“Morning guys. Lumi, you alright?” Kamila asked placing her hand to my forehead.

Smiling I waved off her worries. “I'm fine.”

Ellie giggled again earning a glare. She raised her hands in mock surrender. “Anyway Kamila, Jamie. Did you see the text I sent out yesterday?”

“OMG yes!” Kamila squealed digging out her phone from her bottomless purse. “It's everywhere! People are posting pictures whenever they see him.”

Him?

She nudged Jamie. “Tell them what you saw.”

He sighed pushing his hair back. “It wasn't anything big, but I saw him going into the cemetery when I was heading to the store with my sisters.”

That caught my attention. They were talking about mystery boy.

“Weird. He did stop by the shop- even bought some roses.” Ellie noted looking at me. “We never asked what they were for.”

Jamie shrugged. “It's just odd. We know of his older siblings but not him? Not even a name, they don't even talk about him?”

“Well,” Ellie started when we stopped at a light. “He said that he used to live here. So maybe there's a reason he left.”

“True enough. Well let's just hope he's nice and not one of them.” Jamie stated.

We all nodded to that. There was enough of them to go around and adding this handsome mystery to the mix wouldn't do- me- any good. 

We parked and made our way to the campus, Crimson Springs High. We pushed through the main doors when Jamie threw his arms around my and Ellie's shoulders, drawing us close.

“Ah feel that?” He asked. Everyone smirked as he always asked the same thing at the start of every year. “That my friends is the start of our Junior year. Time to eat weird probably toxic school food, surround ourselves with hormonal edgy teenagers, and late night studies that control our entire future. Have the younger class-men watch our every move. Ah it's good to be back!”

Laughing we headed off to our lockers, the same ones given when we started. Mine and Ellie's in the opposite side of the school. I smiled with a pleased sigh. This was a good start to the day but of course I jinxed myself as her obnoxious cackling bubbled up around the corner. 

And there they were Mindy, Amy and Debbie or as everyone that was tormented by them called them M.A.D. The weeds of the school, choking all the light from anything that didn't agree with them.

Mindy Mazen, towering above most students, dirty blonde hair loose yet not a hair out of place, dark eyes either a dark brown or black that were always set in a glare. And just because she was a bully meant she flaunted her family's money with her new wardrobe and flashy cars. Like today she was dressed in skinny jeans and a short sleeved V neck that showed off her muscles.

Amy Lynn, another blonde with blue eyes, she was the athletic one of their group and way more chatty. She dressed in blindingly bright clothes that demanded you look at her.

Then there was Debbie Stone, the silent brooding type but quick to follow any of Mindy's orders to a T. Her hair was styled in tight braids pulled back into a ponytail, she wore sunglasses everywhere she went giving her an edgy hard look and her punk like outfit added to that.

Nonetheless my body froze up upon seeing them waiting outside my locker.

“E-Ellie, I can come by later and grab my stuff. Let's just go.” I begged tugging on her arm.

Mindy’s cackle suddenly stopped as she turned spotting us, I shrank away. Mindy smirked before her and her gang made their way over. They stopped right in front of us, Mindy staring down her nose, the hooped piercing there reminding me of a bulls.

“And here I thought I would miss you before class maggot.” She leaned in a dark gleam in her eyes before she whispered. “Looks like my punching bag is back. Can't wait.”

I stared up at her petrified in place. A hand tugged me back making me flinch in fear from their touch before I noticed it was Ellie's.

“Back the hell up!” Ellie hissed standing in front of me in the shadow of Mindy.

Amy and Debbie stepped forward making my heart stop as they faced Ellie but my body wouldn't move.

“Want to say that again misfit?” Debbie snarled.

Amy smiled looking at me, her hand raised reaching-

“Do you make your sister fight all your battles-”

She was cut off by Ellie pushing her back a step. “Don't touch him!”

With Ellie's attention on Amy she didn't- wouldn't see it coming. And suddenly my frozen body was in motion, as Mindy's fist drew back. 

I jumped in front of Ellie taking the hit in the cheek, the force slamming me back into the lockers.

“Lumir!” Ellie’s voice gasped as she rushed to my side.

I blinked, tasting blood as it flooded my mouth, ears ringing and the hallway spinning. I pushed off the locker.

“Lumir? Lumir, are you okay?” Ellie asked.

“Ellie, go.” I huffed under my breath.

I glanced up and down the hall seeing no one. Of course. Then at Ellie and her panicked face. There was no way out of this. At least not for both of us. 

“But-”

“No but's. Go!” I said shoving her again as Mindy and her gang laughed. Ellie gritted her teeth before running off, I quickly stepped in Debbie's way as she moved to go after Ellie.

“Want me to go after her?” Debbie asked.

Mindy grinned looking me over. “Let her run, I only wanted him anyway.”

Amy delivered a swift kick to the back of my knee. I crumbled heavily to the floor. And the kicks rained down. I curled into a ball. A well placed blow sent my glasses flying, another left me winded and gasping.

The front of my hoodie was yanked as I was brought face to face with Mindy.

She leaned in close. “You disgusting maggot.” A hard punch shot forward into my stomach, I gasped over her fist as she shoved me back into another pair of arms that kept me firmly in place. “I'm going to make you regret everything.”

What everything? I tried in vain to escape the death grip that held me.

“Got anything to say, maggot?” Debbie taunted.

Bile rose in my throat at their words as tears threatened. Mentally I shook my head. Focus now, cry later.

Looking around blearily, I took note that Amy was standing with her arms crossed watching this go down while Mindy was popping her fist, Debbie holding me captive. I just needed a distraction.

Taking a breath and a chance. “Yeah I do actually. Suck it!” I said spitting a bloody loogie at Mindy and just as fast threw my head back into Debbie's face. 

Debbie cried out letting me go, I made a break for it. There was no way that actually worked!

But my over-analyzed brain didn't care to remind me of Amy's track star background until she was already racing after me and grabbing me. The force knocked me face first into the floor.

The hallway spun, Amy holding me down as I heard both Mindy and Debbie come towards us. I struggled, the tears I tried so hard to hold back began falling.

Amy laughed above me. “No ones going to save you.”

I stilled under her. No one but me.

I rolled sharply and Amy slipped forward, without missing a beat I bit her arm. She screamed and I slid out from under her and ran.

“Get back here!” Mindy roared.

I pushed off the wall taking the corner sharply only to crash into someone.

I scrambling back and couldn't help the small whimper that slipped out. Did Mindy have more people? Was this planned? What about Ellie?!

Looking up though I couldn't believe my eyes.

Mystery boy was standing in front of me. Chocolate eyes wide, white-black hair slightly tousled as if he’d just run. But why would he be running?

His hand lifted to rest on my shoulders drawing me a step closer to him as I wobbled in place. Immediately my body was warm and I wanted nothing more then to curl up and sleep. His gaze now sparked with worry and something else I couldn't place.

“Are you okay?” He asked voice deep and low as he looked me over probably taking in the growing black eye, my split lip, my tears and probably many other things I was numb to.

Mindy's voice cut off my answer, cold and demanding. Reminding me the threat was still there.

“Whose this? Your new friend, Lumir?” She laughed joining us.

I took a pinch of pride seeing Mindy had blood in her perfect hair and Debbie had a bloody nose. Yet I couldn't get my mouth open to respond.

Mystery boy stepped in front of me, facing her. “You need to leave him alone.”

“Or what?” She challenged, stepping forward.

He huffed out a tired sigh as he ran a hand back through his hair as he pinned her with a look. And I swear the air got colder with his next words. 

“You don't want to find out, Mazen.” He threatened.

For the first time I saw uncertainty in Mindy's eyes as she looked him over then grinned turning that look to me. 

“You won't always be here to protect him, leech.” She said tossing her hair over her shoulder before she and her group left.

I glanced back at him, taking in the dangerous look on his face. It didn’t suit him. Why was he getting so worked up?

But before I could ask, panting from behind us drew my eye as Ellie came around the corner. 

“Thank goodness! Are you okay?” She cried running forward. 

I smiled taking a step as abrupt fatigue rolled through my body turning it to jelly. I tipped backwards, my senses darkening but not before I felt strong- comforting hands grabbing my upper arms, then nothing but the bliss of numbing darkness.