Voices were around me, two I knew while one was new yet not unfamiliar.

Ellie, one of them she thanked someone and the voice I couldn't place said something back. Then the other voice I knew, it was an older male voice but their words were mumbled as if from a distance.

Fighting to open my eyes was the hardest thing to do when all I wanted to do was sleep, but when they did open they locked blearily on to my sisters.

She gave a happy teary eyed sigh, before pressing her head to my shoulder.

“You self sacrificing idiot.” She whispered.

A weak chuckle scrapped its way out. “Don’t cry you’ll get your mascara on me.” I joked kissing her temple. Feeling her sigh and her shoulders droop.

“Deal with it, you scared me.”

I blinked looking around for the first time and noting we were in the nurse's office.

“How did I get here?”

She leaned back and looked past me and following her gaze I met a familiar one of chocolate.

Mystery boy sat on the other side of me looking uncomfortable having the attention on him, he waved.

Ellie grinned. “After I left you, I ran and tried to find a teacher but they were in some sort of meeting. So I went looking for Jamie or Kamila but I ran into him. And when I explained what was going on he ran off.”

Guy in question offered a small sheepish smile. “I'm just glad I could help.”

“Me too.” I squinted the beginning of a headache starting with the strain. “Um thank you…?”

He quickly held out his hand. “Sorry, my name's Xander. Nice to meet you again.”

I shook his hand, a bit surprised at how his hand completely surrounded mine in such a cold yet strong hold. He had large hands....

“Nice to see you again Xander. I'm Lumir Mark.”

He grinned giving my hand a good shake before letting go.

Nurse Vi stepped around the curtain and gave me a sad smile. His red hair short to his head, aged face creased with familiar worry behind his half moon glasses.

“Lumir, not even the first class of the year and you're back here? And let me guess you still won't tell me who did this to you?”

I ducked my head with a simple nod.

Nurse Vi sighed. “Then I suggest self-defense classes. But for now ice and taking it slow today. I won't call your parents but this is the last time, after this I'm calling them.” He said handing me an ice pack. “You haven't missed any classes, just the rally in the gym. So when the bell rings you all can go to your first periods.”

I nodded again. He patted my back gently, closing the curtain back around us.

Ellie was glaring at me.

“What?”

“You know very well what! You can't not tell on them this time, it's been three years. Three years! And it's going on four. Lumir, this can't go on. What do I tell Mom and Dad?”

“I fell. You know I'm clumsy, they'll buy it.”

She shook her head. “I don't care if they buy it! You're getting bullied and won't tell people.”

Xander chose then to speak up. “Why? It's none of my business sure. But you were outnumbered and that's…” A bunch of emotions flashed across his face before he went on. “It’s just wrong. You know who they are and yet you won't let your abusers get in the trouble they deserve?”

Abusers? Was that what this looked like to outsiders?

I closed my eyes. “I did tell once when it wasn't so bad. And they were told who told on them, which made it worse. Then there's all of their parents, who have major roles in town. They could mess up our parents jobs. I-I can't let that happen. Not over s-something like this.”

He frowned that dark look returning to his face. “I could look into it for you. Talk to my parents and-”

My eyes almost flew out of my head. “Your p-parents! N-no! I couldn't! I already bothered you enough- with you...”

My distorted tired mind suddenly putting two and two together. My hand covered my mouth. “Wait oh holy cupcakes- you! You carried me!” I turned on Ellie.

She shrugged. “What? I can't carry you all the way here and all the teachers were busy. We ran into Mr. Vi as he was unlocking his door.”

Pulling my legs tight to my chest I buried my face there begging the ground to swallow me.

Was I heavy? Phffft, as if! Was he uncomfortable carrying me? It was a long walk.

“Did I do something wrong?” He asked and I groaned urging the ground to open up faster.

Ellie giggled. “Just give him a second.” She leaned in close to me and whispered. “He carried you all the way here, bridal style.” She said trying I think to help. But doing the opposite. No, now wasn’t the time for that. I thought stomach sinking.

“Thank you.” I whispered into my knees.

“What did you say bro? Speak up.”

Huffing I sat up turning to him. “I-”

His gaze was already locked on me making heat flood my face. And somehow I knew he had heard me.

Today Xander was in a red long sleeve shirt- the first three buttons undone, shirt half untucked, black cut up jeans. His hair was still loose minus one small braid off to the left, wild white-black tipped curls resting over his broad shoulders.

He still looked as amazing as yesterday- well the entire summer if not better. And this perfect gentleman came to my aid without even knowing me minus our one meeting.

My mouth opened to thank him again- properly this time when the bell rang cutting me off.

Shaking my head, I stood slowly, Xander extending his hand to help me up.

“T-thanks.” I felt my cheeks heat up, as I took his hand.

“No problem.”

Ellie watched us with her Cheshire cat smile, I could practically see her imaginary tail flicking in wait, before she handed me my bags.

“Well come on you two, we can't miss anything else.” She said suddenly excited.

Together we left heading to first period. I looked up bleary at Xander then with a swallow I spoke up.

“W-what's your first class?” I tried speaking up over the suddenly full halls.

He glanced down to me. “English with Mrs. Hart. You?”

Fighting down my building excitement I answered. “Same.”

He gave a soft tender smile. “Nice, maybe you can show me where the class is?”

“S-sure it's the least I could do. Can I see your schedule.”

He fished it out of his binder handed it over and my excitement grew.

We had English, History, Lunch and P.E. together! So with my schedule being English, Art, Geography, Lunch, History, a free period then last P.E. I had three classes with him and lunch. Which also meant I had to deal with Ellie's teasing in each class.

“S-so we have a lot of the same classes. We could meet up at the main stairs when each class starts and I c-could show you to class? But for the others I’ll mark them on your map.”

I paused. What was going on? Why would he want to do that with me of all people? Some random guy he just met that got beat up by a bunch of girls.

His next words made me almost stop dead in the middle of the hall.

He nodded at me. “Sounds like a plan.”

Sounds like a dream, is more like it. I thought.

Ellie nudge me with a grin then paused and crossed her arms glaring ahead of our little group. Looking up I saw M.A.D. staring at us… no at me!

I felt my insides turn to stone and my knees threatened to give.

Xander placed his hand on my shoulder. I forced air into my lungs watching as M.A.D. sneered before walking off. Xander’s hand slipped away.

“I wish they would back off and leave you alone.” Ellie huffed.

I hugged her to my side. “It's alright come on.” I could still feel the coldness of Xander's hand. I blushed.

We entered the class Mrs. Hart standing at the door to greet her new students.

I've been in Mrs. Hart's class since I started high school as she taught all grades for exeled english. She always wore a polka dot dress no matter the weather, her emerald eyes sparkling just added to her quirky charm.

Her easy going smile fell from her heart shaped face.

“You three in the front desks- Mr. Mark are you alright?”

I dropped my gaze to the floor. “Yes ma'am.”

“Very well. Let me know if anything changes.”

“Yes ma’am.”

Xander and Ellie took their seats leaving the middle one between them open for me. Joy.

Once seated I tried to look around the classroom to spot anything new but it was hard when I didn't have my glasses, everything was bleary and anything too far away was a lost cause. Oh today was going to be fun and on top of all of this I’d have to explain to Dad I lost another pair.

I hung my head. Great.

“What's wrong?” Ellie asked taking out her notebooks.

“Glasses.” Was all I said.

She looked over and flinched. “We can look for them after class?”

Xander bumped my shoulder. “I'll help too if you'd like.”

“Thanks.” I whispered with a small smile.

Mrs. Hart stood at the front of the class with a clap of her hands as the bell rang again.

“Hello class my name is Mrs. Hart, I will be your English teacher this year as well as your advisory homeroom teacher. Here’s the class syllabus read it, memorize it and don't break it and we'll have a good year.”

She continued to talk about what she had planned for the year as well as how homework was given, which wasn't often and if we finished our work we were free to work on other classes.

I shifted the ice pack against my cheek with a flinch. This was definitely going to bruise and badly. Blinking I tried to focus back on the teacher only to hear some girls behind me giggling.

“He's the new Wendell, right?” That caught my attention. “Just as hot as his brother and as beautiful as his sister, I mean just look at him.” One of them sighed.

“What I wouldn't give to have him-” The other was quickly shushed before they were giggling again.

I glanced over at Xander embarrassed by what she was going to say. How could you just say things like that, in public? With him right there?

If he heard them he wasn't acting on it, though he did look lost in thought. Hand frozen with his pen over his paper.

But with the way he was acting this probably wasn't the first time girls had been all over him and probably the other way around as well. Though they were vulgar they were pretty. He was handsome, kind and seemed like a really cool person. Anybody would have a crush on him. But these girls weren't worthy of someone like him-

I blinked. Where had that thought come from?

Xander glanced over and gave a confused smile tilting his head in question.

I shook my head quickly and looked back to my notebook.

Ellie giggled.