Atticus held his bag as he came into school for the day and smiled once he sat in his desk before class started. He soon saw Cherry coming in next. Cherry glanced at him.

"Cherry," Atticus said as he soon came out of his desk. "I'm so sorry about last night."

"Well, what you did was kind of stupid last night, but after remembering what today is; I now understand why you were acting up." Cherry said.

"Can you forgive me?" Atticus begged.

"Maybe." Cherry shrugged.

"What do I have to do?" Atticus asked.

Cherry looked around before whispering to him. "Help me with Math?"

"Deal." Atticus smiled.

"That is... If you can keep up with your grades..." Cherry then said about his behavior lately.

"I'll try my best." Atticus said.

"See that you do..." Cherry said. "By the way..."

"Yeah?" Atticus replied.

"Happy Birthday." Cherry said, holding out a bag for him.

"Thanks." Atticus said as he accepted the bag.

Cherry then went to sit in her own desk. Atticus opened up the bag to see a brownie wrapped up in plastic with a journal that came with its own pen inside. Atticus smiled as he was happy to have Cherry as his friend. Cherry soon began to read her own book until class would start which would take a matter of minutes.

The bell soon rang, and everyone looked up to the front of the board as the teacher came in to go over class with them, and where Atticus was going to make sure that he would stay focused. A boy chuckled as he took out a straw and got ready to shoot a spitwad at the teacher.

"Shoot a spitwad at me and it's detention." The teacher said without looking.

The student gulped nervously before coughing a bit since he swallowed the spitwad he was about to spit out.

"That's what I thought." The teacher nodded.

Everyone then continued to focus on the lesson, though Atticus seemed to have Atlantis on his mind from what his Uncle Sombra told him last night.

"Ahem, Mr. Kent?" The teacher spoke up.

"Yes, sir?" Atticus replied then like he just woke up from a daydream.

"Would you care to read the following the chapter we are on?" The teacher asked.

"Um... Of course, sir..." Atticus replied as he took a look at his book.

The teacher nodded and soon sat behind his desk with his own book while every other student had their books out. "And you wake up in the back, Mr. Moltenscar!" he then called out to a bigger boy who seemed older than the other students because he was big for his age.

"Okay, just put the hay in the apple and then eat the candle, hmm?" The boy smiled sheepishly as he woke up which made almost all of the other students laugh at him.

"That boy sometimes..." The teacher groaned.

Atticus sighed himself and soon began to read aloud, trying not to yawn.

"Very good." The teacher nodded.

Atticus continued to read until his time was up. The sleeping boy soon wrote a note under his desk and asked the others to pass it to Cherry for him. The note soon arrived next to Cherry.

Cherry soon opened the note which said 'Will you be the jelly to my peanut butter sandwich?'. "No thanks, I don't like peanut butter." she then muttered as she balled up the paper note to toss it in the trash as she seemed to not understand that was supposed to be a pick-up line, and where this caused the sleeping boy to look disappointed.

Atticus soon finished reading and then sat down.

"Very good, Mr. Kent," The teacher told Atticus once he did as told. "I'm very impressed that you did as you were told this time."

Atticus nodded his head once.

"Now then, who's next?" The teacher asked, looking around to his students.

Atticus soon let out a yawn, unable to hold it in any longer.

"You okay?" The student behind him whispered.

"Oh, I'll be all right, I just had a long night." Atticus whispered back with a small smile.

"That explains the yawning." The student whispered back.

Atticus nodded while looking back. The teacher glanced over, but then looked back in his book as he thought he heard whispering.

Soon enough, it was after class.

"Look, I'm sorry for telling Clark about last night, but you were worrying us." Cherry said to Atticus in the hallway.

"It's alright, I did act pretty dumb." Atticus replied.

"Atticus, it had to be the stupidest thing you've ever done," Cherry said. "What's gotten into you?"

"Well, I was just not entirely happy with it being my birthday and it being a reminder of the family I'll never get to know." Atticus said, without including a way to stop his family's death.

"...I'm sorry..." Cherry said softly once he brought that up. "I guess I didn't think about that."

"It's alright..." Atticus replied.

"Um... Uh... Hey, why don't you come over?" Cherry suggested. "I'm sure Mom and Dad would like to see you on your special day."

"I'd like that," Atticus smiled. "I better tell Dad though."

"Fair enough." Cherry replied.

"By the way, what did that note say?" Atticus asked.

"Something about peanut butter and jelly sandwiches." Cherry said before sticking her tongue out in disgust.

"Weird." Atticus said.

"Tell me about it," Cherry replied. "Happy Birthday."

"Thanks." Atticus said before opening his present from Cherry.

Cherry gave a small smile as Atticus was given his own private journal. "I thought maybe you'd like to write down your feelings..." She said. "Boy, do I sound like a therapist or what?"

"And I appreciate it." Atticus smiled.

"So, you think anything exciting will happen?" Cherry asked.

Some boys seemed to smirk as Cherry and Atticus bonded, making fun of them for hanging out since they were a boy and a girl.

"We're not a couple!" Cherry glared at the boys.

"Suuure..." One boy smirked. "You're hanging around all the time."

"Leave my sister alone!" Atticus yelled out before cupping his mouth. "Oh! Cherry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say that."

"It's okay," Cherry said as she didn't seem to mind. "Besides, I think of you as a brother."

"Really?" Atticus smiled.

"Yeah, you're annoying sometimes, but I really love you," Cherry said. "If that's not sibling love, I don't know what is."

"Yeah, you're right." Atticus smiled.

"Should we do lunch today then or are you too good for me?" Cherry asked.

"We should do lunch." Atticus smiled.

"All right, fair enough, I'll see you later then." Cherry said as she went to her other class which she didn't have with him that time.

Atticus smiled as he was sure things would be back to normal from there.

The sleeping boy from earlier seemed to sigh at his locker.

Atticus frowned and decided to go see him. "Hey, you're Thornton, right?"

"Yeah, that's me..." The boy said with a soft sigh, feeling depressed.

"What's wrong?" Atticus asked.

"Oh... Nothing much, I guess..." Thor shrugged, though he sounded bored and sad. "I guess I'm just gonna be spending another Friday night at home with my parents since no one wants to hang out with me. I don't know why people won't be my friend."

"Seriously? You seriously don't know?" One of Atticus's former new friends smirked.

Thor looked over and then stared down at the floor.

"Thor, you're so retarded." The other boy smirked.

"I am not!" Thor frowned.

"Yes, you are, and let's not forget about your size." The third boy smirked.

"What's wrong with my size?" Thor frowned.

Atticus began to get angry at his so-called new friends for bullying Thor like that.

"Oh, nothing if you like someone that's a human giant." The first bully smirked.

"My mom said I had a growth spurt, that's all." Thor pouted as that seemed to hurt him and he was even trying not to cry.

"Oh, please," The second bully smirked. "Your mom lied."

"Hey!" Atticus glared.

The three bullies soon looked over.

"Why don't you leave him alone?" Atticus glared.

"Why should we?" The third bully asked.

"Okay, so Thor is big and he isn't the smartest kid in class, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have feelings." Atticus glared.

"Oh, this from the guy that didn't do a thing when the cops came?" The second bully asked.

"I don't know why I wasted my time trying to be friends with you jerks." Atticus glared.

Thor soon saw a teacher coming, and where for once, he had a smart idea what to do.

"Look, guys, why don't you just leave the poor guy alone?" Atticus asked, referring to Thor. "He can't help it, and I bet he's a cool guy to hang out with."

"You gonna make us?" The first bully scoffed.

"I bet you take steroids; that's how you're the star player." The second bully smirked at Atticus.

"Shut up." Atticus growled quietly.

"Oh, what was that, cheater?" The third bully smirked.

"I'm not a cheater," Atticus glared. "Please, just go away, all of you."

"Is there a problem here?" A female teacher asked.

Atticus looked over and saw the teacher.

"Hello, ma'am." The bullies smiled innocently.

"You three, I'm not surprised to see out in the halls." The female teacher told the three bullies.

"What ever do you mean?" One of the boys asked.

"You know exactly what I mean, Archie." The teacher replied.

"...My name is Bone." The boy pouted quietly.

"Anyway, why are you five out here?" The teacher asked.

"I was just walking Atticus to class, ma'am." Thor said with a small smile.

"Right, he was." Atticus added with a smile back to the bigger boy.

"And let me guess; you three were bullying them, right?" The teacher asked the three bullies.

"Were not!" The second bully glared. "We would never bully our classmates! That's against the school policy."

Both Atticus and Thor rolled their eyes to that as bullies always said stuff like that to look innocent.

"Yeah, we were just making fun of Thor's size." The third bully said idiotically.

"Hey..." Thor pouted.

"Is that right?" The teacher replied before looking to Atticus and Thor. "Boys, you better run on to class. I'll handle this."

"Yes, ma'am." Atticus and Thor said.

They soon walked off while the teacher returned her gaze on the boys. "As for you three... I think I'll see you in Saturday School."

"Dang it..." The three bullies groaned.

"Hey, uh, you didn't have to defend me," Thor said to Atticus as they walked to class. "I mean... I am kinda big and dumb."

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean they have to pick on you for it." Atticus said.

"I guess..." Thor frowned. "I can't help it if I get confused easily... My mom says I'm special. She thinks it might be because I play a lot of football."

"Yeah, I noticed I always see you at the football field on Saturdays." Atticus smiled.

"It's a hobby of mine," Thor smiled back before sighing. "It helps that I don't really have any friends... It's better than hanging out around home by myself while my parents are busy or if my sister is with her babysitter."

"I can understand how it feels to not have any friends." Atticus said.

"Really?" Thor replied.

"Yeah, I didn't have any friends when I was a kid," Atticus said. "I was shy and scared, and where I never thought I'd ever make any friends."

"Ooh..." Thor frowned.

"I guess you could say we're both alone." Atticus said.

"Yeah... It sucks..." Thor replied.

"But then one day, I did make a friend." Atticus smiled.

"You did?" Thor smiled back. "Oh, that sounds nice."

"Yeah, and I'm happy that I did." Atticus smiled to him fondly.

Hours later...

The bell rang and soon, the students were dismissed from school.

"So, who's going to be picking you up?" Atticus asked Thor.

"Usually my mom, but I dunno." Thor replied.

"As for me, my dad is picking me up." Cherry said.

"Same here with my dad." Atticus said.

"Oh! Uh, hi..." Thor smiled bashfully to Cherry.

"...Hi," Cherry blinked to him as he seemed to stare at her funny. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Because~..." Thor smiled dreamily.

"Is there something on my face?" Cherry asked.

"No." Thor smiled dreamily.

"...Okay, you're starting to freak me out..." Cherry said, stepping back uncomfortably. She soon noticed Atticus smirking playfully as if he knew why Thor was smiling dreamily to her. "Get away from me!" she then yelped and hid beside her friend. "Atticus, make him stop!"

"I guess you didn't like my note." Thor said.

"Oh... The peanut butter jelly thing? ...I don't really like peanut butter." Cherry replied as she didn't sound very smart when it came to social skills.

"I guess I should have used a different metaphor." Thor sighed.

Cherry looked to Atticus, feeling confused.

"He wants to be your friend, Cherry." Atticus said.

"...Another friend?" Cherry replied.

"Yeah." Atticus smiled.

"Hmm..." Cherry paused.

Thor pouted like a sad puppy dog, sniffling a little as he wanted her to be his friend.

"Alright." Cherry shrugged.

"Yay! Group hug!" Thor beamed, hugging Cherry and Atticus tightly.

"Ooh, he's a hugger." Cherry grunted a bit.

"One thing you should know is that Cherry doesn't tend to like being touched." Atticus told Thor.

"Oh... Sorry..." Thor replied before letting go of them. "I'm a little affectionate."

"So I see..." Cherry muttered slightly before looking over, waiting for someone to come pick her up. Much to her luck, she soon saw her father coming. "Well, I better get going." Cherry soon said.

"Awww!" Thor pouted to that.

Cherry soon got in her father's car, not wasting a second.

"So, Cherry, guess where we'll be going today?" Bud said.

"Um... Grocery store?" Cherry shrugged.

"Nope, we'll be at Atticus's house for a surprise birthday party tonight." Bud told her as they drove off.

And where no one could hear what they were saying because of the windows being rolled up.

"What?!" Cherry asked.

"See ya later, Cherry!" Atticus called out, though he wasn't sure if she could hear him or not.

"I guess I better wait for my mom." Thor said, feeling a bit lonely again.

Soon enough, another car arrived and since it wasn't Clark's vehicle, it had to be Thor's mom's car.

"Guess that's me..." Thor said as he went to go see his mother.

"Oh... Um... Okay..." Atticus replied as he didn't want to leave Thor just yet as they seemed to get along so well. "See ya later, Thor."

"See ya later." Thor said.

Atticus waved, a bit sadly, but he hoped to see Thor again really soon.

Thor soon came over to the car. "Hi, Mom."

"Hello, Thornton, how was school today?" Moxie cooed to her son as she had a kid's CD on for his little sister.

"It was nice until having to leave school." Thor said as he got in the car.

"Aw... My poor Thornton~" Moxie cooed. "Don't worry, we'll be home soon. Maybe you'd like to play with your little sister tonight?"

"Sure, Mom..." Thor sighed before smirking as he tickled his little sister in her car-seat.

"No! No! Stop!" Phoebe giggled and wiggled.

"Oh, what's that? You want me to keep going? Okay." Thor smirked as he continued.

"Stop!" Phoebe squealed and giggled.

Moxie smiled to her children, though she just wished that Thor had some friends so he wouldn't be bored home alone all the time, especially on the weekends. They soon drove off home.

Atticus whistled to himself as he waited for his own ride home from school, and where after waiting a little while, Clark soon came by vehicle. Atticus soon came inside.

"Sorry if I took a little long, Birthday Boy." Clark smiled.

Atticus soon went wide-eyed at what he heard. "Uh, what was that?" He asked.

"Uh... Sorry that I took so long?" Clark replied.

"Oh, it's alright." Atticus said out of relief.

"Come on, let's get you home." Clark smiled.

Atticus gave a small smile back as they soon rode away from school. 'Whew, for a second there I thought he said Birthday Boy.' Atticus thought to himself.

Clark wiped his forehead a bit as they rode off together. "School go okay today?" he then asked.

"Yeah, I think I made a new friend." Atticus replied.

"That's great," Clark smiled. "Wait did you make friends with the right person this time?"

"Yes, this time he wasn't like those three others." Atticus said.

"Oh, is that so?" Clark asked.

"Yeah, he seems really nice and a lot of fun," Atticus said. "He sounds lonely though."

"Sounds like you became friends with him just in time." Clark smiled.

"Yeah, I guess I did..." Atticus gave a small smile back. "Maybe I'll see him again. We do have some classes together."

"Well, it would be nice if you had other friends besides Cherry, but I do admire your friendship with her." Clark commented.

"We've been friends ever since we were kids." Atticus smiled.

"And I admire her for that, but I think it's good to make other friends than just having the one," Clark replied. "Not saying that just being friends with Cherry is bad, it's just good to hang out with other people sometimes."

"Yeah, I know." Atticus smiled.

Clark smiled back as they began to drive back home.

'This day will be different.' Atticus thought to himself.