Entropy

Chapter 2: Guardian Angel

Another night, another party.

One might have pegged Caleb for an extrovert, since he went out so often.

However, that person would be wrong.

Actually, Caleb really wanted to lay low. That didn't mean he couldn't go to parties and socialize.

Besides, big crowds were easier to hide in.

Plus, the people who actually bothered to talk to him at those parties weren't so bad.

Caleb was jolted out of his thoughts when he noticed his peripheral vision. He looked up at the tall stranger next to him.

"Heey, buddy," the stranger said with a grin. "You look lost."

Caleb avoided eye contact.

"Nah, man. I'm good."

He flinched when the stranger shoved him back. He put his hand over his chest, where the stranger's palm had made contact.

"Hey, what's the rush? I just wanna talk," the stranger said, amused.

"I know Judo," Caleb said flatly.

Barely anyone else was around, and they probably looked like two friends having an argument. Caleb was screwed.

"A little scrawny thing like you?"

The stranger pushed Caleb to the ground.

The next thing Caleb knew, a girl with a long, black braid was facing off against the would-be mugger.

Caleb didn't really know much about fighting, but this girl looked like she knew what she was doing.

She definitely didn't need to bluff about knowing how to fight.

When the guy was effectively scared off, the girl held out her hand to Caleb.

"Are you alright?" the girl asked.

Caleb grabbed her hand and got up off the ground.

"You're crazy. You coulda got stabbed or something." Caleb responded. "Are you alright?"

She shrugged. "Guess I wasn't thinking about that."

Caleb sighed and dusted himself off.

"Anyway," the girl said, "Can I walk you to a bus stop or something?"

"I, uh. My brother's supposed to pick me up."

"How about we wait in the lobby of my building? It's just around the corner," the girl offered, gesturing over her shoulder.

"You're showing a stranger where you live?" Caleb asked. "You really are crazy."

The girl only laughed.

***

The walk to the complex was short, but full of conversation between the two teens.

After Caleb called his brother, the conversation continued.

"So you go to Douglass-Swan too?" Caleb asked.

The girl nodded.

"It's... I like it," she said. "The teachers are pretty great. If you get Mr. Hudson next year, you'll love him."

"What about the teachers for this year?"

"Mrs. Greenstone, the English teacher, is great; she's super understanding."

The girl counted off a list of the teachers she was familiar with.

"There are some new teachers this year, so I can't tell you much else," she concluded.

Caleb nodded. There was still something bugging him, though.

"So what made you jump in and protect me like that? You barely know me."

The girl went quiet and bit her lip. Her eyes darted around like she was guilty of something.

"I.... It just wouldn't feel right if I stood by and did nothing, I guess."

"But you could've died."

The girl only looked down.

The silence was short lived when the soft chirp of Caleb's text notification sounded.

"Ethan's here," he said. "I, uh, didn't catch your name. I'm Caleb, by the way."

"Ava," the girl said, half-smiling. "Ava Félix."

"Thanks for saving my ass, Ava."

"No big," Ava said, shrugging.

Caleb smirked.

He really wanted to correct her - "no, I really owe you" - but he kept quiet and walked out to the street.

Once Caleb was in the car and his backpack was tucked under the dashboard, Ethan spoke.

"There's not an open library around here. What would dad say?"

Caleb looked out the window.

"I think he would be more concerned that I almost got jumped."

Ethan rolled his eyes and started driving.