Chapter 2

"Making Plans"

Kevin's POV

The next two weeks at school went by rather quickly. I was at my locker when I was greeted by a friendly voice.

"Hey, you." I looked over and was greeted by bright orange hair.

"H-hi." I continued to put books into my locker. I showed her the school and her classes. Why is she talking to me..

"So, I was thinking, we should hang out sometime?" She smiled and leaned against my locker. " I mean, I've wanted to ask for awhile, I just wanted got a little nervous I suppose." A girl? Wants to… hangout with me? And she's nervous in front of me?

"Oh, for like a study session? I'm a great tutor!" I nervously laughed.

"No, you nerd." She giggled. "I meant actually hang out. Like, around the town. Or anywhere outside of the school. You seem pretty chill, and I'd let to get to know you better."

I blushed and shoved my face in my locker, cringing at the word nerd.

"Um, if you insist that we should."

"Well, I do insist. Give me your hand." Confused, I looked at her. I stretched my hand out to her and she pulled out a permanent marker. She proceeded to write her phone number up my arm.

"Text me after school, okay?"

"Um, yeah. I will. No problem. Definitely will." I smiled a little and so did she.

"Well, see ya." She turned the other way. I felt my stomach have a slight pain to it. Wow, I couldn't believe she actually wanted to hang out with me. I smiled to myself and pulled out my phone. I quickly put her number in my phone and smiled.

I finished getting my books out and closed my locker.

"Hi pumpkin."

I jumped at that voice, knowing I was about to regret anything that was about to happen. I turned around and was confronted by Eddward, with his posse of Ed's, plus Johnny.

"So, I see the dorko has a girlfriend, eh?" Eddy said, an evil grin stretched across his smug face.

"She's not my girlfriend." I snapped back.

"Well of course not." Eddward smiled. "No one here even finds you remotely attractive, pumpkin."

I couldn't deal with this anymore. I needed to stand up for myself.

But, of course, I didn't have the nerve to do it. So I stood there, shaking and keeping my head down while Eddward talked down to me.

Eddward walked closer to me and ran his hand up my back. "You should really not be so rude when I say hello. At least I have the decency to acknowledge your presence." He dug his nails in my back. I bit my lip in pain and felt my eyes start to water.

"Ed-edward please.. stop." I felt heat rising up through my body and started to shake. He shoved me against the locker hard, and this caught the attention of people in the hallway. Eddward leaned in close to me and licked my cheek. I pulled my face away, disgusted from all the germs he has passed to me.

"Meet me in the pool room after school. You better be there right after 3:30." He pushed me into the locker again. A sudden shock went through my body. "Bye, pumpkin." He smiled and put his hands in his pockets, walking away with his posse.

I struggled to stand up, due to the searing pain in my back. I saw someone pushing through the crowd, and I was greeted by caring hands.

"Oh my god, Kevin!" Nazz ran up to me and put my arm around her shoulder. "I can't believe he stooped this low. Then again, I am not surprised whatsoever." She saw the look of pain in my eyes, noting that they were red and swollen. "Let's go get you cleaned up. Okay? Then you should go to the principal! You did nothing wrong to Edd, and you don't deserve this. He needs to be punished!"

I jerked my arm away from Nazz and straightened out my clothes. "I'm fine, Nazz. There is no need to do that. It'll just make things worse for me."

"As if they aren't bad enough? At least he'd lay off of you in school."

"Yeah, in school. At home? Where would I run off to and tell then? My parents couldn't careless if I get beat up or anything to that manner." I grabbed my backpack and looked at Nazz in her eyes. "Thanks Nazz, but I can take care of myself."

She stood there as I walked away. More like limped away to lunch. I've already missed half of my lunch due to Eddward's childish behavior. I still don't understand why I'm his scapegoat. It really infuriates me to the extreme.

I made my way outside to eat in courtyard. I wanted to steer clear of anyone who would bother me, so I took refuge underneath a tree some feet away from the school. I pulled out my favorite novel, "A Tale of Two Cities".

I just couldn't keep focus while I was reading. All I could do was continually watch over my shoulder and watch in front of me. I looked at my watch and I still had 17 minutes of lunch left. I closed my book and just sat with my back against the tree. 'This is so sad. I shouldn't have to watch my back wherever I go. I wish I could actually stand up for myself…' My thoughts trailed off and I closed my eyes. I heard footsteps through the grass and I opened one eye to see bright hair walking towards me. My mood instantly got better.

"Hey, Kev." She smiled and walked closer to me. "Mind if i join you?" I patted the grass beside me and gave her a reassuring smile.

She took out a bag of almonds and yogurt. I smirked at her healthy choices. It doesn't surprise me that she eats healthy. Bella has a wondrous figure. My eyes slowly fell to her chest as she leaned over her purse. I mentally slapped myself and looked the other way, slightly blushing.

"Bella?" I fiddled with my shirt and looked down. She licked the lid of her yogurt. "Yes?"

"I had a question for you. It's okay if you don't have an answer or if you even want to answer. I mean, I completely understand if you say no. It won't hurt my feelings at all-"

"Hey, hey. Chill out! You haven't even asked me anything yet. But go ahead, shoot." She continued to eat her yogurt.

"Well, I was wondering.." I started to get really nervous. Why can't I even ask a simple question? Curse my nervousness. She stared at me, waiting for me to ask. "…If you wanted to possibly.. hang out this Saturday?" I bit my lip and looked down, waiting for her to decline my invite.

"I honestly would love to." My head perked up and I felt my stomach make a slight pain that made me flush. "But.."

'Oh no, here it comes.'

"I have a show this Saturday."

"A… show? What do you mean by that?" I scratched my head and brought my knees to my chest.

"Like, a rock show?" She smiled and laughed a little. She has a beautiful smile. "I never told you I was in a band?"

"No! Are you really? That's very intriguing." I leaned forward and sat on my knees. "What instrument do you play in your 'band'?" I smiled, really wanting to know what she was about to tell me.

"I play the guitar, piano occansionly and I'm the lead singer." She put her hand up to her mouth like she was holding a microphone and sang: "Yeah, yeah!" And laughed a little.

"That's really awesome, Bella." I looked at my watch. "Shoot! We only have 10 minutes of lunch left!" I started to get my things together, but Bella put her hand on my wrist. I became flushed and got butterflies.

"We have plenty of time. Stay out here and talk with me. Besides, i have a question for you myself!" She finished her yogurt and sat Indian style in front of me. I sat back down and looked at her, smiling slightly. I was still kind of nervous, wanting to know what her question was. I was too anxious, and I don't know why.

"Since I know your free on Saturday now, would you like to come to my show and see my band and I perform?" She smiled a toothy smile and held her hands, praying I'd say yes.

"I-I don't know. I've never been to a 'rock show' before. And I don't know what to expect really… I haven't even really listened to that kind of music before…." I was trying to think of any excuse not to go to this rock show. I feel like I'd get extremely hurt or something to that nature.

"Oh come on Kevin! Please?" She gave me the puppy dog look. No, please not that. My face flushed, and this time she noticed. "It'll mean a lot to me knowing one of my friends is out there supporting me and cheering me on!"

"Wait," Something clicked in my head. "How are you in a band if you just moved here?" I asked, obviously confused.

"I actually moved her about two months before." She looked at her hands. "I just wasn't ready to start school yet." She bit her lip, looking a little glum. "But you should really go!" She looked in my eyes, and I gave in.

"Okay… I'll see what i can do…" She screamed and flung forward to hug me. I was taken back, blushing like a tomato. She reached in her purse and handed me a ticket.

"Here, this is on me. All you have to do is go to that address on the ticket. When you walk in, vote for my band!" She smiled, the biggest smile i've seen yet. I felt like my insides melted. I looked at my watch and we only had 3 minutes to get to class. "We should really get going!"

We quickly gathered up our stuff and headed back inside. Before Bella turned the other way to go to her class, I yelled at her.

"What's your bands name? I forgot to ask!"

She yelled back smiling, "Smooth Static! See ya tomorrow!"