December 11th

Frigid winds whipped through the air snapping against the skin of four teens walking in the night. Well two were teenagers the others happened to be D.W. and Emily, who were beginning to regret their decision to go out in the first place. They'd accepted an invitation for a double date with two high school boys, they figured if both of them were there nothing bad could happen. Boy were they wrong. It was just after 11 p.m., 37 degrees with a wind chill and the two girls were huddled against each other for warmth outside the Sugar Bowl which unfortunately had closed at 10p.m.

Their "dates" weren't much help either, laughing uproariously at bad jokes and failing to take them out to eat as promised. Both were sophomores at Arthur's high school and had caught D.W. and Emily's attention when they'd stopped by earlier in the week to meet up with Arthur. Emily had been the first to strike up a conversation batting her eyes and trying to come off as mature. D.W. had followed suit as the boys were kind of cute and they had said they would meet them at the local café just a few blocks from Arthur's house. Emily had accepted for the both of them, D.W. made a mental note to kill her later.

They finally came upon the Sugar Bowl after walking around for 30 minutes and both girls hugged each other close. The café had been closed much like everything else and the girls couldn't figure out why the hell anyone would schedule a date this late at night. "I'm really starting to not like them," Emily whispered shivering slightly. D.W. nodded, "me either Bryce is so obnoxious." "Yeah and Lucas isn't much better," Emily agreed. "Let's tell them we wanna go home," D.W. said shivering harder as a nasty gust of wind whipped against her.

"Ahem Bryce, Lucas," D.W. said getting their attention. "Oh dude our dates finally speak, what's the matter sweetie getting a little cold," Bryce asked slight mockery lacing his voice. "Uh yeah we are actually," D.W. replied sharply. Bryce pouted, "aww you poor things, sorry we thought more stuff would be open tonight." Both Bryce and Lucas busted up laughing at that. D.W. and Emily looked at each other with identical looks of annoyance. "Hey we're just joshing ya, look how about you come home with us Lucas only lives like two blocks from here," Bryce suggested putting his arm around her. D.W. shrugged his arm off and took a couple steps back. "No we wanna go back home," she said sternly. "That's right this hasn't been any fun and it's freezing," Emily added standing close to D.W.

"Awww well why didn't you say so, look we got something that might make it a little warmer," Lucas replied pulling four cans out of a paper bag. Emily frowned, "what is that?" "This," Lucas shrugged, "it's just some uh soda you know, here." He shoved the cans into D.W. and Emily's hands then opened his own taking a sip. Both girls eyed the drinks suspiciously noting that what they were holding was beer. "We're not gonna drink this are we," Emily asked looking at the can in disgust. "No if anything we're gonna run and we'll throw this at them if they try anything," D.W. replied grasping the can tightly.

"Why ain't you drinking it's good stuff we had a couple earlier," Lucas said nudging Bryce. That explained a lot. "We're not thirsty," Emily shot back defiantly. Bryce and Lucas stepped forward putting their arms around the frightened girls. "You sure thought that's why you came out with us in the first place," Bryce asked taking a swig. "What're you talking about," D.W. asked confused. Bryce smirked, "you two are so new to this don't worry we'll help you understand, come on back to Lucas' place his parents are out we can be alone." "We're not going anywhere with you," D.W. snapped half-shouting. "But don't you need us to get home," Lucas sneered. "No," Emily shouted. Lucas puckered his lips, "fine can we at least get a smooch goodbye." He leaned forward but Emily thought fast pulling away and backing up D.W. right by her side.

"D.W. we gotta call for help," Emily pleaded as both boys seemed distracted by a plane that flew by. "I know who to call," D.W. assured her pulling out her phone. However neither girl realized a call wouldn't be necessary.

Buster had been sitting at home, bored. He had a beer and finished off a bit of pizza but was tired of doing nothing. He'd been trying hard to apologize to Sue Ellen but she wasn't taking his calls. He thought about calling Muffy but decided against it. Everything was such a shitty mess he couldn't think straight, he needed air. Deciding a walk might help he headed out of his building and headed towards the road when he heard what sounded like a girl shouting and if he wasn't mistaken he knew that voice. Rounding a bunch of hedges he looked towards the Sugar Bowl and saw D.W. and Emily looking very uncomfortable as Bryce and Lucas had their arms tight around them. Oh not these fuckers again. Buster hated these guys, they were just obnoxious not to mention pathetic and they tried so hard to be cool but failed completely. Now it looked like they were gonna add sexual harassment to their resumes, fan-fucking-tastic.

Buster watched as D.W. and Emily scurried away from the boys in fear just as Lucas had leaned in for a kiss. He didn't need to see anymore, he marched straight forward ready to beat the shit out of them. "So about that goodnight smooch," Bryce asked not noticing Buster creep up behind him. D.W. and Emily were backed against the doors, cornered. "Oh I'd love one," Buster growled appearing behind the two boys who stood frozen.

They knew Buster and knew they were screwed. Both gulped and when they dared to look behind them jumped about a foot in the air when they came face to face with Buster. Buster just glared at them. "Uh hey Buster my man what's up," Bryce said trying to play it cool. Lucas just backed away shaking. "Bryce you better not be doing what I think you're doing," Buster said flatly. "Uh uh no we're just um you know dating…um on a date you know," Bryce replied nervously. "Uh huh I see and did you know these girls are only 12 and clearly not interested," Buster asked angrily. "Uh no?" Bryce lied. Buster looked at D.W. and Emily who looked more than relieved that he was there. "Girls come here," Buster said waving them over. They didn't need to be told twice as they raced to his side.

Both girls felt immense relief when Buster had come out of seemingly nowhere. D.W. was just about to call him knowing if anyone could fix these boys it was Buster. Buster eyed both boys, Lucas in particular looked like he was gonna shit himself. Lucas was a small kid, smaller than Arthur and he knew better than to try and fight Buster especially after he sucker punched Arthur. Buster knew Lucas was scared of him and decided to make it easy on him. He leaned forward and in a bemused tone said, "boo." That was all it took to send Lucas running, in what direction Buster didn't care. Bryce shook his head not believing what a scaredy cat his friend was. Buster turned his attention to Bryce who backed up a couple steps.

"Now where's my kiss," Buster asked flatly. Buster advanced on him, standing a good 5 inches above the boy. Bryce knew he should've backed down right then and there but the alcohol was starting to affect his ability to think. "Ok look man I admit it we asked the girls out, walked them over here hoping to take them back to Lucas' place for you know a little sexy time and we gave them beer to relax them, happy now," Bryce admitted half shouting. Buster nodded, "you don't say and here I thought you guys were just stupid." "Yeah so why don't you fuck off," Bryce replied pompously. Buster glared at him, bad move. "I got a better idea, how about you run like hell like your fuck boy or I'll throw you far enough to catch up to him," Buster snarled becoming more menacing.

Bryce looked like he was actually weighing out his options when he decided to get overly cocky. "Make me dickhead," he taunted punching Buster's shoulder. Although his punch was hardly anything, his alcohol induced coordination caused him to barely hit the target. "Um ow?" Buster teased before grabbing Bryce by the collar. Bringing him right up to his face Buster offered Bryce one last chance. "Run or be thrown choice is yours," Buster hissed. Setting him back on the ground but not removing his hand Buster waited. Bryce realizing he was fighting a losing battle bolted in the direction Lucas had. Buster breathed a sigh of relief and turned to the girls.

D.W. and Emily ran and hugged him thanking him repeatedly for coming when he did. He held them tight admitting he too was terrified seeing them in a situation like that. "Jeez you guys are freezing," he commented noting how red their cheeks were, "come on we'll go back to my place and we can call your mom D.W., it's too cold for you guys to be walking back." The girls could only nod as they were very cold despite being bundled up in winter jackets, scarves and mittens. Emily had no idea Buster lived across the street from the Sugar Bowl although there was a rather large hedge that blocked the condominium from view.

He led them back to safety hurrying them inside and turned on the heat. He brought out extra blankets while the girls removed their shoes and coats. "Th-th-thank you B-B-Buster," D.W. said snuggling into the blanket. "Of course how did you guys get mixed up with those two anyway," Buster replied taking a seat. "It was my fault, we met them a couple days ago and they asked us out and I told them we would go," Emily admitted snuggling into the couch. Buster arched an eyebrow, "you have a real fascination with high school boys don't you." She shrugged.

Buster just shook his head, "do you have any idea how dangerous that was, you don't even know those two." "Yeah but it seemed ok but we did have to sneak out of D.W.'s house because they wanted to meet us at 10:30," Emily replied knowing it sounded bad. Buster stared in disbelief, "are you serious? You didn't think that was a red flag right there, Emily I can't believe you and D.W. I really can't believe you, you went along with it. What were you two thinking?" Both girls looked away guilty, they knew if Buster said something was wrong then something was wrong.

"Look you two have been through a lot already, D.W. you better call your mom," Buster sighed getting up. "Um do you think you could I'm too scared," D.W. asked timidly. Buster frowned, "alright don't go anywhere." He took the phone into the kitchen where he began fixing hot chocolate, he may have been furious with the girls but he wasn't cruel. He dialed the Read home and waited. "Hello," Mrs. Read answered. "Um hey Mrs. Read it's Buster um I need you to come pick up D.W. and Emily at my place," he said awkwardly. "What but I thought they were…what're they doing over there," she asked panicked. "Uh this is going to take a bit of explaining but long story short they got involved with some guys they shouldn't have, I found them outside the Sugar Bowl and got them back here safely," he explained watching the tea kettle. "Oh my…well I'll be right there, thank you so much Buster, are they ok," she replied worried. "Yeah they're fine a bit cold but fine," he answered. "Ok I'm on my way," Mrs. Read said before hanging up.

Buster set the phone down wondering how the hell Emily and D.W. could get themselves caught up in something like this. He was so mad he didn't even realize Emily had walked into the kitchen still bundled in the blanket. "Um Buster," she half-whispered anxiously. He started and turned to look at her, she looked like she'd been crying. "What," he asked calmly. She fidgeted a bit shuffling from one foot to another. "Uh I…uh I just wanted to apologize again for you know," she replied sadly. He shook his head, "Emily what possessed you to do something like this?" "I don't know," she mumbled. "What," he asked trying to make out what she said.

Emily swallowed hard, "I said I don't know why, I guess I was just excited that older boys showed an interest in me." Buster stared at her in shock, he had no idea how to respond to that. "I mean you did tell me to stay away from boys like you," she rationalized. "So you go for somebody worse," he exclaimed in disbelief. "Um well I didn't really know," she replied bashfully. Buster shook his head, "obviously, do you know how lucky you are those boys didn't get their way tonight? What if I hadn't just happened to be there? What if neither of you could use your phones to call for help? Did you even think about how you'd escape had they even gotten you back to the house?" By now she was shaking partly from crying and partly from embarrassment, he was right she hadn't thought of what could've happened. She knew they were beyond lucky Buster happened to live right around the corner, was home and happened to be out walking at the right time, if not they may not have had a chance.

"Do you really think they would've hurt us," she asked crying. Buster really wanted to say no, that even though those boys were stupid they weren't criminals at least he hoped not. Inhaling sharply he said, "I don't know, I know they would've put you in a much more uncomfortable position than they did and definitely would've pressured you to do things you wouldn't be ready for." The look of fear in her eyes told him how sorry she was, but he knew it was good for her to hear this even if it was terrifying. But he also knew there was no reason to talk further about it, even though he was certain her and D.W.'s parents would repeat the same speech and likely ground them till they were 20. He had protected them and brought them to safety, now he just needed to make sure they were ok.

Spreading his arms he said, "come here." Emily was surprised Buster had only hugged her twice before and those were just side hugs. She looked at him wondering if it was a trick. "What do I have cooties now," he joked noting her hesitation. He gave her a small smile and she knew it was safe. She walked over wrapping her arms around his waist letting his strong arms engulf her. In that moment never had she felt so safe, like as long as he was there nothing could touch her. He hugged her tight and she laid her head against his chest inhaling his scent hoping he didn't notice. "You really had me scared tonight for both of you," he admitted. "I'm sorry," she sniffed wiping a tear from her eye. "No more hooking up with random older boys from now on got it," he replied in a serious tone. She smiled, "got it I promise I'll stick to boys my own age and no more late night rendezvous."

The tea kettle went off just then and they separated Buster patting her shoulder. "What's that for," she asked curious. Buster pulled two mugs from the cupboard and poured some cocoa powder in each. "Hot chocolate figured you two could use it," he replied mixing the drinks. He put the mugs on a serving tray along with a bag of marshmallows. She followed him back to the living room where D.W. had been waiting and crying. She brightened seeing a more relaxed Buster and the hot chocolate. Both girls eagerly accepted the drinks, the warm cocoa scent filling their nostrils and sending a river of warmth through their bodies as they drank. They thanked him for the drinks and asked why he wasn't having one. "Uh I kinda have my own drink to get back to," he shrugged. Both girls looked at him confused until they saw an empty beer bottle on the small coffee table. They looked at him surprised although they really shouldn't have been. "Don't worry I'm gonna wait until after you guys leave and I'm barely what you'd call tipsy right now," he assured them.

In the next few minutes Mrs. Read showed up frantic and wondering what the girls had done. But she was also relieved to see them safe and hugged Buster for not only rescuing them but keeping them safe too. She also told him she wasn't mad at him for what happened between him and Arthur and that she forgave him for punching Arthur. Buster thanked her but told her not to worry about it, to him it was the past and that's how it would be.