1.4 Elma's first face-slap in high school.

"Answer me Roxanne, what are you doing with my boyfriend" Elma snapped at Roxanne.

"I didn't know he was your boyfriend Elma, and he just asked me for a seat, nothing more" said Jessica.

"Liar, I know you've been trying to take Julian away from me. Just like how you've been taking all the good things in my life away" Elma said and started to tear up.

'Damn, she is such a good actor' said Ash.

'Not as good as me though' Jessica quipped.

'Sure' Ash said and rolled his eyes.

"Elma, could you let go of my arm" Julian said and dragged his arm away from her.

"And I'm not your boyfriend, Tyler is. Leave me alone" said Julian.

"Julian, w…why are you defending her…" Elma said, pretending to be hurt.

"Because she didn't do anything wrong, now leave or I'll make you leave" Julian said.

Elma groaned at Roxanne and stormed out of the café.

"Sorry about my sister, she can be a bit…much, sometimes" said Jessica as she went to the counter to pay for her meal.

"Sounds like you deal with it a lot back home" said Julian as he waited for her to finish paying.

"How would you know?" Jessica said and bought some snacks to take home.

"I've been in that type of situation before…" said Julian.

"Oh really…" Jessica said and collected her receipt, "thank you" Jessica thanked the cashier and took her bag of snacks.

"Yeah" Julian said as they both walked out of the café.

"Would you care to Elaborate?" Jessica said and took a snack out of the bag.

"Well, I had an adopted brother that would always try his best to make my life terrible. Along with my parents who made it even worse" Julian said.

"Oh, that sounds terrible…" Jessica said and took a bite out of her snack.

"It was, they were all very abusive to me. Hitting me, and making me work at 15 to pay the bills. While my dad was at home being a bum, and my mom was always going to different parties. They made me pay for I and my brother's fees, and barely gave me any food. Then one day, a neighbor caught my dad beating me up on a Thursday night and called the police. After they asked for my statement, my parents were then taken to jail. I and my brother were separated. I was taken to live with a foster family, and he was taken to another foster family. Since then he and I have never talked to each other" Julian concluded.

"Hmm, I hope I and my sister never end up like that" Jessica said and broke the snack she was about to eat in half.

"Thanks" Julian said when Jessica gave him half of her snack.

The two walked to the Gym auditorium and sat on the bleachers.

"You're welcome. We don't really know each other very well, so can we introduce ourselves" said Jessica.

"Okay, Hi I'm Julian" said Julian bringing his hand out for a shake.

"Hi Julian, I'm Roxanne. It's nice to meet you" Jessica said and shook his hand.

"It's nice to meet you too, wanna be friends?" Julian asked.

"I don't know, I don't really know you that well. Can we start with buddies before we move to friends" Jessica offered.

"Sure we can be buddies" said Julian.

Jessica smiled, "thanks…buddy" she said and lightly punched his shoulder.

Julian laughed at the gesture, and the two continued to talk.

Not so far away, Elma, her group of friends and Tyler. Watched Roxanne and Julian talk to each other.

"Look at her, she thinks she so perfect just because she's able to pull in a hottie like Julian" said Venice, one of Elma's male friends.

"Uh…she's all in her head, he just defended her. Nothing more…" Elma said.

"It doesn't look like it, look…they've even made a new handshake" Valarie, Venice's sister pointed at the two friends.

'Ahem'

Sorry buddies.

Anyways, Valarie pointed at how Roxanne and Julian made up a new handshake.

"Last time I checked, that's what friends do moron" said Elma.

"Just saying…" Valarie shrugged.

"Elmie, why are you so worried about that Julian guy when I'm right here" Tyler said and flung his shoulder around Elma.

"Yeah, you already have the most popular boy in school as your boyfriend. Who cares if Roxanne is with that hunk" said Carla, Elma's best friend.

"I care, I mean he's so perfect" said Tiana, Elma's friend.

"And no one cares about you, let's just…forget about Julian. For now, we've got Roxanne to take care of" Elma said as she watched Roxanne and Julian talk. 

"I'm gonna make sure you never get nice things Roxanne, mark my words" Elma muttered to herself.