A/N: Well just four more days… and I'm back at school… but I might continue to keep posting until I come to some sort of end to this story – or if anyone begins to get bored…

A/N: Feedback greatly appreciated…. Enjoy!

Part 21: Avoid

School (Monday)

Jessie and Katie spent the weekend with each other over at Karen's house. Now it was time for school again, Jessie's ankle has been healing quickly as predicted, thought not at its best state, but she can definitely run. Lucky for her that on the day of the incident, Sarah didn't boot the ball, instead she only tried to steal it off Jessie therefore causing no severe damages to her ankle.

After the little chat with Grace in the attic, the three agreed on trying to avoid, if possible, any trouble with Sarah and her gang. Such as seeing Sarah down one end of the hall, they'll walk out the other end… stuff like that. Sarah's surname also helped a lot, because Sarah would be in the earlier part of the alphabet, seeing that it's Grasser, therefore her locker would be in a totally different hall downstairs. Katie S, Jessie S, and Sam T's lockers were in the same hall upstairs, Grace M, Tad M and Becky J's are in the hall just adjacent to theirs.

"Hello to you two as well," Grace said mock-hurt, as she sees Katie and Jessie walk down the halls together chatting away with Sam following behind during period 2 break, which was their second longest break, just next to lunch of course.

"Oh. Hi Grace. Didn't see you there," Katie finally looked up and saw Grace.

"Hi Grace," Jessie greeted cheerily.

"Hey," came Sam from behind the two love birds. She pointed towards Jessie and Katie, then brought her fingers to her head twirling around, saying that they were crazy.

Grace saw, and laughed. Tad and Russell now joined the group from behind Grace, and Becky from behind Sam.

"So… seen her yet?" Grace asked curiously.

"Who?" the other four asked, who had totally no clue on what she was asking.

The group huddled into a smaller circle, she whispered, "Sarah. Tell you guys later at lunch."

"Nope" The two replied Grace's question.

"Good." Looking at her watch, the school bell went off as though on cue, "Anyways, off to class now you guys."

"Yes mother…" Katie said, causing the rest of the group to laugh and walk to their respective classes.

Lunch

After the group finally assembled at their lunch table, with Justin joining them today, Grace finally spoke up, "Well something has happened…"

"To who?" The five clueless people cut in.

"To me," Jessie replied not looking at them, then feeling Katie taking hold of her left hand from underneath the table.

"Again?" Tad asked.

"Yes again." Jessie replied rolling her eyes.

"What happened?" Sam asked not out of curiosity, but concern.

Katie waved her free hand gesturing for them to come in closer, so they did as showed, and everyone got off there seats and stuck their head in closer.

"Sarah…" was all Jessie could get choke out before this great lump in her throat stopped her.

She felt tears beginning to brim her eyes, threatening to spill out any moment. She looked pleadingly at Grace, as if asking her to go on for her. Grace nodded and continued for Jessie.

"Well, Friday after school, Jessie was waiting for her brother to pick her up, Sarah and co. came along and tried to… strip Jessie," Grace said 'strip' extra quietly but loud enough for the rest to hear.

Everyone sat back down in their seats and were trying to slowly register what Grace had just said.

"Wow…" Becky finally broke out. Causing everyone to laugh, even Jessie.

Becky looked around confused, but joined in with the laughter.

"So what are you guys gonna do about it?" Tad asked.

"Nothing," Katie replied.

"Nothing?" questioned Russell, clearly surprised at the answer.

"Yeah nothing…" she stated again.

Jessie finally helped out, "I didn't wanna cause a big commotion, so we're gonna do nothing."

"Oh… You know she won't stop… She's like a mental lady, man!" Tad said with anger rising in him as he slammed his fist on the table whilst speaking. "If she messes with you, she messes with me!" Tad said protectively.

'Who would've thought Tad to be the protective type,' Jessie thought.

'Well, I guess he isn't that thick after all,' Katie thought.

"Exactly, if she does anything to you again I'll hurt her!" Becky joined in raising a fist.

"And I'll help you hurt her," Justin spoke for the first time.

"Thanks guys. But really it's all okay now. I think…" Jessie trailed off. Katie wrapped her arm around Jessie's shoulder, showing her that she is not going to be alone with this. "I just really don't wanna cause this huge racket over me… and I especially don't want you guys to get in trouble."

"Jess, we're gonna be here for you no matter what, and whenever you need. We won't do anything if you don't want us to, but you know Sarah is not gonna let it off that easily…" Sam said calmly.

Sighing, Jessie knew her friends were right, she was really glad she had met such great caring friends in such little time, but she really didn't want her them to get into any trouble because of her. "Well I guess I'm just gonna have to wait till she does something again."

"It's not just you Jess, it's us. We're gonna wait till she does something again," Katie corrected.

"So…You coming to training today after school?" Sam asked.

"Yeah."

"Okay, well then I'll make sure she does nothing to you… Like maybe getting you two in the same team so she doesn't kill you again."

"Why thank you." Jessie thanked with total gratitude, because she loved soccer, but playing soccer with Sarah around was not her favorite.