Recess for Evan was usually spent by himself, sitting underneath one of the large trees on the school playground. Sometimes Evan would bring a book to read with him, or sneak a toy outside, even though they weren't supposed to, but most of the time, he would simply sit under the tree and watch the patterns of clouds above his head. Recess was a time that Evan hated, because he didn't have anyone to play with. Most of the time, it was okay, as he usually had his books or the clouds to keep him busy, but sometimes when the big kids saw him sitting alone, they made fun of him, and liked to push him down. That hadn't happened for a few weeks now, and Evan was thankful for that at least.

As he turned his head, to watch some kids from his class take turns going down the slide, Evan heard a noise that caught his attention. Across the playground, he could see the group of kids that usually bullied him, surrounding someone else, who like him, was sitting on his own underneath a tree. Although he wasn't sure what made him do it, Evan stood, brushed the dirt off the backside of his jeans, and walked closer to the tree, to see what was happening.

"Hey new kid." Someone yelled

As Evan got closer to the tree, he could see that it was Connor who was now surrounded by the group of older boys that usually bothered him on the playground instead.

"Leave me alone." Connor mumbled back

"I don't think so new kid. I want to talk to you."

"And I said leave me alone." Connor snapped back

"You're a freak." One boy yelled

The small group laughed, and Evan watched amazed as Connor didn't even move, or lift his head.

"Thank you. Now, can you leave me alone."

"No." the group leader yelled back

Evan stopped walking and the more he watched the exchange between the group of bullies and Connor, the more upset he got. He could tell that Connor was getting upset too, as the sweatshirt in his fists grew more wrinkled by the minute. Evan's hands began to ball into small fists as well.

"He said, leave him alone!" Evan yelled as loud as he could

All of a sudden every pair of eyes in the small group, including Connor's were on him. The leader of the group of bullies frowned, and walked so close to Evan that the tips of their shoes were touching.

"What did you say Hansen. I don't think anyone asked you."

"I said, leave him alone. He's my…my…"

"Your what. You can't even say it right loser."

"My friend." Evan spit out

The group leader laughed, and Evan could feel the anger rising in his stomach again. A warm hot feeling filled his entire body. Before Evan could do anything however, the boy had pushed Evan's shoulder hard, so hard in fact, the Evan fell to the ground, and hit his head against the tree stump where Connor had been sitting.

"Ow." He whispered, tears stinging the corners of his eyes

"You two freaks deserve each other then."

Evan heard laughter as he watched the group of boys shuffle away from him, leaving him, and Connor on their own. Evan allowed the tears to slide down his cheeks a few minutes, wiping them angrily away from his face, before sitting up, holding on to the back of his head.

"Are you okay?"

Evan turned his head toward the voice, and noticed that Connor was sitting up on his knees in front of him. He didn't want Connor to see him cry, so he stared at the dirt, letting the tears leave wet spot on the ground.

"No." Evan mumbled shaking his head

"Do you want to go to the nurse?"

Evan nodded his head, and stood from the ground as best he could, letting Connor lead him back toward the school building, and away from the trees and the bullies at his school.