Tiny Terror

Birb Feeder

    "Oi, hold this." Dropping a bag of birdseed into Vasco's lap, I set the birdhouse feeder on my desk so that I could dig through my backpack for the hook and string.

  "Oh, did you get this for the birds?" He asked out of curiosity, and I was glad he didn't stutter anymore. It seemed our arm wrestling had gotten him out of that since he wasn't as nervous as before.

  "I made it." I stated while attaching the hook to the top of the feeder. Flipping up one of the sides on the roof, I gestured to the birdseed in his hands. "Rip it open and pour some in." I told him as I grabbed the rope and went to the window. I heard him filling the feeder as the other students were watching us, but I ignored them as I opened the window. There was a branch just within reach, and I straddled the window sill to tie the rope around it. The branch was next to the one with the nest, but it wasn't close enough that I'd bother the birds while installing the feeder.

  Making sure my knots were tight enough, I looked back and saw Vasco setting the bag of seeds down to close the lid.

  "Could you hand that to me?" I asked while pointing at the feeder, and the large male nodded. He carefully picked it up, and I grabbed it by the hook. Leaning back out of the window, I latched the feeder on the loop I made from the rope before letting it go gently to make sure everything held. Seeing that it did, I pulled my other leg back into the building and closed the window.

  "That was nice of you to make them a feeder." Vasco softly smiled as he sat down and looked out the window.

  "What can I say? Got a soft spot for animals...." I mumbled while closing the bag of birdseed and stuffing it into my desk.

  During class, I occasionally glanced out the window and saw the bigger birds at the feeder and calmly watched them flit about before returning my focus to the teacher.

~

  "Bloody Hell...." I mumbled while walking past a construction site. The sun was setting on the horizon, turning the sky various shades of orange and making it look as if it was on fire. Laying in the middle of wooden planks and construction materials was Vasco, seemingly unconscious as well. Carefully walking over to him, I glanced around to see if there was anyone else in the area.

  No. It was just him.

  Crouching by him, I didn't see much damage on him other than a bruise on his jaw. Had one hit taken him down? Fuck, if it had, I did not want to meet the beast that had done this.

  "Hey, you still alive?" I questioned while reaching out and feeling for a pulse. Feeling it beneath my fingertips, I felt a bit of relief since I wasn't touching a dead body. Pulling my hand back, I looked him over again to make sure I hadn't missed a puddle of blood forming somewhere if he had gotten stabbed or something.

  Seeing nothing other than tattoos and thick muscles that made his tank top taut over his chest, I then began to gently pat his cheek.

  "Oi, Vasco? You in the building?" I raised my voice, but the big guy didn't even stir. "Hey, look! A dog!" Faking an excited voice, I wanted to see if that worked but it hadn't. Sighing, I placed my hands on his chest and stomach and began to shake him. "Vasco!" I raised my voice louder, and he groaned as his muscles tensed under my palms. "You okay, man?" I asked as he reached up and covered his face.

  "What....What happened? Vasco?" Looking over my shoulder, I saw a few of the Burn Knuckles and Jace. Turning back to Vasco, he was quiet while letting his hand drop back to the ground.

"....I lost, Jace." He finally spoke in a defeated tone.

  "Who did this?" I muttered.

  "....Daniel." Jace nearly growled. I had heard the name before but had never met the guy. Sighing through my nose, I held Vasco's shoulder.

  "Come on, you don't wanna lay in the dirt all night, do ya?" I questioned before helping the big guy sit up. I wasn't very close with Vasco, but we talked sometimes in class, and we ate lunch together, so it bugged me that he had been knocked on his ass and left there like some random thug.

  He seemed rather dazed, and I couldn't tell if it was from the shock of him losing the fight or if it was from him being knocked out.

  "We'll take it from here, Mia." Jace said firmly, and I glanced up at him. Thinking about it for a second, I stood up and stuffed my hands into my pockets.

  "Get him checked out for a concussion. Those can be rather nasty." I said lowly before walking away. Glancing back over my shoulder, I saw the Burn Knuckles helping their leader to his feet, and all I could think of was kicking Daniel's ass. However, I knew that I was weaker than Vasco, so I stood no chance.

  I'd just have to get stronger....or faster.