"BEEP BEEP BEEP," my stupid alarm clock is so loud. I slam my hand on the snooze bar. If Gramps will give me just five more min-
"John! Time to get up!" He yells from downstairs. Another morning battle lost. I roll out of bed and jump in the shower. As much as I hate mornings, I have to admit that I love showering. When I get out I throw on my uniform, little blue button down with rolled up sleeves, a skinny black tie, and a pair of kakis. When I get downstairs Gram is busy at the stove and Gramps is deeply involved in the business section of the news paper (I prefer the sports and comics myself, but whatever). I give Gram a kiss on the check and pour my protein shake in a to go cup. I slip on my black converse and grab my leather jacket (which I never leave the house without) and head out the door.
Stanly is waiting outside the school when I get there. Some weird girl blocks my path to the door.
"Hi John! There's a party at my place tonight! Hope you can make it, seeing how you had plans the past four times!" I shrug and say I'll try to make it. Stan looks smug as I walk over towards him.
"What's with the look?" I ask.
"New girl in our class!" he responds. I roll my eyes and head over to my locker, I toss my books and jacket in. I head to homeroom where there's a new girl sitting at my desk. She looks to be about 15, maybe 16.
"Um, excuse me," I say, "I don't mean to sound like a jerk, but you're sitting in my seat." "Oh! I'm so sorry! I'm new here and I didn't see anyone sitting here. I shouldn't have just assumed that no one sat here-"
"Hey, its ok." I feel bad for the girl. She looks all flushed and embarrassed. She moves over to the other seat.
"I'm John by the way," I say extending my hand.
"Ella."
"Nice to meet you Ella. Welcome to Loric High. The finest school on Lorien."
She lets out a shy giggle. Good, I'm getting somewhere. It's always hard on younger students. I try to pull them out of their shells. I have a feeling that Stanly will help with that this time. He walks in and sees me talking to her.
"Hey man," he says sitting down next to me, "Hi, I'm Stanly." He directs to Ella.
"I'm Ella," she says, almost breathlessly. I can't believe that she fell for him that fast.
Cole, Marina, and Leia walk in to the class and take their seats. Leia slips into the seat behind me and wraps her arms around my neck. She starts to say something but Mrs. Myers
walks in. She introduces Ella and calls roll. The bell rings we all rush out into the hallway. My first class is gym, which I'm thrilled about, so I head over to the end of the school. Leia jumps up on my back. I give her a piggyback ride to the gym. When we get there we past Bryce Larkin, Leia's boyfriend and my strongest completion for the Loric Armed forces and Exploration training scholarship for head general. I instantly drop Leia and go inside. We have a similar built and I know I can beat him in a one on one fight, but I hate fighting people. Leia follows me in. I speed up, the last thing I need is to have Bryce and his goons to see me with Leia even more then they all ready have. I'm stressed enough about the scholarship.
"John, stop!" She calls, "We need to talk."
"No," I say, turning around, "We don't. I'm sorry, but I can't get involved in this again. You remember what happened last year." Last year I realized that I was in love with Leia. We lived next door from each other and have been friends forever. She was date Bryce then too, but I didn't care. I guess it was a little too obvious, because Bryce and his goons cornered me after soccer practice. That was the worst day of my life. They broke four ribs, my right arm, and left my whole body black and purple. I started coughing up blood when Stanly and Cole were walking by looking for me. Bryce and company bolted and I spent the weekend in a hospital room. When I got back to school I avoided Leia for two months. After that I still loved her but kept it hidden. I can't open that up again. I keep walking and don't dare to look back.

The lunch bell rings and everyone runs out of the class. I stay a little longer to copy down the extra credit assignment. I know, I sound like a huge nerd, but I'm at the top of my class and I need to keep it that way if I want the scholarship. I toss my books into my looker and then go outside. I see Stanly, Cole, Marina, Leia, and the new girl Ella sitting in our spot. I walk over and try not to make eye contact with Leia. Cole's going on about how Mr. Grimes is dating the school nurse and she's cheating on him. It's an interesting story, but I'm too distracted to think about it.
"Earth to John" Leia says. They're all staring at me.
"What?" I ask.
"Leia was just saying how she and Bryce just broke up because she caught him making out with Kim Green." Marina explains.
"Oh," I say, "sorry to hear that." And I really am. Now she free and if I make a move Bryce will remove my head from my body. Stanly and Cole glance nervously at me. They are the only ones who know what Bryce did to me. I told the doctors I was hit by a truck that drove off. I know that if Leia knew she would break it off with Bryce, then who knows what he would do to me, or worse, to her.