Alex pov

Andy and I had 3 hour reading together. So when class was over we grabbed lunch together and found a corner table to sit at. Thankfully no one paid us much mind. They were all too busy saying hi to old friends. We didn't eat much due to the fact that the food was crap. We were in the middle of discussing how the table of perky girls a few tables away all looked like they could use a reality check when a phone buzzed. It was Andy's and I watched as he read the text.

"Mom's picking me up after school," he stated looking up at me. I could feel myself frown at his words. This meant I'd be alone on the bus. "Would you like a ride home?" he offered with a laugh.

"What's so funny?" I asked.

"Nothing. Just your face and the fact that Aron has football practice after school. "

"Who's Aron?"

"The guy from the bus this morning. " I nodded at his words letting them sink in. "So do you want a ride home or not? "

"Yeah. That'd be great. Thanks." The bell rings a few later and we all head to our next Mine was biology sadly. Andy went to his math class and I said bye as we turned in different directions.

When school was finally over I followed Andy to his mom's vehicle. I got in the back and he climbed in front. His mother smiled at us and asked us how the first day went. We told her it was fine. She asked leads of questions like how we met, things I like and stuff like that. As we turned into the neighborhood I directed her to my house.

"Well you can come over whenever you like honey," she said as we pulled into my drive way.

"OK I will. Thank you Amy. Bye Andy, see you tomorrow."

I headed inside and went up to my room. I put on some music and began on my homework. I only had two pages because it was the first day but still. They shouldn't give you homework on the first day. After a while my parents arrived home and I told them about my day. I left out the part about being bullied and getting a ride home from Andy and Amy. They told me how they were happy for me and that this school wouldn't be so bad.

~*~

Andy's pov

Alex and I were together all the time. Any chance we got to be together we were. Last week I came and ate dinner with her and her parents. Today she'd be coming over to my house after school. We had an English assignment over The Outsiders. After school we headed to the bus. My mother had to work so we were trapped on the one way ticket to hell.

Luckily we found an empty seat near the front; away from Aron and his friends. Their coach was away for a few days so they didn't have practice. I sat on the inside while she had the aisle seat. As people got on and off the bus she would lean into me so that she wasn't hit by their bags. I didn't mind it though.

My stop was last as was Aron. So when the bus finally came to a stop we hopped off and I pulled her towards my house. Aron got off and began his approach towards us. I gripped her hand tighter and began to run pulling her behind me. He was faster than us though.

When he caught up to us he grabbed her other arm. She yelled out in pain and I could feel the anger begin to grow inside me. "Let her go," I said firmly not letting go of her hand. She winced in pain as he gripped her tighter.

"What are you going to do about? Hit me with a stick? Ha!" he laughed. That just lit the spark inside me.

"You know what asshole. I remember clearly how you got your ass whooped by your mom in fifth grade. I've got photos too. You let her go or they'll be all over the school tomorrow morning. And if that's not enough I think I still have your mom's number. You do remember that your uncle is my coach right? "

I could see the fear grow in his eyes as I spoke. He didn't let it show that he was scared or worried though. Then he let her go and she came crashing into my arms. I wrapped them around her as she laid her head on my chest. She was trying to calm her breathing as he spoke.

"This isn't over. You can't protect her all the time." Then he walked away in the direction of his house.

~*~

Alex's pov

Aron let go of me and I went straight into Andy's arms. He held onto me as I tried to calm myself. My wrist hurt like hell and I didn't want to move. I was afraid to fearing that he would still be there. Fearing the look on Andy's face. What was he thinking? Did he blame me for Aron following us? Did he hate me or was he going to leave me here alone.

My arms were secure around him and I didn't want to let go. I didn't want him to leave me or worse. I didn't want him to hurt me. I don't believe he would but after what happen last year I couldn't be sure. He tried to pull away but I tightened my arms around his waist. Then I began to cry silently. I couldn't hold it in any longer.

"Hey, it's ok Alex. He's gone," Andy said but I didn't move. "Shh. It's ok. Look at me." Again I didn't move. He then arched his back so he could try and look at me. He then let go of me and placed his hands on the sides of my face forcing me to look at him.

~*~

Andy's pov

I forced her to look at me. She had tears running down her face and it broke my heart. I wiped them away before anymore could escape and before they could start staining her face. The salty water made her eyes glisten against the sun making them a brilliant blue-green. She looked unsure so I just told her everything was ok before picking our bags up that had fallen and walked us home.

When we got there she had been leaning into my side with her arms around me. I pulled away to unlock the door forcing her to let go. We then went up to my room and I placed our bags in the corner of my room. I turned around expecting to see her but I didn't. She was out in the hall looking at all the batman posters and photos of me and my family.

Glancing over at me she smiled. "This is amazing. Your parents let you do all this?"

"What? The batman stuff?"

"Yeah. It's amazsing," she said in aww. Going down the wall she stopped in front of a group of photos. " Is this you?" She asked pointing at a picture and I nodded. It was a photo from when I was about five or so. "And these?"

"Yeah," I laughed.

"You were so cute."

"Ha. Thanks," I said a bit sarcastically.

"Oh no I didn't mean that you aren't now. Wait- uh," she stuttered. "I'll just shut up now."