As I walk into English, I frown, noticing that Kai and Heidi are sitting together.

That's the annoying thing about a trio, someone always gets left out. I use my lack of seating partner as an excuse to go sit at the back where Haze is. He is gazing out the window, his arms folded across his chest.

I slide into the chair beside him. "Hi."

He sighs through his nose. "You don't quit, do you?"

"Nope," I smile cheekily. "How was the rest of your night?"

"Fine."

I notice then that he has dark circles under his eyes, almost as if he is sleep deprived. His jaw also looks kind of puffy and a different shade to the rest of his face.

"You okay?"

"Yep."

"Looks like your jaw is swollen," I say quietly. "Did you get in a fight with someone?"

He leans onto his forearms, finally looking my way. "It doesn't concern you."

"I know, I was just wondering if you were okay," I bite back, my voice much sassier than it usually is.

He raises an eyebrow at me. "Thanks for the concern, but I'm fine."

"Do you know if you're coming to the party next weekend?"

"I will go if you shut up about it," he retorts flatly, rolling his eyes theatrically.

"Yay!" I exclaim, clapping my hands together.

Mrs Hatcher begins the lesson. I tune in to what she is saying, taking notes as she speaks. I can't help but notice that Haze is once again, staring out the window, not participating in the lesson. Clearly, it's not just History that he has no interest in.

"Hey," I whisper softly. "You should take notes."

"Nah."

"Haze," I say in a low voice. "Why bother to come to school if you're not going to do the work?"

"I don't have a choice," he sighs, giving me an honest answer. "It's a part of my release agreement."

"Release agreement?"

"I've been in Juvie for the past two years, I got out on early behaviour, so I didn't go into an adult facility. One of the rules is to finish high school and get a diploma."

My jaw drops as I stare at him in shock. I knew his story would be interesting.

"Ellie? Focus more on the class work and not the new student," Mrs Hatcher rudely states, causing a few people to snicker.

I find myself scowling, annoyed that she said that in front of everyone. My cheeks turn a dark shade of red.

"You're so into me," Haze murmured, flickering his eyes to me. "It's hot."

I roll my eyes. "Into you?"

"You can't stay away from me, can you?" he smirks.

"No," I shake my head. "I can't."

His face blanks as he stares at me, obviously shocked by my honest answer.

I turn away from him and decide to re-focus on the lesson. I continue to jot down notes, until the end of the lesson. As soon as the bell rings, I gather my book and pencil case, shoving it carelessly into my bag, which is something quite uncharacteristic of me.

As I walk out, Mrs Hatcher calls my name, but I hurry out the door, pretending I don't hear her.

I hurry to catch up to Haze, when my shoulder collides painfully with someone else.

"Sorry!" I exclaim, hastily picking up my bag.

"Are you?" Anita spits, narrowing her eyes at me.

I sigh. "Oh. It's you."

Anita Stratton has disliked me for the past few years, due to my father. Her family often start protests against logging and other sorts of environment issues that are taking place around town. As my father works casually now as a builder, he is often involved in projects where trees are cleared, for housing developments. Her family is extremely against it, even though my father isn't actually the one doing it – he just builds the housing structures after. However, in Anita's eyes, going out of her way to harass me is somehow making her a better person.

She has dreadlocks pulled back in a messy bun. A lot of her family have dreadlocks and even though it created a large amount of controversy amongst the community when her parents first did it, people have learnt to accept that it is there trademark look of their club. She has round, black-framed glasses, that make her dark, brown eyes seem larger, looking out of place on her face. She is dressed in yoga-looking pants, and tattered shoes with holes in them.

"What's your dad up to? Building more houses where trees are supposed to go? Do you realise that trees help us breathe?"

"Anita, I don't know how many times I have to tell you – my father has nothing to do with any of that. He is just a builder. It's not even his main job."

"He is still a part of the whole thing. It's wrong."

"And it's wrong that you choose to harass me every day about something that has nothing to do with me," I argue with a sigh.

"I'm sick of seeing you every day," she sneers, taking a step closer to me. "If you show your face at the horror party, I'm going to-"

She didn't get to finish her threat as Haze steps in between us.

"If you show your face at the horror party, I will break every knuckle in your fucking hand," he snaps, many people who had gathered to watch, shrink back at his vicious tone. He steps forward, reaching out and snagging the glasses off her face. He snaps them in half with a swift flick of his wrist, before carelessly tossing them back at her. She gapes at him, her cheeks paling. "Threaten Ellie again and I will do more than break your glasses."

She looks faint as she stumbles back, tears in her eyes. She takes off at a run and everyone else watching, takes a few steps back, looking mildly horrified. Me, on the other hand, am smiling so hard that my cheeks are aching.

"Woah, Haze, that was badass," I grin, looking up at him.

He looks down at me, a ghost of a smirk on his lips. "Badass?"

"So badass," I say with an impressed nod, feeling ashamed of myself at how much of a turn on that was. "Thank you for doing that. She has been bothering me for years."

"No sweat," he replies as I fall in step with him.

"You wouldn't actually hurt her, would you?" I peer up at him.

"No, but I know someone who would."

I raise my eyebrows and pull down the collar of my uniform, clearing my throat uncomfortably.

"Anyone else I need to threaten while we're going?" he jokes and I find myself smiling widely.

"There is Fletcher, but he isn't that bad."

"I'll fuck him up," he tells him, a serious look on his face.

"Uh, forget I said anything. He's not a problem." I quickly blurt, realising I shouldn't joke about that.

He narrows his eyes at me, before giving me a sharp nod. "Okay then. I'm going to go have a cigarette. Want one?"

"Oh no," I reply instantly, looking disgusted. "I don't do that kind of stuff."

"Why not?"

"It's bad for you...?" I say slowly, looking confused.

"A lot of things are bad for you."

Yeah, you're probably one of them, I think to myself as I stare at him. He pulls out a cigarette from his pocket.

"Okay, well, enjoy yourself. I'll see you later," I say, patting his shoulder gently. "And thanks again for what you did."

He gives me a nod, before loping away, already lighting the cigarette, even though he is still in school boundaries.

I shake my head as I stare after him, almost hating the fact that him defending me like that, made me like him so much more.

I am in some serious trouble.

***

"I see that look in your eye," Kai frowns, jabbing his finger at me.

"What look?" I question innocently.

"That one," he narrows his eyes. "Don't get involved with him. He's bad news."

"You've never even met him!" I defend, my voice a little whiny.

"Don't need to."

"You're judging a book by its cover. It's not fair," I point out with a frown.

"You said yourself that he is rude."

"I think he's hot and she has every right to hang out with him if she wants to," Heidi pipes up and I give her a grateful smile.

Kai looks unimpressed. "Of course you do."

"Besides, Kai, I just want to get to know him, is that a crime?" I interject.

"That's how it all starts," he huffs. "And your parents would go mental if you started hanging out with someone like him."

"I know," I agree with a quiet laugh.

"You're a dead girl walking," he mutters.

I roll my eyes and sigh, knowing that Kai will argue with me relentlessly. I decide to give up trying to convince him otherwise, considering I don't even know myself.

I always do everything my parents say. It's a little exciting doing something they wouldn't approve of - not that I have done anything wrong.

The bell rings overhead, signalling our free period is up. I rise to my feet and stretch, feeling a few of my bones crack as I do.

The next lesson flies by uneventfully. Haze is in my class, again, but I sit with Kai this time, to shut him up. Heidi sits with one of the other girls that we're friends with.

"You go ahead," I tell them as we walk out the gates. "I have to pick up Callum and swing by the library to return some books."

"Okay, see you tomorrow," Heidi chirps back, as Kai gives me a wave.

I head to the primary end of school, hugging my jacket to myself. My brother is standing out the front, besides the teacher on duty.

"Hi Mrs Mcintosh," I smile.

"Hi Ellie, Callum's ready to go."

"Great," I grin.

Callum strolls over to me.

"Hey," I smile down at him.

He gives me a dorky grin. "Library?"

"You know me well," I say with a nod. "How was school?"

"Boring as usual."

"What was your favourite class?" I ask as we walk down the path.

The sun is out and shining, but there is hardly any warmth to the day. I tug at my sleeves, trying to cover my hands from the cool air.

"Lunch time."

"Coming in?" I ask him when he stops.

He shakes his head. "Nah, it's boring and smells weird."

"I could say the same about you," I tease.

He sticks his tongue out at me and I laugh. I withdraw the three books from my bag.

"Afternoon Ellie," Arthur, the man who works at the library, greets me, pushing his glasses up his nose. "Enjoy the books?"

"Oh yes, they were fantastic! Thank you for recommending them." I tell him earnestly. "Is my order in?"

"Arrived today," he smiles, before disappearing out the back.

I lean onto the counter and begin to browse through the return pile, noticing that I've read most of the books in there. I check over my shoulder, to make sure Callum is still there, when I see another boy in front of him, gripping his shirt.

I dart outside in a hurry, pushing the door open.

"Give me your money, or you can eat shit," the boy threatens.

"Hey!" I call out angrily. "Get away from him!"

"Oh, look, your sister is here to save the day," the boy taunts him, not letting go of his shirt.

My brother peers up at me, looking fearful. He reaches into his pockets.

"Callum! Don't you dare give it to him!" I growl. I turn to the other boy. "Let him go. Now."

"Or what, you'll go cross on me?" he smirks.

My mouth falls open. "I'm warning you!"

It was then, I notice, Haze is leaning against the wall of the library, looking like he is enjoying the show.

"Yeah," the boy nods, noticing my gaze. "That's my brother. Scared now?"

"Haze, get over here," I snap, planting my hands on my hips, ignoring the verbal jab from the menace holding my brother.

He pushes off the wall and strolls unhurriedly over to us. "What?"

"Get your brother to let go, right now" I demand.

"Let him go," Haze says bluntly.

"Why?" his brother asks with a frown.

"Because I said so," Haze snaps, leaning over and smacking him up the side of the head.

The boy finally releases Callum and steps back.

"Thank you," I cry out. "You were just standing there! Why didn't you step in?"

"Wimp needs to learn how to stand up for himself," Haze shrugs, gesturing to a quivering Callum.

"What's your name?" I ask angrily, ignoring Haze's unhelpful comment.

"Jake," the bullying, younger brother of Haze replies.

"Well, Jake, you might think it's okay to pick on my brother, but it's not. I don't want to see you do it again, otherwise Haze will... get mad." I say the last part weakly.

Haze quirks a dark eyebrow up.

"Won't you?" I press.

"Yes, fine, I'll kick his ass if it happens again." he rolls his eyes.

"Fuck you," Jake spits at Haze, before stalking off.

"Woah, language!" I call out, only to get the middle finger. I peer up at Haze. "He has some behaviour issues."

"Runs in the family," he replies dryly.

I feel Callum reach for my hand, which is something never does. I used to try to hold his hand when we crossed the road, but he is too embarrassed to do it now. I glance down at him in surprise, only to see that his eyes are wide with fear, gazing up at Haze.

I guess does have a very confronting appearance, with his intense eyes, dark hair and menacing-looking tattoos.

"Ellie," Callum murmurs, pulling at my arm. "Can we go home?"

"Yes, of course," I nod. I stare back to Haze, meeting his bright eyes. "Thanks for your... help."

Haze has a flicker of a smile on his face, before he takes off at a jog, catching up to his younger brother.

"That guy is scary," Callum shudders.

"Yeah, I think he kind of is." I agree thoughtfully, gripping his hand a little tighter.