Bullies

"Let's go for a walk."

Immediately after stepping outside, their hands found each other meshed together.

They seemed to be walking towards the edge of town, and finally Mike asked, "Where are we going?" He was curious now.

"Train tracks. It's quiet no one will see us or bother us… and we can… kiss." She seemed unsure of herself when she said that.

"What happened to kissing me in front of our friends?" Mike was only half serious.

"I will, but… I want... Some… alone time with you. You are my first boyfriend. I'm getting used to… somebody who even… wants to kiss me."

Mike nodded, "I know what you mean."

A few minutes later and they were standing on the quiet train tracks. "It doesn't look like a train has been here for years." Mike said, "I guess it's safe to walk along here."

"It's safe to kiss, Mike."

"Huh? I mean if it's safe to walk… oh i get it." Mike smiled. "Sorry, I'm not used to a girl wanting to kiss me."

Mike awkwardly held her waist, and El put her hands on his shoulders, they both leaned into kiss. They kissed for what Mike thought was a lot longer than was possible. Or time had just stopped. Either way it was a simple kiss that Mike didn't want to stop.

El sighed against is mouth and breathed. "I like the way you kiss me, Mike."

Mike blushed, "your lips are really soft. Uh, I mean, I don't, um, know what I was expecting, of course a girl's lips would be soft, but um, I didn't think they'd be that soft, and I'm sure by now I'm sounding like a total wasteoid."

El giggled, "a cute wasteoid." And then she blushed too.

"Um, El?"

"Yes Mike?"

"I'm sorry I'm so awkward around you. I really like you and I'm nervous I'll say or do something wrong."

"Mike." She turned to him, "I understand"

"Cool." Mike looked down and smiled.

"Cool." El squeezed his hand and they continued walking.

Mike shook his head.

"What's wrong Mike."

"I'm walking down a set of abandoned train tracks. Holding hands with the prettiest girl I've ever seen in my life. And this girl is my girlfriend. We've kissed. I'm dreaming. Not a bully in sight. I must be dreaming."

"Then we are having the same dream Mike. The guy I lo- like is holding my hand, has already told me I'm pretty… more than once. And he's my boyfriend. If it's a dream Mike, it's one I want so share with you."

Suddenly Mike stopped. He let go of El's hand and stepped in front of her. "Shit. I knew this was too good to be true."

She looked around his shoulder from behind to see what he was looking at farther down the tracks. "Who are they?"

"Bullies."

"You know them?"

"No, but I know the type who have that walk. They'll just push you down, but they're probably going to beat me up. Sorry El. You are going to see me unable to defend myself. I could outrun them easily, I'm used to doing that, but that's not going to happen today. Stay behind me."

El could hear the fear in Mike's voice. She felt sorry for how helpless she knew he must be feeling.

"You are on our tracks frogface." The shorter bully said.

Mike sighed defeated, but didn't say anything.

"Oh and look he's protecting his boyfriend." Mike hadn't seen El peak from behind, her face dark.

The bully continued to walk menacingly towards them… and then stumbled and fell face forward onto the train rail. His jaw was almost torn off, half a dozen teeth were left scattered around. He got up in shock holding his jaw in place, afraid it would fall off. His larger friend helped his screaming, crying partner in crime and they ran off the way they came.

Mike couldn't believe what had just happened. He had an encounter with two bullies and he had come away with no bruises. More importantly El was safe. He was a little humiliated at his confession, but she was safe.

He turned to looked at her and was shocked to see how pale and unsteady on her feet she was. Her nose was bleeding.

"El, are you ok?" He put his arms around her to keep her from falling over and almost carried her over to a stump off to the side of the tracks.

"Pocket." She said with no strength behind her voice.

Confused, Mike felt the pockets for her cover-alls. He found a lump and reached in to pull it out. It was a Three Musketeers. Oh, she must be diabetic, this chocolate bar had the most sugar of any you could buy in a store.

He opened it up and broke off a small piece for her to eat. She was able to eat it, and he broke off another larger piece. She ate that and was able to eat the whole thing. In a few minutes she was looking gratefully at him.

"I'm sorry, El, you should have told me you were diabetic, I would have made sure you had your insulin."

"Insul…. Insulin?"

"You don't know what that is?

"I'm not di… di…." She struggled with the word.

"Diabetic. It's a sugar level thing with your body."

"It's something else, Mike."

"Um, oh ok… uh, you don't have to tell me if it's um, girl stuff or something."

"It's not girl stuff silly." She gave him a wide smile. The smiled disappeared.

"I don't want to keep secrets from you Mike… but this one I have to… for now. Are you… are you ok with that?"

"As long as you're ok… I'll respect your privacy El." He looked down.

"Mike." She gave him a heavy sigh, "...it's complicated. I need to ask you a really big favour… please don't tell my dad… that I… had… an episode."

"It's ok El. I didn't think I had a thing for mysterious girls, but I've just discovered I did." He gave her a smile and was delighted to see the relief in her eyes. "Pretty and mysterious girls… who knew."

Mike leaned over to kiss away the tear that rolled down her cheek, "It's ok El. Really, it is."

"Are you going to kiss away all my tears Mike?"

"Every one of them El. Every last one of them… as long as you're ok with that?"

"I cry a lot." She looked down. "I'm ok with that now."

"You are beautiful when you cry El. But.. I'll try not to make you cry."

Mike stood up and held out his hand to help pull her up. He made sure she wasn't wobbly before taking her hand.

"We should probably replace that chocolate bar in case you have another… episode."

"Can you take me home Mike?"

"Yeah, let's head back."

Mike held his girlfriend's hand all the way to her house. He didn't care if her dad saw. Feeling brave he kissed her at her front door.

"If you're going to kiss my daughter, at least come in and introduce yourself properly."

Mike's mouth went dry instantly. Oh shit.