Sept 13
Mr. English is very upset with me.
I didnt finish my assignment, he didnt ask me to write about my personal
promblems or some bizzare exodus story. He said he thought I was different
from the others, I might actually try to work, I might have goals. They always
assume the loners are smart and focused.
I always prove them wrong. Its not that Im an complete moron or anything, its
just that Im apathic. I guess its becuase I know that my grades wont change
much for me in the long run. Always the misfit, as Boxer puts it.
And's hes ALWAYS the ideal one.
He decided to grace me with his presence at lunch today.
I was busy buring myself in a rice bowl when I see all 6 feet and 3 inches
of him standing over me. He puts on his classic oblivous-to-everything-the-world
-is-just-fine-please-dont-worry smile. He brushes his dark purple bangs out of his
almost-black eyes and eases into the chair next to mine.
"Hi Socks-chan, Im sorry I didnt have lunch with you yesterday, its just that some
of the guys wanted to take me to..."
I mumble a "Yeah, whatever" around my mouthful of rice. I notice everyone in the
surrounding chairs staring at the Boxer Kirsagi, the perfect athlete and social butterfly,
and by the looks on there faces there wondering whats hes doing sitting next to that werid
pale chick that never talks to anyone. Normaly his cheerly dispostion made me feel better-
but for some reason it just annoyed me.
"Dont you have some other friends to entertain? Im prefectly find by myself, thanks for your concern"
"No Socks, I want to be with you. Whats bothering you, you know you can tell me"
"Why do you always have to play the hero? Maybe I just need to be depressed right now"
I didnt think about the words until they came out of my mouth.
He's my cousin, 2 years older than me. My dad and Aunt Bra keep telling me about how he would
drag me around like a stuffed toy when I was old enough to play with, tucking me under his arm when
he went adventureing. I think I can remeber somewhere in the vaults of my memory be raised over his head
and being tossed a few yards agaist a tree. I remeber crying over the cut on my forehead when it only
stung a little and when Boxer came over to apolgize punching him in the face. I remeber fighting.
Lots and lots of fighting.
We never really hurt each other. We cancelled we other out as far as basic, in-born ability. He has the
advantage of more muscle and girth. I have speed, for the most part, and the ability to control it.
So we pulled each others hair and slammed foreheads and rabbit kicked each others intertnal organs in.
I think we both loved every mintue of it. There was love in every uppercut. I can remeber the glow of
utter and undivided pride and attention in my grandfathers eyes when he saw us.
I looked up and saw the pained look in Boxers eyes.
"Im sorry I've bothered you, Socks-chan" His thick, meaty hands were twisting into knots.
"No, Im sorry" I reached over and tried to wrap my hand around his forearm, but it only reached
1/3 around "Im being a jackass, alright?"
"Alright" He used one thick, viened thumb to wipe the mist forming in his eyes.
Even though Ive know him my whole life, its still hard to belive someone whose grown to be so damn HUGE
was so senstive as well.I forget how he still wants to take care of me, even if the rest of the boys
wanted to steal him away sometimes. At the consulation, his black eyes glowed with familar confidance.
"You missed training yesterday, you know"
"Of corse. You think I wouldnt notice that I hadnt kicked your ass for the ten-thosandth time"
"Yeah right. Ill re-adjust your liver. Grandfather was upset you didnt show"
"Tell him I'm sorry, I had homework"
We spent the rest of the lunch hour discussing kai techiques and the newest blade weapons. When I was
beginning to feel like I was connecting again, some wide-shouldered, flat faced thick muscled assholes
came to rob me of my comfront again. They gave me the "What the hell are you doing with our friend."
Boxer gave me a distant smile and trotted off to join the herd. I heard them talking as they walked away.
"What are you doing with her, Box? You could do a lot better in the girl department, I know this one..."
