After a quick meet-up with Sarah and Benny, I pulled Sarah aside to see if I could come to her house. She said yes, and I said goodbye to Benny, who winked in response, obviously thinking it to be something it was not. I got in her car and she drove us to her house, which was actually quite nice, and we went inside, where it was also quite nice. We sat down in her room on a circular fuzzy carpet.

"Okay, Ethan. You are going to gush to me about Benny. Tell me everything, no matter how disturbing. Tell me what Benny likes and what you like. I'm going to help you with this. I don't really know how Benny acts when you are alone, but if you love him, then I guess he's amazing. So, begin."

"Hmmm. I guess I'd just love it if he would hold me in his arms and kiss me gently on the lips. Just for one night."

"Aww. And what is it that you like about him?"

"Oh, so many things. His adorable nose, his shy personality, his beautiful eyes, his great hair, his cute litle shape, his voice. I love everything about him." Sarah looked surprised.

"Shy? Benny? Are you talking about someone else?" I reached out and grabbed her arm, hoping somehow to transfer a vision to her.

A vision of adorable little Benny with his longer hair and soft voice. His tiny little hands and his skinny frame, being one inch shorter than me. He was the cutest, most adorable, tiniest thing I'd ever seen. He was fumbling with his fingers, and speaking softly, stuttering occasionally. The vision went out.

"Okay, Ethan. Now, I don't really find Benny nearly as attractive as you. I think he's a bit dorky, but I have to admit that was probably the most adorable thing I've ever seen. He was shorter than you! Tiny Benny is so cute! Your love for him is so sweet, Ethan, it really is. What are his favorite things?"

"He likes video games, comic books, superheroes, girls, Stephen King, and peanut butter cup pizza."

"Got it, and you?"

"I like Benny, Benny, video games, superheroes, comic books, Benny, and pizza and ice cream. Oh, and Benny."

"I got Benny down already, champ."

"Okay." It was nice talking to someone. I guess this was why girls were so close. They got to get all mushy about the guys they liked and their fantasies, but I couldn't just sit down and talk about the guy I liked. I'd probably be even more of a target than I was now.

"Sarah, I have another vision to show you. Benny, is actually very selfless. He once got beat up for me."

A vision flashed. Five guys surrounded me. It was 5th grade. Benny was 2 inches taller than me, and not as shy. His hair was still longer, and he was still adorable, but right now he didn;t seem very happy. I started to cry, and three of the five 5th graders laughed. Benny charged up to them.

"Leave Ethan alone. He hasn't done anything wrong! So just pack yourselves up and leave!"

"Oh, great. Now we have Beanpole's gay friend to deal with. More fun for us, huh?" The boy swung at Benny, clipping his nose, making it bleed. Benny held it for a second, then let go. I knew them that he was going to take my punishment for me. I watched as guy after guy swung at him and hit him spot on. He wasn't fighting back. He just smiled at me as every punch sent his head in a different direction. I couldn't believe my eyes. I watched as they all took off.

"I hate to admit it, but pumbling that little homo freak made me tired. How about we call it a day? Watch your back, Beanpole. We'll be back." Mumbles of agreement sounded. A particularly burly one of the five turned and spit on Benny. I ran over as fast as I could.

"Ethan?" Glad that he was still talking, I answered.

"Yes!"

"Whatever you did to make those guys, mad, please don't do it again. I don't think I could take it if they came after us again soon. And I don't want you being hurt for my weakness, okay?" He smiled at me and then collapsed. I didn't blame him. I knew he would be okay at least until we got to his house.

When we got there, his grandma layed him down on a bed. Very gently.

"Ethan?"

"Yes, Benny's Grandma?"

"You better be glad those bullies gave up when they did."

"Oh, yes. If they had hurt Benny anymore I-"

"Yes, if they had hit Benny one more time he would have internal bleeding in his lower abdomen. I can only imagine what they might've done after that. One thing's for sure. Benny must really like you to have put up with all that pain for you. He's bruised all over his stomach and his chest, and he has a nose bleed. Not to mention it started to rain while you were out there. He'll probably be very sore tomorrow, and have a cold. Take good care of him. After all, you're really the only friend he's ever had, and after his parents split..Thank you for being a good friend to him, Ethan. and feel free to stay over."

"Thank you. I know. I feel really bad for what happened. I would like to make sure Benny's okay, so I'll stay over."

The next day, Benny and I stayed at his house. I got permission from my parents to stay out of school to help Benny get better. I lit a fire, and gave him my blanket. The house was very chilly, because it was late fall, and his Grandma was out, so we were by ourselves. He shivered in the cushion of his chair. We were both small, so we both fit in the one adult-sized chair. He sneezed, and I felt bad. I scooted closer to him for warmth, and put my arms around him.

"Sorry if this is awkward for you, but I think we both know how cold you are, and until the fire starts up, you're going to need my extra warmth." I hadn't admitted my cursh to myself yet when I was but in 5thgrade, but I suppose it was always there. Always a want to be close, and to hold him. I felt like I was taking care of him. Like I was taking charge, even if he was two inches taller than me.

"It's not awkward..it's actually quite nice..You're so warm.." He snuggled closer. He tucked his head onto my shoulder. I put my chin on top of his head. I kissed his forehead, and I hugged him again, then he fell asleep. I watched his tiny stomach rise and fall. He looked so comfortable. I still don't know if he was leaning towards something more, because I know I liked it, but it might have been just an act of desperation for warmth. I still had hope, though, that it was all on purpose. That he did so in a perfectly sane state of mind.

The vision ended.

"That was quite possibly the most adorable thing in the universe that has ever happened, ever!" Sarah declared. Her eyes were practically hearts. She took my hands as she spoke her sentence. I blushed. It was my favorite memory. I always thought about it.

"I love that memory. I'd love to think that it was really because he wanted to be close to me, but I'm sure he was just cold..." Sarah shook her head.

"I don't know...something about that look in his eyes make me think otherwise...He looked so content, so happy. LIke he just wanted to stay that way for hours. And I was watching from third person, whne you were re-living you part. He seemed like he was really snuggling with you. It was really cute. I didn't think Benny could be cute!"

"Watch it, Sarah. He's mine." We laughed.

"I know, Ethan, I know."

The next day, I met up with Benny. He asked me what had happened with Sarah, but I denied anything. I told him nothing happened, and he gave up after a little while. We decided to take the long way to get to my house. It was nice out today, and we decided to appreciate reality for a change. Next thing I new, we had ended up right back at the place where it had all hapened. 4 years ago. The five guys were back. WE never saw them in school, because they went to another, nearby school. They smiled menacingly, and the head bully spoke.

"We told you, we'd be back. How've you been, Beanpole? Still going to let us use your dorky friend as a punching bag while you just sit and stare? Won't matter. As soon as he's out, we coming for you, and we've been working up our stamina all this time, so we'd make sure not to get too tired out. This oughta be fun." The head bully cracked his neck and knuckles, and then stared at his lackies knowingly. Right on cue, Benny stood up.

"Ethan hasn't done anything wrong! How about all of you idiotic tough guys just leave him alone!" I knew what was going to happen. Precisely, and I was right. The shortest, at 6'4, was already 5 inches taller, and a lot wider. He swung a punch, and Benny, once again, did nothing to protect himself or combat his enemies. He just smiled at me, and gave me a thumbs up. His head jerked in so many directions so fast, I feared his neck might break, as the others joined in the fight. They, again didn't have the stamina as they beat Benny to a mess. He had put up a longer fight this time, hence tiring them out more. Benny turned to me and said one thing, before collapsing.

"You're okay, right? Good, because I don't know how I could have lived with myself if you'd gotten hurt." Blood ran down his face and he was bruising fast. I ran him to his house, seeking his Grandma's masterful medical abilities out as fast as I could.

"It's happened again?" She said as she sprinkled some magical powder on his wounds."This powder should help him recover by tomorrow on the outside. It won't do anything to lessen the pain, but, it will prevent any scars or unwanted questions that may rise up. Would you like to call your parents to see if you could help Benny? I'm going out of town again for an Earth Priestess gathering in London."

"Yes." I got the permission from my parents and kneeled next to Benny. "I'm sorry that he got hurt, again. I haven't even talked to them. They just came after me. Benny came to rescue, again. and took all the pain for himself. He didn't even fight back, just let them hit on attacking."

"He knew they would want to finish him off if they saw him not puttig up a fight. They though 'Easy kill' and decided to go for it. But Benny lasted longer than they thought, and he survived yet another beating.I'm not mad at you, or at Benny. Just those bullies. Benny is a good kid. He might goof up once in a while with magic or some harebrained scheme, but who doesn't mess up once in a while? You're still a good friend, Ethan. And if you had tried to help Benny, I don't think either of you would be okay right now."

It had become cold again. The sunny day had become snowy, a chill was creaking through the doors and windows, even though they were shut. Late fall weather had been very odd, switching between warm and freezing, rainy and snowy. Snow was starting to fall down. Benny came to, shivering violently, coughing and sneezing. We still fit in the chair together, and I brought the blanket over him, as he wrapped it around us both.

"Benny, this might not've been awkward in fifth grade, but it might be now, but you are ice cold, and I'm doing it regardless." I wrapped my arms around his skinny, small, boyish frame. He was getting dorwsy already.

"Ethan, it's still not awkard..and you're still so warm...It feels really nice, and comfortable..." He snuggled closer and rested his head on my shoulder. I embraced him ever tighter as he became to get drowsy. I kissed his forehead real quicky, and slowly, bequeathed a small, gentle kiss on his lips. I broke the kiss after a mere few seconds, scared of the face I'd see when I opened my eyes back up, but I just saw drowsy, blushing Benny, as he finally shut his eyes and drifted asleep. I feel asleep with my chin on his head, in a protective position. I wanted him to be comfortable, so I'd speak in a gentle tone when I thought he was waking up, and I snuggled with him when he shivered. I was worried about what he mgiht say tomorrow. About the kiss on the forehead and the lips, or the unusually close snuggling, or the falling asleep together. I would have to wait until we woke up at morning.