I was actually enjoying my lunch, when a shadow fell over us and I already knew who it was. Amy was standing there with her friends. “Emma can I have a word?” I debated if I should do this but she didn’t want to waste time and one of the guys lifted me up from my spot and put me in front of her, She had a head full of make-up and it didn’t at all look like the super models, she tried to copy but there was no way I could tell her this.

“So about Jack, stay away from him, he is out of your league, you’re nothing more than trailer trash, you understand?” I nodded because it was not something she hadn’t said to me before and I had expected this from her and it had surprised me that it had taken her this long to set boundaries. “I understand Amy.” She came even closer and I had the urge to back away but her “bodyguard” stood right behind me, trapping me between them and I knew what would follow as she put her hand on my cheek. “I’m serious, if I see you with Jack, I will make you pay.” She then lifted her hand and I already winched before she could hit me and to my surprise it didn’t come but she also didn’t move away, so I opened my eyes and was shocked to see Jack holding her wrist, he didn’t look happy at all.

“Stop harassing her Amy, she hasn’t done anything to you and she certainly isn’t a threat to you, I mean look at her, nobody even looks at her, when you are around.” To be honest this hurt a lot especially when it came from him because I did have a crush on him even though I tried to ignore that and the fact that he didn’t know me but apparently in a week’s time he already thought like the rest of them, the only good about this was that he had a moral.

“You’re right of course, I’m sorry Emma, I don’t know what came over me and please remember what we talked about okay?” I quickly nodded and she made the guy behind move away. I grabbed my stuff and mumbled an excuse to Michael and Dawn and almost ran to the toilets and here is where I ate the rest of my apple and finished my bottle of water. When the bell rang I quickly made my way to my programming class and I was happy when the final bell rang because this meant I had two days without fearing Amy.

I practically ran towards Lucy’s school and dropped her off at our neighbour, miss Rosalie, she was an elderly woman who watched Lucy when I had to work. I cleaned her trailer and brought fresh flowers in return. I ran to our trailer and quickly put my work outfit on, which consisted out of jeans and a shirt of the diner, an apron and I put my hair in a high bun. I grabbed my bike and raced towards the diner. I was on time and the owner mrs. Hendriksen smiled at me. “How was school Emma?” she asked me and I smiled, I hated lying to her but I didn’t want her to worry about me.

“It was fine, we have a new student, his name is Jack and he’s from Scotland.” I smiled and she nodded. “Is he handsome?” I giggled “He is Margaret.” I quickly clocked in and started cleaning my section. I never had any complaints before, which was a good thing, I loved this job, I loved to talk to total strangers as they didn’t know me and the regulars also were fun to talk to. The best thing though was that nobody from my school came here and it allowed me to act out of character. My shift ended at six tonight not that it mattered that I was done before the rush hour because I still made a 200 dollar tip and this was something I could use to buy Lucy new shoes and I know I told her we would do it today but tomorrow I could take her to primark, which was better than target or Walmart.

“Margaret?” The owner turned around and smiled at me before handing over a leftover bag, she always gave this to me because she worried about my weight. “Yes dear?”

“Is it possible to take up an extra shift tomorrow? And is it okay if I take my little sister with me?” I asked her. I saw the worry on her eyes “Are you okay dear, I mean if you need some extra money, I’m happy to help out.” I smiled at her but I shook my head because I didn’t want to be her charity case I wanted to work for my money. “That’s really nice but really I just want to work.” I told her and that again was a lie because I really didn’t want to work but I needed the money and the tips of a Saturday evening rush.

“Sure, come in at four and bring that adorable sister with you, we will make sure she has fun.” I thanked her and made my way back and Lucy was already waiting for me and hugged me as soon as I put away the bike. She grabbed the bag out of my hands and walked into our trailer and put it in the microwave. I eyes the clock and decided to change my clothes into some grey sweats and a tank top, I wasn’t expecting Jack anyway especially after what he said earlier today. I opened my laptop and started to work on the assignment, when I heard a car pull up in front of the trailer and Lucy already walked over to see who it was and I knew it was Jack without even looking outside, Lucy’s shocked face said it all. “Hi, is Emma here?” I heard him ask her and she took a step to the side and let him in.

To say I felt ashamed was an understatement. The trailer was clean but it was messy because we didn’t have a lot of storage room. “Hi.” Was all I said to him when his eyes fell on me, I really wished the floor would open and swallow me but sadly that didn’t happen and as we kept staring at each other, it became more awkward per second, that is until my sister opened her mouth. “I uhm will go next door.” She bolted out the door and left me with Jack who was looking around, taking in the trailer. “Where are your parents?” he asked and I shrugged. “I don’t know. Would you like something to drink, I have clean glasses.” I almost face palmed myself for saying something like that.

“Water please.” He took a seat at the table and looked at what I already had done. “I uhm didn’t think you were serious about coming over, so I started just in case.” I mumbled apologetic. I sat down next to him and he grabbed my hand, making me look at him “It’s okay, let’s just finish it.” He said without any judgement in his eyes and I just nodded.

“So how old are you?” He asked me and I smiled because it was the most basic question of the entire list. “I’m seventeen and you?”

“I’m eighteen, what’s your sign?”

“I’m a Libra, I’m born in October and you?”

“Lion, I’m a July kid.” He smiled at me when I finally dared to look up, I felt my confidence built because he actually seemed really nice. He looked around him and I know he saw a lack of adult stuff but he didn’t ask about my parents even though that was on the list.

“What’s your favorite tv show?” I smiled because he asked the right questions. “God I don’t know, I like so many shows but I think right now it’s Once Upon a Time and Game of Thrones and what are yours?”

“Game of thrones, really I didn’t think you were a girl who liked that.” He actually did sound surprised and I started to nod. “I love that show but what about you?”

“My favourite show is also Game of Thrones but I also love House of Cards and Suits.” I scrunched my nose at the House of Cards because I didn’t really like that show but to my defence that just wasn’t my genre. I typed his answer on my laptop and I know he was studying me but for some reason I didn’t feel nervous at all, I just felt like a normal girl.

“Do you want another drink?” I asked to break his staring and he quietly nodded, he was definitely festering on something and normally I wouldn’t ask anything but he made me feel confident. “A penny for your thoughts?” I asked when I put the glass in front of him and he snapped out of it. “I don’t want to be rude or anything but where are your parents?”

“Gone.” I answered simply because what else was there to say. “Wait what do you mean by gone?”

“I mean that they left me and my little sister when I turned sixteen, so they’re gone.” I shrugged and turned back to my screen and scribbled some more answers but he stopped me and forced me to look at him. “Is that why you are so shy?” I blushed because nobody had ever asked me why I was shy, they just ignored me or bullied me, never did they show any interest in me like he was doing and it was unsettling.

“Maybe you should go home, I mean if Amy finds out that you’re here she will do something even worse to me then the things you saw her do last week.” I smiled politely and got up from my seat but he didn’t move.

“Does she do that often?” I laughed humourless “Really?! You think this just started the last week, no she has done this from the moment she saw me walking around.” I told him and I walked passed him and opened the door. “Thank you for doing this but you really should go home and just leave me alone, like everyone else.”

I heard him get up but he paused before me, making me look up again. He looked angry and I took a step back, which he noticed and his eyes turned sad immediately. “I’m sorry Emma.” I shrugged and tried to smile again but I know it looked more like a grimace, he walked to his car and I stared after him until he drove out of the trailer park. I went back inside and cleaned everything when Lucy came running in. “Tell me everything.” The thing with twelve year olds was that they were really nosy and well Lucy wasn’t any different.

“Well look at the time, it’s time to go to bed.” I was happy that I could grab that excuse because it was already past 10pm and normally we stayed up a bit later but I was going to take her on a shopping spree and I couldn’t have her tired. “But it’s Friday!” she yelled disappointed and I nodded. “I know what day it is sweetheart but we have to get up early tomorrow or don’t you want to go shopping?” that was the magic word because her eyes lit up and she almost ran me over. I hugged her tightly and she kissed me goodnight and that was the last I’d seen of her. I grabbed a glass of water for myself and walked into my bedroom and as my head hit my pillow I was a goner.

Notes