Class ended and we made our way quickly to the hall from this morning, quickly trying to search for my missing glasses. As we looked I told Xander that his next class was in this hall.

“So y-your class is- oh!”

I blushed hard. Xander was on his hands and knees in the hall with people stopping to stare at him but either he didn't care or didn't notice. What was I saying? Of course he noticed! Some people were laughing and pointing.

He stood from where he was looking under the stairs and I saw dust dirtying up his pants.

“Lumir, I'm still not seeing them. But I'll keep looking. Maybe we could ask the office to put out a notice?” He suggested.

Ellie walked back over with a frown, no luck either.

“Yeah, I may have to.” I readjusted my bag not meeting his gaze. “Well thank you anyway, Xander. I'll uh see you at the stairs.”

With Ellie at my side we hurried to our class.

Art and Geography went by mostly uneventfully minus the fact that Debbie shared Geo with me and sat a row behind me and proceeded to stare all class- everything went more or less okay.

As Ellie and I were leaving Geography Kamila’s call echoed down the hall to us.

“Oh Lumi! Ellie!” Her smile dropped when she saw my face and she came marching over, eyes blazing. “Lumir! What happened?”

“Nothing.” I answered too quickly.

She huffed. “Don't nothing me, mister. Ellie?”

My traitorous sister replied. “M.A.D. happened. Again.”

Kamila looked like she wanted to say something more colorful but censored herself.

“Those monsters! Why would they want to pick on you? You're so sweet and nice and squishy.” She said poking my not bruised cheek. “Why didn't you come get me or Jamie?”

Ellie grinned. “I was going to but I ran into Xander first and he saved Lumir.”

Kamila’s eyes sparkled like emeralds at the news. “Oh really. Whose this Xander fellow?” She practically purred.

“He's the youngest Wendell. The Mystery boy.” Ellie explained.

Kamila clapped as she jumped up and down which is how Jamie found us.

He brushed his curls out of his face. “Either you told her we're going shopping or there's gossip news. What's up?”

“The new boy- Xander saved our little ray of light from M.A.D..” Kamila gushed.

Jamie looked me over frowning when he saw the damage. “Kudos to him. They had it coming that someone would stand up to them.”

Kamila leaned over and whispered something in his ear that had them laughing as they looked me over.

“What?”

They shook their heads. Ellie frowned but shrugged.

I threw my hands up. “Fine can we just go eat?”

“Yes! Let's go, I need to find this boy and thank him.” Kamila sang as she headed off.

I followed after my eager friends slowly, kinda hoping we didn't find him.

We of course found Xander standing at the stairs talking with a beautiful girl. And my heart gave an uncalled for and painful squeeze.

Xander and the girl were talking adamantly before Xander’s eyes caught mine in the crowd and he smiled brightly. And I'd be a liar if that didn't make me melt on the spot. Sue me the man was gorgeous.

The girl at his side looked up with the same eyes as Xander’s- though not as intense. She smiled too before waving me over.

I glanced at my friends who seemed just as confused as I was, regardless I made my way over.

“Y-yes?”

She smirked but not unkindly. “I believe these are yours. My brother asked me to help look for them.” She handed over my glasses.

I gasped. “Thank you, thank you both so much!” I slipped them on and the world sharpened back into focus. I looked at them and the matching soft smiles they wore.

Her face brightened into a similar smile, her straight shoulder length hair was platinum white shining almost like a star. Denim jacket pulled over a black striped T-shirt, black jeans paired with grey high heeled boots. She was striking and oh- she was the popular girl.

“Wait your brother?” I asked.

She leaned back against him puffing out her chest proudly. “Yeah, my twin actually. If you ignor the height anyway.”

Twin? Holy cupcakes what did their parents look like again?

Xander gestured between us. “Kaikaina, this is Lumir and this is my sister, Kono.”

We shook hands as my friends decided right then to join.

Kono looked them over then waved.

I hurriedly introduced them. “Xander, Kono, these are my best friends Kamila and Jamie and my sister, Ellie. Guys this is Xander and Kono.”

Everyone nodded with hellos of their own.

Kamila wiggled her way past everyone till she was a Xander's side. “I hear you helped Lumi.”

He blinked stepping back into Kono before nodding.

Kamila squealed before pulling him into a tight hug. “Oh your precious!”

Xander flushed kindly moving Kamila off him and casually retreated away. “It was no trouble, really. Just happy to help.”

“So do you guys want to sit with us?” Kono asked sparing her brother from Kamila’s endless advances and thanks.

“Sure we'd love to.” Ellie answered for us.

When we got to the cafeteria it was of course full with loud obnoxious teens talking way too loud for the small space. Looking around we couldn't find any of the good tables left.

“Who wants to eat outside?” Jamie asked.

Everyone nodded. Jamie and Kono went to stand in line for their lunches while everyone else went outside.

The air was crisp from the early rain, the grass wet and sparkling with dew, little breaks in the clouds let streaks of light filter down.

I took a breath. This was nice.

Opening my lunch I saw that Mom had packed a cold cut sub, loaded with turkey, ham, lettuce and Swiss cheese. The sides were salted cheese and crackers, along with her homemade sugar cookies and juice. It was a little messy from this morning but not too damaged to eat thankfully.

Looking at Ellie's lunch I saw she had the same as me.

“Wow y'all's lunches look great! I'm totally jealous.” Kamila whined taking a bite out of her Pb and j sandwich.

I chuckled at her pouting face. “I can share, I don't mind.”

We rearranged the lunches so we could share.

Xander opened his lunch to reveal some kind of fried meat mixed with rice and a couple small rolled omelettes, along with soup in a separate container. And the smell was sweet yet spicy.

He glanced up once more catching my eye. “Would you like to try some?” He asked.

“I-I no- I mean sure! I was just wondering what you have.” I finished lamely looking anywhere but him.

“Oh, it’s white rice with spicy fried pork, rolled omelettes and curry. I made it this morning-”

“You made that and didn't offer to make me any?” Kono asked as she and Jamie joined us.

Their food consisting of pizza for Jamie and a burger and fries for Kono.

“It's not my fault you woke up late and you didn't ask.” He turned his meal towards her. “But I'm nothing if not giving, there's more then enough if anyone wants to try.”

Kono took a bite of his fried pork then made a slightly surprised face, Xander gave a shake of his head at something.

Soon we were all sharing food, our laughter ringing in the air.

This really was nice. Normally if it was just my sister, me, Kamila and Jamie. We tended to talk about student council, homework or we sat in silence and studied. Now I wasn't complaining but this was a welcomed change of pace and I didn't want this to end.

But like all good things it had to, as the bell rang indicating lunch was over and classes were five minutes from starting.

We all stood a series of bye's and see you's called. Though before I could turn to find Ellie, I almost bumped into Xander.

“Watch out.” He chuckled hand grabbing mine to stop my backwards stumble. I stepped back quickly apologized then spotted Ellie.

“Sis, you coming?”

“What, no? I have Dance this semester. Dude! I completely forgot to tell you.”

Oh. “That’s okay, I'll see you later?”

“Duh, I drove you here. Bye! Don't have too much fun.” She cast a glance at Xander with a wiggle of her eyebrows.

“Ellie!”

With her laughter chasing her running form back inside I sighed as Xander and I followed but the other way.

“Are you feeling okay? Does your face hurt?” He asked.

“Huh? Oh no I'm alright.”

“Something is bothering you though.”

I peeked up at him then quickly down to my shoes. “It's the first time, Ellie doesn't have the same classes as me. I guess it just caught me off guard. Sorry.”

“No need to apologize. You and your sister are close right? It's only natural to want to stay with your ‘ohana- I mean your family.” He stopped me by the main stairs and leaned down a bit. “Are you worried about those girls from this morning?” He asked softly.

I didn't even think of that. I could feel the blood draining from my face but I spoke anyway.

“N-no, I'm fine.”

“Lumir, if it makes you feel safer I could walk with you to your next class or wherever.”

“B-but some of your classes are the other way.” I protested.

“It's the first day everyone's running around trying to find their own classes. I can be late if it means keeping my friend safe.” He patted my head.

Heat soared right back into my face all the way to the tips of my ears. He considered me one of his friends?

“Come on, you were leading the way.” He said waiting.

I quickly lead us to our History class. Though I wouldn't admit it, his words did make me feel better- safer.

And rightly so because as I turned the corner to our hall I ran smack into her.

Before I could dodge out of her threatening reach she lifted me by the front of my hoodie.

“Watch where you're going maggot.” She said, shoving me hard backwards and straight into Xander. She scoffed looking him over, before pushing past us.

“Are you alright?” Xander asked balancing me on my feet.

“F-fine, let's just go.”

We enter the class last and our teacher Mr. Demathus, simply pointed to the back of the class where two desk waited.

I also knew Mr. Demathus an older teacher with greyish hair that he wore pulled back into a ponytail, he was dressed the… most relaxed of all the teachers, jeans cowboy boots and a plain shirt. But he always looked and seemed tired, brown eyes lazy as they looked you over.

Syllabuses were handed out before our he spoke.

“Read these and stay quiet while I hand out some easy homework. You're free to work on it in pairs during class and turn it in when you leave or turn it in tomorrow at the start of class.”

Another paper was handed back and true to his word the work was easy six questions and a written response. Baby food.

I went to work as the others around me talked quietly not doing the work. Their loss.

I paused at the written part noticing that again Xander was lost in thought. Tapping his desk when he didn't respond I cautiously poked his hand. He blinked turning that striking gaze on me.

Swallowing around the lump in my throat I dropped my gaze back to my worksheet.

“D-do you need help?”

“Nope I’m finished.”

Wait, what? I looked over and sure enough his paper was filled out in the neatest handwriting I ever seen, almost like a font.

“I think the question is do you need help?”

I grinned pushing up my glasses. Okay, I'll admit I was impressed. “I didn't even see you move, let alone write.”

He shrugged. “You were busy. You should finish, so you can relax.”

I quickly wrote out the response then turned back to him. “Why do I need to relax?”

“You’re working right?”

“I work at the Shop you came to yesterday.” Though I'm sure he knew that with the apron Ellie and I had on.

“Oh?”

“Yeah its my parents place, though my Dad's also the Sheriff so he only works there on his days off. My Mom's there every day and me, Ellie and my friends- the ones from lunch- help out when we're done with student council, well really whenever my Mom ask-” I paused noticing my rambling, heat rushed to my cheeks. “D-didn't mean to talk your ear off.”

Again he gave me that warm smile of his. “Lumir, it's fine. I like hearing you talk, it quiets my thoughts.” He propped his head up on his hand. “Could you tell me about the shop? I noticed tea and a few other things before I had to leave.”

He actually wanted to know more? Didn't mind if I kept talking?

“Uh s-sure. My Mom grows like a plethora of different types of plants and fruits in our garden and a few in our greenhouse. And she makes teas, soaps, perfumes and some candies among many other things.”

“That's sounds amazing. Do you make anything?”

I ducked my head, fiddling with my pencil. “I-I can make all the teas we sell and I can make flower arrangements. Oh I can also make the little cakes that we sell with tea or coffee.”

He hummed thoughtfully. “I'll have to try and stop by and try some.”

My face flushed even more. “Uh t-then you s-should come on Sundays. We normally hand out samples because my Mom tends to make loads of extras.” Or more realistically I stress baked. I added silently.

“I'll definitely try to swing by then.”

The bell startled me. Had I really been talking that long?

We handed in our work making Mr. Demathus grin. “Good work, boys.”

“Where to?” Xander asked once we left.

Ducking my head I fiddled with my hoodies drawstrings. “I-I uh have a free class so I was just going to go to the library.”

“Why there?” He asked as he walked, parting the rush of students with just his presence alone. 

I was going to get there faster then normal at this rate.

“I like it.” I answered for him shrugging. “You'll see.”