CHAPTER ONE

"Are you okay?" the boy asked as he took off his hat, letting short brown hair fall to her shoulder and extended her hand.

"You're a girl?" Chris stated incredulously. She looked down at herself.

"Well, I'll be damned, so I am. Do you need help?"

"No thanks," he muttered, standing but leant against the wall behind him.

"You sure you're okay?"

"Yeah," he smiled weakly before sticking out his hand, "I'm Chris."

"Corey," she nodded, picking up his bag.

"Corey," he repeated, "Isn't that a guy's name?"

"It's Coryne by birth," she muttered, wrinkling her nose.

"Well thanks for the help," he said, obviously changing the subject.

"You shouldn't let shit heads like him walk over you like that," she shrugged, holding out the backpack, "Besides, I caught him off guard. If he'd seen me coming, he'd of done something. Trust me."

"I doubt that," Chris grinned, taking out a cigarette but she just shook her head.

"I know that." She took out a wooden object from her pocket and metal flashed.

"Damn," he muttered, "You've got guts, girl."

"Thanks," she smiled as he exhaled a cloud of smoke, "C'mon."

"What?"

"You can barely stand straight," she laughed, "I'm helping you whether you like it or not."

"Sheesh, demanding," he smirked.

"Are you really in a position to act like that?" she laughed.

"Guess not," he agreed, as she placed his arm over her shoulder, "Where'd you learn to fight like that?"

"My brother," she answered as they started to walk.

"Your brother?" he repeated.

"You like to mimic, huh?" she grinned, "Yeah, he's in the navy and believes that girls should know how to defend themselves."

"And the looking like a guy helps?"

"What, just because I'm not wearing a skirt, I look like a guy? I have breasts you moron."

"Yes I can see that," he laughed and she gasped, smacking him in the stomach, only to hear him inhale sharply.

"Oh, I'm sorry," she bit her lip as he stopped, "I didn't mean-."

"It's fine," he smiled painfully, "Here, my friend lives here."

"Alright," she muttered, jogging back down the stairs, "I'll see you around I guess."

"Yeah," he nodded, "Hey wait, uh, Corey?"

"Yeah?"

"Could you not tell anyone?"

"About you being defended by a girl?" she laughed and he nodded sheepishly, "Wouldn't want to tarnish your bad boy reputation, would we?"

"It's just-."

"Don't worry bout it, Chris," she smiled. He smiled back thankfully and she shrugged, watching him walk into the house of his friend. Biting her lip, she turned to walk home.

"Adam? I'm home!"