When Bad Boys Fall

[|]

A loud bang on my room door forced me awake. I grabbed my pillow and brought it to my chest, silently hoping that he would go away. I shut my eyes when the banging continued then after two minutes, it stopped. I sighed and got out of bed, feeling too afraid to go back to sleep. I went to where my phone was charging and picked it up. I unlocked the device and stared at the cracked screen before shifting my attention to the time- 3:07 am.

"What am I going to do now? Mom isn't even back yet," I said and sat down on the floor, eyes fixed on the door.

And like always, I stayed awake throughout the night and later got up to prepare for school, with tired eyes and body. I dragged my feet to my wardrobe and picked out a black knee-length dress and a thick button-up sweater. I took my hygiene bag and robe and then hesitantly walked to the door with my heart beating so fast.

All I needed to do was run straight to the bathroom, brush my teeth, take a quick shower, rush back to my room then leave through the window. As long as he didn't see me, I would be fine. With a nod, I touched the key attached to the keyhole and twisted it slowly, not wanting to alert him that I was up. I was sure that he was drunk again so I had to be quick.

I poked my head out after opening the door and looked toward the hallway that led to the living room. I saw no sign of him when I glanced at the door a few feet away from mine. I exhaled in relief and took out my key before leaving the room. I closed the door and locked it back then rushed to the bathroom on the other end of the hallway. Once I was inside, I locked the door and leaned on it, breathing a sigh of relief.

I cannot wait until the day I leave this house. This is why I study hard to get a scholarship because right now, mom or that man did not care if I went to college or not. We were broke and nothing gave me the idea of a bright future if I depended on them.

"Alright, time for school. I can't be late today of all days. I have an important test to take."

[|]

I jogged into the school's compound and stopped at the entrance of the building where students were moving in and out. I held the straps of my backpack tighter when I got close to the crowded entrance. Once I was in, I ran to the flight of stairs which led me to the second floor of the building. As I climbed the steps, I stopped at the sight of the few people I despised seeing.At the top of the steps were the students from the swim team, laughing and talking to each other. I hoped that they didn't see me because they did everything possible to make my life a living hell after one accident that started everything.

Two years ago...

I hummed as I walked through the hallway of the school, reading one of my favorite novels. My ears perked when I heard laughter coming from the pool room up ahead. I closed my book and smiled at the idea of watching the swim team practice because they had a contest tomorrow.

I quickened my steps and reached the double doors of the room. I looked through the glass area on the doors and saw some of them in their trunks moving in the water and sitting on the bleachers. The sight of other students made me relieved to go in because there was no way I would walk in there if no one from the school was there, watching them. I pushed the door open and walked in. A few people glanced at me but looked away afterward.

I walked to the lower bleachers and sat down. I removed my backpack and placed it on the floor in front of my feet. I looked around the place before opening my novel to read. Five minutes later, I saw one of the swimmers run past me but he knocked into my backpack which sent him falling toward the pool. He fell into the pool and everyone screamed out in fear. I sat up, more bothered about my bag than him because I knew he could swim and survive but the books in my bag couldn't.

After two minutes, he was dragged out to the surface and laid on the wet floor. I started to panic when I saw him holding his ankle while groaning.

"What's wrong, Tony?"

"Did you get hurt?"

"What happened?"

So many questions filled the echoing hall as I stood and watched, waiting for an answer from the groaning student.

"My ankle! My ankle hurts so bad. It hurts! I think I twisted it!"

Gasps and curses filled the hall and soon, everyone turned to look at me.

"It was your bag that made him fall! I swear to God if something happens to his leg and we lose this contest, you will suffer for it!...

Tony had a nasty sprain that made him not go for the contest and for our school to lose. Since then, they have been bullying me and making me suffer for what happened two years ago. Worst of all, Tony was the only qualified swimmer on our school team to represent us. So, their resentment toward me began that day.

"Would you look at that? It's the devil's incarnate."

I gulped when Tony spoke with a glare on his face. The other three around him looked down and spotted me. I stepped back and scowls occupied their faces. My eyes widened when Tony stepped forward then I ran back to where I was coming from. I knocked into a few students as I ran past the entrance of the school.

I looked over my shoulder to find them chasing after me. If they caught me, they would do crazy things to me. They've done the worst things that left me crying or having nightmares for days.I continued to run but bumped into someone who fell to the floor. I paused and apologized to the girl before running off to another part of the hallway where fewer students were in. I realized that I was in the hallway where the basketball team locker rooms were. I stopped running when I came to a dead-end, which was the doors that led outside to where the school field was. I cursed in my head and went running back only to stagger to a stop when Tony and his goons ran into the same hallway. I slowly took off my backpack and threw it on the other side of the wall.

"You can't run anymore, Jackie," Tony said and walked toward me.

"Please, I won't do anything. Just let me go for today. I have a test this morning, please don't hurt me," I pleaded, looking from one person to the other as they approached me.

"You should know better than this, Jackie. Begging and sounding like a wimp won't stop us from doing what we want," Tony said and I watched as his narrowed eyes shifted to a door on the side- The boy's locker room.

I didn't like where this was going.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Alex, the tallest one asked, eyeing the same door.I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion, wondering what they meant.

Tony hummed. "Get her!"

I jumped at the command then Rachel, the other swimmer ran up to me and grab my arms. I struggled in her tight grip but she was stronger as she dragged me toward them. Alex opened the door and Tony grabbed my arm and then pulled me into his chest. He towered over me, glaring into my soul with angry hazel eyes.

"I wonder what the boys in there would say about a nerdy little girl like you in their locker room," Tony said.

"Yeah, especially since they're all in there taking their baths. I mean, they just came back from early morning practice, I heard," Rachel said and peeped into the room.

I glanced at the opened locker room, there were some towels, sports uniforms, and shoes around, which meant that they were truly inside. I swallowed at the thought of naked men seeing me and fear filled my body at what they might think of me or do.

I gasped when Tony shoved me into the locker room. I tumbled to the floor and hissed when I scraped my elbow on the wet and sandy floor. My eyes widened at the sound of the door closing then I looked over my shoulder. Alex waved at me then I heard the sounds of the door locking, followed by Rachel waving a key through the glass part of the door.

I instantly rose and slammed into the door. I hit my palm against it, panicking.

"Please, please, don't do this," I begged but watched in sadness as they walked away, laughing.

I sniffed and wiped the tears I didn't know had been rolling down my cheeks. I wrapped my arms around my body only to drop them when I heard a door open, then a loud masculine exhale.

"Coach hates us so much that he had to punish all of us for what that bastard of a captain did." A deep voice echoed around the place.

Someone was here. Jesus, someone was here or people were here. What was I going to do?

[|]

I squeezed my eyes shut, wishing I was invisible at this point because I could not face whoever that was. I opened my eyes when I heard footsteps behind me so I turned around and looked for a place I could hide- There was none. The only thing on each side of the walls were red lockers. I don't think there was space for me to hide in any of the lockers and even if there was, whoever it was would find me by following the sounds I made.

So, I stood with my back pressed against the door. My dress was wet from my fall, my hair was out its ponytail it was in, and my body was full of nervous sweat. I counted to six until whoever revealed themselves.

A covered my mouth with my hands when I saw a half-naked basketball player, wiping his head. His bare and strong back was facing me, and his white towel was hanging low around his waist. His muscular arms bunched as he wiped his head with the white towel that covered his face. I silently hoped he did not turn or spot me, but I knew he was going to now or later.

As if the universe hated me, the back of my foot knocked at the door when I shifted toward the wall which caused him to flinch and spin around. My eyes widened as I saw his face. He had to be the most handsome guy I have ever seen. That's shocking coming from me because I barely cared about what and who came to this school, but I've seen people, but this guy was looking like a god. He looked like one of those social media boyfriend goals type with his wet dark hair that hung over his forehead, his parted plump lips, sharp jawline and furrowed full yet arched eyebrows.

When his blue eyes scanned my body up and down, I felt something in my belly and between my legs. I bit my bottom lip behind my hands when my eyes went down to his strong and broad chest. They went further downward to the abs adorning his flat stomach and the happy trail leading to where the towel was knotted. My eyes flickered back to his face, and I furrowed my eyebrows when I found him smirking.

"Who are you? Are you one of the booty calls for someone here? If you are, I'd like to have a taste first. You are the perfect picture of a few of the guy's fantasy here," he said in a voice that was deep and sultry.

I frowned when I realized what he had just said then dropped my hands in annoyance. I pursed my lips and glared at him which only made him smirk more.

"I am not any of that. Just let me out of here," I said.

"Out? Why don't you wait a few more minutes, hm?" He suggested and took a step forward.

I pressed my back against the door, fear making my heart hammer faster. He stopped for a bit but continued to walk toward me. I looked to the side when he reached me and my nostrils got a whiff of his soap and colonge. He smelt so clean and good.

"What's your name?" He asked.

"J-Jackie," I stuttered and flinched when he rested his hand on the wall beside my head. I tried not to look at him because he was so tall, and I was cowering under what I presumed to be six two tall.

"Jackie," he said my name in a different voice that made me feel funny. "Tell me, are you here for someone?"

I shook my head. "No, I'm not."

"Look up at me," he said, and I found myself hesitantly looking up and into his blue eyes. He was more handsome up close with his long dark lashes to his pointed nose and parted lips. Some droplets of water were still on his face, and I followed the movement of one that ran down his cheekbone, his sharp jawline before it dropped on his chest. I wondered how soft or how hard that part of his flesh was.

I shook my head and looked back at him only to find him looking all around my body.

"You sure you aren't here for someone because the way you're looking at me tells me otherwise. Are you a new cheerleader here and is this some sort of a roleplay between you and one of the players on the team? Dressed up like a nerd to have locker room sex with one of us?"

This man had no filter and somehow, his words made me curious as to what these players and cheerleaders did here. Speaking of that, why did he refer to me as one when I was nothing like one?

"Uh..."

"Lucas... My name's Lucas Hamilton."

My mouth hung open. So, this was Redside High's number one hottie and playboy I always hear girls and boys talk about. I heard he sleeps with so many girls, breaks hearts and leaves girls wanting more. He was so good looking and had the face that matched his whoring life indeed.

When I felt a warmth close to my shoulder, I jerked and saw his hand close to my shoulder. That was enough to bring me back to what put me in this situation.

"Are you okay?" Lucas asked.

"I... Please, just let me out of here," I pleaded, and he opened his mouth to speak but I heard some clicks and the door opened, making me turn my head.

Relief washed over me when I saw Josh Edgewood, captain of the basketball team, staring at us with wide eyes.

"Aren't you Jackie Garner? What are you doing here? Mr. Rowland is about to start the test," he said, and I gasped.

"Thank you so much!" I said in excitement and relief then ran out of the locker room, taking my bag with me. I could hear them saying something, but it didn't matter, I was out and ready to do my test.

As I ran out of the hallway with my backpack and into where there were other students, I ignored their weird looks, probably from my moist dress and I began to have thoughts about Lucas Hamilton. The image of his naked and strong upper body was plastered at the back of my mind, making me smile.

[|]

I ticked the last answer on the test sheet and rose from my seat, happy at my answers, knowing I would ace the test. I smiled at Mr. Rowland who nodded at me before taking my test sheet. He skimmed through then motioned for me to leave which I did, head high as other students stared at me.

There was this satisfaction and pride I felt at finishing tests or exams first and leaving that class. It was like me telling them they were too slow or didn't study hard enough, especially when it's something pretty easy to do.

I left the class and walked through the quiet hallways until I reached my locker in another wing. As I opened my locker, I tapped the pocket on my dress, only to freeze when I didn't feel my phone. I touched the other pocket and still didn't find anything. I looked through my locker and even my backpack but saw nothing.

"Oh, God!" I panicked. Where had I dropped or left my phone when I remember putting it in my pocket this morning? I closed my locker and stared at the floor, hoping I would see it.

My phone is the most expensive thing I owned and something my dad got for me two years before he died. It was old, old in every aspect. It helped me a lot and now it was lost. I had no money to buy a new one and getting a new phone or an already used one was too expensive. Mom or that man couldn't buy me one if they couldn't even care about getting me my tuition fees on time. I had to work hard for it at so many stores.

"Where could it be?" I whispered and touched my forehead. I closed my eyes, trying to remember if I had left it somewhere or used it before my test but I don't remember doing any of that.

I leaned on my locker and sighed, giving up on the phone. I pushed myself off the locker and opened it then took out my books for my next class. I closed it and walked away, feeling down.

[|]

I sat down on one of the chairs in the school's library and opened my books then uncapped my pen. I started to study but jerked out of fear when someone dragged out the chair close to me. I looked in their direction, only to gasp when I saw it was Lucas Hamilton. He was now fully clothed- Thank God. He was dressed in a white shirt and denim jacket, and dark denim pants. His hair was wet from his shower, and he smelt so good.

I blinked, flustered and confused as to why he was here, sitting beside a nobody like me.

"Hi," he said and played with one of the leaves of my book.

"H-Hi," I said and swallowed. "W-what are you doing here?"

After knowing he was the most popular guy in school, I flushed at the memories of him so close to me in the locker room. Now, he was sitting with me, and it left me flustered.

Lucas shrugged. "I just finished a class and saw you walk in here. I was bored anyway, so I came to talk to you."

"About what?" Why was he talking to me right now when he could be making out with one of the hot girls at school?

"As I said, I was bored. How was Mr. Rowland's test? His geography tests are on the list of the hardest subjects in school."

"No, it's not!" I retorted faster which startled him. I blushed when I heard shushing sounds coming from different places.

Lucas chuckled. "You look like the intelligent type, of course, his subject would look like ABC to you."

I bowed my head. "I guess."

"So, how come I've never seen you around before?"

I nibbled my lip at his question. I have reasons to be unseen in this school even though I've been in this school since the kindergarten level.

"I don't know, maybe I just prefer to be alone," I replied and fixed my pen between my teeth. "Don't you have friends?" He asked.

I looked up and noticed his eyes shift to the pen between my teeth.

"No, I don't," I replied and popped the pen out of my mouth. "Look, I don't know why you're here, but can you not ask personal questions? Also, I came here to study for the Advanced Math test coming up."

"That test is next month and it's like three weeks away. Wow, you don't have a life," Lucas said and I felt offended.

I rose and started to grab my things, but he clasped his big hand around my small wrist, startling me. I flickered my eyes to his face and raised an eyebrow.

"I'm sorry... Look, I didn't mean that in a bad way. I was just teasing you," he said and released my wrist, but I could still feel the warmth from his hand.

"Whatever," I said and picked up every book I owned. I cradled them in my arms and stared down at him. "I don't know what you want from me but if it's about what you said in the locker room, please avoid me. I'm not that type."

I said and walked away from the table and away from him. I stopped when I saw one of the cheerleaders staring at me suspiciously, but I looked away and continued to walk away.

[|]

I got home and smelt food, which made my tummy rumble. I haven't eaten since today and I needed food which also meant my mom was home. I dropped my bag by the front door and went to the kitchen where I saw my mom, standing in front of the stove, stirring a steaming pot.

"Hi, mom," I said, and she turned her head.

"Hey, Jackie. You're home early. Oh, I've been trying to call you, but your phone says it's switched off. What happened?"

I froze at her words. How was I going to tell her that I lost my phone? My mom and I shared a fifty-fifty relationship. Today, we were cool tomorrow we acted as if we were enemies at war.

"I... It died. My phone died at school. I'll go plug it in my room. I'm sorry if it made you worried," I said and left the kitchen.

I grabbed my backpack by the door and ran straight to my room. I locked it and rushed to my bed where I sat with worry all over me.

"What am I going to do now? I can't lie for long, especially by tomorrow if mom calls. Did I leave my phone here?" I stood up and searched around the room but found no trace of my phone. "No, no, no. I can't lose my phone. I can't."

An idea popped up in my head, so I left my room and took the telephone in the hallway then went back to my room. I quickly dialed my phone number and pressed it to my ear. I felt relief wash over my body when my number began to ring, meaning someone must have turned it on or charged it or something because my stupid phone's battery drains faster on some days.

Whoever held my phone answered the call and I gulped, not knowing who might be at the other end of the call.

"H-hello? Please, this is the owner of the phone calling. Can you tell me where you found it?"

"Of course."

I gasped at the familiar voice.

"Lucas Hamilton?"