I heaved the scrap metal over my shoulder, staying alert of what happened around me. It was a habit now, a habit that kept me alive, always be aware of your surroundings. Especially a good rule of thumb when you're living in the slums. If the monsters don't get you, someone else will. I tossed it into the pile I had made and saw something out of the corner of my eye. A teenage boy was harassing a girl, "I said leave me alone!" she said pushing him away and storming off.

That ignited my short fuse like a bonfire. Before I knew it I was turning him around and punching him in the face. He fell to the ground clutching his jaw, "Oww-!"

I grabbed his shirt collar with one hand and raised to punch him with the other, "Is that how you treat women punk!?"

"H-hey wait! You got it wrong! That's my sister! I was just joking around with her!" he said grabbing my wrist with his free hand before I punched him again.

"Your sister?" I asked. Did I get it wrong or is he just scared of getting beat up? "Prove it."

"I wouldn't ever hurt a woman," He said sitting up. He looked extremely offended as he searched my eyes. I released a breath I didn't know I'd held, when he let go of my wrist and we both got up. He was a bit taller than me with a broader chest, he looked like he trained often, but his face was still a bit softer. Freckles dotted his cheeks and his short brown hair hung in his face a bit, but they didn't quite cover his bluish green eyes. I realized he noticed me inspecting him, "Thank you for wanting to protect her," he said. "It's good to know she'll have someone to watch out for her," he smiled.

"You're welcome," I said surprised.

"I'm Daniel," he said holding out his hand. I took it hesitantly, "What's you're name?"

I've been through this enough times, I released an inner sigh and tried to relax, "William."

"William?" Daniel looked surprised.

"Yeah."

He looked me over, "... I'm new here. My sisters and I moved into the shop with our Grandma Joan."

Joan the shop owner is my employer, she's taught me a lot of things, but even though I've known her for years I couldn't tell her the truth. Actually, because I've known her for years is exactly the reason why I can never tell her! "You're Joan's grandson...?"

"You know her?"

I nodded, "She's my employer."

He smiled, "Then we'll be seeing a lot more of each other then! Do you want to be friends?"

My heart nearly stopped and I grew giddy, I got excited about the thought of seeing him around more. Get over it! He only asked if you'd be his friend! I scolded myself. "No thanks."

"... What..?" he asked surprised.

I started getting back to work, "I'm really busy."

"Here let me help you with that," Daniel said going to pick up some of my load.

"Unh-uh. You help and I don't get paid," I told him.

"Come on, Grandma wouldn't do that to you. And besides, I work here too now."

"I don't really need help," I sighed as he continued to try and help me. A tinge of anger grew when he picked up one of the heaviest looking scraps in the yard. Does he think I'm so weak that I couldn't pick that up by myself!? I took it from him and he looked at me surprised. It was a lot heavier than it looked, "I got this."

He took it from me, "I'm trying to be helpful."

I glared at him and let him take it, part of me was relieved, but the other was extremely annoyed. "I can handle the heavier stuff I've been doing this for years."

"I never said you couldn't."

"look-!"

"Hey. William. I'm not saying you're not strong, I just wanted to help," Daniel said.

Just cut it out! I told myself. He's not insinuating anything! Regulate your breathing. I closed my eyes and took deep breaths. I opened my eyes to see him studying me, I blushed, "What?"

"Nothing..." He said turning away. I stared at him for a moment before picking up another piece of scrap, I winced and dropped it. Great! I cut my arm! Great job for being careless Lianna! "Hey let me see," he took my arm.

"What? No! Let go!" I pulled back from him.

"You're so stubborn," Daniel said taking my arm again, "You know you can't treat it alone." I glared as he rolled back my sleeve and checked it, "Not too deep," he led me inside and dressed my wound. I winced as he put on the antiseptic, "I'm surprised you're not crying... I would be... " he muttered.

As soon as he said 'crying' I glared and shot out "I'm not a baby!"

He looked at me oddly, "You don't have to be so defensive. I'm not insulting you."

I looked away, "Sorry..."

"It's okay..." After a while Daniel asked, "Do people mock you a lot?"

He looked really sincere, "I don't exactly brighten a room."

"I see... Well I think you're pretty cool. You're strong, you treat women with respect, and you have a high pain tolerance, not that if you cried you wouldn't be cool though," he added, making me blush. I tried to hide it.

"Thanks."

"Let's not forget that you have one heck of a punch," he teased.

"Uh... Yeah... Sorry about that."

"It's all cool," Daniel said. "I'm glad that you did. Now I know I won't be the only one protecting her."

He finished dressing my wound and we finished our work before I took my pay from Joan. "I heard you met my grandson Daniel," Joan smirked.

"Yeah."

"He said you knocked him to the ground! Thanks for trying to protect my granddaughter!" She laughed.

"You're welcome."

She saw my arm, "Oh! What happened?"

"I cut myself on some metal outside."

"I hope it wasn't too deep? Do you need anything?" she asked worriedly.

I shook my head, "No. Daniel took care of it."

"He's a sweet boy," she smiled, "I hope you'll look after him too?"

I blushed, "I don't think he needs me to look after him."

"Nonsense. That boy can get into some trouble," she teased.

I smiled, "I gotta start heading home now okay?"

"Alright. Stay safe William."

"I will," I said turning and heading home.

I had walked a few yards out the door when I heard, "Hey Will. You wanna hang out?"

"No, I gotta head home."

"I'll walk with you. It's safer-."

"I'm fine."

"But you can hardly even see out here!" He was right, tonight the smog was thicker and darker than usual. The dead silence and the streetlight ahead of us eerily flickering against the smog unnerved me. I was glad he was there, although I'd never admit it.

"Exactly why you should stay at home. I can take care of myself."

"I never said you couldn't."

"Alright then. I don't want you to follow me," I said.

"Why are you so stubborn?"

"Because! I told you, I don't want you to follow me around!" I lied. I didn't want to admit the truth, not even to myself; that I was scared and didn't want to be alone. Was it just that? Or is it also because he made me giddy...? He is really sweet, adorable, and funny... God did I just say that? No! No, no, no! I blushed. No I can't think thoughts like that! And anyways he thinks I'm a guy!

"Come on. Don't you want to be friends?"

"No," I said walking away.

He sighed, "Alright... I guess, I'll just leave you on your own then... I really do want to be friends with you though... Well... I'll just go..." He said turning around.

I could hear the hurt in his voice, before I could stop myself I said, "We can be friends..."

"Listen, if you don't want to be-..."

"I'm just not good at having friends."

He laughed, "What do you mean by that?"

"I'm antisocial, short-tempered, and I'll probably end up punching you in the face again. You sure you want to be my friend?" I winced as the harsh words came out.

I could just see his smile through the dimly lit haze, "Short-tempered maybe, but I don't think you're really antisocial. Socially awkward maybe," he smirked trying to hold back a laugh.

I released an inner sigh, glad he wasn't mad at me. Then I smirked back at him, "That punch might happen sooner rather than later."

He smiled, "I'll be waiting."

I didn't really want him to see where I had been living. Not because of the cleanliness, I kept my "home" pretty tidy. Well, at least as tidy as you can get in the slums. No, it was because I didn't want him to get too close. His whole family would be in danger...

Short answer? I ditched him. I didn't want the three of them getting hurt. I walked inside and shut the door to my "home". If you could call it that. It was a dump. Even dumpier than most places in the slums. My closest neighbors were the rats that lived in the trash bucket outside. I started living here because I was hiding from everyone... This is where I became William... I haven't been a girl for a little over five years... Some days I wish I could be like Daniel's sisters, being able to dress up and act the way I truly feel. So I don't have to lie to anyone... I looked sadly at my own reflection. I want to show the true me...