'Hi dad.'

You clunked your key back into the door and turned it again, having no idea why you had locked it in the first place- a sense of security possibly, not that there was anything that you needed to protect yourself from here.

'How you doing, _? I've got tea here, come get it.'

'Okay'

Your voice travelled down the stairs as you pulled open the door the hinges creaking lightly in place of the silence. You could hear bags rustling downstairs- most likely ready bought meals, your dad wasn't the best cook- and the sound of a package being ripped open. Taking a deep breath you began to walk down the cream carpeted stairs, each step thudding louder than the previous- it was probably your imagination but you slowed down just in case.

Stepping into the sitting room, you looked through the open door that led to the kitchen, placing a smile on your face to keep your dad feeling happy. Althoughh he had been more controlling in the past he'd toned it down recently and you didn't have a clue why but it still worried you- it coud be building up inside of him from what you were aware.

'How'd school go today?'

You took a deep breath in, stepping through the doorway and letting the words out as casually as you could manage to.

'It went okay.'

Your dad turned to you, his eyes closed as he smiled casually at you before opening with a curious look of worry.

'What happened to your face?'

You covered your left cheek with the palm of your hand, hiding the cut that you had gained from being thrown into the concrete outside of the school gates- it wasn't anything major, just a little sore but the look of worry on your dad's face forced you to look away with guilt.

'I just tripped over.'

'Oh, okay.'

You looked back and peeled away your hand. It was highly obvious that he didn't believe you but as long as you kept pretending he'd probably stay off of your case.

'What's for tea tonight?'

You began to unpack several of the shooping bags, putting most of the food into the fridge. Pausing as you picked up a heavier bottle of water, your fathers words striking you with surprise.

'Who was that boy you were walking home with?'

'W-What?'

'The one with the black hair? Leather coat- he was quite tall.'

'I don't know what you mean? There was no one with me.'

'I guess he must have been lagging behind slightly then.'

You looked away, sighing with relief that he'd fell for that as well. You had to play thingss off with him, avoiding the awkward conversations. He'd always told yoou that you shouldn't talk to boys until you were older and had to lie once in a while, mainly when you'd been followed by Mark.

You did however have the sneaking suspicion that somewhere down the line the two of them would have to meet, but you planned to hold it off as long as you could.

****~Several Hours Earlier~****

You sighed heavily with relief as you left the gates, your feet pushing your forward as fast as they could without it being deemd as running- that would only attract more attention to you. It wasn't that you were scared of them it, it was the fact of how you would be treat by your father if you did get caught up with them.

'Hey _, where do you think you're going?'

'Shit.'

You looked behind you, a gang marching towards you, Mark leading them forward with a sickening grin painted on his face.

You picked up your pace, jogging now, and you could tell that they were virtually breathing down your neck at this point. Your soles of your shoes were slamming themselves suicidally into the ground, the noise echoing in your ears alongside your hearts heavy beat.

A hand caught a hold of your arm, flicking you backwards and as you looked around you realized just how far you'd ran- you had already passed the street with your house for some reason, your survival instincts taking over your common sense.

'Come on.'

The hand dragged you aside, pulling you into a group of trees and dragging you further into them without hesitation.

You couldn't tell who it was and you certainly didn't have the slightest clue as to where you were going- you could only hope that it wasn't Mark or one of his so called friends. The grip was cold and it felt as if your blood was freezing inside your body.

A sharp twig dragged itself across your cheek, cutting it and you instantly winced, the liquid blowing itself backwards in the wind. It was dragging itself closer and closer to your hair, licking at the start of the strands.

You were suddenly stopped by the person's body, knocking them into the floor and landing on them. As they turned around, their piercing blue eyes stared into you, your legs straddling their waist.

'Get off me immediately.'

'S-Sorry.'

You stood up awkwardly, offering your hand to them still unable to recognise them because of the blinding darkness. Leaves obscured the sun from reaching either of you and you squinted your eyes, trying to see who it was but failing drastically.

Whoever wit was, they ignored your hand and stood up by themselves, walking away from you as leaves crushed themselves under their feet.

'Hey, where are you going?'

You felt the gust as they turned back around, their silouette facing you again.

'Listen to me you weakling, you ought to show some respect to me.'

'I just wanted to know who you were so that I can thank you.'

'Really now? So why is it that you were leading them?'

They were clearly talking about Mark's group and you began to fret, wondering whether they had taken you here for a fight.

'I was being chased by them- why did you drag me here if you didn't think I was one of them?'

'I guess I thought you looked more interesting than the rest _.'

'How do you know my name?'

'You read in front of the English class, Dan forced you up there before Mark began to bully you. I thought it ws an escapade t trick me, that's why I kept looking back at you.'

'Loki?!'

'Correct.'

His hand seized your wrist again and he began to drag you to where the light was. When yoiu eventually reache it you saw him instinctively guard his eyes from it, your own hand following his lead like a toddler would.

'W-Where are we going?'

'I couldn't just leave you in the shadows like the rest of those idiots- I don't know about you but I'm going home.'

'Oh... Thank you,' you nodded happily, genuinely smiling at him before you began to walk, 'I'll see you around.'

'Good bye.'

He smirked again, it seemed to be his signature trait, nodding back at you as his hair bounced. you noticed that he had gotten rid of his coat somewhere during the day- probably in his locker, it was pretty hot compared to what you were used to- and was wearing the school's black blazer, their logo- a single green snake coiled aorund itself- stitched onto it. It was a compulsery thing and you were already wearing yours, the fabric rubbing against your jumper.

You began to walk again, looking forward before you before you realized that a set of footsteps were following behind you.

'Hey, Loki.'

You stopped walking to wait for him to get next to you, starting to walk again when he did.

'Yes?'

'Where exactly do you live?'

'8th Street, how about you?'

'I actually, er, live on 8th street.'

'Oh, coincidences huh?'

'How come I haven't seen you around then?'

'I don't go out often.'

'Oh.'

You glanced over to him, looking into his eyes asn you saw a haze covering them, his mind seeming to become oblivious to the enviroment.

****~Several Minutes Later~****

'Well this is my house, I guess I'll see you around.'

You looked behind you to wave only to find him to be nowhere near you, having no idea where he was. You shrugged your shoulders and placed your hand on the door handle, having the strangest feeling that you were being watched.

You opened the tray carefully, the sushi laying inside refusing to move from their compartments as you went to pick a piece out. Your dad was sitting next to you on the sofa, lookind at you eagerly.

'What's wrong dad?'

'Nothing, it's just you seem... Happier than usual.'

'Is that a crime?'

'I guess not.'

He laughed and began to pick at his own food, barely managing to get a piece into his mouth before the door rattled as someone knocked on it. You had a feeling that you knew who it was but you still didn't want to open the door, you still wanted to hold this meeting off for as long as possible.

'I'll get it.'

You sprung to your feet and walked to the porch door, clicking it open and, as you walked past the shoes, you recognised the silouette. Black curled hair , pale skin that was morphed by the patterned glass.

You swung open the door, smiling at the figure.

'How are you _?'

'I'm, uh, okay thanks Loki. What are you doing here?'

He looked at you, an awkward smile painted on his lips as he looked up at you- you felt sorry for him for some reason, sympathy flooding across your face and you knew that he recognised it, his face going back to being stern instantly.

'I was wondering if you wanted to work on the English homework together?'

'Homework? You?'

'Why are you so surprised?'

'You haven't handed a single piece in since I started going to the school.'

'Well things change don't they?'

You saw his eyes glance behind you, looking intently at something before returning to your face, forcing you to check who was there.

'Hi dad.'

'... Who is this?'

'Dad, this is Loki.'

'Hi Loki, nice to see you with my daughter.'

A smile spread across your face as you looked over at your new found friend, blushing slightly as he looked at the step outside your door, a smirk passing over his lips as he sniggered.

'So, you see them too?'

.