Chp. 1

Kevin was jolted out of his sleep by the passing bell. After waiting for his eyes to adjust for the dark closet that he was sleeping in, he then look down at his watch. 11:20 . He then gathered his books and bag and put up his hoodie . Waiting for a good opening in the crowd. Seeing a spot , He jumped in. Along his way he kept his eyes plead for any in counter. Making it to his locker, he took a breath of relief and grabbed his lunch. He then headed to-wards the cafeteria attempting once more to find a spot with out being notice. Sadly, he was denied.

" HAIRS" A tall older boy in a varsity jacket with Football stitch on it, shouted directing it at Kevin, "You know you're not allowed in here!." Kevin didn't respond,. Since he had lost all will to fight, he just stood there holding his breath and his lunch.

"YOU KNOW OUR RULES, HAIRS. NO FREAKS!" The boy shouted once more.

"Chase. I... Just... wanted..." Kevin mumbled ..as he cowered in front of Chase! The two had met at football camp that summer camp.

"Wanted what ? A thrashing?" Chase said coming closer to Kevin.

" A drink!... Please, Chase!" Kevin voice squeaked

" NO!." Chase ordered! Kevin started to shivered, " YOU CAN'T HAVE A DRINK, HAIRS."

By now the whole cafeteria was staring at Kevin. Who was now looking for the quick way out.

" Get lost, Hairs.!" Chase said as he walked back to his table.

Kevin then took a brief glance around the cafeteria looking for anyone from the cul-de-sac. Out of the corner of his eye he saw double-D with the science geeks, Jonny with the earth lovers and Ed with the sci-fi kids. None of them gave him a second look other than being "Hairs" Chase's given name for Kevin, do to his long bangs that still stuck out from under nieth his hoodie. .The boy who hid from everything and everyone. They couldn't know it was him . As he started to turn he notice Nazz sitting with the freshmen cheer team . He stared in her direction until, Chase snaped him out of it by knocking him off balance.

"What are you staring at hairs? YOUR NOT WELCOME IN HERE!." Chase barked as he laugh while the others joined in. Including Rolf, who was sitting close to Chase's table. Kevin then quickly slunk away and out of the cafeteria and down an empty hall. He had reached the back of the school where a few benches were with windows right above them. The windows over look the track and football field. Spotting a bench that was out of sight, Kevin plopped his heavy bag down. Making sure it was safe he did a double take then sat down on the bench pulling his feet in with him.

Getting situated . He then stared to open his lunch bag. Tearing off bits from what was once a whole sandwich at the beginning of the week. His mind soon began to wonder back to where they always went. Back to the football camp. He was haunted by these thoughts and was reminded daily of the events that happen there.

He was excited about camp and it went well at first. Until he met Chase and the other Varsity team mates. Just like all freshmen, they taunted Kevin. They did ease up on the others but, still kept on Kevin. When he return home , he tried to live life like always but the camp had left scares that could never be healed. By the time he started school he was no longer Kevin, he was "Hairs".

Taking the last few bites of what he could swallow. He put the rest of his sandwich back into the bag and stared out at the foot ball field. All he ever dreamed of was playing Football when he got to high school. Now, thees dreams could only be dreams thanks to Chase.

Sitting there in the silence, he began to think about Nazz. She had a boyfriend, Jarred. He was smart cool, funny. Kevin would see them in the halls if he ever looked up, which only did more harm than good. He always imagine that Nazz would be by his side and not any one else. She didn't even acknowledge him now.

"I can't even look at her" Kevin said to the walls , "It's for the best though. She's happy."

His mind went back to Chase and the reputation of "Hairs". He had gotten use to it now. As long as he didn't object to anything that Chase or any one else said or did to him he could survive. That's all he was doing now, surviving. Even from his own friends, like Rolf or the Eds which were well as they each had there own path. He took what ever came to. trembling at every joke underneath his hoodie. Once, Nazz had even laugh at him. Not ever knowing who she was really laughing at. All at once he felt a lump sink in his stomach fallowed by a sharp sting. He had gotten use to this feeling, knowing it was just nerves.

Kevin then was alerted by approaching foot steps . Frantic, he tried to gathered his books and hide at the same time. He prayed that the steps would trail off down another direction, but they kept in the same direction. He wanted to see if he had a quick chance to but was to frazzled to look. Before he could put up his hoodie a hand touch his shoulder.

" I'm leaving! Don't worry. I'll be out of ..." Kevin said as he scrambled ," Here in a minute."

" Actually, I just came over to say hi. You know, as in a greeting." A feminine voice replied.

Shock by the remark, Kevin quickly froze. He thought it was another trick that Chase was pulling on him.

"Huh?" Kevin said under his breath.

" Hi?" The tender voice repeated again. " I saw that you were sitting by your self and I thought I would say hi."

Kevin then turned around slowly. He then Encountered the body, of which the voice came from. He then started to cowering. Backing away slowly. "You're actually talking to me?"

"Well yeah! I'm Janis, by the way." She said holding out her hand. Kevin then took a step back. Not knowing what to think or do. Since this was the first time in two months, that he was treated like a person. " Well.." Janis chimed," What's you name?"

"Kevin" Kevin said with uncertainty.

"Kevin?" Janis repeated with the same warm tone she had all along. "You don't seem quite sure of your self. "

" Kevin." He said once again. He then realized what he just said. His own name. For the first time at Peach creek High. He said & heard his name from another student. He then look at the girl. She was about his hight and had shoulder length brown curly hair that was pulled back in a ponytail. He then notice her dark brown eyes and her warm smile. A second later the memory of Chase flash in his mind he then began to coward again.

"What grade are you in?" Janis said trying to keep Kevin focus.

" In ninth."Kevin said under his breath.

"Frantic Freshmen?" Janis laugh, " So, that explains why your alone. Have you eating any lunch?"

"I'm fine. " Kevin said trying to shew Janis off," I just want to be alone." He continued as he trembled.

"Are you sure?" Janis question Kevin, who was about to bolt, She then put her bag down. Kevin took another step back thinking, Chase would not approve of this. " Watch my stuff, OK? Just stay here. I'll be back in a second" She said running of to-wards the cafeteria. Leaving Kevin there lost in confusion.

With in a few minutes Janis had returned. With two hamburgers and two drinks.

" I can't " Kevin said backing away.

"You can't?" Janis asked in an alerted voice,"Why?"

"I.. just...Can't." Kevin said in a frighten mumble.

" It's just a hamburger." Janis said as she looked at Kevin who was trying to back away still. " Are you a vegetarian?"

"No." Kevin blurted out, "I'm not allowed to eat cafeteria food."

"By who? Your parents?" Janis said as she saw Kevin shaking his head 'no'. "It not that scary. Even though it's from our cafeteria. here take it." She held out the small hamburger, Kevin looked at it for a second and then looked around. He then swiped the burger out of her hand. Trying to cram the warm burger in his mouth.

"Easy." Janis said with a laugh, " Seems like the seniors got to you." Kevin's eyes began to fill with tears he held them back, "They did get to you. Huh? ..No wonder your back here." She then sat down and began to eat her own lunch. Kevin was taken back by her staying.

" You're staying?" He ask gulping down a bite of his burger. Thinking that any moment Chase or some one else would see them together.

"I'm not going to leave you all by your self." She said as she notice that he was shaking. "Your shaking like a leaf! You need to sit down. " She then patted the empty space right by her. "Come on, I'm not going to hurt you."

"I ... I... " Kevin started to say something as he looked around for Chase. Janis then took his hand hand pulled him over. He then sat down and gulped his drink down. Still curious about why Janis was staying. She then gave him a warm smile.

After finishing the drink , Kevin then stared at Janis. He wonder if she knew who she was with. He then felt a feeling that he never felt before. It was warm and comfortable. Then once again the name "Hairs" popped in to his mind. Fallowed by the lump and the sting. He was then reminded of who he was.

" I need to go," He suddenly said, " I should't had stayed!"

"What? Wait!" Janis said as she put her drink down on the window seal.

"I need to go!" Kevin said as he ran off as the bell rang! Out of site of Janis, he once again pulled his hood up and went thought the halls.