4 Chuck Presby

"She's going to school??" Rory's eyes widened. "How did I not know this? Has everyone else known?" she asked Lane. Lane shrugged, "For most the morning yeah."

Rory rubbed her head, "Guess I've just been distracted."

"How did that talk with Dean go?" she asked Rory. Rory gave a look of disdain, "Not well. He's still upset but I managed to convince him that nothing was going on with me and Jess."

"You mean prove, right?"

"What?"

"If you convince someone that means you're persuading someone to believe something." Lane explained, "But if you prove something, that means the truth is the only inevitable factor."

"Okay. Yeah." Rory said evasively as they walked down the hall.

______

Lucy lifted the fork full of mashed potatoes into her mouth; not prying her eyes away from her book as she read. Her music was playing in her ears, as always. She felt a tap on her shoulder. She looked up to see Jess. Why was she seeing him so much? She removed her earbuds.

"I'm glad to see high school is treating you like dirt just like the rest of us." he said sitting down in front of her. She looked down briefly, "How do you know?"

"Well for one, you have an appetite." he looked at the assorted food from the cafeteria in front of her. Lucy frowned slightly and set her fork down. "Plus, you've picked an interesting history book to dig in to for reading pleasures." he gestured his eyes to the book in her hand. "Lizzie Borden?"

Lucy looked at it and feeling self conscious; set it down slowly. "It's interesting." she said. Jess chuckled, "Yeah, nothing like ax murderers and potatoes to really get you invested in education."

"What are you saying, Jess." she sighed tired of his antics for the day, "That because I have an appetite and I'm reading unsolved mysteries that I don't like school?"

"You said it, not me." he smirked. Lucy rolled her eyes before biting her lip hard. Jess took her plate and ate some of her mashed potatoes before asking, "What happened."

Lucy looked at him before tucking her hair behind her ear, "Nothing." she went to put her earbuds in her ear. Jess stopped her; putting her hand down. Lucy looked at him, "Jess.."

"Lucy." he retorted. Lucy sighed and avoided eye contact; pulling her hand away. "Some guys were making fun of me.." she said in a small voice.

"What?"

"Some guys thought it was funny that I haven't been to school." she said a little louder.

"Who." Jess' tone changed along with his cocky composure. Now it was more a "square-up" posture.

"I don't know, a group of guys.." she shrugged.

"A group just had a light bulb moment all at once and thought to gang up on you? Who's their ring-leader, Lucy." he said; wanting to know. Lucy shrugged uncomfortably, "I don't know..I mean I guess Chuck Presby did kind of start it.." she muttered.

Jess nodded. "Chuck Presby." he repeat the name. He set his fork down back in the pool of potatoes before getting up. She frowned, "Jess what are you doing?"

"Nothing." he smirked slyly; his hands up in surrender, "Just heading off to class. The bell's gonna ring in a minute." he said before walking off. Lucy looked down briefly. She sighed not liking being so vulnerable around him. He already had known so much about her and yet she knew nothing about Jess.

Lucy didn't like that factor.