BIRRRING!!........BIRRRING!! "Here I come Josh!" I yell as I jump out of bed. I do my usual morning routine and hurry downstairs. I smell pancakes! I gobble up my pancakes and race out the door. I run smack into Josh on my way down the drive way. The way our car was parked, I didn't see him coming. We say our hellos and race towards the bus stop. After we get on and catch our breath we start to get to know each other better.

"Do you have any siblings?" I ask.

"None, have you?"

"Nope, I don't have any either."

"Do you play any sports?"

"I'm a big basketball fan."

"So am I. Maybe we can practice some time."

"Cool. That would be fun."

"We can walk to my house after school and grab my basketball. Then head to the park."

"It's a plan."

The bus stops and we hop off. I went to my locker. Someone next to me slammed their locker shut. I waited for them to leave, but they never did. Wanting to see who it was, I got my math book and closed my locker. Standing in front of me, was Jake. For some reason he kept his hand behind his back.

"Hi Jake, it's great to see you again."

"Who told you to talk fishy face?" asked mean Jake.

"Umm... no one, I was just, uh heading to class."

Before I can hurry away, he pours whatever was behind his back on my head. I wipe my head with my hand and smell it. It's fish juice! I run to the bathroom and wash my hair out. I can still smell it, but that'll have to do. I'm already late for class. I enter my class just as the teacher calls my name.

"I'm here," I say. "I had to do something. Sorry I'm late."

"Thank you Samson, you may take your seat."

That was close! Everything goes smoothly until it's time to go. We decide to go on the swings while we wait for my mom. She said she would pick us up after school to go to the park. The way the park is positioned, you can climb the fence and reach the pole that holds the swings when you jump off it. While we are swinging on the swings, Josh's swing went backward intsead of going forward again, it stopped absurdly and he fell off. He groaned when he hit the ground. I jump off the swing while it's in the air and run to Josh's side

"Are you ok Josh?" I ask. He shakes his head yes but I can tell how hard he's trying not to cry.

"What's hurting you?" I look at him and see his eyes go big, shadows suddenly surround me. I look behind me and see Jake and Jordan standing over me with huge grins on their faces.

"What did you do that for?" I practically spit at him.

"Who told you to say something fish hair?" asked Jake.

"I didn't tell you to talk!" I declare to him bravely. In side I feel my veins pump with anger.

"What?"

"I said I didn't tell you to talk dork face!"

"Oh did you?" He says though it's more of a threat than a question. He takes a step towards me.

"Yes I did. What you gonna do about it?" I say taking a step forward as well.

He pauses for a second surprised by my choice of action. "This." He says and dives at me.

I duck and he lands on dirt. I run to Josh and lift him on his feet. But he falls back down again with a cry. I look at his ankle, it's huge and red. Before I can turn around Jake jumps on me. I fight him; I kick and punch trying to get him off me. We get off each other and catch our breath. Then in the corner of my eye, I see Jordan stepping hard on Josh's bad ankle. I charge him but Jake jumps on me and laughs.

"I hate you Jake." I spit at him while he sits on top of me.

"Too bad I feel the same."

"Why would you do that to him? He never touched you!" I yelled at him, trying to twist my way free.

Suddenly someone pushes Jake off me. Without seeing who it is I run towards Jordan and push him to the ground. I grab Josh and help him sit up. He squeaks as his leg moves. Then I yelp when I try to move my left wrist. He looks at me funny.

"I think I sprained my wrist." I say. "Don't worry I'll be fine, you on the other hand, need some help."

"I think it might be completely broken Sam." He says painfully.

I lay him down on the ground and looked at his ankle. I touch it gently, even then he yelps. I look at it some more. Then tell him there's no sign of it being broken, just sprained badly. A figure stands in front of us. I look up ready to fight again, but its mom. I yelp with joy and hug Josh. Not a very big boy thing I must say. Just then the principal comes out and takes us in. Jordan is spiting dirt out his mouth, while Jake rubs his thigh, and I hold Josh up while I look back at him.

"What on earth is going on?"

"Jake lifted Josh's swing while he was high. Then Josh fell off and sprained his ankle badly. On top of that while I was on the ground fighting Jake off, Jordan started pressing his foot on Josh's bad ankle!"

"Into my office we shall go." He says as he turns around.

"Wait, I can't lift Josh."

"Why can't you lift him?" He asks, turning to look at me.

"I can't because that numskull Jake sprained my wrist." I said shaking my wrist at him.

He narrows his eyes at Jake, then at Jordan. Mom helps me lift Josh, then he holds on to both of us and hops with us to the principal office, with Jake and Jordan trailing wordlessly behind us.

We talk with Principal Nicolas and Jake and Jordan get suspended for the rest of the week. After, mom, Josh, and I go to the nurse's office. I get a cast put on my wrist and Josh gets one on his ankle. Then we drive home. Josh's parents aren't home, so we hang out at my place. We play a game of Checkers and some other board games. Then we start to get tired and I tell mom. She helps me take Josh up the stairs and into my room.

"I'll sleep on the floor," I say.

"I forgot to tell you something." Mom said mysteriously. She walks to my bed and pulls the fake drawers. Out comes another bed!

"Cool!" Josh and I say union.

I take my bed and he sleeps on the lower one. I don't know how long we slept, but when I woke up in was about 6:30. I could hear talking downstairs. It sounded like Josh's parents. I got up and almost stepped on Josh. I slide off the bed, careful not to wake him and head for the bathroom. When I come back in my room Josh is lying there waiting for me.

"Do we have to go downstairs?" he inquires.

"No, but I'm starving. I can bring something up if you want."

"Great just help me sit up first."

I help him up then head down stair. I can see the living room through the kitchen doorway. I try to carry up to plates that were in the oven but can't.

"Hey mom, Could you help me with these plates?" I call.

Every head turns towards me. Mom hurries to grab one of the plates.

"Hi honey, where's Josh?"

"Upstairs, he wasn't ready to come down the steps yet."

"Thank you for standing up for him Samson." said Josh's mom.

"I was just angry with Jake, that's all Mrs. Fighter." I respond.

"You're a true hero kid." said Josh's dad, despite my protest.

I blush and head for the stairs with mom following behind me. When I come in the room I stop short and mom bumps into me. Josh had fixed my bed and slid his bed in.

"You didn't have to do all that!" I exclaimed.

"It's the least I could do for now. I still have to pay you back for helping me." He said.

"You, don't have to do anything for me!"

"I do too! I know I said I've been here since kindergarten, but that doesn't really mean anything!"

"Well I think Samson just did what was right, so it's ok. You've done enough." said my mom.

She gave Josh his plate and went back down stair. For a while we ate in silence, to hungry to say anything. After we ate for a while he finally said something to me.

"I meant what I said Sam. I have never had anyone care for me that much before."

"That's because you've never had a good friend."

"Your right, I haven't had a friend like you in years."

"Josh, your totally worth helping." I said with a smile.

"So are you Sam, so are you." Josh told me.