Today I saw her in a new light. I saw all of them in a new light actually. Brian was more than a brain. Bender was more than a criminal. Claire was more than a princess. And Allison? She was more than a basketcase. When Bender looked at her and said, "I've seen you before you know?" I could have said that too. She was in my English class and I had seen her. How could I not have? Bill, Rick, and Dave enjoyed imitating her, snickering when she walked into the room head down trying to be as invisible as possible. She wasn't.

Today she was a butterfly emerging out of her black woolen cocoon beautiful and fragile. As she left the Foreign Languages room where she had been holed up with Claire I could hardly believe she was the same girl. It was as though Claire brought everything she was on the inside to the surface. I was falling hard all day long for the girl who could see who I was inside and now I was falling even harder for the girl I could see on the outside.

We walked hand and hand out of the school. Our parents were already there but I didn't care I kissed her. Or maybe she kissed me. It was fabulous. She left me with a bare sleeve and whirling thoughts. Still thinking about the warmth of her lips I sat in the cab next to my father. He didn't say anything until we started driving down the road, waking me from my daze. "Who was that Andrew?"

"Huh?"

"I asked who that girl was."

"Allison"

"Don't get to cozy with her. Until wrestling season is over girls are off limits. She will only distract you." He looked over with me but I had started day dreaming again. "Did you hear me?" When I didn't reply, "Did you hear me?" he yelled. I jumped.

"Yeah I heard you."

"What did I say?" I didn't answer. Honestly I didn't know. I tuned him out to the sound of her voice saying how I couldn't think for myself. "Well boy, you better pull your head out of you ass and stop day dreaming. You have training this afternoon and if you are thinking about some girl you'll blow your ride. Do you want that? You are a winner and you won't let that girl stop you from winning."

I wanted to stand up to him. I wanted to tell him where he could shove his training. Even after today thinking for myself, doing what I wanted to was going to be a problem.

Monday wasn't better. I got to school and was exhausted. Due to detention Saturday morning, training and Stubby's party and Sunday more training and homework which I was up til 3am finishing sleep wasn't something I was very familiar with. Walking down the hall I saw Claire. She gave me a smile and a wave. I could hear one of her friends squeal and then ask her if we were a couple. I wondered if she would talk to Bender.

As I passed the Chemistry lab I saw Brian talking to Mrs. Malloy. I could have stopped to say hi. I was about to but some guys from the wrestling team stopped me. "Hey Andy! How was detention man," asked Bill.

"Sucks that you got detention. It was funny as hell you taping up Larry," said another clapping his hand on my shoulder, laughing.

"Ow ow ow," imitated another with his hands over his butt cheeks. "You waxed my ass."

"Knock it off," I said. They looked at me as though I had grown a second head. "It wasn't funny. It was...it was...cruel."

"Come on Andy he isn't a puppy he is...," started Bill.

"No, he isn't a puppy or an animal he is a human and that is what makes it so bad." I couldn't take them anymore. The bell rang. Five minutes to get to class, first period English with Allison. I started off down the hall leaving the guys to look after me. I wouldn't be rid of them anytime soon, they were in my class.

Allison was already there in the far back corner. She surprised me. Her makeup was done the way Claire showed her on Saturday. Part of me thought she would revert back to her old self. "Hi, mind if I sit here," I asked motioning to the desk next to hers. Looking up and smiling she nodded. Sitting I asked "So how was your Sunday."

"Uneventful."

We sat in silence for what felt like an eternity. "Mine was full of training."

"You have a meet Saturday right?"

"Yeah." Then I had an idea. "You going?"

"I'm not much for activities."

"I know...I just thought..." My heart started sinking.

"But I'll be there." Then she quickly added, "If you want me to," and buried her head in her book. I couldn't figure out what happened then I realized the other guys had shown up.

"Hey Andy, why you sitting over there," yelled Rick.

"It's a new girl and Andy is making his move," laughed Bill.

"That isn't a new girl," said one of the others, "it's the basket case." Then they all laughed. A pack of hyenas is what they were, preying on the self-esteem of others. Had I been that bad? I looked at Allison and could see tears glistening in her eyes as she peeked up at me.

"Go sit with your friends Sporto," she said voice full of venom.

This was my chance. I stood and walked over to them, "Knock it off guys. Leave her alone."

"What the hell has gotten into you Clark? She is a freak," said Bill.

"Yeah a freak," echoed another one.

"No, she is an individual. She thinks for herself. She does what she wants because she wants to not because a bunch of guys in tights, or cheerleaders dictate it to her." He smiled thinking about Bender, Brian and the "required uniform".

The teacher entered the room, the bell rang and I sat down. Not with my so-called friend but with a true friend. I sat next to Allison. She smiled and said, "Thanks."

"No problem."

We sat in a silence as the teacher went over "A Tale of Two Cities" and decided to show us part of the movie. As the lights went out I reached over and took her hand. At first she tried to pull away but then relaxed. I did it I stood up to my friends but I had a feeling the battle wouldn't be over yet.