Chair Legs

Three

The next class, I was sat next to Calum. We pretty much just had a free period since a guy puked in the garbage can up front.

I told him that I'd met Michael and he seemed pretty happy. He was so smiley. I like Calum. I think I'm going to like living with him too.

My next class was reading with Miss Rose. Her real name was Georgia Rose. She looked like a new teacher and that's exactly what she was. Nobody else I knew was in this class and let us sit where we wanted. I sat alone in a desk in the back.

Finally, a small boy with dirty blonde hair and hazel eyes made his way to the classroom with red eyes. He had obviously just been crying. He was looking for somewhere to sit, but everyone would drop their bags in the seat next to them so he couldn't sit.

The teacher watched him worriedly as a new group of students shoved passed him. I stood up and walked toward him.

"Hey, Hazel. Come sit here, I've got an open desk." I whispered. He looked at me nervously. "I swear I don't bite."

He gives me a small smile and joins me at the back desks. Then people started whispering.

"Hi, my name is October Hemlock. I'm the new foreign exchange student from America." I introduce, holding my hand out to shake.

"Ashton Irwin." He whispers quietly and shakes my hand lightly.

"Look, I know kids have told you how horrible I am and blah, blah, blah, but I'm not that bad I promise. People don't like me because I'm honest. With me, you get what you see." I shrug and slouch in my seat, starting to write more lyrics.

"Thank you." He said, doodling on the side of his paper.

"For what?"

"For letting me sit with you." He looked up at me and smiled. I smiled back and nodded.

"You're welcome. Can I tell you something?"

"Sure." He starts to doodle again.

"This punk attitude keeps all my friends safe. No one here bothers them because of me. I'd like to add you to that list of friends." I whisper to him. His movements freeze. He looks up at me slowly.

"Y-You'd d-do th-that for m-me?" He stuttered. I nod. He looked like he could cry again.

"No one will say anything to you. Not so much as a dirty look." I promise. I swear I will keep this promise. He looks so hurt.

As class starts, we begin to pass notes.

"Sit with me at lunch? -O."

"I can't. -A."

"Why? -O?"

"I'm already sitting with my friend, Luke. -A."

"He can sit with us too. -O."

"Who's us? -A."

"Me, Natalie, Becca, Calum, and Michael. -O."

"I'm so sorry, please don't hate me, but we really can't now. -A."

"Why? -O."

"Because Calum and Michael hate us. -A."

"What happened? -O."

"I don't really know. -A."

"Well, that's no fair. I'm going to talk to Calum and Michael. I'll get this figured out and ended this feud between you two. -O."

"It's not between Them and I. It's between Them and Luke. But it's no fair for Luke. He gets teased more than I do. -A."

"Then I'm going to protect you two. -O."