Page 3 of Luci’s Lullaby

“Ouch.” She pulls back, biting her knuckle from the shock. My chest tightens as her blue eyes sparkle, stunning me.

“Sorry about that too.”

“It’s alright,” she murmurs over her fingers.

I stand, holding my hand out for hers. She shifts, glancing up at it before taking it gingerly. “You good?”

She nods as her hair clings to her face. “Yes, thank you.”

“Hey, I knocked you down, don’t thank me.”

“Of course. I-I wasn’t thinking.” She shakes her head.

“Probably because you’re all loopy.” Gavin chuckles.

She bites her lip with another bounce of her head. “Yeah, I suppose.”

I glare at him as the bell rings, and she rushes away.

“Gavin, you’re such a jerk,” Reese snaps.

“Please, I meant because he ran her down.” He throws his hands in the air.

I watch her until she turns the corner, never looking back. “Seriously, dude, you really need to mind your mouth.”

“Y’all know I would never be cruel.” Gavin pauses by the door. “See y’all at lunch.”

“He’s an ass, you know that, right?” Reese glares at me.

I nod. “Yes, I do, but I have no control over him.”

“So what’s up?”

I side-eye her. “What do you mean?”

“Something’s on your mind, spill.” She cocks her brow.

“Have you ever wondered if there’s more to life?”

“All the time, but we have to graduate first.” She elbows me. “Seriously, I think about leaving here all the time.”

“Promise me,” I hesitate, thinking of leaving my family behind, “we’ll do it. That one day, after high school, we’ll go and never look back.”

She turns, smiling sweetly. “I promise, Mars Bar.”

“Thank ya, Reese Cup.” I kiss her cheek before we walk into class.

Reese and I have every class together, which helps to pass the time, but days like today, nothing makes me feel better. A sharp pain takes my breath and dread washes over me.

“Hey. You okay?” Reese whispers.

I rub the back of my neck, trying to shake this feeling. “I’m not feeling well.”

“Lunch is in ten, can you make it?”

I nod. “Yeah, it’s not that kind of sick.”

“Oh.” She frowns. “Are you still feeling bad for making that girl fall?”