Things Change

Leo...again?

Do you want me to drive you for your first day?" my mum asked anxiously.

"Mum, it's not my very first day at school. It's just a new school. I'm thirteen!" I said.

"Still, it's a new area. You might get lost..." she persisted.

"Ok, ok." I gave in, and I got into the car.

When we pulled up, I saw lots of people in crowds talking. I suddenly felt very self conscious. I hated being around new people, and I was horrible at making new friends.

Just as I was about to head for the door to find Miss. Wood, the principal, I noticed a small group cheering and laughing. Curious, I drifted closer.

Between the crowd, I could see a boy on the ground. Another larger boy was standing over him, kicking and punching him.

For a split second, the boy on the ground turned his head.

Blood trickled down his face, I was unsure whether it was coming from his head, his nose or his mouth. Probably all three. Then I recognised him.

"Leondre!" I yelled, surging forward. A few people turned around, though the majority remained engrossed in the fight, if you could even call it that. There wasn't much fighting from Leondre's side at all.

Reaching the group, I pushed my way through to the middle despite many complaints. There he was, blood running. I saw the pain in his eyes, and as he screamed for them to stop, I heard the fear in his voice.

"Stop!" I shouted, and the older boy paused out of pure confusion.

"Leave him alone!" I snapped, pushing him away and sitting Leondre up.

"Aww, new girl come to the rescue." someone sniggered, and more people commented on what I was doing.

"Come on, Leondre." I said, pulling him up. He tensed and flinched at my touch, though I tried to ignore it.

Someone tried to push me down, but I kicked them straight between the legs. I practically carried Leondre away, to the other side of the yard.

"Are you okay?" I asked, sitting him down. He nodded.

I sighed. "That was a stupid question, of course you're not okay." I said quietly, wiping his tears away with my sleeve. I then took my jumper off and used my white school shirt to wipe away as much blood as I could, using the jumper to block it.

I was right, he had a nosebleed as well as a wound on his head and a split lip.

"How long had they been doing that for?" I asked.

"About ten minutes before you came." he whispered.

"I need to get you inside." I told him, standing up. Then I realised it would probably be smarter to wait until everyone else had gone in.

"Do you have like a school nurse or something?" I asked, still holding my jumper to his head.

"No." Leondre said.

"I'll just go to Miss. Wood. She seemed nice."

Leondre said nothing.

"Leondre, I'm sorry I didn't get here any sooner." I apologised.

"It's fine. Just call me Leo." he mumbled.

A bell soon rang, and everyone went inside. I waited for a few minutes until it was clear, and then I helped Leo inside to Miss. Wood's office.

"Oh my, Leo what happened?" she asked, surprised.

Leo just hung his head.

"A boy was beating him up, and everyone was just watching." I explained.

"Taylor pushed them away and helped me." he added in, handing me back the bloodstained jumper. I also had blood all over my white shirt sleeves.

"Well thank you Taylor...Leondre I think you need to go home." she said.

"No! I don't want to. I'll be fine." he argued. Miss. Wood persisted, but Leo insisted he would be fine. In the end, she sighed.

"Fine, but anymore trouble and you'll be going home." she said sternly. We both nodded meekly and left.

"Leo!" I said once we were back in the corridors. "Why didn't you go home!" I asked.

"I didn't want my momma to see me like this...plus I didn't want to leave you on your first day." he explained.

I smiled.

"Thanks...come on. I'll make sure they stay away." I promised.

As we walked into class, the others gave Leo dirty looks but backed off a little when I glared at them. One boy winked at me, while another tried to grab me.

I ignored them and went with Leo to the back of the class where there were two empty seats - both covered in scribbles and chewing gum. It wasn't too bad.

Throughout the day, I protected Leo and he seemed so much more happier with someone to talk to.