Just a note: this is might a short chapter, but I didn't really know how else to add this in. And, since I haven't said this yet, I'd recommend reading this on mobile, as I've found that this site is easier to use that way.

P.S.: If this ends up available on Saturday, I'm sorry. I'm on vacation and the days have started blending together, so I didn't notice it was Friday until 11:30 P.M..

Locke

Homeroom the next morning was filled with stories about the adventures Goten and Trunks had been on. When the bell rang, I was dissappointed that I'd have to wait to hear what happened to Broly.

As we were walking out, however, Meadow gave a cry from behind us, followed by the sound of tumbling. All three of us whirled around, spotting Meadow on the ground. "Meadow!" We and got down and tried to help her, but she insisted she could do it on her own. She started to push herself up, but hissed and dropped back down. This time, she didn't resist when Goten helped her up.

She held her wrist, grimacing. "I think I sprained it," she explained.

"I-I'll carry your things, then!" Goten quickly collected her supplies, but I stopped him as he was about to go with her.

"I'll take them," I said. "Your class is on the other side of the school, while I have the same classes as her for most of the day." Goten wanted to protest, but Trunks took the things from him and handed them to me. "We'll see you guys at lunch."

As we walked to class, Meadow was strangely quiet. It may have been my imagination, but I thought there might have been a barely-noticable blush brightening her cheeks. "U-um..." she finally stuttered. "Thanks for... helping me."

I smiled. "Anything for a friend." The blush became certifiable, but I didn't bring it up.

We got to class and I set her stuff down at her desk, then started towards mine, but she stopped me. "Um, Locke?"

"Hm?"

I turned, then found myself in a hug, though she seemed to be avoiding pressing into me too much. "Thanks," she said one more time. "Goten and Trunks never did something like this for me. Well, in their defense, they never really had much of a chance."

My heart went into overdrive; a cute girl who loved martial arts and sci-fi was hugging me, and thanking me for helping her. I couldn't resist returning the hug, even though she jolted. I quickly looked for an excuse. "We're friends, and I take care of my friends when I can."

She loosened up and smiled. "You're going to fit right in with us, Locke." A whistle from a student entering the room made us instantly jump apart. "U-uh, thanks again."

Goten

I grumbled while sitting in Biology, imagining all my fantasies about Meadow being smashed to pieces by Locke.

"You're reading too much into it," Trunks assured me. "He was just helping a friend. We'd have done the same thing."

"I guess you're right. I mean, he's only been here a day; how could he possibly catch up to all the effort I've put into winning her over?"

Meadow

My heart was racing all day. A boy I'd just met and befriended the day before was treating me like an old friend he'd do anything for, or even... I shook the thought out of my head immediately.

But the brief thought urged me to take a good look at him, and my heart skipped a beat. Before, I'd just been focused on his kind nature, but now that that was old news, his actual appearance was free to be analyzed. You know how your pupil can expand when looking at something you like? Well... when I checked a window as we passed by, my pupils were pretty freaking wide.

No, I'm not crushing on a guy I just met! He doesn't even like me that way! I took one more glance at him, taking in his features again and feeling my heart skip a beat. Although... if I wait a while and still feel like this... maybe it won't turn out so bad.