Well, I'm trying something new in here. A new ship. I like this one. I mean, I'm not fully an Ethica shipper, but I guess I see some chemistry between them.

So, I should start now. Yay! (I'm back to being childish.)

"Come on. You like him. Just ask him out," Benny whispered to Erica. The only reason she was with him was because he was keeping a big secret of hers, which was her crush on Ethan. She didn't like to admit it much, but she felt something for him. Yet, she knew he never did. But maybe he and Sarah being just friends again would be a good step for Erica. "Plus, he still remembers you."

"He does?" she asked him. "You never told me before."

Everyone knew Erica was bullied before she turned, and she didn't like looking back into those memories. But there was one moment she liked to relive a lot.

It was Erica's last year in middle school, and eighth grade wasn't very easy for her. Everywhere she'd walk, there would be the "popular kids" coming towards her, trying to tease her. Sometimes, they'd make fun of her glasses and weak eyes, sometimes how she ate, and sometimes how she looked. She hated it very much.

Other than this year, she had four more years in high school. Hell was just coming her way.

Just when school was about to end, she went to her locker to get some books for homework and get out quickly. Just when she zipped her bag, she noticed a few kids coming her way. She wanted to go and run, but she couldn't. They'd call her a coward next time.

"Going home so soon, Erica?" one of the girls had asked her in a very annoying tone.

"Get away from me," she muttered.

"What? Scared?" a guy asked her.

"Look, I just want to go home." All her life she wanted her mother to see her come back safely with no bruises, but that wouldn't happen. Not now. Not ever.

The same guy put his hand on her shoulder, pinning her against her locker. "Why? Are we bothering you?"

She was about to reply, but she heard a voice bravely saying, "You must be blind, then, if you don't notice that."

Beside them stood a boy, maybe two years younger, she guessed. Definitely a sixth grader. Even though she knew he was already a bullying target, she wanted to yell at him to go away and not get in trouble with bullies older than him.

"Mind your own business, nerd," one said.

"Am I bothering you now?" He fake-pouted. "Oh, I'm sorry." This time, he put his hand on his chest, showing a fake apology through his face.

Erica found it funny. It was either his acting made her laugh or because he was so stupid yet courageous that he'd come and help her. Immediately, she was slammed against her locker to stop her from laughing, and her back started to hurt. But surprisingly, he let go of her and got a hold of the boy in front of him by taking his arm.

"Listen, kid," he said. The boy's face showed pain, and it must've been the hard grip. "Stay out of my way."

Then he left. It was surprising that he left so quickly. Maybe it was the fact that someone was teasing him too.

The boy looked at his arms, covered them, and then quickly walked away. But Erica couldn't let him just leave like that. "Wait, hold on," she called after him. When he looked at her, she smiled. "Thank you."

"It's nothing," he said, sharing his smile too.

"I'm Erica, by the way," she introduced herself.

"Ethan, but you don't need to remember my name," he said.

Before she could say anything, he caught up to two boys, one blonde and another one with dark hair, and walked outside the school building.

Ever since, they started talking to each other, saying hi, giving each other grins, eating together and hanging out. She even met Benny, though she didn't remember Rory much. But when she went to high school, she didn't get a chance to see Ethan again for two years. Even though he was younger, she still missed him. But then he entered high school too. And with the Morgans offering money for babysitting, she knew she had to go and help. It was all just to see her friend again. But then Jesse came with his friend Gord who bit her. Things changed afterwards and she knew Ethan wouldn't recognize her much. He wouldn't like her. She was too mean to him, and she didn't like that part of her.

But now, she was happy to be wrong.

"That's because I promised him not to, but I kind of wanted to tell you, so I did."

"Then why did you both pretend to forget who I was when you first saw me?" she asked.

"I didn't. To be fair, I didn't know it was you at first. And Ethan… he thought you forgot about him, so he tried to forget about you. Obviously, that didn't work well." Hope was back to her now.

She laughed at little. It was just a happy chuckle. "He remembers me," she tried to get it through her head.

"Yes, and Sarah won't be there to babysit Jane this week because her cousin is getting married, so you have a chance to be there instead of her."

"But-"

"Just take the job and get this over with. I'm tired." He leaned back against a locker, making an exaggerated sigh come out of him mouth.

She wanted to, but she didn't know if her parents would let her go back after she told them she didn't want to. "I'll see if I can."

"Yes," Benny said to himself, which made Erica roll her eyes. "You've made this so much easier on both of us."

There was a question floating in her head for a while, so she asked Benny, "Does he hate me?"

"What?" he asked in surprise. "Of course not. Why?"

"'Cause I tease him a lot," she said.

"Well, he doesn't say anything about your teasing," Benny said.

Nodding, she thanked him and continued talking to him until she reached class and it was time to get separated from her friend.

Well, this was just an introducing chapter, and I hope you like how it's going so far. I just needed to show Benny and Erica's friendship this chapter 'cause I'll use this in later chapters too.

Well, until next time…

-TEM