FLASHBACK TO FRESHMAN YEAR

"A few more weeks until sophomore year!" Skye exclaimed as we rounded the corner of the lockers.

"Good, I can't wait to get out of this place," I replied truthfully before standing at my locker, putting the combination in to unlock it.

"Hey! Enjoy the high school experience." Skye pointed to me in a scolding way, and I rolled my eyes at her.

Everyone says that, but I'll never believe in those words.

How can you enjoy your high school experience?

"Hey girls," Rylee, the school's cheerleading captain approached us with Sammy's arm and arm with her, making me roll my eyes even more.

"What do you want?" Skye snapped, crossing her arms in the process.

It's never a good sign when she approaches especially when Sammy is with her.

"I was wondering if, uh, Skye is interested in the cheer team next year?" Rylee kept her attention on Skye as she stood very confident like, I was confused why she hadn't asked me as well, but I was never into any sports or anything repeated to school.

"Oh! Wait, just me?" Skye glanced between the two of us, and she nodded.

"Yeah, no offense Sam, but you wouldn't even get to tryouts. Right, babe?" Rylee nudged Sammy's shoulder, and he nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, I couldn't imagine someone like you being on the team." He shuddered in disgust making me furrow my eyebrows.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I crossed my arms at this point, glaring at both Rylee and Sammy.

"No offense, but they only allow girls that are attractive and actually will be able to make it through tryouts," Sammy added which made my blood boil even more.

"Sammy! Not so harsh!" Rylee scolded him, making him out his hands in surrender.

"Yeah, what the hell? Why would I want to be on the team now when you will treat my best friend like shit?" Skye furrowed her eyebrows as she shook her head, "No thanks."

"Wait, no," I stopped Skye who flickered her eyes onto me, "You've always wanted to be in cheer, do it." I encouraged her, brushing away all the mean things that were said to me.

I expected it from both Sammy and Rylee being the dumb power couple of school who just went around bullying kids, and making rude remarks about them.

"Huh?" Skye scrunched her brows together, confused.

"She'd love to," I spoke for Skye who just stood beside me with wide eyes.

"Great." Rylen clasped her hands together before prancing away but a certain someone didn't leave.

"Glad to have you on the team cheering for us football players," Sammy added then looked at me with his smile faltering, "And you, just keep doing your nerd shit."

With that, Sammy walked away and I balled my fists up.

That little...okay calm down Sam, it's fine. It's not like he called you unattractive or a nerd.

I wanted to pull out his hair, I wanted to trip him so he fell and broke his leg.

I hated Sammy.

With a passion, all he does is belittle me and I'm not dealing with it anymore.

From now on, I'm standing up for myself.

"Sam!" A voice called out as my thoughts went away being brought back to reality.

"Huh?" I glanced to my right to see Skye sitting at a desk beside me, "Everything alright?"

She was wearing the black cheer uniform since it was game day, and I smiled at her.

"Yeah! I just hate school." I slumped down into my seat as I fiddled with a pencil in front of me.

Great, I'm in my head too much.

I looked down at my red hair, wondering if that's what made me unattractive. I've always been insecure about my looks, but being around kids at school always made it worse.

I don't think I've ever had anyone in my life that made me feel beautiful other than Skye, but she's my best friend.

It's kind of her job as a best friend to make sure I feel valued and beautiful.

Great again, in my feelings once more.

I lay my head down as I ignored the teacher until the sound of a door opened, making everyone look up at the door frame revealing Sammy and his hand was casted up.

"Sorry for being late, but, kind of hard to get stuff out of your locker when you have one hand." He said, struggling as he held his books in his right arm before they came tumbling out of his arm.

All the girls jumped out of their seats to help, but the teacher scolded them all before they could get too close.

"Ladies! He doesn't need ten of you to help." She complained before sighing, "No need to worry Sammy, we'll work with you and try to help the best we can." She smiled widely as he walked down the aisle and into the seat next to me.

He did that on purpose, I already know it.

He wanted to rub in my face how he ended up having to get a cast out of me breaking his hand.

"Ow, the pain. I think my hand needs another apology." He pouted his bottom lip out, and I stared at the fool blankly.

"At this point, I don't even feel bad for breaking it," I whispered over to him, with a smug smile forming on my lips before turning back to face the front of the classroom.

"At this point, do you even have a heart?" His lips still pouted out.

"Not for you."

He placed his right hand on his chest and acted hurt, "Wow, ouch."

I threw him an innocent smile before propping my chin onto my hand as I rested my elbow on the desk in front of me.

Time went by slowly, but we soon made it to the end of class once the bell rang signaling all the students to leave.

I got up and collected my books, glancing over at Skye as she did the same.

"Hey, my house after the game?" She asked, and I nodded in agreement.

"Why of course." I grin before I hear books fall behind me.

I snap my head around to notice Sammy's books on the ground once more, but he looks more annoyed this time. He was trying to debate how to pick them up without using his left hand.

"Sam, will you please help Sammy carry his stuff to lunch? This might need to be a theme from now on until he's used to that cast of his." The teacher demanded, and I closed my eyes at the lost hope of my freedom to go to lunch.

"Yeah, of course," I said with fake cheer before spinning around to pick up the books off the ground. I could already feel a pair of eyes on me feeling quite smug about the situation. "Meet you at lunch, Skye." I sighed loudly as I stood up with mine, and Sammy's books in my hands.

"Alright! I'll get us the best seats in the whole lunch room." Skye exclaimed as she ran out of the classroom.

Sammy tilted his head to the side with a smirk playing on his lips. His brown eyes sparkled with amusement as the whole action played out, he was enjoying this, of course.

I shot daggers at him as I continued our way out of the classroom.

"This better not be a theme," I warned Sammy as we walked side by side, getting many odd looks since we were walking with each other to lunch.

He shrugged his shoulders, "It'd be pretty funny if it was."

"It can't be that hard to hold books with one broken hand." I furrowed my eyebrows, confused at the fact this man was acting like he couldn't do the smallest things. "Like, just use your arm or something."

"Sam, you broke my left hand. I'm left-handed! I do everything with that hand, so I mean, it's kinda hard." He defended himself, making me roll my eyes.

"Okay, fine." I finally gave in as we entered the lunchroom. "'I'm assuming you're sitting over there?" I nodded my head toward the football crowd along with the cheerleaders.

"No, I'm sitting with Ryan and he seems to be over there." Sammy pointed over to a table with Ryan and Skye.

You got to be kidding me, right?

I can't escape Sammy Sandars.

"No, actually I think you sit over there?" I motioned toward the football players and he just grinned as he shook his head. He trailed in front of me as he walked through the few tables until he got to Skye and Ryan.

I ended up following and placed all the books on the table as I sat down slowly. Skye's eyes were wide once she realized Sammy had followed.

"What up, y'all? I asked Skye if it were okay for me to sit here since we're dating now." Ryan squeezed Skye's thigh as he smiled over at her returning one.

"That's cute," I admit, before facing Sammy who was sitting in front of me. "So, why are you here then?"

"Because Ryan is my best friend, and I eat lunch with him."

"Sam...it's fine. If he decides to say any stupid shit then I'll kick him from the table." She reached out to grab my hand in a comforting way before shooting a glare at Sammy.

His eyes widen, "That would never ever happen." He assured her, and I giggled at her holding the power over him.

Suddenly Skye's whole demeanor changed. Her playful smile fell, and it looked like her blood drained from her face making her pale. Her eyes were locked onto something behind me, and I furrowed my brows, confused.

"What?" I flickered my eyes to all three of them before turning around to see the one person I wished would never step foot in this school.

Travis.