There were several streets within my town that the children knew as 'the spots'. Places recognisable enough that parents, in the event of soccer practice or dinner with the grandparents, would easily be able to pluck their children from.

         Alek and I had made the mistake of hanging down the back end of one of the dodgier ones. It was a paved walkway with enough space to send a convoy through. It snaked around the back of a residential block, connecting the main street to an open field. The field itself housed one of the four parks within Ardeena. Housing a pitiful monkey bars set, t-boned into a slide and a small climbing wall, it wasn't hard to determine why the little play park was so unpopular. Even if it was commissioned by the only famous person ever to escape the unassuming place; the late graffiti artist, Aleksander Arnok. Who, Alek had been named after in the hopes that he too, would escape this wretched place.

         "Sofia," Alek hummed, his lips barely moving. I looked ahead to where his furrowed eyebrows were watching. His green eyes, squinting. Alek held the staple example of the dark hair and green eyes that every resident of Southside Ardeena seemed to possess. I however, was a better representative of the standard, Apolian resident with square shoulders, blonde hair and dark blue eyes.

         The 'gang' that stood across from us looked more like Alek. I counted four. Three darked haired and one blonde haired. The leader, a chunky boy, Gerrit, stepped forwards. Alek tensed.

          "Keep going," He murmured. I pressed onwards. The gang had come from the same park as us, but not with the intent of returning home. They picked up their pace to match ours.

         Even though they were in the same grade as us- year three, they stood a lot stronger than me. Alek had once managed to tackle Gerrit to the ground but against his other three buddies? Our chances were dismal.

         "So-fi-a," The boys sung, "silly Sofia, come back and play!" The boys taunted.

         I began to curse, a swear I'd picked up from Alek.

         "Shoot, shoot, shoot," I muttered under my breath, not loud enough for Alek to hear. It was, after all, improper for a little lady to swear.

         We were reaching the end of the residential building, it was a really long block! A sight for sore eyes, twins Alfred and Ala walked around the corner, lollies in hand. With Alek, we were affectionally nicknamed the 'A Team' their mouth simultaneously dropped as they studied the scene. Together, they raised their confectionary-clutched fists and put on their 'mean faces'.

         "No!" I cried, waving my hands, "run!"

         Their eyes widened, and from years of jump starts in soccer, the two of them turned and ran ahead.

         Suddenly, the residential block opened up onto a moderately busy road. I stopped, three lots of pedestrians passed by, none within helpful distance however.

         "Sofia!" The boys called behind us!

         "How about a kiss?"

         "Rat boy should stop keeping you to himself!"

         "Stop!" Alek hissed, tugging the sleeve of my dress back, "stop!"

         I was breathing heavily, we had a solid start! Why would he want us to stop?

         A car whizzed by at breakneck speed.

         Ah, that's probably why.

         "Stand our ground," Alek rasped, an enraged look in his eye. "We can take them,"

         "I can't!" I shook my head. I was much smaller, shorter, they towered over me. Alek sighed and nodded firmly.

         "I'll protect you, just trust me,"

         "Okay," I breathed, "what are we going to do?"

         "Stay here," Alek outstretched his hands, backing towards Gerrit and his gang. Suddenly, Alek turned towards a stilling Gerrit. He shouted, "come here you coward!" Balling his fists. Alfred and Ala moved forwards, backing Alek but not interfering.

         "You're a rat! You little scum!" Gerrit shouted, pointing a meaty finger at Alek. Gerrit's mother must've been feeding him too much American food. "Your Father deserves to be in the ground!"

         I sucked in a breath. Alek's knuckled turned white, his shoulders hunching incrementally.

         "Shut your fat mouth, you pig!" Alek seethed.

          "What are you going to do about it, rat boy?" Gerrit crowed. Alek, whilst tall for his age, didn't have the same thick and hulking figure that Gerrit possessed. Alek however, was a master at soccer. So suddenly, he darted to the right, and then to the left, throwing a fist at the highest of Gerrit's many chins. I gasped. Gerrit stumbled back, shaking the shock from his eyes.

         "That's it, rat boy," Gerrit spat. He ran at Alek, the two of them falling to the floor, in a tumble. Alfred and Ala rushed in to separate the fray. The other members of the makeshift gang somewhat contributed in pitiful ways.

         "Stop!" I rushed forwards as the two separated. "That's enough of this!"

         "How about a kiss?" Gerrit taunted, seizing my wrist and pulling me towards him.

         "No!" Alek cried, enraged, tackling Gerrit to the ground again, hands flying.

          The scuffle continued. Eventually, one of Gerrit's boys managed to wrench Alek off of Gerrit. Alek looked a little dazed with a scruff on his forehead and knee and a cut lip. Gerrit's nose was bleeding as he lay on the footpath.

          "Don't speak to her like that again," Alek spat. I stepped in again, pressing a hand to Alek's chest.

         "Let's go," I whispered, leading him away. "We need to get you patched up,"

         Sitting atop the kitchen bench while I applied a bandage, Alek had winced and asked, "Did I defend your honour m'lady,"

         "Very much, kind sir," I'd given him a little smile, though I wished he'd never ran into the fight in the first place.