I sighed, tapping my hand nervously against my thigh.

"Do you think everything is going okay?" I asked.

My mom gave me a small smile. "I'm sure she's fine, Reed. You know your sister well enough to know that she easily makes friends and she does well in school."

My mom choked slightly the word "sister". Ever since we'd found out that Aunt Tam was in a hospital somewhere in Manhattan with a coma, she has been having a rough time. It was hard enough for her already with me being in the hospital with lung problems, and Ro having lost her memory, but now she new that her sister may never wake up. At least my parents had each other.

"That was before she lost her memory, though. Plus, I'm not there to protect her this time. Before now, I've always been there to protect her,"  I argued.

My mom ran her hand through my hair. "Trust me, Sweetheart, I can just tell. Ro is going to be perfectly fine."

***

Braum flashed Ro a smile, seemingly against his will, before turning his attention towards the class, as if just noticing that there were other people in the room.

He cleared his throat. "Hello, everyone. My name is Officer Mills, and I work for the NYPD. I am here today to talk to you about the Welcoming Fair that will be happening at the end of this week. As you all know, each year, this school does a Welcoming Fair to welcome new and old students to a new year at Daniel Brooks. Now, this school is held in high regard, and I am here to make it clear that coming to the fair under the influence is under no circumstances acceptable. There will be several security guards as well as several members of the NYPD, such as myself, at the fair, and if you are caught under the influence, you will be arrested. I can promise you that an arrest is not something that will look good on your records. So, please remember that it's okay to come to the Welcoming Fair and have fun, but try to make smart decisions before you arrive, and during your time at the fair."

I wrinkled my nose in distaste. I had always hated the idiots who came to the fair every year, drunk out of their minds. The kids that got drunk were always the ones that decided it was a god idea to then go on the spiny rides, which never turned out well for anyone. I was actually really glad that the school was finally taking action to stop this from happening this year. I loved a good party as much as the next guy, but drinking and fair rides just didn't mix.

"I think that is pretty much all I have to say, so I'll leave you with this. Take it from an officer of the law: spending a night in a jail cell will probably be the most hellish experience of your life, especially if you're throwing up for most of it," Braum concluded.

"Thank you, officer," Mr. Melphine smiled. "I just have one question to ask you."

I sighed. With Mr. Melphine, one question always turned into forty.

Braum nodded. "Sure, go ahead."

"Do you know anything about te history of the NYPD?" Mr. Melphine questioned, eyes bright.

Say no, I pleaded in my head.

"Actually, I am quite versed in the history. I find it really interesting, so I studied up on it. My dream was always to become part of the force," Braum replied.

I hate you, I thought over and over in my head, narrowing my eyes at the cop.

"Great!" Mr. Melphine exclaimed. "Would you mind discussing it with the class? This is an amazing opportunity for a very unique history lesson."

We spent the rest of the class with Mr. Melphine asking question after question on the history of the NYPD. I spent the whole time texting Cris, who would periodically make a face at me from across the room, or burst into giggles at what I sent and have to cover it up with a cough.

"Anyone have any more questions for Officer Mills?" Mr. Melphine asked as the end of class neared.

"Are you single?" one girl called out.

"Any serious questions that aren't about his personal life," Mr. Melphine snapped.

No one raised their hands, and the classroom was silent for the moment. Then, before anything else could be said, the bell rang. Students began packing up their bags and then rushing out of the room past Braum. A few of the girls lingered, giving him a once over. One girl even boldly walked up to him.

"It is so amazing, what you do. You protect everyone, and are constantly putting your life on the line," she gushed.

Braum shrugged, seemingly oblivious to the flirting girl. "It's my job."

She swooned and opened her mouth to say something else, but he was already stepping past her, his eyes focused on something else. I didn't even need to look to see that it was Ro. I instead kept my gaze on the flirting girl, watching as she gaped at  Braum's back as he walked away from her. I then watched as a frown overtook her face, say the hatred in her eyes as she glared at Ro, who Braum was now talking to- quite loudly I might add. Ro just kept adding to the list of people who hated her. She was not doing well so far. I got up and made my way over to Ro and Braum.

"Riveting history class, Professor," I told Braum sarcastically.

"Shut up," Braum replied.

"Freedom of speech. You should know about that, Mr. Law Enforcement," I retorted.

Braum raised an eyebrow. "I have a Taser. Want to see how it works?"

"Excuse me, but I don't believe you're allowed to speak to me like that, Officer. Excessive force, much?"

"Stop it, both of you," Ro cut in. "You're being annoying pricks."

I raised an eyebrow at her. "Wow, Sherlock. What's got you in such a bad mood."

"Sorry for being grumpy, but some of had a creepy teenage boy whispering all kinds of creepy, annoying, nasty things to us all class," Ro huffed.

I stood a little straighter and felt my jaw clench, all joking gone. "What did he say to you?"

Ro shook her head. "It doesn't even matter he's just. . . I really wish Mr. Melphine would let me move."

Braum frowned. "You're having a problem with the guy you sit next to? I'll talk to the teacher about it."

Braum turned and walked back over to Mr. Melphine. I frowned at his back. He was going to try and do the exact same thing I had done, but for him it would probably work. Mr. Melphine had an easy time ignoring me- I'd always been nothing but a slacker and a trouble maker in his classes- but he couldn't exactly deny a cop.

"Hey, are you guys going to second period, or. . .?" Cris asked, coming up to us.

I shook my head. I'd forgotten about second period and the fact that we actually only had five minutes between classes to get there. I had been ready to just skip ahead to lunch.

"Oh, yeah," I said. "What do you guys have next?"

"Math," Cris sighed.

"Art," Ro replied. "Apparently I'm really good at it."

"As apposed to everything else you do in school," I muttered sarcastically.

Cris laughed. "Don't be bitter just because an amnesiac is smarter than you."

Ro rolled her eyes. "The amnesia didn't affect my smarts at all. I'm just smarter than him in general, amnesia or no amnesia."

"Thanks, guys," I deadpanned.

It still seemed weird to me how well Ro and Cris got along. Cris and I had always been best friends, and I never thought anything would come between us because our friendship is perfect. Seeing Cris with Ro made me realize, though, that Cris had obviously been longing for a girl friend that she could be close to, and honestly, it worried me a little. I didn't know how I could compete with a girl friend who actually fully understands her and what she's going through. I frowned at how sappy that entire notion sounded. It made me want to hate Ro again, but I refused to do that anymore, to hate her because of who she is. It's not her fault the people in my life like her so much. I can't even blame them for liking her so much, because she's amazing and I really like her too. Not that I would ever admit that. She could never know how happy I was that we were friends.

"Well, I have English, so I guess I'll see you guys at lunch," I nodded.

The girls both nodded in agreement.

"I'll show you to Art," Cris offered with a grin.

"Sit wherever you want tomorrow, Ro," Mr. Melphine called out.

Braum gave us a thumbs up from beside the teacher. I frowned.

Try hard, I thought bitterly.