Find You in the Dark

that person to be Clayton. I don't know why I felt such a weird protectiveness over this guy who had been a total jerk to me. Maybe it was because there was something about Clayton Reed that seemed to broadcast vulnerability. The hunch to his shoulders, the refusal to look at anyone. It was as if he didn't want anyone to see him and that made me want to do just that.
    I had never been as drawn to someone the way I was finding myself drawn to Clayton. I didn't even know him, had only shared a mouthful of words- (and they weren't nice-) but I wanted to say more, to hear more. So seeing Paul making Clayton his new verbal punching bag, set off my, once thought non- existent, nurturing side.
    When Paul threw the MP3 player on the ground and stomped on it, I couldn't take it anymore. Without thinking, I got out of my seat and started moving toward the pair. I barely registered the “oh crap” looks on my friends' faces before I found myself behind Paul. The bully didn't hear me approach, he was much too focused on his prey.
    “Look at me you little faggot. You are such a fucking pussy, can't even say anything. Are you fucking retarded?” Clayton continued to stare at the table top, but I noticed the fine tremors in his hands. I wasn't sure how he could sit there and take this crap. But I, for one, wasn't going to.
    “Shut up, Paul. Don't you have a toilet somewhere that you should be drinking out of?” I said, shoving the much bigger senior out of my way. Paul looked down at me in surprise. Then he laughed. “You want some of this, bitch?” Paul made a threatening move toward me. I caught a movement out of the corner of my eye and saw Clayton get to his feet, his face red. He looked like he was about to kill someone. I shivered at his expression. Paul stepped forward and I instinctively kneed him in the groin, sending him to the ground like a bag of rocks.
    I heard a collective gasp from the kids sitting at the tables around us. Typical sheep mentality. They will sit there and watch it all go down but won't lift a finger to help. Refusing to rock the proverbial boat. Jerks.
    Then I heard the sound of the Assistant Principal, Mr. Kane, approaching quickly. “What's going on here?” Dear god, someone give this guy a tissue already! He was always stuffed up. Mr. Kane frowned at me and then at Paul, who was still on the floor with his hands cupped around a very specific part of his anatomy.
    Paul struggled to his feet, his face purple with a barely suppressed rage. I gave my best innocent smile. “Nothing, Mr. Kane. I think Paul was about to get sick or something. I was just making sure he was all right.”
    Paul gave me a look that could have knocked me dead. But he proved he wasn't a complete moron by giving a tight nod and an even tighter smile. “I'm fine. This girl here,”- (he couldn't even remember my name, ass wipe-), “was just making sure I was okay. It's nothing.” Mr. Kane gave him a sharp look, and I was sure he wasn't fooled by our barely concealed lie. “Well, if you're sick, you'd best get checked out by the nurse.” Paul didn't move right away, not wanting to leave the scene of his attempted crime.
    Mr. Kane shooed him with his hands. “Go on, Mr. Delawder. I'll walk you there, to make sure you get to where you are supposed to be.” The Assistant Principal turned back to me. “And you can get to class.” Paul met my eyes as he was being herded out of the cafeteria and mouthed a really nasty word. One for a part of a female body part.
    Finally, when things had settled and conversations around us had resumed, I turned to look at Clayton. I had fully intended to ask him if he was okay but was surprised to find him looking at me with full on anger.
    He picked up his ruined MP3 player and shoved it into his pocket. He slowly slung his bag over his shoulder and met my eyes with a gaze as cold as ice. “In the future, mind your own business.” He told me. I stared at him with my mouth hanging open, for once I had no comeback readily available.
    Seriously? I had just stopped him from being bullied by the resident jerk wad and this was the thanks I get? Before I could find my voice, Clayton Reed turned his back and walked away, leaving me dumbstruck and strangely intrigued by the mysterious new student. It was official I had lost my flipping mind.

Chapter Three

    “You stepped all over his manhood with your sparkly flip flops, Mags. No guy likes to be saved by a chick. It's our job to do the