Chapter 3 Can't Afford

Amy's POV

"Don't tell me you're still thinking about what that crazy cousin of mine said," Lia frowned slightly as she tapped my arm. It was hard not to. The things Leo had said to me in just one day kept circling in my head, and we still had hours left before school closed. It was only break.

Only God knew how much more ridicule I was going to have to sit through before the day was over. This school was worse than my last one. I had been such a hopeful fool to think Fieldman High was going to be any different.

"Of course she would be, didn't you hear everything Leo said to her?" Mia sighed in irritation, glancing over at Leo's table. Leo caught her looking and waved. So did Marcus.

"That's not helping, Mia. You're supposed to comfort Amy, not state the obvious," Lia said, shooting her a look.

"Sorry, I say things as they are," Mia replied, her voice thick with sarcasm. Lia shot her another glare.

"They're so handsome. It's a shame they're jerks," Lia sighed.

"I know, but don't let Marcus and Leo's looks fool you. Their gorgeous faces don't change the fact that they're awful. I can't help but wonder why Rio chooses to hang out with them I just pray their disgusting personalities don't rub off on him." Lia's eyes darkened as she stared across at Leo and Marcus. They said something to each other and laughed. Lia stood up like she was about to march over there, but sat back down the moment Rio smiled and mouthed a sorry at her.

"She has a crush on him," Mia whispered to me and I smiled. No wonder her anger disappeared the second he smiled at her.

"Are you two auctioning me off over there?"

Lia's eyes narrowed as she peered at us, like she was searching for something.

"No, we wouldn't dare," I laughed, shaking my head at the expression on her face.

"I was just telling her how hard you're crushing on Rio," Mia teased. Lia's cheeks flushed red. She tried to hold a straight face but it wasn't working the blush gave her away completely.

"No, I'm not," she countered.

"Right," Mia said, her voice dripping with sarcasm, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.

Mia shot her a glare. Lia chuckled. That only made Mia more annoyed.

"You're so irritating," Mia whined, smacking Lia playfully on the arm.

Lia and Mia filled me in on the boys. Marcus the one with hair like Leo's was Mia's brother. Rio, the brown-haired one, was an only child. The three of them had been best friends since childhood. Rio was the calm one, not nearly as reckless as Marcus and Leo. Mia and Lia described him as friendly and levelheaded. Maybe that was why he had looked at me with such concern when his friends mocked me earlier.

"What will you be having, Amy?" Lia asked, getting to her feet. Mia stood as well.

"Anything," I said without much interest. Food was the last thing on my mind. I was more worried about how chaotic the rest of my time at this school was going to be.

Lia let out a small sigh and placed a hand on my shoulder. "Come on, Amy. Don't let them get to you that's exactly what they want. You don't have to worry anymore. We've got your back," she smiled.

"Nobody messes with our friend," Mia added, placing her hand on my other shoulder.

My eyes welled up. It just felt so good having someone smile at me like they actually meant it, especially someone my age. All I had ever gotten from people my age were looks of contempt, like I was beneath them. Maybe with Lia and Mia, things weren't going to be so awful. At least I had gotten one good thing out of Fieldman High. Friends. Something my old school had never given me.

"Thank you," I managed, blinking hard to keep the tears back. They didn't say a word. They just pulled me into a warm hug.

"Well, well. If it isn't a pity party," a voice I was already beginning to recognise cut through the moment, making Lia and Mia pull away. "The hoodie girl getting sympathy from the classy girls, who'd rather hang out with a nobody than be friends with people actually worth their time."

It was Michelle. Leo's girlfriend. And she hadn't come alone, the two girls who had sat with her in class flanked her on either side. Lia had told me their names were Arabelle and Mirabelle. Together they called themselves the Elles, and Michelle was the one in charge.

I had no idea what they were doing at our table. Hadn't Michelle had her fill of mocking me in class? Her eyes snapped to mine and I looked away.

A smug little laugh escaped her lips.

"Why did you decide to transfer here, sweetie?" Michelle asked, her voice syrupy sweet, eyes holding mine like she genuinely cared. She didn't. I knew that much.

"Nobody wants you here, hoodie girl. Lia and Mia are only sitting with you because they feel sorry for you. Trust me, the moment that pity runs out, they'll leave, and you'll be right back where you started. Alone," she snorted.

"True, Mich," Arabelle and Mirabelle nodded in unison.

"You insecure bitch. Get the hell away from our table, you and your little minions before I forget you're my cousin's girlfriend and give you a beating that not even plastic surgery could fix, wannabe queen," Lia snarled, stepping up to Michelle, who immediately took a step back. Fear flashed across her face before she buried it under a cackle.

"As always, you need someone to speak for you," Michelle said, fixing me with a look of cold disdain.

"Didn't you hear what Lia said? Leave! With your minions," Mia hissed.

Arabelle and Mirabelle flinched and edged backwards. Michelle tried to hold her ground but the confidence was fading fast.

"You'll regret this," she threatened, jabbing a finger at us before turning and beckoning her two followers. They walked away together.

Lia and Mia looked at each other and burst out laughing.

"I would give up my phone just to see that look on their faces on repeat," Lia laughed, pulling an exaggerated terrified expression.

"We both know you love your phone too much for that," Mia teased, earning a scowl from Lia, who tried and failed to look offended.

"That's not the point. You always say the wrong thing at the wrong time," Lia groaned, burying her face in her hands.

"Look who's smiling," Mia said, turning to me with a grin. "If it takes us scaring off the Elles to get a smile out of you, Amy, we'll do it every day. Right, Lia?"

"Gladly," Lia agreed, beaming at me.

"Please don't," I laughed, shaking my head.

I wasn't a fan of violence, and I didn't want them getting into trouble because of me.

"As you wish," Mia smiled, raising both hands in surrender.

"As long as they keep their mouths shut, we'll be civil," Lia added, her tone carrying just enough of a threat to be believable.

We went to get our lunch after that, burgers and juice, Lia's suggestion, no objections from either of us.

"Here's the money for mine," I said, holding out some cash to Lia. She didn't take it. Instead she gently closed my fingers around it and placed my hand back in my lap. She had already paid for my lunch earlier, before I realised I'd forgotten to bring money to the cafeteria.

"I didn't pay for your lunch so you could pay me back," she smiled.

"But it doesn't feel right," I sighed, extending the money again.

"No buts. What's wrong with me buying lunch for my friend?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Thank you," I said, letting my hand drop.

It wasn't that I wasn't grateful. It was just new to me, someone wanting to do something kind, without expecting anything in return.

"Get used to having this power squad around you," Mia giggled proudly, bumping her fist against Lia's.

They stretched their fists toward me. I bumped mine against theirs and we all laughed. For the first time in years it wasn't forced. I was actually happy genuinely, unexpectedly happy, and with friends, no less.

Damn you, Amy.

I cursed myself the moment I glanced in Leo's direction and found his eyes already on me. Michelle was planting kisses all over his face but his gaze didn't move from mine not even for a second. And then he smiled. A slow, deliberate smile that sent a shiver straight down my spine.

"Amy? Hello?" Lia snapped her fingers in front of my face.

"Are you okay?" Mia and Lia asked at the same time.

I tore my eyes away and turned back to them.

"I have to use the restroom," I said quickly, getting to my feet.

"Do you know where it is?" Lia asked, brows knitted, eyes scanning my face.

"We can show.."

"No worries, I'll find it." The words were barely out of my mouth before I was already walking away.

.......

I washed my hands, splashed cold water on my face, and stared at my reflection. I looked like a mess. But that was the least of my problems.

Damn you, Leo Callahan. His smile kept replaying in my head like it had taken up permanent residence there. This guy was managing to torment me even from across a cafeteria. I closed my eyes, took a long breath, then forced them open.

I pulled the door open and stepped out into the corridor. I had just passed the restroom entrance and was about to turn back toward the cafeteria when I heard my name.

"Amy Grayson."

I froze.

Leo. He was leaning against the wall ahead of me, arms crossed, watching me like he had been waiting. That was new, he had actually used my name instead of Clumsy.

Was he following me now? I weighed my options. Run, or stay and let him say whatever awful thing he had lined up. I chose to stay there was no dignified way to bolt when he was standing right in front of the only route back to the cafeteria. Besides, running would only give him more satisfaction.

I stared at him without speaking. Partly because I had nothing to say. Mostly because even if I did, the words wouldn't have come out.

"Running away from me, Clumsy? I got detention because of you," he said, a crease forming between his brows.

He deserved that detention and he knew it. He had even smiled when Mrs Rodriguez gave it to him, why was he making it my problem now? I thought all of this but said none of it.

"Gone mute?" His hazel eyes bore into mine.

"Leave me alone," the words slipped out before I could pull them back.

Something flashed across his face anger, maybe but it disappeared almost immediately, replaced by that familiar indifference.

"Did you say something?" His lips curled.

"No," I shook my head. I moved to step past him and was yanked back by the wrist.

My back pressed against the wall as he caged me in, leaning close. My breath caught. His face was just inches from mine.

"Baby blue eyes," he said softly, almost to himself, his hazel ones searching mine. A smile tugged at his lips and goosebumps broke across my skin.

His grip on my wrist hadn't loosened.

"You're hurting me," I lied.

He let go instantly, like he'd touched something hot, but he didn't step back. For just a moment his eyes softened, and then the coldness returned.

"Leo, what are you doing?" Rio's voice came from down the corridor. He appeared and pulled Leo away from me, then turned to look at me with an expression caught somewhere between apology and concern.

"You owe Rio a thank-you. He saved your.." Leo started.

Just then Michelle appeared. Her eyes blazed when they landed on me, then softened the instant they moved to Leo.

"What are you doing with her?" she asked him, her voice low and sweet.

"Nothing, babe. Let's go," Leo said easily. He kissed her, slipped an arm around her waist, and the two of them walked off without a backwards glance.

I exhaled slowly.

"Amy," Rio said gently. "I'm sorry about that."

The apology only stirred the frustration already sitting heavy in my chest. I was so tired of people saying sorry for Leo's behaviour, like their words were supposed to undo any of it.

"I'm Rio, by the way," he said, moving a strand of hair out of his face and extending his hand.

He was good-looking. I registered that and then immediately caught myself mentally comparing his features to Leo's, which I silently scolded myself for.

His hand was still outstretched.

Without a word, I turned and walked away. It was better this way. Getting close to Leo's friends no matter how decent they seemed. It wasn't something I could afford.