~Justin's POV~

"Where were you yesterday?" And here came Fiora with her bulky glasses and over-sized backpack.

Now I remember- Fiora, Henry, Esther and I always met on dates we agreed on beforehand. I guess that, between those two sick classmates of mine and getting fixed up, I'd missed it.

I shook the snow out of my hair before replying a bit uneasily, "Just walking around. Sorry I missed the appointment, Fi. I'll make it next time, alright?"

Fiora patted her bangs down and grumbled, "Henry was pretty upset you couldn't come. We were planning Esther's birthday party- don't tell her though."

I made a face.

She giggled, and I quickly assured, "Of course I won't tell her. But when's the next meeting?"

Fiora told me the date, then waltzed off. Just as always, she got disparaging comments from many of our peers.

With a sigh, I set out toward my house. For some reason, I couldn't keep my mind off Zoe- when would I see her again?

Just as I exited the school grounds and turned onto a different street, the exact girl I'd just been wondering about appeared beside me. I walked about five steps without noticing her.

A screech escaped my lips as soon as I caught sight of her. The sound melded into her laughter.

"What are you," I gasped, "What are you doing here?"

She gave me a lazy grin and answered quite unconcernedly, "Hiding from my raging 'boss'."

My puzzzled look said it all, and she replied, "I've got an annoying friend."

"Alright then. Alright. So... anything interesting going on?" I tried for a natural tone, but my voice was strained.

"Did those two come into school today?" Her voice was lightly amused.

I thought about it for a second, then shook my head, "Now that I think about it, no they didn't."

"Good," she said. I smiled to myself a little- they deserved whatever happened.

Finally, as we walked under gray skies that threatened more snow, on gray sidewalks with cracks, I asked, "Where'd you learn to fight?"

Zoe looked pensive for a minute, then finally admitted, "My raging boss taught me."

Should I ask? "Can I meet your raging boss?" I hoped I sounded jokingly serious. I hoped.

Zoe tensed visibly, and I hurriedly choked out the words, "Never mind, sorry!"

After that, no one spoke. I didn't dare. When we got to my house, she just left very suddenly.

The pathetic fool I am, my hand slowly stopped waving and dropped to my side. Then after I got over the awkwardness and cursing myself out in my head, the whole thing got my thinking.

Why is she so touchy about me meeting her raging boss?

It couldn't be anything bad, could it? Maybe her friend was badly adjusted and she thought I'd make fun of him.

Or maybe it was something else. Not unexpectedly, I didn't sleep well that night.

~

The next morning passed just like the previous one, and I was utterly bored of it. Everything had always been a dull routine- except for the attack two days ago- and the only new thing in my life was Zoe.

Zoe was utterly refreshing. She always confused me, threw me off, and there were so many things about her I didn't know.

The biggest thing preying on my mind through the morning was- will Zoe come again today after school?

And she did. We met up at the same place that day, and she waked me home.

Halfway there, I tenatively asked, "Any particular reason for walking me home?"

Zoe gave me a smirk, "Would you rather I left you alone?"

"No, no," I quickly told her, "Thanks, I really appreciate it, but why? I'm pretty sure you have better things to do."

She didn't even blink as she replied, "Not at this time of the day. Anyway, it's a new thing. Walking home from school."

I pinned her as a possible runaway. Probably not, but perhaps...

"Sorry about yesterday, though. I didn't know it was such a big deal," I offered weakly.

I got a shrug and, "No problem. I just don't want you two to meet quite yet."

I took the answer. Then we reached my house, and I waved. She didn't wave back.

~

Three days after I met her, those two boys finally came back to school. I was stunned into silence when I saw them. They hobbled through the doors with their mothers, heading straight for the principal's office. Each one was badly injured and bruised up, their faces almost unrecognizable.

I almost laughed. It was terrible, in a kind of good way.

I almost ran for my first class, though. I still really didn't want to look them in the eye yet.

~

After school was out, I met up with Zoe. Just like yesterday. This time, though, there was someone with her- a tall boy wearing a subtle green shirt that emphasized his eyes and cargo shorts.

"Hey," I greeted them uneasily, "Is this...?

Zoe looked perfectly at ease- of course- and nodded

He stepped forward and offered his hand. I shook it quickly and let my own drop.

"So hey Justin," his voice was affable, "I'm a friend of Zoe's. Nigel."

I felt a strange feeling at my core when he claimed to be a friend of her's. I can't imagine why.

The three of us walked toward my house where only I lived together. Half the time, Zoe and Nigel conversed about events that I wasn't a part of, names I didn't know, and places I've never been.

I was just the tiniest bit jealous. Just the tiniest bit feeling excluded. Then I'd remind myself about how Zoe had saved me and I had no right to be feeling this way and the feeling lessened.

But why was there a lingering bad feeling about Nigel? I must be sick or something, because-

"Justin, are you alright?" Zoe asked gently, "If you don't want us to walk with you, just say so."

I shook my head tersely. "Nothing. Don't worry about me," I assured them half-heartedly.

Nigel finally deigned to speak to me then. "You don't like me much, do you?" His tone was joking, but just a bit tense.

I didn't say anything. Zoe heaved an irritated sigh and said something lowly to Nigel.

With a quick look and nod, Nigel went from walking with us to walking away.

Before Zoe said anything else, I declared, "We're here. Thanks Zoe, Nigel." I yelled back so Nigel would hear me. He looked at me over his shoulder and simply jerked his head once in acknowledgement.

When Zoe left without waving back in the opposite direction of Nigel moments later, I cursed myself.

I landed myself in the bad graces of a girl who could kick my ass and the guy who taught her how to do just that.

What's wrong with me?

~

Zoe didn't show up after school to walk with me the next day. Nor did she show up the day after.

She didn't show up at all that week, actually.

Then, one week after I met Nigel, someone finally was waiting for me.

It wasn't Zoe.