There were footsteps behind you as you were nearing the elementary school. Your heartrate quickened, and your mind began to go through all of the awful things that could happen to girls in the world simply because they were walking alone. You didn't want to look behind you, for you feared taking notice of your potential tormentor would only make you more trouble.

"Hey, [NAME]," greeted a familiar voice as you were still worrying over what to do about this possible threat.

You turned to look, feeling a little less anxious about it now, and found that Sanji was the source of the footsteps. He'd only been trying to catch up to you.

"Morning," you greeted quietly.

"Who are you?" your brother, Wendell, asked of Sanji.

Sanji smiled.

"I'm Sanji, [NAME]'s friend. I'm guessing you're her brother?"

"Yeah. My name's Wendell. I'm in the fifth grade."

"It's nice to meet you. I hope you don't care if I walk with you guys?"

"Sure," Wendell said agreeably with a shrug. "Do what you want. I'm about to go to school."

Sanji turned his attention to you.

"Good kid, isn't he?"

You nodded. You had taught him all about ettiquette. He was mature for his age.

"Good-bye, [NAME]," Wendell said, turning around to hug you.

"Bye, Wendell. Have a good day at school," you replied, hugging him back.

You watched as he crossed the street and entered the elementary before continuing to your own school.

"I didn't see you after Saturday," Sanji pointed out. "I was worried."

"I was at home," you told him.

You felt him scan you, felt his eyes travel up and down your body and over the fresh markings found on the exposed skin. You shivered and resolved to keep your eyes averted from him.

"I've never left for school this early," Sanji commented instead of saying anything about the injuries.

"Why did you today?"

He shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck.

"I, ah, I noticed you were always really early to school. I thought if I got up earlier and watched carefully, I could catch you on your way up. I wanted to walk with you, basically."

Simply the exchange of question and answer with someone outside of your family made you feel normal. The soreness and pain of yesterday seemed to fade away under the guise of conversation.

"How'd the rest of your weekend go, [NAME]?"

"Good," you lied automatically.

"I see your black eyes are getting better. But, you've got some more scrapes and bruises."

You rubbed your arm awkwardly, hoping this wouldn't escalate past small talk.

"[NAME], I told you my house is always open. I wasn't lying to you."

"I have responsibilities, Sanji," you told him firmly, sounding upset. "I can't just abandon them."

"Someone is hurting you, [NAME], and you need to get away from them."

You nervously shifted your backpack.

"I'm fine."

Your voice was quivering.

"Why won't you just take my word for it?"

Sanji quickened his step slightly so that he could get ahead of you and face you.

"[NAME], I mean it. I need you to come home with me today. Bring your brother."

"I can't!"

Frustrated tears burned behind your eyes. Why wasn't he listening to you?

"Listen to me, okay? I can't go to your house."

"What about the literature project?" Sanji piped up in a show of desperation.

You were shaking your head, equally desperate.

"I can't, I can't," you repeated.

"I'll come to your house, then."

It wasn't a request. It was a statement.

"No!"

Your voice had come out louder than you'd meant it to, the syllable echoing off of the sheer silence you'd just created. You stared into his surprised face, your entire body trembling as you balled your hands into fists. Looking at that stupid face of his, you felt such a rush of hatred that you surprised yourself. You hated him so much. You hated how he had talked to you out of nowhere. You hated how much he seemed to care. You hated how much he tempted you to tell him everything.

And yet, all of these little things that you hated only served to endear him to you further.

Your eyes burned, and you dropped your gaze to the ground before shoving past him. You knew very well you'd blown it. You understood he'd never want to say a word to you again. He would only remember you as the girl who wouldn't even talk to him like a normal person when he was trying to be nice to you.

As if to mock you, the wind started blowing harshly, whipping your hair around your face. You crossed your arms over your chest, cringing inwardly at the sound of Sanji's footsteps starting up again.

"[NAME]."

His voice was much firmer, more serious than you could remember it ever being.

The tears wouldn't stay back where they belonged. You sniffed and kept going.

A gentle hand fell on your shoulder, and you flinched at it.

"I'm sorry, [NAME]. I didn't mean to put any pressure on you."

You shivered, your arms tensing even further as they tried to hold to you tighter, almost as if they were trying to build a wall between you and Sanji.

"We can stay after school and finish it, if you want to."

You looked up at him to find that his face matched his voice. In both you could sense how he felt he had crossed a line, how he felt he had messed up somehow in your eyes.

You fidgeted uncomfortably. None of this was his fault. You didn't want him to think of it that way.

"It's okay..." you said quietly, resigned. "I don't care where we do it."

"I would really like it if the both of you came to my house," he told you hopefully, his eyes questioning if he crossed the line again.

You thought about this as Sanji gave you the okay to begin walking again through his actions. It was Monday, you considered. You always came straight home on Mondays, regardless of anything you might need to do after school. Monday was the worst.

"Wendell can come visit you," you told him in a tone you hoped communicated that it was your final decision. "I'm not available today."

"[NAME]..."

You shook your head and brushed past him, electricity tingling on your skin as you did.

"I'll come over tomorrow."