heart of one of the sweetest, kindest boys in the whole school!

When she finally reached her locker she stuck her head in as far as it would go and rummaged around until the bell went- tying to avoid speaking to anyone, and getting poked and probed about 'the break-up'.

GRACE but……….is this an 'official' break-up………..or is he temporarily angry at me and we're having one of those 'breaks' that you always hear about in movies?

When the hallways seemed quiet enough, Grace pulled her head shamefully out of her locker and closed the door.

She looked at her timetable and cringed as she saw the word 'English'.

Grace sighed as she started walking slowly towards her class; she kept telling herself to breathe………….just breathe.

And as she opened the door, of the still bustling classroom- she caught sight of him.

Sitting in the back far right corner of the room, staring out the window.

His black tousled hair fell down his brow……….and although they were averted away from her, Grace could see his dark, brooding eyes were deep in thought…………something told Grace that they were thinking about her.

She suddenly realized that she'd been standing in the doorway for quite some time now; so she slowly breezed across the room, and took a seat in the back row, to the far left.

From the corner of her eye she could see Ayden hadn't noticed her presence.

She breathed a sigh of relief, and turned away.

"Grace Manning"

She didn't look to the front of the class- instead she turned and looked at Ayden- instantly feeling blood rush to her cheeks when she saw him staring right back at her, a firm face plastered on.

"Miss Manning?" Mr. Simmons called again.

"Here" she squeaked, sinking down into her seat.

When she turned back, Ayden was staring out the window again- refusing to look at her.

"Ayden Clymont?"

"Here sir"

Grace sunk down lower and lower- wishing she could wiggle her nose and turn invisible.


"Was that algebra test particularly horrendous or was it just me?" Katie smiled as she took a seat beside Jessie on the lawn.

"It's not just you……….I think the entire class got an F!" Jessie sighed as she bit into her apple.

Katie glanced over at her girlfriend, then looked back down at her paper bag, and began rummaging around for her sandwich.

"Is that all your having for lunch?" Katie asked in a light tone, not wanting to sound like Jessie's mother, who Katie knew was always on Jessie's back about food.

JESSIE (small frown)

"Ahh………I don't feel like much else" Jessie replied vaguely.

"So did you hear that Maria and Josh broke up?" Jessie added quickly, before Katie had a chance to say more.

"Err, no………" Katie looked at Jessie, and at the apple in her hand.

"You really should eat something else Jess……..." Katie said, quietly, as she bit into her salad sandwich.

Jessie let out a small groan, and Katie cringed slightly.

"Katie, please don't do that," Jessie asked, in a cold, quiet voice- as she shoved her half eaten apple back in the brown lunch bag, suddenly losing her appetite.

Katie looked up at Jessie, narrowing her eyes as she spoke harshly to her girlfriend; "No Jessie………don't you act as though I'm invading you're life and independence by worrying about you!" Katie hissed.

Jessie turned away, pursing her lips, forcing the words she wanted to say down in her throat.

"Christ Jess! All this week the most I've seen you put into you're mouth is a goddam apple, and maybe, on occasion a buttered roll!" Katie sighed, but didn't stop her rampage.

"And I am worried about you………..because, unfortunately it's hard to know someone so well that you even know when something is wrong in their life! And I know that when something is bugging you, you retaliate by not eating!" Katie sighed again, as she started to pack up her lunch.

"And for whatever reason you wont talk to me about whatever is causing this worry………I don't know if it's about Lily planning this goddam birthday party that you don't want……….or if it's something else" Katie added.

Jessie turned to her, with an icy stare; "what do you mean 'something else'?……….you should know this whole party thing is what's bugging me……….or haven't you been listening to me these past 5 weeks?" Jessie hissed back.

Katie sighed, and shook her head slowly: "I have been listening Jess……….and I have been sympathising with you, because I know your too nice a person to shoot Lily down and tell her the truth………I'm just saying that there's something else on your mind……..and you wont tell me what it is……….but I have a fair idea……..I'm just upset to see that you wont admit it to yourself!" Katie scrambled to her feet, and looked down at Jessie.

"Well please tell me what is the cause of all my worry Katie………please, cause I would really like to know………." Jessie replied.

"Please Jess………..Last week you insisted upon meeting me parents for a formal dinner……….then when you told me what Grace said, about knowing about us………you said that it was a small weight off you're shoulders………..!" Katie looked down at Jessie, raising her eyebrow.

"Your sick of hiding our relationship………." Katie supplied for her.

Jessie looked down and shook her head, "No! I wouldn't feel comfortable with people knowing about us yet………having everyone in school look at us differently…….as if I wasn't a big enough outcast already!" Jessie sighed.

Katie bent down, close to Jessie, grabbing her hand and holding it tightly, forcing Jessie to turn and look at Katie's soft eyes: "I don't care if the whole goddam world knows about us……….how much I love you………but I can understand that you don't want the whole school knowing………and I can respect that………all I'm saying is……..your tired of knowing that the people close to you………..you're family……….don't know who you are!" Katie whispered softly; and slowly, she leaned in closer to Jessie, until both girls could feel each other's tickling breaths on each other's neck.

But, before their lips could connect in a soft kiss- Jessie turned away, and shifted her body, putting a small distance between her and Katie.

Katie stared at Jessie's averted eyes for a moment longer, but when she felt her own eyes begin to prick, she rose to her feet again.

"I don't care if people know about us………..but you do………..and it's killing you!" Katie whispered, and turned, walking away from Jessie.

JESSIE sometimes……….you just wish you could keep you're innermost secrets to yourself………….