"Love you, mom." Said Vincent before getting out of his mom's Sadan.

  "Love you too, Vinnie boo." Vincent's mom replied. "Have a good day at school. And tell your friends I said hi."

  "Will do." He said through the window.

  With a big grin, she said "Happy birthday." And drove down the street.

  Vincent stared after the car a moment longer and inhaled the England air, then turn around to face the huge school building known as Kingston Sr. high school.

  As mentioned before, the school was huge. An equally huge parking lot flanked it's left filled with cars and to it's right was a field of lush green grass. At the front of the school was where the buses an cars dropped off kids.

  He hated this place.

  There were only three reasons he didn't skip school everyday, and those reasons being his three friends. Well two reasons if he counted his mom.

  "Here we go." He said to himself, then walked down the long wide cemented walkway filled with kids and up the steps into Kingston high.

  By the time the bell had rung Vincent was already in his first period class.

  His teacher Mr. Thomson was going on and on about William Shakespeare. Vincent was on the verge of falling asleep, but he kept himself awake - which took much effort- and continued to take notes.

  After what felt like an eternity, the bell finally rang. The kids practically jumped out their seats and rushed towards the door. Chatting and laughing.

  As always Vincent was the last to leave.

  Once in the hallway packed with kids moving to their next class, Vincent made his way to the locker to retrieve his books for the next class.

  Suddenly his locker was shoved closed,almost smashing his hand.

  "What's up, loser?" Said a annoyingly familiar voice.

  Vincent turned to see a well stocked boy, with blue eyes and black hair. He was wearing black jeans and red and black blazer similar to Vincent's.

  Vincent glared at him and said, "Beat it, Morison. I don't have time to play with you today. I have a test next period and need to focus."

  Morison McNeil. A football jock and a total douche bag. 3rd screen quarterback, but walks around like he owns the place. Like, seriously the guys a bench warmer.

  "Ask me if I care." Said Morison. "I mean it's not like you could actually pass. Your as dumb as door nob."

  A chorus of laughter rang out. Vincent glance around quickly and seen the rest of Morison's squad. All jocks, all douche-bags.

  "If I'm dumb," Vincent said with a tiny grin. "then your beyond stupid."

  If Vincent had a fault - which he had many of - it would be not knowing when to keep his mouth shut. And right now was definitely one of those keep - your - mouth - shut moments.

  "Smart comeback, Vindick." Morison said and his squad laughed like it was the funniest thing on earth. Even some of the on-lookers nearby chuckled and giggled.

  "That the best you can come up with, Mordick." Retorted Vincent.

  With that all the kids nearby burst with laughter. Even Morison's own crew laughed at that one.

  Now Morison looked like he wanted a fight and Vincent would gladly give him one.

  No he told himself.

  He couldn't fight. Not at this school. They're more than likely kick him out, considering his records, which by the way wasn't good. His mom would be devastated.

  He couldn't risk letting her down. Not again.

  "Let's see if your so quick to make jokes after I swell your lip." Said Morison, clearly wanting a fight. He balled up his fist and inched closer to Vincent.

  Crap

  "Move another inch McNeil," said a familiar and welcomed voice, nonchalantly a short distance away "and you'll be eating through a straw. Then you'll never be a starter."

  Vincent grinned slightly and turned his head towards the voice.

  Standing a few yards away, was a boy with dirty blond hair that swept over his bright blue eyes. He was tall, just a little taller than Vincent and was well built. He was dressed in all red and black.

  At his side, arms around each others waist, was a girl. The girls curly long black hair stopped at her back and framed her pretty face perfectly. Her shirt pink and her skirt black with pink laces. She wore high black socks and black bow laced slippers her black blazer draped over her free arm.

  The couple walked over to Vincent. He fist bumped the boy and hugged the girl, she giving him a friendly kiss on the cheek.

  The boy turned back to Morison, grinned and said "Your face is gonna get stuck like that."

  Morison had a look of pure hatred on his face.

  Everyone knew Morison didn't like the blond boy. Why? Well the blond boy got the 1st string quarterback position he'd been aiming for in a matter of days. Even got him bumped to third string.

  "Get lost." Morison told the blond.

  The blond raised his chin, challengingly and said"If I don't?"

  Morison look at Vincent, then the blond, then his crew of three. Now slightly nervous.

  Everybody knew the rep of the blond boy and Vincent. Separately, him and his crew might've done some damage to them, but when they where together? You'd need an army.

  And the blond would fight together with Vincent. Everyone knew it. Hell, if it weren't for the blond, Vincent would be ridiculed by everyone at school.

  "Why do you insist on hanging with that wacko retard?" Morison ask.

  Vincent's cheeks got slightly hot. He hated being could that. Hated it with a passion.

  "Vincent is not a wacko or a retard." Said the girl. A hint of irritation in her voice. Then her tone turned mocking."If he was a retard though, he'd still be way smarter than you."

  Everyone started giggling and chuckling.

   Vincent's smile returned.

  This girl always had his back. Always defended him no matter what. He loved her like a sister. Just like he loved the blond like a brother.

  If the blond was his sword then, the girl was his shield.

  Morison looked like he was about to say something but was cut of by a soft feminine voice in mock warning. "I wouldn't do that if I were you. You know how Tyson and Vincent will react if you bad mouth Rimmy."

The owner of that beautiful voice came into view. Vincent's heart almost stopped completely.

  There she was. The most beautiful girl he had ever seen.

  The newly arrived girl's silky black hair was in a thick pony tail with a bang sweeping her forehead. She wore a red top that showed her golden tanned shoulder and a red skirt with black knee high socks. Her black slippers were etched with red patterns.

  The girl walked to Vincent, and stood firmly at his side.

  Now Morison looked unearthly. He was definitely infuriated. He stood their, just staring at Vincent and his friends.

  Rimmy and Tyson still holding each others waist. Tyson sending a silent challenge to Morison, Rimmy looking confident and lovely. The brunette looking defiant and beautiful. And Vincent looking and feeling like he was invincible.

  They stayed like that until one of Morison's crew, one called Carl urged him to let it go.

  "This isn't over." He said to Vincent. Then he and his crew turned and left.

  "I could have taken him." Said Vincent.

  The brunette turned to Vincent and smiled. "We know." She said to him. "We also know you can't afford to get kicked out this of school."

  He sighed then smiled at her. She smiled back, then gave him a hug and a friendly kiss on the cheek.

  She did the same to Rimmy and Tyson.

  "Alysia." Vincent said. Oh God did he love saying her name. "Tyson, Rimmy. Thanks."

  The three of them smiled at him.

  "No prob bro." Said Tyson.

  Tyson Corset was the first friend Vincent ever made since moving to England. They'd first meet one night when Vincent was out exploring his new neighborhood when he took a wrong turn and ended up walking down an dead-end ally. Apparently he was being followed, because as soon as he turned to retrace his steps, a group of six guys was surrounding him. Vincent knew what was going to happen so he got into his fighting stance.

  These guys were obviously going to rob him.

  "Well," One of the guys had said. "it doesn't have to be a massacre,kid. Just give up what ever you got and your home free. We want have to hurt you."

  Vincent should have given up. He knew he should have.

  But the thing inside him, the thing that wanted him to hurt people could feel the violence brewing in the air and he'd said "Fuck off." Before he could stop himself.

  The guy shrugged and him and his friends starting inching forward.

  One guy must've got impatient because he broke free from the circle his friends held and rush Vincent alone.

  Big mistake.

  Vincent took the guy down instantly with two swift punches to the face.

  After that the other guys rush Vincent. He fought a good fight but there were just too many of the and not enough of him. Even with it urging him on and lending him strength.

  Vincents back against the wall, kept himself there. Fight against the It's urge to go back into the fry. He couldn't give them his back.

  "Danm," one of the guys had said. "you fight like a cornered lion. But that's just not gonna be enough."

  "What about a cornered lion and a ticked off tiger." Said a voice from behind the muggers.

  The muggers turned towards the voice and there stood Tyson.

  "Are you stupid." Another of the guys said. "You see a mugging and walk right into it."

  Tyson had shrugged and said "Didn't have anything else to do. Besides," he looked at Vincent then "I'd like to even the playing field."

  Just then there was a soft thud and everyone turned their attention to Vincent to see one of the muggers slumped on the ground and Vincent planting his foot in the gut of the mugger stupid enough to be so close to him and give him his back.

  There was a thump as Tyson hit a mugger hard in the back of the head. Then he caught another mugger square in the chin just as he was turning around.

  Vincent and Tyson closed in slowly on the last two muggers who stood back to back. Shock and fear clear on their faces.

  "Yeah." Tyson had said. "That just happened."

  Tyson grinned over at a grinning Vincent, his urge currently at bay and said "So mister lion, what do you wanna do with the remainder of these antelopes?"

  Vincent had shrugged, still grinning and said " I don't know mister tiger. How about we finish them." They nodded at each other and punched the remaining two muggers in the jaw at the same time.

  Tyson had came over to Vincent and held out his hand, which Vincent took and the shook hands.

  Tyson had showed Vincent the way home. The whole while they talked about football and anime. Music and school. Vincent had tried to ask Tyson why he helped him, but Tyson had dodged around the question.

  They've been tight for the past two months.

  And from there Tyson introduced Tyson to his girlfriend, Rimmy Verona and his close friend Alysia Alverrel.

  Rimmy immediately took a liking to Vincent and they developed a brother and sister relationship.

  Vincent and Alysia became close friends, though Vincent, since he first laid eye's on her wanted to be more than friends.

  Damn he loved her so much.

  Of course he'd never tell her that. She probably didn't share his feelings and he didn't want to risk ruining they're friendship.

  He was happy just to be near her.

  Vincent smiled at his friends.

  Here they where. The three reasons that's worth going to school.

  His sword. His shield. And his heart.