My Protector

Home (Anna)

        Is he new? Who is he? All these questions wandered in my head as he gave me a little cheeky smile. I couldn't stop staring at his eyes. They were different in a way I can't explain. It was more than that. It was his aura, the way everything seemed to feel warmer but darker the closer you got to him. Or perhaps that was just me.         

        As quickly as I can, I turn around and try to find my way to class. That was embarrassing. He probably thinks I'm one of those girls who falls for every guy that gives her attention. But I'm not, ever since my parents left me, I've been very distant when it comes to relationships or anything else because I don't want to get close to anyone. Why? Because getting close means caring, and when you care too much, it'll just end badly for you when they disappear from your life. You see, I don't think I could ever endure another case of losing someone important to me. If I did, I think I would just break down like before, but this time, never get back up. I know it sounds silly or unbelievable, but that's exactly how I feel. 

        It feels like I'm sprinting to class before I finally reach the girls' changeroom and get ready for gym. I put on a pair of black shorts, a baggy t-shirt, and tie my hair up into a messy bun. Unlike other girls, I don't come to gym to look pretty for all the guys. I'm here to actually work out, and try to get some physical education. I guess even before my parents left, I did that. My girl "friends" never understood why I would actually try in gym, but then again, I really can't explain why I do what I do.

        Walking out of the changeroom, I see the new kid right away. The one that I basically gawked in the hallways. Yeah, how embarrassing. He was wearing a dark snug t-shirt and a pair of grey Nike shorts. Let's just say that many girls surrounded him. It was obvious he would be in the popular crowd sooner rather than later. As I began to stretch, getting ready for our "fun day run day", I felt a prickle in the back of my neck. It was the feeling I got when someone was staring at me. Without turning to see who it was, I already knew. It was the new kid. But why out of all the girls in this class, would he stare at me when there were so many willing to be his girlfriend on the spot? Maybe he was still laughing over our encounter. This day could not get any worse.        

        Our gym instructor stepped out of his office and told us to find a partner to run with, You see, our coach has this thing where he doesn't trust any of us to run alone. He always repeats,"Safety is the key kids" in his barotone voice that seemed to echo within the gym. I really didn't mind who I was paired up with because it was no concern to me. If someone asked me, I'd most likely say yes, and if not, I'd just partner up with the person who didn't have one. Just as I was thinking it, I could see the new kid trying to get away from the group of girls. You would think that a guy like him would pick one of the "preppy" girls, but instead, he was making his way over to me. I continued to stretch, but eventually, he stopped in front of me. He grinned at me. Holding out his hand, he said, "Hi there, my name's Adam and I'm the new kid. I saw you this morning, do you remember me? Anyway, could I be your partner for the run?" Do I remember him? Of course I remember him. 

        I put it off that he was just asking to be nice to me. Perhaps he wasn't one of those stuck up kids. I nodded and I guess that was that. We warmed up together and surprisingly, I felt like I could be myself around him. We didn't really say anything. It was as if he knew I would prefer not to talk. So we stayed silent. At that moment, I wasn't sure why I felt the way I did. How could you feel most comfortable with someone who you had just met? He reminded me of home. The home I had before everything fell apart.