Lexi was feeling pretty down. It was lunch, and the person whom she usually talked to was home sick with a bad cold. The person in question, Juliet, was also her dissection partner in biology. Today had been crayfish, and Lexi was still feeling the lingering effects of nausea. Today she sat outside between two of the church/school buildings, both to lessen the ill feeling, and to avoid the clatter in the other two designated eating areas.

Lexi glanced at her phone and started packing up her lunch. Next was English. then P.E. followed by history.

Josh will be there. a small voice whispered inside her head. A faint fluttering sensation in her chest and the feeling that her cheeks were warm came in wake of the thought. Josh, her crush of several months, was only a few inches taller than her, just short of six feet. He had blond hair and a slightly muscular physique, although he claimed not to play sports or take karate. He was also in the same English and history classes as Lexi, but she had a sneaking suspicion that if her P.E. class were open to boys, he would be in it.

Lexi didn't have the chance to talk to Josh in English, due to the assigned seating, and when she finally arrived at history, she gave a mental sigh. Both of relief and dread. Lexi was sweaty and exhausted. History class always had a quiz, and she wasn't to optimistic because of her trouble with names and dates.

Alex leaned the folding chair back as Lexi took her seat. History was his favorite subject. " Hey, Josh." Alex looked up. "How are your arms?" It was Lexi. "They're fine." Alex replied. After Alex had been adopted by the Pleasures, Snakehead had come after him. Soon he found himself living in Woodstock, Georgia as part of the witness protection program. His new alias was Josh Ryner.

As for Lexi's question, his arms had been injured over winter break on a mission for the CIA. Not broken, but covered in scratches. Some of them were pretty deep. Alex had told her that he ran into a barbed wire fence when he was riding a bike without breaks. It was half true, at least. But every time Alex told her the story, she got a look about her. Most people wouldn't have been able to tell, but Alex sensed fascination, disbelief, and concern.

Lexington turned her attention to the class. She didn't really believe Josh, of course. But she knew better than to flaunt her disbelief. She had pressed Josh for details, trying to appear only a concerned classmate, but she was pretty sure Josh had noted her concern, and possibly, her attraction.

Alex finished his presentation and sat down. Every one had presented on something with significance in world war two. Every thing from important persons and battles to weaponry and Navajo code-talkers.

Alex's report had been on the battle of Bulges. Now that he was in the USA, he had discovered his interest in history. In fact, with an unusual curriculum, he was quite good at it.

After class, Lexi came up to him. "Hey, Josh?" she looked uncomfortable and nervous. Alex looked up at her "Yeah." Lexi continued "Do you think that perhaps we could meet at the Greenwoods Library Saturday? To study for the test?"

Alex considered that. He wasn't meant to appear in public if it could be avoided, but he was starting to feel smothered. And it wasn't like he had anything better to do.

Alex smiled. "Sure. What time?"