After spending the weekend with Eve, it is now Monday and to be honest, I couldn't care less about the stares that I will be receiving from the students.

It's my life and they can't keep acting like they control it.

"Want me to pick you up? We can go shopping after school?" Eve asks, the small grin on her face and I nod, returning the smile. I get out of the car, send her a wave before walking towards the building.

As I predicted, everyone's eyes turn to me just like when my mom died. The looks of sympathy flash through their eyes but I pretend not to notice as I make my way towards my locker. I open it and place my books that I need for later in there, making sure to not look at the people who are looking at my back, watching me. I close my locker and turn around to see Luke standing in front of me, his face furious.

"Come with me." Luke says, grabbing my hand and dragging me down the hall. As I pass Nicole and her group of friends, she sends me a small smile but I pretend I didn't see it and quickly follow behind Luke. He walks into the classroom, pulls me in and slams the door behind him, making sure to lock it so no one can interrupt us.

I sit on the table, watching as Luke runs a hand through his hair. "Why haven't you been answering my calls, Grace?" Luke asks, his blue eyes turning to stare into my green ones. I don't answer.

Oh, so now he wants to call me when I turn my phone off?

Luke raises his eyebrow and walks over to the table that I am sitting on and slams his hand down, making me jump. "Don't go mute on me." Luke says, his eyes narrowing into mine and as I look into his eyes for a brief second, I notice a hint of pain flash through them.

"I have my reasons." I choke out and Luke keeps his eyebrow raised towards the ceiling.

"Oh?" He says and I nod slowly. He steps away from me and crosses his arms across his chest. "Like to share?" He asks and I frown, getting off the table.

"Should I tell you or are you going to tell your friends? Who are they going to kill next, Luke? Eve? Me?" I ask, my heart racing in fear. It is not like me to be so confident but from what I have learnt is that when I am confident, it ends badly.

Shut up, Grace, my brain scolds and I watch as Luke's eyes go cold.

What the hell is happening to him? He surely isn't himself today, I can tell you that.

"What did you just say?" Luke asks and I take a step back.

"Y-You heard me." I choke out and Luke shakes his head.

"I'm afraid not." He says, stepping towards me. I find myself bumping into the table and I place my hands on it, trying to balance myself. Luke unfolds his hands from his chest and stares at me.

"Go on, Grace. Say it again." Luke says and I gulp, shaking my head. Luke nods.

"Thats what I thought." Luke mutters. Something about his tone triggers something in my body and all of a sudden, without thinking, my leg raises and I kick Luke where the sun doesn't shine. Before I can even say sorry, Luke drops to the ground in pain and groans.

Again, without thinking, I run for the door, trying to stop my hands shaking as I unlock the door. I run out and begin to run to my first class, ignoring the person who is shouting my name.

Nicole.

I enter the classroom, noticing that I am early. The teacher looks up from her book and smiles at me. "Eager for class, are we?" The teacher asks and I nod, trying to hide the obvious fear. The teacher doesn't say anything as I walk down the classroom to the seat at the back. I take my seat and rest my head on the desk, trying to steady my breathing.

What the hell just happened?

●●●

I walk into the cafeteria, trying to not look around to see if a certain someone is watching me with obvious anger in their eyes. If you haven't guessed, I am talking about Luke.

"Grace..." Someone calls from behind me and I quickly duck, my head nearly hitting the table. I hold my arms above my head in attempt to hide from the person but the tap on the shoulder tells me that I failed.

I raise my head up to see Nicole looking down at me with confusion. "Are you okay?" She asks and before I can say anything, she hits her forehead and shakes her head. "Of course your not. Why the hell would I ask you that?" Nicole says and I just watch her, my own confusion appearing on my face.

Nicole shakes her head again and looks back at me before looking at the seat beside me. She points at it, her eyebrow raised and I nod slowly, not quite sure why Nicole wants to sit with me and why Nicole wants to talk to me in the first place. Is it important? It is about Luke and why he has been acting quite strange?

"Grace," She starts. "First of all, I'm sorry for being such a bitch to you. It's just that you have such a better life than me-" I stop her by holding my hand up.

"Both my parents are dead, Nicole." I say in a firm voice and Nicole nods.

"Did you watch your dad murder your mom then watch your father shoot himself in front of you right after?" Nicole asks and my face falls, my heart stopping at the news. Nicole nods and crosses her arms on the table.

"Exactly. Now, as I was saying, I'm sorry. I know sorry isn't want will make all the words I've called you, all the bullying and everything I have done to you go away but I want to make it up to you." Nicole says and she holds out her hand.

"Friends?" She asks and I look at her hand, deciding if I should do this or not. I mean, Nicole is right about what she just said. She can't take away the pain she has caused me but sometimes, you have to move on from those things to become stronger.

"Why are you doing this now?" I ask and Nicole smiles at me.

"I'm trying to start fresh here. Now, what do you say? Friends?" Nicole asks and I look back down at her hand, feeling my own hand twitch in anticipation.

Do it, Grace. Think about it. You finally get someone to talk to other than Eve about boy troubles, school and life! Exactly what you wanted, remember? You have to do this... my brain pushes and I let out a long sigh before raising my hand and shaking it with Nicole's.

"Friends."

●●●