*To the present*

‘So, you out of all the people, was the person to pick on me while at high school? Why?’ I said Jamie who was still sat in the chair next to me, holding a sleeping Ruby in his chest.

‘Because he was a real tool bag and secretly liked you.’ A voice said in the direction to the door. I looked up to see a short boy who had shoulder length hair, a nose ring and such a nice smile. He walked in followed by a girl who was taller than him. Her hair a dark brown colour with purple/blue colour sitting at the ends of it. I smiled to them as it was a nice then to do. The girl smiled sadly towards me and then walked to the chair next to Jamie. The guy on the other hand, walked up to me.

‘Stella, I know you don’t remember me, so my name is Victor, but you have always called me Vic.’ Vic said with a smile. I smiled back to him and nodded.

‘That sitting in the chair next to Jamie, is Sarah.’ He said pulling her up and over to the edge of the bed. She had tears in her eyes as she tried her best to smile.

‘I’m Sarah, I was, ah I mean, I am your best friend. I’ve known you since we were six. So a very long time. I assume Jamie has filled you in on stuff?’ She questioned.

‘He’s taking me through the times of school. A guy named Zack being a real jerk to you and me. Uh, Pete, Patrick and Tony. Some other guys named Jack, Alex and uh, Alan. I think that was it. He got up to the part where we became friends. And I’m really interested to find out what happens next!’ I said smiling to Sarah. She nodded her head and smiled.

‘Did he tell you the part about when Vic and I got together?’ She said grabbing his hand, which if I saw correctly had a ring on her finger.

‘Sarah. I was about to tell her that part. Shh.’ Jamie said with a smile. ‘So anyway.’

*Back to past.*

I hated going to school on my own, because the path I walked, was the path Zack and Jack magically started walking. At the same time as I did. I’d get up in the morning, shower and get dressed. I always wear band merch and skinny jeans. Either vans or converses. Depended on the type of day. I’d eat my breakfast, say goodbye to dad and walk.

Things started to change though, I dreaded getting up. I showed in hot, steaming water, for longer than a half hour. I stopped eating breakfast but my clothes stayed the same. I don’t talk to my dad much anymore, ever since I’ve been bullied by those two.

I have bruises on the back of my legs, back and arms from them throwing rocks all the way from my house to school. My legs have no feeling in them anymore. But when I get to school, they leave me alone. Now I think this is because, they find it fun to pick on a girl and as it is illegal to hurt a girl, they do it so nobody can see. Which is on the way to school. But at school, they take the best ability to pick on Jaime and Vic the most. Tony is targeted in English cause he sits next to Zack. Sarah has names called at her by Zack and Jack, one day calling her a slut then another day calling her a fridget and scaredy cat. I’ve noticed that Alex has pushed himself away from the group, he sometimes talks to me, and he’s such a nice guy. Alan though, has replaced Jaime.

Right now, all 7 of us are all sitting around talking about what we did on the weekend, considering that it was a Monday.

‘Well, Sarah and I went to see ‘The Fault in our Stars’ and was that I mistake. I reckon Tony would have cried.’ I said nudging Tony with my elbow.

‘Would not have!’ Tony defended. I just laughed and pulled him to for a side hug.

‘Yeah you would have.’ I said kissing his cheek. Tony blushed and moved his head away. So no one else knew but Tony was gay so it was alright for me to kiss him. We were best of friends. Well he was my best guy friend.

Every time I got close with Tony, I swear Jaime would go into this jealous state. I still liked him like there was no tomorrow and it was fun to see him get jealous. I must have been staring at him because Sarah brought me out of my state with a question, which I didn’t hear.

‘Stella! Can we talk for a second?!’ She yelled in my face. I nodded my head, moved my arm from Tony and stood up and followed her away from the group.

‘Mmm, so why did we have to leave.’ I said to her.

‘Because, firstly you were staring at Jaime and secondly, I wanted your advice or something.’ She said going a little red in the face.

‘Hit me with it’ I said rubbing my hands together.

‘I think I like Vic, and I want him to ask me out, but is it too soon since I dated Zack for ages and we only broke up two weeks ago.’ She asked, seeming worried.

‘Fuck that kid. Wait fuck that tard. He don’t deserve you in the first place. So no it isn’t too quick.’ I said to her. She smiled and nodded her head.

‘Can I go back to dreaming over Jaime now?’ I asked as I began to walk away. Sarah laughed and we took our places in the circle again.

Lunch was over so I had math with Jaime and Vic. As we were walking, we walked past a poster. It grabbed my attention as an idea popped into my head.

‘So, should we all go to the little disco/party thing that is advertised here?’ I said pointing to the poster, with an evil smile on my face.

‘Nah, not my seen.’ Vic and Jaime said at the same time. I just pouted and folded my arms.
‘Please, it’d mean the most to me and Sarah. We’ve never been, well I have never been. Sarah went with Zack last year.’ I said still pouting.

‘But to go you have to go with a date, and we won’t be able to get dates.’ Vic stated again.

‘Well, Jaime and I will go together, and you and Sarah can go together.’ I said linking my arm with Jaime, who surprisingly nodded his head eagerly. Vic blushed and bowed his head and that’s when I knew.

‘You like her!!! You do! Ask her Vic, trust me when I say she will say yes, faster than you could say your name.’ I said happily. Jumping while nearly pulling Jaime’s arm out of his socket.

‘Why wouldn’t you and Tony go together?’ Jaime said unexpectly. I stopped jumping and laughed. Jamie unlinked his arm with my mine and I looked at him with a serious face.

‘Oh you were serious.’ I said looking to Vic who shrugged his shoulders. I looked back to Jaime and smiled.

‘Jaime, Jaime, Jaime. No need to be jealous. Tony is the gayest gay man I have ever met.’ I said smiling to him. His face formed an ‘o’ shape and his eyes went wide. I looked to Vic who had the same expression.

‘You’ll catch flies.’ I said as I started walking to class. They soon caught up to me and stopped me.

‘Guys, we are already late.’ I said continuing to walk again. We walked into class, Vic and Jaime still in shock. It kind of didn’t help that Tony was in the class and I sat next to him.

‘Hey tones.’ I said sitting down next to him. He smiled to me and nodded.

‘So, I was talking to Jaime and Vic and ummm, well…’ I started to say but he stopped me.

‘It’s okay, I would have told them anyway. So thank you.’ He said smiling. I smiled back and turned around to look at them. Tony’s head turning around too, laughing at their faces, still shocked.

‘Get over it guys. So what if I’m gay.’ Tony whispered over to them then turned back around, with a smile on his face.

The end of the day came around, which meant walking home on my own, with rocks kicked and thrown into my back, arms and legs. Surprisingly they haven’t thrown one at my head.

‘Look, there she goes.’ I heard Jack say from behind me. I sighed as I felt the first rock fly past my head. Woah, that was close.

I decided to walk a little faster than normal, I was fearing for my life right now. What if they are trying to hurt me, well worse then what they have been? Anything is possible. That’s when I felt it. The raging pain, coming from the back of my head. Putting my hand to the back of my head, I noticed that my hand came back with a red colour on it.

That’s when I ran to Sarah’s. I turned down one road, down another. Looking back once in a while to see Jack and Zack at the end of the street. Knowing Sarah’s step mum, Jackie was home, I just ran inside. I walked in and began my walk to Sarah’s room. Not before saying hey to her little sister Jade and Jackie, obviously.

Reaching Sarah’s door, I heard faint talking. It sounded like Jaime, Vic and Sarah. I pressed my ear up to the door so I could hear what they are talking about. Luckily, my head stopped bleeding.

‘Jaime, come on man. Tell us.’ Vic protested.

‘Ugh, fine. I like Stella. Okay. I like her. I was getting jealous with her being so close with Tony. And he’s fucking gay.’ Jaime said.

‘What?!’ Sarah yelled out. I am assuming she didn’t know.

‘Yeah, Tony’s gay. But aren’t you glad she isn’t in a relationship with him?’ Vic questioned.

‘Yes obviously.’ Jaime said. I decided and was hoping Sarah wasn’t going to spill my little secret.

‘Well Jaime, you ar…’ She began to say.

‘Hey Sarah.’ I said deciding to walk through the door of her bedroom. ‘Oh hey Jaime, Vic. What are you guys doing here?’ I said making myself comfortable on the floor.

‘Oh we were just talking, when did you get here?’ Sarah said looking to Jaime who looked worried.

‘Oh about 5 minutes ago. I was talking to Jackie. She didn’t mention you having company.’ I said looking around. ‘Oh yeah, Jack and Zack finally did it.’ I said as I pumped my fist in the air sarcastically.

‘Did what?’ Jaime questioned. Oh shit, Vic and Jaime don’t know.

‘Oh umm, they hit me in the head with a rock.’ I said shrugging my shoulders. Jaime jumped from his seat and walked to the door. He walked out it and slammed it behind him. No emotion what so ever.

‘Umm…’ I said blinking at the door.

‘Well okay.’ Vic said. I smiled to Vic and he smiled to me. I nodded my head and shook it in the opposite direction.

‘I’m right here. Include me in your head nodding!’ Sarah said.

‘Oh, Vic has a question for you.’ I said pointing to Vic.

‘Uh, ummm… Will you go to the school thingy with me, as my girlfriend?’ He questioned. Wow, I wasn’t expecting the girlfriend part.

‘Uh... yes.. Yes I’d love too!’ She said shyly at first but opened up.

‘I told you she would say yes faster than you could say your name.’ I said with a laugh at the end.

‘Wait, you were a part of this?’ Sarah said with a glare.

‘Maybe, what can I say? I work my magic when it’s needed. And you guys are perfect for each other. I see wedding bells and baby bumps.’ I said before standing up and walking to the door.

‘Stella!’ Sarah yelled.

‘I’m having a shower. I’ll be back.’ I said before walking off. Leaving the two newly couple to some alone time.

*Back to Present*

‘I brought you guys together?’ I questioned looking to them.

‘Yeah, we’ve been together for 8 years.’ Vic said as him and Sarah still held hands but now sat next to each other.

‘But you were right, baby bumps and wedding bells.’ Sarah said as her left hand rubbed her stomach. I felt my mouth drop open.

‘So what? You guys are married with a child on the way or are you guys having a baby before the wedding?’ I questioned, still in shock.

‘Baby then wedding. Because we were planning something pretty awesome.’ Vic said as his guided his hand, which was linked with Sarah’s hand to his mouth and kissed her hand.

‘Wait, what about us? Are we like married or engaged?’ I said looking to Jamie.

‘No, not yet anyway.’ Jamie said with a smirk. ‘Ah should I continue?’ Jamie asked.

‘Yes, but pass her to me. Let her rest on my bed.’ I said pointing to Ruby, who was still curled up into Jamie’s chest. Jamie moved her over to the bed, placing her down next to me. I pulled the blanket up over her as she snuggled into my side. I still couldn’t believe that she was my daughter. My own creation. I stroked her hair as I began to speak.

‘Come on then, continue with the story!’ I said sounding way to excited.

‘You have not changed one little bit have you?’ Sarah said to me. I just laughed and shrugged my shoulder.

‘She doesn’t remember Sarah! Anyway…’ Jamie said.

Notes