broken home - j.f✔️

six.

It was lunch, next was a double session of PE, meaning she would see Justin again. She had taken her lunch tray and wandered from the queue to look for a table. Zach and his friends were calling her over, so she accepted the offer. She sat beside Zach and began talking to him about Calculus and the unfair quiz sheets.

"We have Communications tomorrow morning, double session, Mrs. Bradley is so nice." Zach stated, pointing at her schedule. "Are you ready for track later?" Her eyes widened in remembrance. She looked at her attire, a summer dress. She couldn't run in that.

"I need to go to my car, I left my sport bag with all of my clothes in there." She stood up and grabbed her keys, waving at Zach as she left the table. She saw Justin wandering the halls slowly, looking lost and directionless. Quickly catching up to him, she caught his tear stained face.

"Oh my God," she gasped, turning to face him. "What happened?" He avoided her eyesight, not muttering a single word to her.

"Elizabeth, just leave it." He whispered, his voice trembling. "I'm fine." He pulled himself away from her, leaving her standing in the hallway wondering what had happened.

She had gone out the her car, searching around for her gym back, finding it on the back seat. She carried it to the locker rooms and tried to forget about Justin, his sad face, and his painful voice. She wondered what had happened. It wouldn't leave her alone.

Getting onto the track, it took her mind off of things. Running, feeling the blood pulsate around your body, your lungs working extra hard to respirate. It felt amazing. Being the new girl came with its cons, the two cons jogging behind her, the slowest they could purposely go. She heard them chuckle and whistle, being boyish. So she ignored them. Every time they would catch up, she would jog a little faster.

"Elizabeth, can we talk?" She heard from beside her, she made a small turn of her head to see Zach. His face sweaty and beetroot red. An athlete struggling to run? He followed her to the side of the track, picking up her water bottle. "I was wondering if you'd want to do something this weekend?"

"What do you mean?" She asked, looking up at him as she fixed her hair. He wiped his beads of sweat away with the back of his hand before talking again.

"Well, you're new here. So I thought maybe I'd show you round town, make a weekend of it?" He suggested. She turned her face away, smiling. It was odd to her, usually she wouldn't trust jocks. But this giant, seemed genuine.

"I'd never get this kind of treatment in New York, but of course, I'll text you my address." She smiled, continuing to run. After track, she was sweaty, exhausted, and ready to collapse. Changing back into her dress was a struggle but she was racing back to her car to get home.

"See you, Elizabeth." Zach's group called out, waving and smiling. She returned the gesture and began her drive home, straight into the shower. She heard her phone buzz a couple of times, but ignored it.

With her hair washed, some loungewear on, she could relax in bed with no worries about homework. Until she decided to check her phone.

Justin: Elizabeth
Justin: I need help

Was this about earlier? Frantically, she texted back.

Is everything okay?

Justin: I need help with Spanish work.

Wow, so you're using me?

Justin: No, I could never. I'm sorry.

I was kidding, don't worry about it. What do you need help with?

Justin: Maybe you can help me in school tomorrow?

Of course.

Justin: Also, I know this is a lot to ask. But can you meet me by the school?

Um, why?

Justin: Please