"You're asking me to what now?" My eyebrows went up, surprised as I was that Marie was talking to me in school, let alone asking this of me.

"You heard me. I don't care how you do it. Ask him, grab his wrist, bump into him, anything! And tell me what happens, if it hurts. Please, I beg of you. He's," she looked distraught, "trust me when I say I'd do it myself if I could, but he won't let me anywhere near him right now."

I tried to sense some sort of ulterior motive, but she really did look sincere. Then, she looked like that around my mom, too, and she was full of shit then.

I sighed, "How do I know this isn't a trap?"

Her shoulders drooped, "It...please, Kevin, just...do this for me, okay? I'm really worried here. I can't tell you why, just...I'll owe you one, alright? If I ask him about this and I'm wrong, he won't talk to me for a week." Her eyes looked down, and I could tell this situation had happened before. I still wasn't sure, and hell if I wanted to get within two feet of the guy, but...something about the way she looked at me made me acquiesce.

"...Fine." Her eyes lit up, and I saw hints of a smile cross her lips. She moved forward unexpectedly, causing me to step back, but she still managed to give me a short hug.

"Thank you. I'll try and catch you at the end of school to ask. Thank you thank you thank you!" Backing off, she waved at me, and ran off to God-knows-where.

"...What was the deal with her?" I heard a melodic voice cut in, and turned to see Nazz walking up. I shrugged my shoulders.

"It's something stupid, don't worry about it."

She raised an eyebrow, "...I will worry about it, but I know you won't tell me and that pisses me off. Dork." She smiled, rolling her eyes and grabbing at my hat. I mockingly covered it with my hands, as she walked past to her class. It was at the other end of the school, so I didn't blame her for not lingering long. When she was gone, my smile left me. The thoughts of what I had to do came to the fore-front of my mind, and festered.

How the hell was I going to do this?

Carefully. That's how he dealt with the books in his locker. He could have opened it up and been done in 5 seconds, but instead, he took his time to sort everything. Not that there was a rush, but...I just didn't get it. My eyes, however, were more interested in the wristbands. The things Marie had begged me to inquire about. Ugh...

Now that I was paying attention to them, it did seem he was being even more careful than normal. I never saw his left wrist bump against anything, it was like he purposefully avoided it coming into contact with things in his locker. That was kinda weird, but...seriously though, why would it matter? Did he hurt his wrist or something? Is he that stupid that he hides serious injuries? If that's it, then I guess Marie's right for being worried. I'd be pissed too, if Nazz pulled that sorta shit.

I was only caught in my thoughts for upwards of 7 seconds, but that's all it took for his glare to catch me. Those glacial eyes were piercing, and I was frozen in place. He simply looked at me, didn't bother saying anything. He actually looked...expectant?

I guess, in the end, that's what made me walk up to him. Which was stupid, I know. Damn, was it stupid, but...guess I'm a fucking idiot so it's not all that unusual.

"H-h-hey, I uh..." You know how all your courage suddenly leaves you when you're faced with your fear? Yeah. That.

"She asked you to check on me, didn't she?" His voice was colder than his eyes. I choked on my words.

Literally though, I couldn't get out a fucking word. But he knew anyways. I kinda just looked at him, nonplussed, and his eyes spelled annoyance.

"Your eyes announce what your fear denies," he let out a long, frustrated sigh, looking down temporarily, then back into my eyes. I didn't know how I was keeping eye contact with him, but somehow I was, and it was making me shake. His eyes spoke of intelligence I could scarcely understand, as he continued, "are you aware of what she was asking about?"

I wasn't. I started to reply, "I-"

"Thought not."

Asshat. "Hey, she's worried about you, and it looks like she's right to be. Why are you hiding that you're hurt? I mean, it's stupid, hiding stuff like that," I reached forward without thinking, grasping his possibly-injured wrist. I guess he wasn't expecting it, because I actually managed to grab it. I was about as shocked as he was, but I still saw the way he reacted when I touched it. He winced, hard. He tried to pull away, and I grabbed tighter. He was strong, but he was also hurting, and I think he knew pulling harder would just hurt him more. I felt bad about it, but...seriously, I had to do this.

"...why does it hurt?" I found myself asking, and I saw this hint of...something...in his eyes. Then it was gone.

"It's none of your concern, Little Red," the wolf-like eyes bore into me, and I felt hunted. I drew myself in, my hand going slack on his wrist, as he immediately pulled it back. I looked down, thinking for a moment. I felt the words scramble towards my lips haphazardly.

"Look I know we're not friends but if you want my number you can call me if you need a friend or something okay?" It all came out in a long stream, not a pause to be heard of, and I almost immediately regretted saying it. Eddward looked surprised. Twice in one day, that's a new record. Again, he hid it, but he seemed to be thinking. We stood there for a minute. I was going to be late to class, but I didn't really care. Shit happens, and the teachers know I'm a good kid. Whatever, fuck it.

"..." His lips parted, but no words came out. His right hand lifted to the choker on his neck, fingertips slipping under it and tugging. Fidgeting? Eddward was fidgeting?! I think he noticed, because his hand fell, and his eyes returned to their crisp, cold norm. His lips parted again, and he spoke in a hushed, almost stuttered tone, "v-very well then. Leave it in my locker, I have class, which you've done quite well in distracting me from. Your interference will be noted, now off with you."

I saw him pluck the appropriate books from his locker, even using his injured wrist and wincing all the while, as the locker slammed shut smoothly and he walked off to class.

Ever-graceful, his shoes made no sound as he walked the hallway.

No one would know he was there unless he chose for them to.

And then there was me.