Chapter 2

After a bit of studying the topic of football, I laid down in bed I couldn't help the giddy feeling I was feeling in the pit of my stomach. I would get to help Kevin, and be with Kevin, and look at Kevin, and—

I stopped myself because as suddenly as the giddy feeling had began, it had sunk into the dark depths of my stomach. I placed my hand on my stomach and rolled onto my side. What was wrong with me?

Kevin never insulted me, I pressed a finger to my chin and thought. My eyes grew wide as I remember him calling me "cute". And instead of pounding me, he hugged me.

I shook my head, "no no! Preposterous! He wouldn't like someone like me! He's the jock who thinks with his muscles, captain of the football team for goodness sakes! He could have anyone he wanted! And the thought of him liking me! Ha! Like he would like someone like me!"

I frowned, rolled over and looked out the window. A relationship like ours would be tricky and wouldn't go without a penalty.

I chuckled a bit, "a football reference."

After a few minutes of thinking I rolled over and curled up under my blankets. I couldn't help but feel a little depressed after the things I thought about. But to conclude, I decided to act as if nothing has changed between us. Because, as far as I knew, they hadn't and probably never would.

The morning came much too quickly but I found myself unable to move from the warmth and safety of my bed. I didn't want to move but I had a perfect attendance to uphold. But that meant seeing him both during and after school.

"Don't make such a cute face."

My face heated to the bone and I tossed the blankets from me. No! I wasn't going to let him get the best of me! He was just Kevin, end of story. And what he said probably wasn't even what he meant! Curse my mind for thinking of such things!

I sighed. But that just means that when I get onto the bus I'll be bullied and wind up wearing my lunch.

"Mental note, I better make two lunches."

I got ready at a slower than normal pace, dreading the ride to school. I couldn't figure out if Kevin was telling the trust and I would be protected or not. Would he really protect me from the evils of the football team; his friends? I pushed the thought away and tried to focus on breakfast.

I stood at the front door for what felt like an eternity. It was not or never though. I couldn't risk being late for homeroom. With a shaky hand I opened the front door. My eyes grew wide as I stared at a figure standing on the pathway in front of my house.

"K-kevin," I asked.

He stood in the middle of the walkway, his hands in his pockets. He seemed to be pouting at first, but when his eyes met mine, the pouting vanished. He walked towards me, looking to the side. I couldn't help but feel excited, and relieved, to see him.

"Are you ready Double Dweeb," he asked, never making eye contact.

"For what," I was confused. What was he doing here? Could he really have meant his word about protecting me? "I thought that you had practice after school."

"I do dummy! But you wanted to be "protect" or whatever right? If I'm with you they'll leave you alone. That's what you wanted in return for helping right?"

He seemed to be pouting instead of just complaining. Had he really thought about this so much? His face was turning red and it caused me to smile. He was thinking of me. He was really telling the truth. Maybe helping him wouldn't be such a bad idea after all.

"Don't make a face dork or I'll pound 'ya," he turned and started making his way towards the bus stop.

I followed after him, my hands folded neatly in front of me, "of course Kevin."

His hands shot up to his head as he folded them behind his head. "Just don't do anything weird either of I'll let them pound 'ya."

"I'll try now to."

As we walked together, the silence between us was disturbed by the loud recklessness of the other kids from the cul-de-sac. Eddy and Ed were going back and forth about something with Eddy fuming. Sarah and Jimmy sat in the grass playing with their teddy bears and giggling. Nazz sat on the bench and watches as Kevin and I approached. Her mouth hung open a bit. It was the first time that Kevin and I had ever gone somewhere together. I guess she had a right to be surprised.

Rolf bumped into her, causing her to look away and towards the new distraction. I couldn't help but thank Rolf silently in my thoughts for turning her eyes somewhere else. I was already nervous enough standing beside Kevin. Having curious and questioning eyes added to that would send me into a shaky and uncomfortable state.

My heart sand as the bus pulled up to the curb and the brunette from yesterday came into view. I looked at my shaking hands and tried to calm myself down. Nothing I tried to seemed to be working. I didn't even notice that Kevin was glaring at the window where the boy was.

"Hey," Kevin leaned towards me, his eyes never leaving the window. "What did he happen to say to you yesterday?"

"H-he t-told me to do his S-science project f-for Friday."

Kevin chuckled a bit, "Double D," he looked at me and our eyes met. "Don't do it. It's payback for hurting you."

Before I could voice my opinion I was being tugged onto the bus by Kevin. Collecting my footing I walked towards the middle of the bus looking for an empty seat. I didn't get very far before I tripped over the foot of a jock and landed flat on my face with everyone laughing at me. I covered my head and tried to hide the embarrassment on my face. I could hear Eddy's boisterous mouth trying to stick up for me. But the voice I heard the most was Kevin's. As soon as he spoke, everyone was quiet.

"Don't mess with the Dweeb," he grabbed my arm under my armpit and pulled me to my feet and into an empty seat, shoving me first so that I was against the window. I pulled my book bag into my lap and tried to ignore the staring eyes. But they didn't just disappear because I wanted them to. I pulled my hat down over my eyes and wished I could turn invisible.

"Turn around," Kevin hollered. And as if he were the mystical being, everyone turned back around and went back to their business.

He snorted and leaned back in the seat, putting his arm on the back of the seat behind me. "Dweeb," he said, tugging on my hat gently so it came off of my eyes. "Ignore them. I told you, I would take care of you as thanks for helping us."

I wanted to cry. I wanted to hug him and cry and tell him thank you for sticking up for me. Eddy tried and Ed was the brute force but not one had ever been able to succeed in sticking up for me. But more than anything, I wanted to tell him that I liked him.