Chapter 2 I Hate You

Amy's POV

Lia suddenly appeared in front of me and extended her hand to help me up. I couldn't even move a muscle to get off the floor. I was too busy replaying the words Leo had said before he walked away. Jolting out of my thoughts, I grabbed her hand, and pulled myself to my feet.

"Sorry, Amy."

"Thank you," I mumbled. Did she just hide and wait for her cousin to lash out at me before coming to the rescue? I shook my head. That was ridiculous. How would that benefit her in any way? We had only just met yesterday. It was all purely coincidental.

She must have noticed the look on my face because she spoke up. "I know you're probably wondering how I keep showing up every time my cousin is a jerk to you. I'm not stalking you, I promise," she chuckled, as if she had read my mind.

"It just kind of happens. Maybe I lied to you yesterday when I said Leo isn't always like that, he's an asshole most of the time," she sighed.

I smiled faintly in agreement, not wanting to say a word.

"Since we keep running into each other, maybe the universe is trying to tell us something like becoming friends," her lips widened into a smile as she looked at me.

Friends. No. I didn't need friends and I knew better than to even entertain the idea. But I didn't say that to her.

"Lia!" a girl with brown hair called out, making her way towards us and saving me from having to respond. Lia, and the girl exchanged hugs and pleasantries before Lia introduced her to me as Mia. I found out we were in the same class, so the three of us walked in together.

My head was down as I trailed after Lia and Mia into the classroom, but a burst of mocking laughter stopped me dead in my tracks. Who is she? Why is she dressed like that? I looked up, and unfortunately the first person I locked eyes with was Leo. He was seated at the back with two other guys. One had black hair just like his; the other had brown hair.

Leo said something to them and the black-haired one burst out laughing while the brown-haired one shook his head and looked at me with something close to pity. I took a deep breath and made up my mind to ignore Leo and his friends.

I was looking for a place to sit when Leo's voice cut through the noise.

"Are you sure you belong in this class, Clumsy?" he taunted, a smirk plastered across his face.

I huffed inwardly. What was his problem? It had been just two days since I met him and he had already managed to make my life miserable, calling me Clumsy every single time. I dropped my gaze to the floor so he and the others wouldn't see my eyes well up. I had been a victim of bullying long enough to know better than to let them see you cry.

"That's enough, Leo. Why don't you all mind your business?" Lia's voice rang out across the class. The room went quiet then Leo erupted into laughter. Even without looking at him I knew it was his.

"It didn't cross my mind that you'd employ my own cousin as your spokesperson," Leo's deep rough voice rang out, forcing me to glance in his direction.

"Settle down, class," a woman walked in. She was chubby and wore glasses, just like me. From how quickly the room fell silent when she entered, I figured she was strict.

She introduced herself as Mrs Freda Rodriguez before launching into the biology lesson.

"Who can tell us what constitutional delayed puberty is?" Mrs Freda asked, her eyes sweeping from one student to another, met with complete silence. I knew the answer, but there was no way I was going to attempt it, not in this classroom. They would mock me whether I got it right or wrong.

"You know, if more of you took biology as seriously as you take your social lives, you'd do a lot better at it," Mrs Freda said, scanning the class.

I don't know what made me look back, but when I did, I caught Leo's eye. He smirked and raised his hand.

"Yes, Leo Callahan. It's good to see you've decided to answer rather than crack jokes. Let's hear it," Mrs Rodriguez said, settling into her chair.

"We have a new student," Leo's voice echoed and the class burst out laughing.

Was there another new student? No. It was me he was talking about. What had I done to deserve this treatment from someone who barely even knew me?

"Silence!" Mrs Rodriguez slammed her hand on the desk and shot to her feet. "Mr Leo Callahan, I see you're up to your usual nonsense," she snapped, her face tight with anger. Leo had a mischievous smile on his face.

"Not at all, ma'am," he said calmly, peeking in my direction before continuing. "I just wanted to remind you that it's always been your tradition to have new students introduce themselves to the class."

The black-haired guy beside him gave a supportive nod.

"I see. But just so you know, Leo you'll be having detention for disrupting my class," she said curtly.

"It will be a pleasure, ma'am," he replied with a smile.

Mrs Rodriguez let out a frustrated sigh and shook her head. She shot him one last glare before turning her attention back to me.

I wasn't surprised. Who smiles at the mention of detention? Leo must have been a regular.

I was hoping she wouldn't take Leo's suggestion seriously. I closed my eyes and said a quick prayer but my hopes dissolved the moment I heard her voice.

"Who is the new student?"

My eyes flew open and I slowly straightened in my seat. Every pair of eyes in the room turned toward me and I suddenly felt like disappearing.

"I'm the new student, ma'am," I managed.

"Well then, come forward and introduce yourself to the class," she said with a warm smile.

My heart hammered in my chest. My palms grew clammy. I rubbed them together as I made my way to the front of the class, genuinely shocked that I hadn't tripped or passed out from anxiety.

I stood there for a moment, gathering myself.

"My name is Amy Grayson." I was surprised at how clear and steady my voice came out. It gave me a small boost of confidence, and I raised my head which I immediately regretted.

A girl with a face full of makeup and a tiara perched on her head muttered, "Who cares?" and the whole class erupted into laughter. Everyone except Mia, Lia, and Leo's brown-haired friend.

She looked like one of those girls straight out of a high school movie the kind who was impossibly mean and dressed like a fashion icon. I recognised her as the one who had been glaring daggers at me the moment I walked into class.

"Quiet, class!" Mrs Rodriguez hollered, then turned to the girl. "Detention, Michelle."

A smile spread across the girl's face. I was confused it seemed like the students of Fieldman High genuinely enjoyed detention.

"Thank you, ma'am. At least I'll get to be with my baby," she winked at Leo, who blew her a kiss in return.

"Aww, so cute," the two girls beside Michelle cooed. They were dressed just like her, minus the tiara.

Lovely. Leo and Michelle were together. No wonder birds of a feather.

Mrs Rodriguez said nothing more to Michelle. She just shook her head with a disappointed sigh before returning her attention to me.

"Miss Amy, welcome to Fieldman High. You seem different, and I sincerely hope you stay that way," she said, glancing between Leo and Michelle. Leo smirked. Michelle rolled her eyes.

"Thank you, ma'am," I mumbled. I turned to go back to my seat, and then she called my name again.

My heart nearly stopped.

"Can you tell us what constitutional delayed puberty is?"

I felt every eye in the room lock onto me. I squirmed under the weight of their stares.

Mrs Rodriguez looked at me with a small, encouraging smile. Somehow it helped.

I nodded and exhaled. "Constitutional delayed puberty is also known as late puberty and can be defined as.."

I never got to finish.

"Why wouldn't you know that?" Leo cut in. "You're basically a walking definition of it. Late appearance of the features of puberty , no chest, flat.."

"Enough! Get out of my class, Leo!" Mrs Rodriguez snapped before he could finish.

The class erupted again, right on cue. As if they had been waiting for it.

His words weren't entirely true but they still cut deep. I had a figure modest, hidden beneath my oversized hoodie and baggy sweatpants but that wasn't the point. The point was that he had stood in front of an entire classroom and tried to dismantle me, piece by piece. And for what? What had I ever done to him?

I met his eyes with as much hatred as I could muster. He didn't flinch, he just smiled.

I hate you, Leo.