Come Back To Me

Chapter 2

3 Years Ago…

Reid and I step off of the bus together and look upon the huge building that is now our new school, Clearvale High. It’s the first day of grade nine. Out of the small elementary/junior school where we knew everyone, and thrust upon this place. This place, full of older, hormone raging teenagers, just waiting on the newest crop of newbie’s to torture.

“This place is so much bigger than our old school, how are we going to find our way around?”

I fret as Reid takes my hand and we make our way through the stream of kids who make their way towards the school from the dozen buses lined up along the parking lot. We recognize some familiar faces from our old class here and there, but mostly, everyone is a stranger.

“It’ll be okay Hadley. Gavin said he’d show us around today if we need him, and we have a map from that package they sent to all of us.”

Reid pulls out a piece of crumpled paper from his back pocket and glances at it.

“It looks confusing,” I say when I catch a glimpse of it.

The black and white image with little squares and numbers all over it indicating classrooms, with a small legend on the lower right hand corner telling us what all the numbers are supposed to mean, it doesn’t help us a single bit.

“Well, that’s not going to help us any.”

Reid furrows his brow and puts the paper back in his pocket.

“Where is Gavin anyway? I didn’t see him on the bus,” I ask him.

“He drove here,” Reid says.

“How? When did he get a car?”

“A week ago. I asked him if we could ride with him today, but he was already full.”

Reid frowns.

“Oh well, at least we get to sit together on the bus, and it’s not very far.”

“Yeah, it’s not so bad I guess. I just wish my brother wouldn’t be such an ass sometimes.”

“When we’re his age, if you have a car, will you want to drive Madelyn and her friends around everyday?” I reason.

Reid stops walking for a second and mulls that over. I stop and wait for him.

“Yeah, I guess you have a point there,” Reid smiles and continues walking.

“I know,” I say with playful smugness, “I am pretty smart.”

Reid just laughs and shakes his head at me just as we reach the entrance.

“So where are we supposed to go first?” I ask him.

“I think we’re supposed to go to the gymnasium where they’ll give us our schedules and all that other information.”

Reid looks around for an indication to what direction we’re supposed to head in. I however, stare in horror down the massive corridor filled with ugly faded green lockers on either side, crowded with kids of all ages, shapes and sizes all scrambling about, trying to figure out where to go as well. I groan loudly and clutch Reid’s hand in a death grip.

“Um…ouch.”

I look at Reid’s face that has a pained expression on it.

“Oh, sorry,” I release his hand and he rubs his fingers.

“No problem Hadley. Seriously though, relax kay?”

He pats my shoulder comfortingly. I’m a painfully shy person; so large crowds tend to daunt me a little. I just nod as he grabs my hand again and leads me through the crowd.

Eventually we find the gymnasium. After some searching, we each find the proper table and grab our assigned packets with all of the necessary information. We take them and find a relatively quiet corner of the gym and open them together, scanning our class schedules to see if we have any of the same classes. Luckily, we have three classes together, math, science and social.

“Yay!” I squeal happily, and look to Reid who is smiling back.

“Awesome. Too bad it wasn’t every class, but this will have to do.”

He leans in and kisses me on the cheek very slowly. As he does so, I look over and spot a group of girls staring at us, or rather staring at Reid, and shooting me dirty looks. I realize one of the girls is none other than Taylor Bennett.

Taylor Bennett has been bitter about the relationship between Reid and I since he chose me over her back in sixth grade. It’s been her ongoing mission to try and break us apart. Luckily for me, Reid never liked her from the start, and maintains that same feeling to this day, much to her dismay.

“Taylor Bennett and her new posse are staring at us,” I tell Reid who still hasn’t pulled away from me yet.

“So? She can stare all she wants Hadley, doesn’t bother me none, so it shouldn’t bother you,” he says into my ear, not bothering to even glance in her direction.

I watch her nervously as she whispers and gestures towards us with her new friends that eye us speculatively. They start to giggle too, and send me some appraising looks, probably wondering how Reid could possibly be into me.

“High school, it’s a whole new world, a whole new game Reid. Do you really think she’s just going to give up now?” I ask him, feeling worried all of a sudden.

Reid pulls away from me and looks me square in the eye.

“Seriously Hadley? Have I ever given you any reason to believe that I would just change my mind about you and go after her?”

His face has the most serious expression on it, almost angry even.

“Well no but…” I start, but he cuts me off.

“Well what? You trust me right? So don’t let her get to you, that’s exactly what she wants, don’t let her make you miserable here too okay?”

“I know but…”

“No, just ignore her, this is getting stupid. One day, I’d like to see you stand up to her once and for all. Stop being her victim.”

“You’re right Reid,” I say quietly, looking at my feet.

His chastising me surprises me a little, but he’s right. I really don’t know why she gets to me so much. I don’t even really think she likes Reid as much as she lets on, I think she pretends to, just to get under my skin. Reid pulls me against him and hugs me.

“Bullies like her have nothing better to do than make everyone else feel like s**t about themselves,” he murmurs, “One day, Taylor will get what’s coming to her.”

“Why won’t she just leave me alone? I’ve never done anything to her, except maybe date you. Maybe you should stop being nice to her so that she’ll understand that you don’t like her.”

“I’m nice to everyone Hadley, that’ll never change because I will never be a bully, nobody deserves to be treated like that. I love you Hadley you know that, so you shouldn’t worry. It’s you and me forever, okay?”

I can’t believe my ears. This is the first time Reid had ever said this to me, and here in the large crowded gymnasium on the first day of high school is where he decides to say it.

“I love you too Reid,” I say in a breathless whisper.

“I know.” He smirks cockily, but his slight blush gives him away.

I can’t help but laugh. He always knows how to make me feel better.

“Now, shall we go find our first class?”

He wraps a protective arm around my shoulders and leads me out of the gym, and into our new world.

The bell for lunch hour sounds, and I eagerly make my way out of the classroom. Reid waits outside the classroom, leaning up against some lockers, looking marvelous as always. He’s got an adorable plaid button up shirt on with the sleeves rolled up, with some semi-snug dark wash jeans. His black hair falls just below his ears, and flops over his forehead. His green eyes fall upon me as I approach him, and he smiles broadly at me.

“Hi.”

I smile at him and lean up on my toes to kiss him.

“Hi,” he replies, and entwines his fingers in mine, “I’m starving, let’s go get some food.”

I let Reid lead the way to the cafeteria, and am surprised when it seems like he’s already got the school figured out, he walks with confidence like he’s been here for a couple years instead of a couple hours.

“You seem to know your way around here pretty good mister Thorne.”

“I had a free period, so I explored a little, you know, learned the basics so I don’t feel so lost.”

“I’m glad, because I’m still having troubles, I was nearly late for my last class because I got so turned around. I’m sure I’ll have it down soon enough, but yikes!”

Reid laughs at me.

“Ha! It’s not so bad,” Reid turns the corner and I see the doorway into the large cafeteria. It’s so loud in there that I can almost feel the floor vibrating. We cross the threshold, and we’re greeted to the smell of french-fries. I realize I’m starving too.

“Yum fries!” I exclaim, and we make our way over to wait in line for some food.

After a ten-minute wait, we finally have a tray with a couple of juices, french-fries for me, and a sandwich for Reid. Reid scans the room quickly looking for a seat. Suddenly I see an arm go up a few feet away and the person starts waving frantically.

“Hadley! Hadley over here!”

A tall pretty red head stands, and I realize its Julia. I grin and pull Reid over to greet her.

“Oh my god Hadley! I’m so happy to see you guys!”

She wraps her long arms around me and hugs me tightly.

“We’re finally in the same school again!” She gushes.

Julia, being a year older than me, has already been at this school for a year now. We hadn’t hung out this year as much as we had used to, I assumed it’s because we no longer went to the same school, so it wasn’t easy to hang out every day anymore. Also, she had made new friends, and I was always with Reid.

“Hey Julia, I’m happy to see you too,” I laugh.

“Come on, sit down.”

She points to two seats that remain empty in front of her. We happily accept and take the seats.

“Guys, these are my friends, Aaiden, Cole and Ashley,” she points to the three kids who share the table.

“This is my best friend Hadley and her boyfriend Reid.”

“Hey, nice to meet you,” Reid greets them first.

“Hi,” I say, feeling shy at the three pairs of eyes that appraise Reid and I.

I don’t really like the way that Ashley eyes up Reid with the obvious appreciation that most girls our age show him. After a quick beat, they all reply with hellos and heys, and we continue on with our lunch.

“So Reid, you play hockey at all?” Aaiden, asks him after a couple minutes of random small talk.

“A little, I was in a league last year,” he answers the boy who looks like he’s quite built for his age.

“You should join the school team then. Try outs are later this month if you’re interested,” Aaiden tells him.

Reid nods.

“Yeah? I’ll think about it, thanks man. Do you play Cole?” he asks the smaller looking guy.

“Yup,” he answers simply.

This conversation starts to bore me a little so I turn my attention to Julia and Ashley.

“I’m so glad I ran into you Julia. This place is crazy,” I gesture at the large room.

“Yeah, me too. I’m really sorry we haven’t hung out very much lately. I was away most of the summer at my cousin’s place in B.C. But I’m sure you mostly hung out with Reid anyway. Are you guys still inseparable?” she smiles at me knowingly.

I feel bad, since I met Reid, he’s kind of become my world, my new best friend.

“It’s okay, I understand, and yeah pretty much still inseparable.”

I smile over at Reid who is now deep in hockey talk with the guys, but he squeezes my knee reassuringly under the table.

Ashley doesn’t say much but nods and agrees with Julia every once in a while. I get the slight feeling that she’s jealous or something of Julia’s and my friendship.

As Julia and I talk, I am suddenly aware of people standing close right behind my chair. Suddenly two long slender arms wrap themselves around Reid’s neck, hugging him from behind. I watch Ashley’s face form into a smirk, and Julia’s face twists into a scowl. I turn and look behind me and I see that it’s Taylor who has just wrapped her arms around Reid’s neck. All this realization happens in a second, and Reid turns to see who is touching him.

“Hi Reid sweetie. How was your summer? I haven’t gotten to say hi yet.”

Taylor’s high voice resonates around us. I see her new friends standing next to her, watching her, watching me, waiting to see what my reaction will be, daring me to do something about it. Reid wraps his hands around her wrists and removes her arms from around his neck.

“Hey Taylor?” he turns to face her.

“How are you enjoying our new school, pretty crazy huh? I’m having a party this weekend, you should come.”

She smiles at him and she looks sideways at me. I know that invitation only admits one.

“Thanks Taylor, but I already have plans with Hadley this weekend, unless of course she’s invited too?” he replies, his way of trying to make her acknowledge me.

“Oh that’s too bad Reid. Though you know, I really think you’d have a lot more fun with me,” she says, not even looking at me.

Man, I am so sick of her bullshit. I try and keep what Reid said to me in mind.

“Taylor, come on, seriously?” Reid shakes his head at her, “I’m with Hadley and that’s never going to change.”

I shoot a panicked glance at Julia, who gives me a look like ‘what the heck are you waiting for? Tell her off.’ I know this is my chance, so I gather every last ounce of bravery I can muster up, and stand up to face Taylor.

“Taylor, stop flirting with my boyfriend like I’m not here. He doesn’t like it, and I sure as hell don’t like it!” I say loudly, trying to steadily convey my irritation.

A sudden hush falls around us, and I am acutely aware that we are now being watched by everyone around us. Reid looks at me in surprise, obviously shocked at the sudden change from my usual mousy demeanor.

“And what are you going to do about it huh?”

She jabs a manicured fingernail into my shoulder.

“You are nobody Hadley, you aren’t even pretty and I don’t know what he sees in you anyway. Sooner or later, Reid’s going to realize that he’s better than you, and you’ll realize what a loser you are.”

She snickers, and her friends follow suit.

“FIGHT, FIGHT!” we hear a couple kids yell nearby, and I look around nervously.

But Reid is next to me in an instant.

“Back off Taylor. Hadley has never done anything to deserve the way you treat her. She is more beautiful than you’ll ever be, inside and out. So please, just leave her, and me for that matter, alone!” he says to her loudly enough for all to hear.

A few onlookers laugh and cheer as her face turns red, and now her friends look around nervously, maybe trying to find an escape from the now negative attention focused on them. She shoots one last glare at me, but I notice tears have now formed in her eyes. She quickly turns and storms out of the cafeteria, but her “friends” turn the other way and go to find a table. I look at Reid who sits back down, looking completely at ease, like nothing just happened.

“I thought you were nice to everyone, and that you wouldn’t treat anyone the way she does me?” I whisper to him as I also take my seat, though I’m still aware of many eyes watching us curiously.

“Well there’s a difference between bullying and standing up for yourself. I’m happy that you tried, but nobody talks to you that way…Ever. I will always have your back,” he says loud and clearly, not caring who is listening.

He leans in and kisses me quickly on the cheek and returns to his lunch. I don’t even know what else to say.

“Holy s**t Reid, that was awesome! I really hate that b***h,” Julia exclaims.

“Well geez, I’m just sick of her picking on Hadley all the time. Somebody needed to say it,” Reid shakes his head.

Aaiden and Cole look at each other and then look at Reid, also seemingly surprised or amused by the little show that has just played out.

“Good one man,” Aaiden stretches his hand out to Reid for a high five, which Reid reciprocates.

“That was hilarious!” Cole laughs, “Did you see how red her face turned?” Cole smacks the table, still laughing like it was the funniest thing ever.

“That’s going to be the hot gossip for the rest of the day,” Ashley comments, finally seeming to perk up.

I stay quiet for the rest of lunch, and I have lost my appetite. Even though I know Taylor’s game, it doesn’t mean that her words didn’t hurt, even if Reid did come to my rescue, as always.