5. A New Friend
Emily and Jayden stood next to each other while Mentor Ji talked to the lady at the front desk. They looked at each other, and were nervous. They were holding hands. Jayden tightened his grip on Emily's hand, not hard enough to hurt her. She smiled softly, trying to assure her big brother.
Mentor Ji walked up to them. He knelt down in front of them and helped Emily put her backpack on.
"No talking about samurai things," he told the two, keeping his voice low so the lady at the front desk wouldn't hear him. He stood up and looked at the two children.
Emily was four and starting pre-k, while Jayden, who was nine, was going to fourth grade.
"Behave," he told them, knowing they would.
They nodded and a lady walked up to them. Emily went to hide behind Jayden, afraid of the stranger. Jayden glared at the lady for scaring Emily.
"You must be little Emily," she said, crouching down. "And you must be Jayden."
Jayden nodded. Emily didn't.
Mentor Ji stood up and took both children's hand. They walked to Emily's class, because it was closer, and she was younger. They stopped in front of the door and the lady opened the door.
Mentor Ji dropped her hand and told her to go inside. Emily shook her head and threw herself to Jayden's arms.
"Emily, you have to go," Mentor Ji told her, as he crouched down next to them.
She shook her head and held on to Jayden tighter.
"Emily, you have to go," Mentor Ji repeated, pull her away..
"Why?" she asked, in a scared voice.
"Emily, do you want to learn?"
"No! Wayn!" she cried, she could say 'Jayden', but only when she felt safe.
Mentor Ji stood up and looked at the lady.
"She doesn't want to leave Jayden," Mentor Ji told him.
She frowned. Her heart melted when she saw Jayden soothe Emily.
"Emily, it's going to be okay," he whispered into her ear.
"No," she muttered, pressing her face against his chest.
"Emy, I'll be here. I'll never leave you," he told her, running his fingers threw her hair.
"Please! I no wanna go!" she cried, clenching his shirt tighter. "No make me go!"
The lady shook her head.
"Emily, if you go, I'm sure your father will buy you something," she told the young girl.
"Menor?" she asked, looking at him with her wide eyes.
The lady looked at him, weirdly.
"Emily's mother and Jayden's father died three years ago," he answered, not wanting to say more.
Looking at the two young kids, the lady said, "They are really close, aren't they?"
"Inseparable," he said, smiling at the children, the children he treated as his own, no matter their bloodline.
The bell rang. The two children looked around and frowned.
"What's that?" Jayden asked, looking for the source of the sound.
"Its time for the break, go play," the lady told them. Jayden took Emily's hand and both ran out, happy to get away.
"Would it be okay if I stay today?" Mentor Ji asked.
The lady nodded and both walked out to see Jayden and Emily together.
Jayden looked around and saw a boy around his age alone. They walk to the boy and smile.
The boy looked up, his brown eyes with fear.
"Hello, I'm Jayden, this is Emily," Jayden introduced themselves, giving the boy a nice smile.
"My name is Antonio," the boy responded, cautiously.
"What are you doing here alone?" Jayden asked, looking around for other people.
"No one wants to be friends with the fish boy," Antonio answered, in a voice full of pain.
"Em, go play with those kids," Jayden told his little sister, pointing to children her age.
Emily nodded and left.
"She's your sister?"
Jayden nodded.
"Fish boy?" Jayden asked, frowning.
"My dad sells fish."
"And your mom?"
"Sh-she's dead. Died last year."
Jayden looked to the ground. He knew what Antonio was going threw.
"My dad died three years ago, Emily's mom did, too."
"Isn't Emily's mom yours, too?"
Jayden shook his head.
"She's not really my sister, she's like a sister."
"And your other parents?"
"I don't really know them. I don't really know who Emily's dad is," he said, wanting to end the subject.
Jayden and Antonio started talking about other things and becoming fast friends. Neither paying attention to what was happening with Emily.
Emily was on the ground, tears falling down her face. The big kids had pushed her. They didn't like new kids, especially younger ones.
"Get up, Freak," one said, glaring at Emily.
Emily stood up and stared at the big kids. One of the boys pushed her back down. They started calling her names and laughing. Emily closed her eyes, afraid. She didn't like school. She wanted to leave and never return.
"Jayden!" she shouted, tears running down her cheeks. "Elp!"
Jayden looked up and frowned at the group. He heard Emily shout his name. He raced to the group and found Emily inside. Antonio was right behind him.
He knelt down next to the fallen girl.
"Emily, are you okay?" Jayden asked, looking for injuries.
She shook her head. She was hurt that people were being mean to her.
"Leave her alone!" Antonio told the bullies, glaring at every one of them.
"What are you going to do about it, Fish Boy?" one guy asked.
Antonio glared at the boy. He shook his head.
"You're not worth it," Antonio said. He knelt down and looked at Emily.
"Don't ever listen to bullies. If you do, they get happy, and we don't want that," Antonio told her.
She nodded. The three children stood up and walked away from the group.
Emily smiled at her new friend. Maybe school wouldn't be as bad as she thought.
Next Chapter: Goodbyes
Antonio is moving away. The three have been the best of friends for a year. How will the other two react?