Emily was studying in the library during her afternoon free period when her computer dinged. She hadn't heard that ding in a long time. Curious she put her high lighter down and opened the writing app.

There was a message from Subject A7: The Leader, was waiting for her. Emily giggled to herself. She still felt her cheeks head up with embarrassment that she had spilt her secrets to him, about how she was secretly in love with someone..turns out it was the same guy..turns out A7 was Minho. She shook her head.

Hey Princess! It's been sooo long since we talked. How's it going? How did the dance go? I never bothered to ask you how it went?!

Emily chuckled. And rolled her eyes. Minho was such a goof sometimes. Cheesy and sweet.

Hey A7! It has been so long, good to talk to you. :) Things are good. Great actually. Dance was amazing! My date was so sweet and kind and smoken' hot.

Oh yeah? Glad you took a leap and said you'd go with this Mr Now-Available.

Well, he's not available anymore.

What?! Oh no. This guy goes to the dance with you...then what?

He's all mine now. Mr. Unavailable for everyone else.

Nice! Way to go Princess! ;)

So? How's this girl your head over heels for?

Shuck it Princess... she's PERFECT. It's too bad, she doesn't know how beautiful she really is. <\3 I could sit and watch her all day and never be bored. I could listen to her read the dictionary just to hear her voice.

She's one lucky girl.

N

ah, I'm the lucky one!
Hey! I have a new piece of writing I've been working on. It's not exactly Disney emo, but wanna read it for me?

Well...I guess so. But sure if my dark soul can handle non emo, but I'll give it a try.

Atta girl!

Okay, here's what I've been working on:

Oh, her eyes, her eyes; Make the stars look like they're not shinin'. Her hair; her hair falls perfectly without her tryin'.
She's so beautiful and I tell her everyday.
Yeah, I know. I know when I compliment her, she won't believe me. And it's so sad to think that she don't see what I see
But every time she asks me, "Do I look okay?"

I say when I see your face there's not a thing that I would change 'cause you're amazing, just the way you are. And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while. 'Cause girl, you're amazing, just the way you are!

Her lips, her lips; I could kiss them all day if she'd let me. Her laugh; her laugh, she hates, but I think it's so sexy. She's so beautiful and I tell her everyday!
Oh, you know, you know I'd never ask you to change! If perfect's what you're searchin' for, then just stay the same.
So don't even bother askin' if you look okay...

You know I'll say when I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change 'cause you're amazing, just the way you are. And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while, 'cause girl, you're amazing. Just the way you are.

Girl, you're amazing. Just the way you are
When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change, 'cause you're amazing! Just the way you are
And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while 'cause girl, you're amazing. Just the way you are!

Emily sat staring at the computer, her cheeks flaming red, tears threatened to fall. How could he make her feel so seen and special and loved? She never believed she would ever find someone as sweet and genuine as Minho. Her heart was beating wildly against her chest.

That was beautiful.

Emily looked at the clock, it was almost time for the bell to ring. She quickly packed up and tore out of the library, she was halfway up the stairs, when the bell rang. Kids streamed out of classrooms. She spotted Bettle and Blade in the halls. Their dark blank eyes followed her as she raced the rest of the way up the stairs and down the busy hall. She spotted the dark head with beautifully styled perfect hair. He was taller than almost everyone in the hall. Thomas was beside him, they where chuckling about something.

"Minho!" She called.

He stopped and looked over his shoulder, his face lit up like Christmas morning. The crowed around her looked around at her. Some of the crowd stepped out if the way, maybe hoping for a fight or some kind of drama. She raced towards him and flung her arms around his neck, and for the first time, she initiated the PDA. She kissed him in the middle of the busy hall.

He had wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her up, her toes off the ground. He chuckled into their kiss.

"Tell A7 he has a way with words that make Princess dark heart feel a little bit brighter."

"I think I could pass that message along."

"You're such a goof." She smiled against his lips.

Minho placed her back down, and linked her hand. She only now realized the people in the hall were still watching. Thomas stood beside them with his arms crossed and a smug look on his face.

"The slut is back at it."

A voice from the crowd yelled out. People started snickering and whispering behind their hands. Emily's stomach dropped. Minho's head whipped around. His smile dropped and his scowl was back. He pushed through the crowd, towards their next class, pulling Emily behind him. Thomas right behind her, like a body guard. Emily could feel the condescending eyes, the judgmental looks and whispers.

"She put out at the dance. I heard Aris has it on camera!"
"I head she's pretty easy. You just gotta be a guy."
"I heard her and Teresa shared him for a bit and then she took him."
"I heard she's secretly going around with each guy on the team."
"I heard that attack was all a set up for attention. She faked the whole thing!"
"That week she wasn't here? I heard she was pregnant and had to deal with it."

Emily felt the sting of tears, her happy mood burst, and she felt herself shrinking back into herself. She sat at her desk, head down, quietly doing her work. Newt had stopped trying to get her to talk. Thomas has leaned over and whispered furiously in his ear. Newt's face hardened, and he met Minho's eye. Emily sat in the middle of them, hunched silent and back behind her walls. Minho sat beside her, his head up, eyes narrowed jaw clenched and glaring at anyone who dared look.

~•~

Minho walked her to her locker at the end of the day. He didn't say anything, he knew she wouldn't talk now. It was a good day until some stupid kid. Always. Everything was always ruined. He hated school. He was frustrated with everything. Emily would finally start coming out of her shell, slowly putting her shields away but then something would happen and she went right back. He worked so hard and then she would disappear again. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He hoped this wouldn't affect her assessment at the gym.

She opened her locker and some paper fell out. She unfolded it and read the note. Minho looked closer at her, and then frowned. She bit her lip and blinked rapidly, trying to keep the tears away. She balled up the notes.

"What's that?" He asked, pointing at the crumpled paper in her hand.

Emily shook her head. Anger flashed through him. He knew it was not nothing.

"Emily. Tell me what the shuck that is!"

He didn't mean for his voice to come out so harsh, he wasn't made at her at all, he wanted to wrap her up and protect her from everything. He needed to know what was making her even more upset. He couldn't help her if he didn't know. He instintly felt guilty when she flinched. He winced when she whimpered quietly as she handed him the papers. He unfolded them and his frown deepened and the murderous look in his eyes hardened. He felt his blood boil, and his hands shook in anger.

You slutty little hoe. I'm sure as soon as he's bored with you you're dumped like the usless garbage you are.  You're not even pretty, you must have a good mouth, probably how you managed to got the hottest most popular guy in school. There's nothing special about you.

The other paper just had two sentences.

Slut. Go kill yourself.

Minho was shaking in anger. He clenched his hand crumpling the paper. He looked at Emily and saw the tear finally fall from her eyelashes and slid down her cheek. His anger broke and hurt washed over him. He reached out for her and pulled her into a hug. She had pulled her arms into her chest, trying to protect herself. He wrapped his arms around her and just held her close. Cupping the back of her head he rubbed her back.

He held her while she stood straight and stiff. She wasn't crying, she wasn't shaking, just standing leaning against him.

He pulled away and looked at her, she was staring blankly at the floor.

"Em." He said quietly. "None of that is true. I really hope you know how much I love you and no way I'd ever get board. I want you and only you. And not just for your body. I want your mind, and your heart."

She just nodded her head, she wouldn't make eye contact with him. He sighed, and ran a hard through his hair.

"Baby, is there anything I can do for you?"

She shook her head.

"If we leave now, I'll drop you off. And can still get back in time for practice. Come on."

She didn't argue, he closed her locker and led her through the school to his truck. She was quiet and tense the whole ride. He held her hand, but she didn't hold his back. She just sat, with her head down. He pulled into the parking lot.

"Well, we're here. Good luck Baby. You're gonna do awesome." Minho grinned, trying to encourage her, giving her hand a squeeze.

She just nodded, "thanks Min." She said quietly.

She got out and grabbed her bag and made her way inside. Everything about her screamed defeat, he hated how much everyone at school picked on her. He didn't understand. He wanted to get out and go after her, to follow her in and cheer her on. With a growl of frustration he backed out and went back to the school for practice.

By the time he was changed and on the field the team was warming up, he ran into the field and started his warm up.

"Ahh our grand leader graces us with his presence, does he?" Ben scoffed, "got better things to do?"

Minho didn't say anything and just kept going, doing his own thing.

"Your girlfriend must be pretty good, if our Quarter Back is willing to be late to practice." Ben kept going.

Mingo ground his teeth but didn't say anything. He picked up a football and put all his frustration behind his arm he threw the ball down the field. He picked another one up, this time Thomas ran down the field, Minho sent it down the field for Thomas.

Ben smirked and came over, trying to get a rise out of Minho.

"Ya know, not sure why you even dumped Tes. She's fantastic."

"Great. She's all yours man." Minho said stiffly. Getting ready to throw another ball for Frypan.

"Though I still want to know what this little blond one has you so captivated. She good? Into some kinky klunk?"

"Enough. It's practice time."

"Well...you were late. Why can't I take time to question it."

Minho finally spun towards Ben with a snarl. "Except your not, Ben. Your not asking why I was late. You're just assuming. And for some shucked up reason you and everyone else in this damn school keeps picking on Em. And it's time for practice, I'm not discussing my relationship with Emily with you. So either get your ass back into the practice or I'll tell Coach to bench you for the first game."

Ben looked at Minho with such a hatred Minho was surprised he didn't combust on the spot. All practice Minho could feel Ben's angry eyes following hin around the field. Ben missed a few catches and kept screwing his running routes. Minho was losing his patients with him. During their water break he heard Ben talking about everything Teresa and him did.

"Ben, shut up. Have some shucken respect."

"What? You jealous, shank?" Ben turned to Minho.

"Yeah, come on man. No one wants to hear this!" Thomas added, shaking his head.

"Oh shut up. You don't get a say in this!" Ben sneered at Thomas. "you and your boyfriend... Nasty shank! Gross."

Thomas's face flamed red. Minho stepped up beside his best friend. His eyes flashed dangerously. Gally also stepped up beside Thomas.

"Oh shuck, look it's a family reunion! Gal, you okay having this flaming gay?" He indicated to Thomas, "as a brother in law? 'Cause aren't you dating the sister? How's she in bed?"

"Ben. Last warning." Gally growled.

More than half the team had come to step over to Minho's side. Ben finally had the sense to shut up the when coach came over. The rest of practice was a disaster. Ben kept whispering crap when the coach wasn't looking. Minho was so frustrated with Ben and Coach. The Coach wouldn't listen to Minho about Ben and his behaviour.

Minho slammed his locker closed, grabbed his bag he spun away and just about ran into Ben.

"What?" He snapped.

"Just wondering how much you can protect that little girlfriend of yours..?"

Minho crossed his arms, glarring at him.

"Just asking. After that attack on her...and all the rumors going around about her...and what I've heard from Tes...she probably won't last the year."

"Is that a threat? Are you threatening her Ben?"

"I'm just saying." He shrugged, but there was something in his eyes that made Minho take him seriously. Minho narrowed his eyes and took a threatening step towards Ben. Minho saw Ben flinch, just slightly, but he saw it. He wasn't as cocky as he came across.

"Threaten her again and I hear about it and you won't be able to eat solid food for a month." Minho growled.

"Is that a threat?" Ben asked.

"It's a shucken promise." Minho spat, "stay away from her. And me. I didn't want you on this team, and I can still get you removed."

Minho shoved passed him and left the locker room. He needed to go pick up Emily from the gym. He slammed the door of the truck closed and pulled his phone out. There was one message from Emily. He paniced immediately.

I left the gym.

The panic that flared inside him made him shaky.

Where are you Emily?!

He didn't even wait for her response he dialed her number and pulled out of the parking lot. He waited impatiently for her phone to ring. It went to voicemail.

"Dammit!" He cursed, slamming his hand into the steering wheel.