It was drawing time in school. A five-year old Loraine,who was laughing at the corny jokes of the Spanish boy sitting next to her, was brought out of her reverie when someone snatched the blue crayon from her hand.

Her favourite one.

She turned her head and looked up towards Jamie. Lorraine did not like Jamie. He was mean towards everyone. She would always avoid talking or sitting next to him. No one complained to the teacher in fear that Jamie would hit them or steal their lunches which he usually did.

Loraine was a shy and quiet girl. She always stayed out of trouble and Jamie was trouble with a big T. She looked at her favourite crayon longingly knowing she would not have it back safely or at all. Jamie stuck his tongue out at her and went away with his friends to his desk with her crayon still in his hands. She picked up another crayon and continued her work, her mood now dampened.

Carlos had watched the scene unfold. He did not like Jamie. No one in school did. They hated him or were afraid of him. Mostly afraid. But today the anger he held for him was immense. He went up to Jamie and quietly told him to return Lorraine her crayon. Jamie, an inch taller than Carlos, sneered at him and pushed him. Carlos who was growing angrier by the minute, the kind of anger you would never find in a five year old, did something which no one ever experienced him to do.

He punched him.

                                       *****

"I cannot believe you won't be here tomorrow." Carlos sighed. I gave him a sad smile. I opened my mouth to tell him to visit me whenever he got a chance but couldn't as I was pulled onto his chest. I gagged as his shirt was inside my mouth. I pulled back. "I'm not going for forever Carlos" I said even though I did not believe a single word of it. It was already Tuesday. Who knew four days could fly by so quickly?

"I know. But it would be so weird you know. I'm going to visit you whenever I can and I better not find out after 6 hours of driving that I have been replaced. Cause if that happens you'll find yourself dangling from a cliff. And maybe even falling. But I'll still be underneath to catch you so you'll actually remember my importance."

Tomorrow was the day I was leaving my old life behind and take the plunge to my new one.

The last four days had been spent by me and Carlos not leaving each other's side at all. We did not even go to school. We would go to our favourite places, eat our favourite food and spend the whole day in my room. Just talking and laughing.

Laughing at the memories and talking about the present. The future.

I looked at the clock. 11:37. I sighed.

"Carlos, it's late." He followed my line of vision and frowned. "Hey it's okay Panda. It's not like I'm going to a different country. I'm just going two towns over. We will call, text, Skype, visit, anything."

He hugged me. Tightly. The kind of a hug which says you don't want to ever let go.

I always thought of him as my rock. But maybe I was his rock too.

                                       *****

The chapter is a bit small. Okay. Too small.