I'm hoping that the next school day will be a little easier to deal with. However, I don't hold out too much hope. I've never been one to have very good luck.

Once I arrive at school, I spend my free time before the first bell chatting with Emma by my locker. Piper joins us shortly after, and the three of us form a small circle, talking about what's happened in the time we've been apart. It's nice to have friends I can talk to so easily, I can't help thinking to myself. With the news of my arrest still hanging in the air, I hadn't expected anyone to take a chance on me the way Piper and Emma have.

On the other hand, I know just because I've made two friends doesn't mean everyone around here has taken a liking to me.

As this thought passes through my mind, I notice Luke approaching out of my peripheral. He doesn't stop on his way down the hallway to talk to Emma and Piper, no doubt because I'm around. He does, however, shoot a glare in my direction as he heads for his locker, his glare icier than usual. I feel a shiver run down my spine.

I cast my gaze downward, unable to even stand looking at him. Once I got home yesterday, the first thing I did upon entering my room was make sure my blinds were drawn, as I didn't want to risk so much as a glance at Luke through the window panes that separate us. I'm not sure why, but not only does the sight of Luke flare up my anger, it also causes a strange ache to surface in my chest.

"Don't worry about him," Emma is quick to reassure me, as she clearly noticed the cold glance Luke had shot my way as he passed us.

"Wouldn't even think of it." I try to sound as convincing as the smile I give her, which Emma returns warmly.

My first few classes pass quickly, which I'm thankful for. Math and history serve as my first two periods, which also happen to be my least favorite subjects (along with the rest of them). Wandering into the hallway after history ends, I head straight to my locker. Reaching the end of the hall, I find Emma and Piper awaiting me expectantly with bright smiles, which immediately lifts my dull mood.

The three of us walk together to the cafeteria, sitting at the same table as the day before. Peter enters the dining hall only moments later, taking his place in the free seat beside Piper. I have the feeling this is how my lunch break will go everyday, though I have a sinking suspicion Luke will be in the picture as well.

"Hey guys," Peter greets as he takes his seat, nodding at me. "New Girl."

"Strange Boy," I bite back with a smile, unable to keep a straight face.

Peter wrinkles his nose, gray eyes gleaming. "I don't think I like that nickname."

"Well what do you want me to call you then?" I question, watching with interest as Peter's expression becomes mock-thoughtful.

"Hm. How about . . . Peter? I've heard that's a great name. A lot of people say it sounds as if it came straight from heaven."

"Really now?" I tease with a playful smirk. "And you don't think you're being just a little biased?"

Peter gasps playfully as he murmurs, "Me? Biased? Never. Peter is just a really great name. I mean, from what people have told me."

"I think I'll stick with Strange Boy." I offer Peter another smug smile, taking a sip from my water bottle. "But thanks for the offer."

Sighing, Peter shrugs in defeat. "Can't say I didn't try."

"I think I like Strange Boy better too," Piper chimes in, hazel eyes shining with mischief. "It has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"

"Definitely," Emma teases. "Way better than Peter."

"Ouch." Peter jokingly winces, turning his head to glance at the three of us in turn. "You do know I'm right here?"

"No," I correct with a shake of my head. "Strange Boy is right there. I don't see any Peters around."

At that, the four of us share a look before erupting into a fit of laughter. Peter ends up accidentally knocking over my empty water bottle, sending a stream of water Piper's way, which causes her to jump so hard she falls out of her chair. This only makes Emma crack up all over again just as she's drinking from her own water, sending a rush of water to shoot out of her nose, and then we're all laughing all over again. Piper doesn't bother trying to rise from the floor, clutching her stomach as her cheeks tinge pink from giggling.

"Can't. Breathe." Emma gasps for breath through her laughter, her face nearly purple, which of course only makes us all laugh harder.

Once we all finally calm down enough to breathe and Emma has taken it upon herself to wipe the table off, the conversation continues down a more normal path. That is, until I notice Luke entering the cafeteria.

I can't help stiffening in my seat, sure of what is no doubt to come next. Luke is going to walk over to the table and say something petty about me sitting here with "his" friends, and the two of us will bicker until the end of break and drive everyone around us insane.

At least, that's what I had expected to happen.

Instead, Luke only briefly glances in the direction of our table before turning away completely without even shooting a glare my way, which is extremely unlike him. With the one simple look, he takes off toward another table filled with a bunch of boys. And then he takes a seat.

I can tell that Piper, Emma, and Peter must have seen Luke as well, because the three of them now sit in silence, staring at Luke's back across the room. I can't control the guilt I begin to feel seeping into my veins, as we all know why Luke isn't here sitting with his friends. Because I'm here. He would seriously rather sit with a group of boys over the people he's been friends with since elementary school due to my presence.

Though I know it shouldn't, this realization hurts a lot more than I'd like to admit to.

"Don't let him get to you, Jade," Emma mumbles comfortingly to me once again. "I promise he'll come around eventually. He just needs some time, I guess."

"I'm sorry" is all I can manage to choke out at the moment. "I didn't mean to cause any problems with you guys . . ."

"You're not the one causing problems," Piper is quick to correct me, though I notice she's still staring in Luke's direction.

I know Luke's friends must be feeling pretty burnt by him right now. I mean, they've been there for Luke since he was only a kid. And now he's pushing them away, all because they've decided to let me in.

As the lunch period draws on, I can't stop myself from risking glances at Luke. Watching the boy who has never been anything but rude to me laugh with his friends across the room, I know that it's time for me to back off. If it takes me disappearing from Luke's life to make him happy, then I'll do it. I'll let him have his friends back, as childish as it sounds. I won't talk to him at school, or anywhere else for that matter. I'll leave him be.

After all, at least one of us deserves to be happy.

»»----- -----««

When English rolls around, I take my seat in front of Luke wordlessly. I don't want to say a word to him, as I don't want to set him off. If my silence will bring him peace, then so be it.

Emma, on the other hand, has a completely different idea.

"What was up with you at lunch today?" She turns around in her seat to ask, her tone sounding rather snubbed. I don't want to risk glancing behind me to see Luke's reaction, not wanting to bother him. However, the urge to risk one little peek soon becomes too strong to overpower, and I find myself glancing at him out of the corner of my eye.

I'm not surprised to find Luke staring down at a thick book sprawled open on his desk. When Emma speaks to him, Luke looks up with an almost startled expression painted on his features, as if he was so lost in his reading that he hadn't even noticed her presence. Resting his finger inside the book to keep his page, Luke absentmindedly wets his lips before offering Emma a response.

"What do you mean?" Luke questions, sounding as if he knows exactly what Emma means though doesn't want to talk about it.

"You completely ignored us." Emma sniffs, seemingly trying to come off as less hurt than she is. "If you were going to sit somewhere else, you could have at least told us."

"And why would I do that?" Luke raises an eyebrow curiously. "You all made it pretty clear yesterday who you wanted around and who you didn't."

My face flames at his words. I can feel Emma risking a glance my way, as if trying to see if I heard. It's impossibly for me to not have heard Luke speak, as I sit directly in front of him, though I pretend to be busy looking through my notebook when she looks over at me, not wanting to draw any attention to myself.

"Don't act like that, Luke," Emma pleads, her voice low. "You know we love you. You don't have to completely freeze us out over one argument."

"Well, I'm talking to you now, aren't I?" Luke points out. I take note of the fact that—though the two are basically fighting—he keeps his tone soft and gentle when speaking to Emma, much different than the bitter tone he always uses to regard me. I don't see why he has to have such a vendetta against me, especially considering I've apologized more than once over the incident when we first met. Once again, I don't know exactly why these thoughts hurt me. I'm much too concerned with the realization that they hurt me all to even begin wondering why.

"Luke—"

"Can we talk about this later?" he interrupts before Emma can get another word out, though his tone remains gentle.

I watch from the corner of my eye as Emma's expression turns slightly crestfallen as she forces a nod. "Sure. We'll talk later." And with that, she turns around in her seat, her back to Luke.

I hear the sound of Luke reopening his book and shifting the pages, though I try to focus my attention on something else. I mean, I shouldn't care about what Luke is doing. It isn't worth wasting my time on all of the negativity he breaks about.

However, that doesn't change the fact that—for some reason—throughout the rest of the period, I'm hyper-aware of everything Luke does. I notice him out of the corner of my eye when he shifts in his seat. As Ms. Edwards goes over the answers to the pop quiz from the day before, I can't seem to keep my mind on a word she's saying. I'm much too preoccupied, worrying about what Luke is doing behind me.

But maybe what I really should be focusing on is Luke and what he's doing to me.

»»----- -----««

a/n: happy thanksgiving! :)