"Answer me, you bastard!" Tyler spat, furiously.

The guy was oddly calm, watching Tyler with a hint of disgust in his eyes.

Neither those light brown eyes nor the chocolate brown hair was familiar. He was tall. Tall enough to stand against Tyler in a fight. Maybe even a couple inches taller than him.

"To you, son of a bitch." Tyler spoke again and I looked around.

Half of the students in the cafeteria watched the show from their seats, enjoying their lunch. The other half ignored the drama.

No one came forward to ask if there was a problem, no one got ready to pull these guys apart if it ended up in a fight.

Without even sparing another glance at Tyler, the guy turned to me with his  furrowed eyebrows.

The most grateful thing to do will be to utter a simple thank you. But I stood there, staring back at him, confusion etched across my face. Was he a different version of Tyler? Another bully, maybe?

Maybe not.

But just before I could thank him, a girl stepped closer and put a hand on my shoulder.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, sure." I nodded at her, and the next second she was leading me to the washroom.

"Thank you. But you should probably go have your lunch before the break is over." I said and she smiled.

"So is he an all-time bully?" She pulled out some cream and gave it to me as if I had burns.

"It didn't really burn me. It was a drop, I think."

"Doesn't matter, prevention is better than cure. If I were you, I wouldn't want even a sliver of burn mark on my skin." She muttered. "This is a moisturizer, though. But I think it'll help."

"Thanks again but -"

"Your thanks always have a following but?"

Well...

"I've known Tyler for a couple of years now. He was in my school and if there's one thing I know, it's that he'll bully you too if you stand in his way. I don't want that for somebody just because they helped me."

"That's sweet." she stood up with a smile and left, her blonde curls bouncing all along the way, making me wish I had that attitude.

                             ~~~~~~
                     
Whilst having lunch, I turned my phone on and started listening to the voicemails one by one, until one got my complete attention.

Mrs Ridge, it's Alicia Patrick.

Mrs Patrick, Theo's teacher.

The voicemail went on as she said Theo wasn't feeling well and how she called the given contact number of his guardian and since no one answered, as a last resort, she had to call this number.

I checked the call log to see that I missed her call half an hour ago when I was in class.

For a minute, I was completely defeated. Bills, I would manage. Looking after them, I'll happily do.  And she can't even answer a call?

"What happened?" I asked as soon as my eyes found his little brown ones.

"A little tummy ache." I was startled when a young lady behind him spoke, someone whose presence I completely missed.

"Mrs Patrick." she shook my hands and ruffled his hair, "Nothing serious, we had the school nurse look at him. He just freaked out. Cried a lot, asked me to take him home, created a scene..."

Oh, Theo.

"But it wasn't a big deal. An hour later, he was okay. Right?" She asked him and he nodded.

"Thanks for looking out. Can I...?" I looked at her, not knowing what I should do next.

Noel hadn't been in a situation like this before. At least not that I know of. Maybe he had been, when he was five and I didn't know it because dad or mom took care of it.

"Take him home?" She asked and I nodded. "Sure. The afternoon session is all about creativity and having fun, so..."

I took on her offer and decided to pay a visit to his pediatrician. I would've to squeeze my pocket out, but there's nothing I can do about it.

"Theo tells me you're his sister, are your parents outside?"

"She's out of town regarding work." I somehow managed a smile and covered for her. Again.

"Mommy went somewhere? " Theo asked once we were out.

"Nope. We were kidding your teacher."

He smiled mischievously, but only for minutes. "Why didn't mommy come, Ivy?"

"Oh, you see that toystore?" I used the opportunity as a distraction and before he could think about anything else, I took him there.

That was horrible of me. But I didn't know what else to do or to say.

After finding something he loved that was not expensive, we went to see doctor. Pediatricians are smart. They know how to coax kids into telling truths. Oh, like, Theo admitting that he actually didn't have any tummy ache and just wanted to come home.

I skipped my classes, paid for a cab and a doctor for a fake tummy ache. And I didn't even get angry because I was overwhelmed with relief. Also, I couldn't ignore the sweet apologies from him that came with hugs.

"But no more fake sickness or I won't talk to you forever, you get that?" He beamed and when my frown deepened, caved in with a nod. "Well, we'll go pick up Noel now."

"I want to go home." he said with a full mouth of candy, that I bought him and I shook my head.

"It's almost time. We'll go pick him up and then we're off."

He nodded and we waited until the bell rang and a healthy Noel came to us, wide-eyed.

"Everything on way back home. Now we gotta catch a bus as soon as -"

"Pooossibal." Theo squealed as we got on a bus.

"It's possible, stupid. Not pooh-sibal." Noel snorted and I had to glare at him for the whole ride, along with reminding him that he wasn't allowed to call Theo stupid.

Can manage sometime? Off to home and would come soon.

I texted Jake as I reached home.

"Now Theo, be a good boy." I kissed him on his cheeks as I got ready to leave for work."Not a lazy one."

"You bite me!" he grimaced, rubbing his cheeks hard, which I ignored.

"Want me to make something?"

"No. I can do that." Noel nodded.

"Thanks...and tell him not to fake like that. You're the big guy, okay?"

"Don't worry, I'll take care of that."

"Yeah? Well, thanks then, Superman."

"Always for service," he bowed. "And Ivy, can you stop at Brandon's and borrow his boots?"

"Boots?"

"I'm playing. I'm a player."

I laughed, nodding and fleed to the cafe. And that night when I returned, I bought a new pair of boots.

Silly, how a pair of them can cost you a few extra shifts while it brings joy to someone's face.

And that grin on his beaming face, gave me a good tight sleep that night.

                          ▪️▪️▪️

The next day, when someone sat next to me in English class, I didn't expect it to be the girl who helped me yesterday.

"Hi," I croaked.

"Hey!" she smiled, a big warm smile

"You're in this class?"

"Yeah," she said as she brushed her blonde curl off her face. "I couldn't make it for the last few days. We just moved in here,"

"Oh," I smiled at her.

She really was beautiful.

"Hey, we never introduced ourselves.
I guess it wasn't that kinda situation out there yesterday."

"Um. Yeah, he's...he's a..." I couldn't find a suitable word for him.

"Douche? I get it. I've been bullied once." she nodded.

"This isn't even once or twice." I sighed. "I've been his prey in school, too."

"He's your schoolmate?" Her brown eyes widened and I gave her a tight smile.

"Bully would go better than mate."

"Girl, you got some drama in your life." She smiled.

Oh, I do.

"Why didn't you stop it?"

That's a good question.

"I really don't know. I guess it was something I must've done long ago. Trying now wouldn't matter, I guess."

She said nothing but frowned. And then, suddenly, she snickered. "We still didn't introduce ourselves. I'm Sasha."

"Evelyn." I smiled.

We talked a bit, mostly about how she missed her friends and also, about her getting bullied.

She was a fierce girl, who unlike me, didn't let herself get bullied anymore and I admired that quality a lot.

You're almost a doormat, Sophie used to say. And I had nothing against that argument. Mom used to say I got it from my grandma, whom I've never seen once in my life. Not even at my dad's funeral. So, I had to take mom's word for that.

Sasha sat with me for lunch as well, asking about the town and my other friends and stuff.

"You care to join?" She asked someone as she sat opposite to me and that's when I noticed a shadow looming over our table.

Ego crusher.

"Haven't made any friends yet, so...yeah." he mumbled.

His voice was...well, deep? Yeah, intense. But there was something different from that of Tyler's.

God! Why am I comparing someone to Tyler?

I shook off my thoughts and looked at them. There was a moment of awkward silence among three of us.

"Oh, hey, you were right. Most of the people are bullied by him. Didn't see anything, but sure heard stories."

"Bullied? By who?" He asked, partially turning to her.

"That jerk. From yesterday." she said with a shrug.

"What did he do to you?" His frown deepened as he turned fully to her.

"Nothing." she placed her sandwich and looked at him. "He's bossing around some people, not me."

"I don't know why others kind of obey him. He's a stupid peabrain, a baby." he started murmuring and she slapped his hands.

"Leave it and eat, will you?"

Being with me would be like an invitation to Tyler. And the consequences of this guy meeting Tyler again? I'm pretty sure it'd end up in a fight.

When Cassy nudged me and I followed her gaze to see Tyler, I sighed. And I grabbed the drinks on my table and hid it. I didn't even mean to do it. It was some sort of reflex. Maybe it was because I didn't have the usual spare shirt with me today.

Sasha didn't really notice my silly save the shirt gesture, she was busy making Cassy her friend. But I think the guy did, considering the twinkle of amusement in his eyes.

I heard someone call Tyler and saw it as a chance to escape but unfortunately, I wasn't quick enough.

"Always running, aren't you?" Tyler smirked.

"I don't have time for your stupid talk, Tyler."

"You aren't slipping away from me because some douchebag stood up for you once."

I stared at him. Didn't he see the very same guy, who he addressed as a 'douchebag', sitting right next to him?

I stole a glance at the said person. He sat there with a raised eyebrow. Not angry but...entertained?

"Tyler, please." I said, sighing as I made another futile attempt to escape.

"Oh, gotta love you saying please." he murmured just loud enough for me to hear. "Now, we didn't really address the issue of gossip, did we?"

Oh, not again.

He took a sandwich out of Sasha's tray and sat on the table.

"Hey! That's my lunch." she glared at him when he popped a piece into his mouth.

"And next time you buy one, make sure you buy a drink as well." Tyler drawled.

"We aren't buying food for you to eat and definitely not to throw it at someone." The ego crusher said.

"You again?" Tyler glared at him.

Oh, god. This is going to end up in a fight, is it?

"Who do you think you are? Bossing around..." He scoffed and that was all it took for Tyler to charge at him.

Fight, it is.

"Come on, Evelyn." Sasha called out, gesturing out. "Let those idiots fight like kids."

"Dude, dude." Tyler snapped "She's my business, okay? Back off. She isn't coming anywhere."

Business? I can't believe he said I'm his business.

"You won't go." Tyler said to me through his gritted teeth.

Oh, god. What is this, middle school? Even Noel would find a better reason to fight.

"Too bad that's not your call." The other guy muttered.

That's the last thing I heard before I got out of there. Sure, I'm intimidated by Tyler, I'm a bit nervous around him, I'm afraid he'll influence his dad and will end up firing me from the cafe. But at the moment, I couldn't care less.

She's my business, he said. It was pranks before, stupid pranks. But now, he acted more like I was a puppet.

"He's such a jerk." Sasha said.

Truer words have never been spoken.

                                  ~~~

I was busy texting Sophie when I heard someone step into the cafe and looked straight to see Tyler.

Great.

"Get me a coffee." he said as he walked away.

"Okay,"

I went back and told Jake that the jerk was here. I gave him his coffee, totally expecting him to be dramatic, not liking the coffee and probably humiliate me in the public.

To my surprise, none of it happened. And I continued to expect some kind of trouble from his side. And none came, until my shift was over and I grabbed my bag.

"Where are you going?" Tyler's voice came and I frowned.

"My shift is over."

"It's not. You'll stay here till the shop closes."

"What?" That'd be eleven. I looked around to see if I could Jake. My knight in the shining armour.

But he was off to place someone's order.

"Ears got a problem?"

"Okay, fine." I waited till he went back and called home. It rang twice before my phone was snatched away from my grip.

"We're not paying you to do this."

"It's just to inform someone that I'll be late." I said slowly, hoping to get it back.

"No, thank you. And this-" He held my phone higher."-will be handed over after work."

"No. That's too late." my voice almost started having cracks.

The last thing I want is my brothers to think I've left them too.

"Work. You want money? Work." He stared at me, without even a trace of a smirk.

The next couple of hours had me working half-heartedly. My anxiety was only contained because of Jake's silly talks. And the whole time, Tyler did nothing but look at me with hate. Finally, when it was eight, he came to us.

  "Off you go, Jake. You said something to dad about leaving an hour early?"

Jake looked at me and I nodded, letting him know I was okay. He had his niece's birthday party to attend and I wasn't going to let him stay here.

"Okay, Evelyn?" Jake called, more like a question to Tyler.

"She's going to stay."

"Wasn't asking you." Jake mumbled quickly and turned to me. "You okay? Want me to stay?"

"You asked for an hour and now you gonna waste that here?" Tyler scoffed.

It took a whole lot of convincing from my side for Jake to leave. But one look at his face and I knew he was leaving half-heartedly.

Finally, when it was nine, I asked Tyler for my phone.

"Oh, you aren't going anywhere until the shop closes."

What the hell?

"Tyler-"

"You either stay here or you call that lady and ask her to come over and work for an hour?" He shrugged.

The lady as in Marissa. Marissa who didn't work today. He wants me to call her and make her drive all the way here and work so I could go home and sleep? No way I was asking her to do that.

What's the big deal anyway? It's only an hour.

"Knew it." He smirked when I didn't say anything and I was back to waiting.

It's not like anybody came here after eight. People rarely does. It's evening when people swim into this place. And that people is mostly Tyler's friends. I'm surprised this place isn't shut down yet, considering it's not much of a profit.

But when clock struck ten and Tyler wasn't ready to close, my mouth formed a full 'O'.

How can he do this? I looked around to see that it was almost empty except for a guy.

"But it's time to close." I protested.

"Yes, but you can stay for a few more minutes until the gentleman leaves. You're not going to toss him out, are you? Even if you try, I won't let you."

The said gentlemen didn't leave for another three hours. Just sat there, talking to Tyler.

A gentleman he knew, it seems.

They sat there, talking, occasionally asking for something to eat, till it was one.

"I don't know if you got the memo from my dad but from now on, you'll have to work an hour more. Work till 10." he said as we got out and I ignored him.

"And yeah, now let me see you walk away from me." he tossed my phone and my heart skipped a beat before it landed safely in my hands. "It's too cold, right? And look at you. You don't have a ride and there'll be no bus at this time."

I grabbed my bag tighter and started walking. He's right, so better walk than talk with this jerk.

"Maybe it's not good walking all alone at night. Drunk people, gambling idiots and drug addicts...Bye, have fun."

I stood frozen for a second, regained my composure and kept walking. And a few minutes later Tyler was gone.

Thank god.

The faint glow from the streetlights illuminated my path and I kept walking until I hear the slurry arguments and comments. And it came from the way I had to go. So, I took the long route home.

Better late than never.

I was panting. I crossed about 4 blocks and still had a few to go. My stomach was flipping over and over due to lack of fuel. I just hoped Noel and Theo ate something, I hope they went to Maria.

I checked my phone only to see a low battery message. I really had no idea if it was a coincidence or Tyler's filthy trick.

The cold was bearable, hunger was not. But what made me nervous, was the silence. Apart from my footsteps, the only sound was of a car, which slowed down as it went past me. I sighed and checked the time again, it was 1.30.

The same car was now coming back.
  
My exhausted body wanted to ask for a ride while my mind protested. And it suspiciously slowed down as it once again reached me.

I walked faster without turning back.

"Hey," a male voice shouted.

I placed my steps quicker and faster as the sound of the car came closer and closer. And just like that, panic overpowered my mind and I was half running-half walking when the car screeched right next to me.

I didn't stop, though. I walked faster and faster as the deep voice kept on asking me to stop.

Like I'm gonna obey him on this pitch dark, isolated road.

Then I heard the sound of opening and closing of a door, followed by sound of footsteps. And a minute later, a hand clasped my arm.