First of all, I wanted to notify all of you lovely people who dared to read my book that English isn't my native language. Therefore I would love to warn everyone for grammar and spelling mistakes. Also, this is my first book and it's quality probably isn't as good as people with more experience. If you have any comments or feetback, just let me know, everything helps :) (Also this is written later than the actual chapter was published, so sory if the information is double in later chapters) Now without further ado, to the story! 

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I sat in the park, reading a book for the third time. It was one of my favorites, and I was sitting on my favorite spot. A bench near the water under a weeping willow.

It was lovely, until they came along.

And with "they" I mean The Knives, a local gang which caused trouble on the streets. They weren't extremely dangerous as far as I was concerned. They were known for the crimes they comitted with knives, explaining their superoriginal name.

The guys who were approaching me were some school drop-outs who just joined the gang. I recognized Shane, Jeff and Cameron among them.

"HEY NERD!" One screamed

I froze and slowly closed the book, knowing that I was in trouble.

The boys started running and surrounded the bench I was sitting on.

"What are you reading, Keith, Romeo and Juliette?" Cameron asked with an evil smirk.

"Just homework." I said while trying to hide the book.

Too late.

Shane pulled te book away from me and read: "The One" He started laughing and the others joined.

"A romantic novel, Keith?" One said. I decided to say nothing and just stare at the ground.

"It's not nice to ignore people, little Keith. Did your father forget to teach you that?" Jeff asked.

I was angry, but I couldn't do anything.

I didn't want to be beaten up again, because my mom would be worried again.

Cameron grabbed my shirt and pulled me closer. "You're a filthy fatherless nerd. You're not even worthy of our attention." He said before throwing me on the ground.

Shane threw my book into the water and the kicks began. I rolled myself up into a ball trying to protect myself. And closed my eyes, waiting for it to be over.

"HEY! Stop doing that!!" Someone yelled.

The kicking stopped and Cameron cursed. Everyone began to run away while I stayed on the ground.

"Are you okay?" A strange voice asked. I looked up when I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked into two worried brown eyes.

"Y-yes, I think so." I said still staring in his amazing chocolate brown eyes with a hint of amber.

He nodded and helped me sit. "Your nose is bleeding." He said and he quickly grapped a tissue and gave it to me. I held it against my nose and just sat still.

My body was hurting and I didn't want to move at all. I was feeling fuzzy and confused. Who was he and why did they ran away?

"Why were they beating you?" He asked after a few seconds.

"They just don't like me, I never really gave them a reason to pick on me."

The boy sighed. "My name is Damon, what is yours?"

"Keith." I answered. "Can you give me more of personal information?" He asked

I didn't know why he would ask, but I decided that it wouldn't hurt telling. "Keith Rich, I'm seventeen, I live in Parker Street and I'm a student at Hardwood High."

"Okay, I guess your head is okay, can you move everything?" I moved every part of my body and it hurt, but not bad enough to be anything serious.

"It's sore, but I guess I'm fine." He nodded. "I'll help you stand and then I'll bring you home." He said in a way that told me he wouldn't change his mind.

So I shrugged and he helped me up.

While we were walking to my house he told me that he had warned cops nearby as he saw The Knives getting close to me.

I thanked him and the rest of the walk was in silence.

"This is it." I said and Damon rang the bell. My mother opened the door and was obviously shocked by the sight of me being beaten up... again.

"Goodevening miss Rich, I'm Damon Stone and I helped Keith getting home after he was beaten up."

"Oh Keith..." Was what my mother said with a sad look. "Come in, please, you too Damon and thank you."

Damon nodded and followed my mother and me inside.

My mother helped me sit on the couch and went to the kitchen.

"Thank you for helping me." I said a bit shy.

I didn't understand why he would have helped me, he didn't know me, right?

"Really, it was no big deal. I can't stand bullies." He replied with a little smile on his face. "What were you doing there?"

"Reading. I like reading alone." Why did I tell him? He was a stranger.

"Where is your book?" He asked with a frown.

"They threw it in the river." I responded with a plain face.

"I'm sorry." He said. I raised an eyebrow. "Why are you apologising, you didn't throw it away."

He shrugged and that's when my mother came in with ice packs and a wet towel. "Let's fix you bit, shall we?" I nodded.

"And where do you live, Damon?" She asked friendly while holding ice against my bruised face.

"I used to live in another city, but becauseof circumstances we decided to move. Tomorrow will be my first day at Hardwood High."

Something about the way he told his story, mademe want to know why they moved. But of course I couldn't ask.

My mother chatted with Damon a bit more as I sat quietly next to her, waiting for her to be done.

"Would you like to stay for dinner, Damon? It's getting pretty late." My mom asked when I had enough ice.

"Thank you miss, but I should get going. My parents expect me to be home for dinner." He politely declined.

"That's okay,it was nice meeting you." She said before disapearing to the kitchen. "I'll walk you to the door."

I lead him back to the frontdoor and opened it. Damon walked trough ithe door and turned around.

"Be careful next time, Keith." He said with a wink.

"Thanks for helping me out, Damon. If there's anything I can do to return the favor, let me know." I looked him in the eye and he smiled t me.

"You could show me where they have the best coffee in town." He laughed and I shrugged.

"See you at school, Keith." He said before waving and walking away.

I closed the door behind me with a strange feeling. Everything about this day had seemed weird, as if I watched it from behind glass. Not being able to function properly.

I had been extremely quiet and numb. Damon was nice and I was truely grateful he had saved me. Why did I have to have one of these days today?

I sighed, I could only hope Damon would forgive me for being so awfully stupid.

My mom called for dinner and I walked to the kitchen. Ever since my dad passed when I was fifteen, my mother would try her best to cook a lovely meal for the two of us every night.

It was unbelievable how my mom handled the loss of my father. I remembered him to be a loving dad who had always supported me. He was a great example to me and I could only hope to become the man he once was.

"I hope you're hungry, sweetheart, I've made your favorite!" She said when I entered the kitchen.

"Lasagne?" I asked, hoping I put enough emotion in the question.

She nod and soon we were both eating her lasagne. And it actually made me feel a bit better.

"Thanks mom." I said when we had finished and I planted a kiss on her forehead. "I'll be in my room, packing things for tomorrow."

"That's okay honey. And get some sleep, you'll need it." I nodded and went up to my room.

I started to put things in my bag I would need for school and soon I had packed everything. I sank down on my bed and stared at the ceiling.

Why was I feeling so empty? As if nothing could cheer me up. No book, no game, no movie or comic could bring me happiness right now.

I sighed and closed my eyes. My body was hurting, my mind was empty, what would it matter if my heart stopped just here and now?

I didn't move for I don't know how long, just laying still, until two brown eyes popped into my head.

Damon, why did I think about him? Or actually about his eyes. They looked so full of worry, and he didn't even know me. And even though I haven't bean chatty and all, he just accepted it and tok care of me.

His eyes, so deep and brown, hiding so much. It made me curious. Curious about who he was, how he was like, why he did move to this city and... I don't know.

Those eyes, who had been looking at me, trough me, in a gentle kind of way. Somehow I wanted to know as much as possible about him. Maybe he wanted to become friends?

I sighed, who would want that? And yet I fell asleep, dreaming about brown eyes in the park.