Chapter 1

The school bell rang and I couldn't help the sadness, and the fear, that crept through my mine. I slowly peeked out of the classroom and down the fall towards my locked. It was clear, so I decided to make a run for it. I held my books close to my chest and ran towards my locker, slowly of course. I had never been one for physical activity. But desperate times called for desperate measures!

"Safe," I said to myself as I reached up to the combination lock. "30 right, 19 left, 27 right."

-Click-

I opened my locker and grabbed a few things, stuffing them into my bag. I knew I had to hurry before—

-Bang-

The locker beside me rattled and I jumped. Too late, they were here. I peeked around the door of my locker to see two giant, muscular, football players standing beside me and my locker.

"Hey nerd," the brunette said as he pushed his way towards me. "Do you have any homework tonight?"

"W-well no," I couldn't help but stutter as the fear crept through my small body. Compared to the two standing before me, I was miniscule. "I f-f-finished it i-in c-class."

"Wrong," he hollered as he leaned against the locker with his arm and forward towards me. He was so close that his breath was on my forehead and I my legs began to shake from the fear of the giant man before me. Sweat rolled down my forehead and cheeks, down the back of my neck, making me shiver. I hugged the books I held closer to me and only watched as he began to smirk and open his mouth to speak again. "You see," he continued, "I have a science project due on Friday… Do it!"

I jumped and nodded slightly.

"What was that? I didn't hear you!"

"Y-yes s-sir!" Was all I could manage.

"Good," he said, smacking the booked from my hand. "See ya' Friday, dork!"

They both snickered as they started to walk away, the blonde tugged down my hat over my eyes as they left. I tried not to cry. It wasn't like it was the first time I had seen them and been threatened and treated in such a way. If only I was stronger and could stick up for myself. If only I wasn't such a weakling!

"Confound these thoughts and those bullies," I kneeled over and started collecting my books. If only I had someone on the inside to take care of me. My heart skipped a beat as a face of a redhead flashed through my head. I shook the face away and got to my feet.

"Double Dweeb," a voice hollered from behind me and down the hall. I couldn't stop the "eep" that escaped my mouth as I jumped and dropped my books on the floor once again.

He walked towards me, "what's your problem dork?"

Suddenly he was in front od me and I couldn't help as the heat in my cheeks began to rise. Why was he here now? He was probably going to finish the bullying that occurred just a moment ago. Had he been watching? Why didn't he do anything to help me? Then again, we weren't friends and he was captain of the football team, he wouldn't help me. Why would he even try to help a small fry like me?

"Hey," he hollered, bringing me back to the world of the living. "Are you even listening to me?"

"W-what," I managed to say.

He rolled his eyes, "I said I wanted your help."

"Help," catching my attention. "With what might I ask?"

"Well homecoming is right around the corner right? That means that there is the homecoming football game. As the captain I'm supposed to make sure that we do whatever we can to win." His eyes were avoiding me as his hand rubbed the back of his head. "And you're pretty smart, you know, so I was hoping you could watch us and tell us what we were doing wrong."

All I could do was give him a confused look. Me and a physical activity? Me watching and helping the guys who bear me up and teased me on a daily basis? I couldn't. I had to refuse. But, it was Kevin that was asking me, not those jerks. Although Kevin was a jerk, he was a nicer jerk than the rest of the bunch. Maybe I couldn't help Kevin. But, would I get anything in return?

"Dork," Kevin hollered, once again pulling me back. "Well?"

"But Kevin, I don't know anything about football. How am I supposed to help? Besides, isn't it the coaches job for that kind of thing? W-why drag me into this? And no one on the football team likes me. It would just be a problem."

Kevin finally looked at me again, almost glaring. "Don't worry about them. I'll take care of them if they step out of line like they did just now. As for the coach, he is sick and isn't very useful except for sitting on the side lines and supporting us. He hasn't said anything critical or helpful since he became sick!" He sighed heavily and looked at the ground, his hand rubbing the back of his neck. "The football part isn't the hard part. I'll help you. Come to our practice tomorrow after school and I'll show you how everything works and what I would like from you."

I was looking at my hands, trying to think about how I could help fulfill his task. I couldn't think of anything. I shook my head and must have made a ridiculous face, catching Kevin off guard as he glanced at me. My eyes grew wider as I looked at his face. Kevin, was blushing…at my face. My face? My cheeks heated and the reddish color to his face became more clear.

"D-don't make such a stupid face you dork!"

Before I could stop myself I blurted out, "will you really protect me?" Why I felt the need to say this was beyond me. But I could feel myself on the verge of tears. Kevin, my secret crush for the longest time, was going to protect me. I couldn't help but tug my hat over my eyes as the tears streamed down my face.

Kevin sighed and I felt his arm wrap around my head as he leaned forward and whispered low in my ear. "Dork, don't make such a cute face."

And with that, his arm disappeared almost as fast as it appeared. When I managed to stop crying and pull my hat up from my eyes, Kevin was gone and my books were stacked nicely in a pile at my feet. I smiled and rubbed my hand across my cheek. Bending over, I picked them up and made my way down the hall towards the exit, and home.