I was sitting on the wall just outside of school. My English notebook lay on my lap as I scribbled my homework down on a sheet of paper. It was fall, around the time of year where the air was a perfect temperature, and the leaves danced around in circles as the breeze lifted them like feathers. In terms of weather, I couldn't imagine any better season than that, but the weather really wasn't the biggest thing on mind at the moment.

"Hey! Allie!" The second I heard the voice, I knew which jerk was talking to me. Jared Keller, who made it a game to belittle me in every way possible, had found my half hearted hiding spot. I lifted my head up only slightly, looking through my bangs. As expected he was surrounded by people in my grade, all of them epic failures in life, with one exception.

Without my permission, my eyes wondered over the crowd of people to the guy that I looked up to. No, it was not that I like him or anything, it that he did things that I could not do. When "his friends" started acting like idiots, he called them out. When they stopped paying attention in class, he made sure they were at least quiet about it. When they started making fun of other people, like me, he stood up for those who were tortured by their taunting.

I suddenly noticed I had been staring way too long, so I dropped my eyes back to my paper, embarrassed.

"Ooh!" Jared smirked. "Somebody likes Co-ole!"

My face got hot and I gripped my pencil a little harder.

"What is it about him?" he asked in a sneering tone. "Is it his bright green eyes? Is it how his hair falls in a perfect position? Or maybe it's his cu-ute face-"

"SHUT UP!" I bolted up and dropped my schoolwork on the cement. "YOU'RE RUINING MY LIFE!" and with one swift motion, I shoved him as hard as I could. The next moment was quicker than I ever thought possible. Jared's hand went up and came down on my face with so much force that it threw me to the ground with a loud SMACK.

Everyone was silent for the next few seconds until someone said, "Dude, You just hit a girl."

My hand went up to my face in shock and pain. I turned away from the group of people so they didn't see the pathetic tears that dripped down my cheeks. I hated him, I hated him so much.

"I-I'm s-sorry." He apologized. I felt his hand on my back. "Are you o-ok?"

"Go away." My voice was shaky. "I hate you."

His hand left my back but I could l tell everyone was still standing around me. I wanted them all to disappear.

Suddenly, another hand was on my back, softer and much more supportive.

"Can I see?" His voice was gentle.

I lifted my face up to Cole. Upon seeing my tear streaked cheeks, everybody's eyes grew wide. Allie Wilson never cried, not ever, until now.

Cole softly grasped my chin and lifted my face to the side, examining the place where Jared's hand had made contact.

"Hmm." He said thoughtfully. "It's not too bad. You'll probably have a small bruise on your cheek bone, but everything else will probably stop stinging in an hour or so."

His fingertips slid against my skin. He brushed a piece of loose hair that hung in front of my eyes and tucked it behind my ear.

Surprised, my hand snapped up and caught his wrist. "Uh, I got to go."

I stood quickly and sprinted away. I had to talk to somebody, and that somebody was just on the other side of the street.

"Dana!" I called.

She turned and suddenly her eyes widened. "WATCH OUT!"