The Dark Hour

--------Lalna--------

I sighed as I got off the bus. I was wearing the necklace Astrid gave me. I was going to find Ridge before class. The conversation we had last night worried me. I was just walking through the high school wing when I saw Bradley walking towards me.

"Hey pipsqueak!" I groaned and tried to ignore him. "Hey! I'm talking to you!" I was yanked backwards and my back hit a wall.

"You listen to me when I talk to you. You got that?" He growled. I nodded and he backed off. "Now where are you going pipsqueak?"

"Class," I said softly.

"What class?" He asked.

"Math," I said quickly. He smirked.

"I don't believe you." He grabbed the front of my shirt and I yelped. "Now why don't you tell me the truth? Or the janitor will be scrubbing blood off of the floor." I tried to get him off of me and he frowned.

"Wrong answer pipsqueak." He went to hit me and then next thing I knew a light blue light ran over me and Bradley was knocked backwards. I blinked then the blue light ran off me and formed into a glowing person. They got into a fighting stance and Bradley quickly got up.

"This is some freaking voodoo shit! I'm out!" He shouted as he ran away. The glowing figure dropped its stance and walked over to me. I didn't move as it touched Astrid's necklace then disappeared inside of it. I looked at it and it flashed once then stopped glowing.

Did that just happen? I sighed then walked to my first hour class. I could see Ridge after school.

~~~~

I walked to Axel's after school. Ridge said he was staying here. I walked up to Axel's and knocked on the door.

"Hang on!" Axel opened the door. "Ridge it's for you come on in Lalna." I came in and set my bag by the door.

"Hey Axel, how have you been?"

"Good Ridge is in the bathroom he will be out in a minute. Would you like water or kool-aid?"

"What kind of kool-aid?"

"It's fruit punch mixed with lemonade."

"Ok, I'll have kool-aid," I smiled softly.

"Here you go kid." He said sitting down the cup. I smiled and took a sip.

"So um, why is Ridge staying with you?" I asked curiously.

"Um Ridge asked me if he could never really said why." I nodded.

"Ok. Do you know how long he's staying for?"

"Not really I told him that I didn't care."

"Ok." I took another sip of the kool-aid and sighed. "So is Ridge ok?"

"Yeah he is."

"Really? Cause he didn't-"

"Sorry, I got really distracted. So who's-" Ridge walked around the corner then quickly turned around.

"Ridge," I said quickly. I put my cup down and quickly walked over to him. "Ridge are you ok?"

"I'm fine."

"Are you sure? You won't even look at me."

"I'm fine. It's nothing." I looked at Axel.

"Ridge we should probably tell him and Skyla you know that they will keep asking till you tell them. And if Astrid was here she would pry it out of you." Ridge groaned and sighed.

"Fine." He turned around and I gasped.

"Ridge, wha-"

"It's not that bad," He said softly. "It's just a bruise."

"But-"

"Ridge tell him. What happened last night." Ridge sighed.

"I got into a fight."

"A fight?" I asked confused. "With who?"

"My uncle," He muttered.

"Yeah I saved him and kinda punched his uncle in the process." I looked at Ridge, then quickly hugged him. He jumped then gently hugged me back.

"Are you ok now?" I asked softly. He nodded.

"I'm fine now, I didn't want you to worry about me."

"Ridge we will worry about you that's what friends are for."

"I know." I sighed and let go of Ridge.

"I was worried about you all last night." Ridge sighed.

"I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault Ridge."

"But-"

"No, not your fault," I insisted.

"Okay well I will let you two talk cause I have to go meet my good for nothing father." I nodded.

"Ok, be careful."

"He's behind bars so I don't think I'm going to get hurt." I nodded.

"Ok, we'll see you later then."

"Bye." He said walking away. I sighed then I perked up.

"Oh I need to tell you what happened at school." Ridge looked at me curiously.

"What happened school?"