The brown-haired guy mainly lifted him to the nurse's offices. They got some concerned looks from passing teachers and students who stayed after school ended.

"Hey what's your name?"

Axle's voice still sounded like death as he responded.

"Axle, yours?"

"Nick."

They walked into the nurse's office where the nurse shot up and directed Nick to set Axle on the bed. The nurse grabbed some supplies from the cabinet and kneeled in front of Axle,

"I don't know if you know my name but I'm Mr. Gardner."

I nodded showing I understood.

"I'm going to need you to take off your shirt so I can check for cuts, broken bones."

Panic filled Axle and he backed away from the nurse,

"No, I can't take off my shirt... please."

The nurse shook his head,

"I'm sorry but I need to see the damage."

Axle could feel himself shaking as he took off his shirt, he wasn't self-conscience except for the fact his shoulders and back were covered with scars from his family. Axle was on the fit side because he used exercise as an excuse to get away from his house. Nick gaped at his back,

"What happened to your back?"

Axle shook his head,

"Mind your own business."

Nick nodded but Axle got a suspicious look from the nurse. Mr. Gardner made eye contact with Nick, they had some sort of secret conversation before the nurse started to check for broken ribs. Nick stood beside the bed, he looked deep in thought as he tried to burn a hole through the floor with his gaze. The nurse took out a washrag and dampened it with warm water. He gave it to Axle,

"Clean your face up, you don't have any broken bones, mostly just bruises."

Axle nodded and began to wipe his face, he knew he'd gotten punched in the nose at some point, so he knew he had a bloody nose. The rag was taken out of Axle's hands and his gaze snapped up to see Nick. Nick kneeled and began to clean Axle's face,

"You were missing everything."

Axle suppressed a small smile and nodded. Once Nick finished Axle was

told he could go home.

"Yay."

The yay was sarcastic and made Nick and the nurse make eye contact again. Axle stood up and Nick followed him out of the nurse's office,

"Can I walk you home?"

Axle glared at Nick, he couldn't let this do-gooder into his life. If anyone was to somehow find out about his life, he's the type of guy who would do that.

"No."

"Okay."

They walked in silence until Axle was at the bus station. Axle looked dubiously at Nick,

"You take the bus too?"

Nick nodded,

"I don't live far from the school though which is a relief. I could walk if I wanted to but I'm lazy haha."

Axle gave a small giggle making Nick stare at him,

"What?"

"You can laugh!?"

Axle rolled his eyes,

"What am I? A robot?"

Nick laughed and Axle could feel he was letting his walls down. Nick smiled at Axle,

"How about we be friends?"

A small smile flickered on Axle's face,

"You want to be friends... with me?"

Nick nodded and Axle ran his fingers through his hair,

"You know I'm a junior, right?"

Nick shook his head,

"But that doesn't matter, I'm a senior. So?"

Nick wiggled his eyebrows and I realized he was the new popular football jock. Axle laughed as Nick's eyebrows kept wiggling.

"Okay fine, but one rule."

Nick stared at him as Axle continued,

"Never come to my house, NEVER. I can't have sleepovers at my house. Nothing can be done at my house."

Nick nodded slowly, he looked super confused and Axle wanted to keep it that way.