Ch. 3

Kevin drudge through the next week or so, like he had been. Trying to avoid Chase, and everyone else. He did returned to his bench for lunch now and then. Some how he liked it. It was peaceful and quiet. No one else knew about it, execpt Janis.

From time to time He did think of her. Still not knowing what to think. "Was she even real?" He thought as the vision her warm smile enter his mind. Then suddenly his mind would go where it always was. Back, on Chase.

He tried everything to avoid Chase. But, every now and then, Chase would tourment him in some way. Every time he would hear the name "Hairs" he froze. His only safe haven were the closewts and stairwells. He kept his eyes down mostly. Every now and then he did look up to see if he see any one. Unfortunetly He bwas caught one time.

"HAIRS! WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT YOU LOOKING AROUND?" Chase barked as he slammed Kevin down.

" I... I'm... I'm not suppose to" Kevin whimpered as he tried to get up. Chase then grabbed him and pinned him to the wall.

"YOUR NOT SUPOSE TO LOOK UP!" Chase growled as he squeezed Kevin neck. Kevin then begain to gasp for air. Finally, Chase lowered Kevin. Only to punch him in the face, giving him a black eye. " YOU DON'T HAVE ANY REASON TO LOOK AT PEOPLE!... NO ONE LIKES YOU!" Chase said as he shoved Kevin into a locker. " NEVER FORGET THAT!" He stared at Kevin,then pushed himself through the crowd that was around him.

Kevin who was now on his knees gasping for breath and trembling. Gather his things. The other students didn't even offer a hand they kept right on passing him like he was nothing. Fighting back tears he decided to go to the nurses office . As he walked he pratice his line that he usually used when he got attack by Chase. Entering the nurses office he notice that the room was empty.

" Another black eye?" The nurse said as she got Kevin an ice pack.

"I hit myself with my locker." Kevin said as he was still gasping for air. " It knock me for a loop. I guess i'm just accident prone."

" I guess so." The nurse said as she walked back into the main office. Kevin then sat him self on a bed nursing his wounds. A few tears fell from his swallon eye. The nurse who was accually a secretary in the main office,went back to work and ignored Kevin.

"He's right" Kevin thought , as he pulled the ice bag away to let tears fall. "They don't even notice me." He then place the ice bag on his head, where he hit thhe locker. he the caught something out of his "good" eye. He then look again. It was Janis, she was talking to one of the secretaries. Trying to remain out of view , Kevin lied down. From out of now where he felt a hand and flinch.

"That looks bad!" Jansis said sitting down next to him, "What happen?"

"I bumped my eye with my locker door." Kevin said quickly. He then noticed that she was looking at his sweat shirt. Her eyes widen. All Kevin wanted to do was run and hide.

"Oh my god, You're..." Juanis said as she looked Kevin over. "You're... Hairs?"

Kevin gulped as tears streamed down his face. He then started to cry hard. He didn't want her to know. He didn't want any one to know. Yet, it he wasn't thinking straight st the momment. "How did you know?" He said paniced, trying not to yell. He was more terified than ever! He knew that any minute she would leave with out saying anything. That Chase woiuld find out. She did get up but, she didn't leave. She shut the door between the office and the nurses room. Kevin then began to cry harder and shake.

"I saw the attack. Why didn't you tell them what happen?" Janis said whith a worried voice.

" They don't need to know...l Chase will..." Kevin saidas he realised what he almost said. It had been too long since some one talked to him. "THEY CAN"T KNOW!" He yelled.

"They need to know" Janis demaned.

"I CAN HANDLE IT!" Kevin said with a cry.

"Like two days ago,when he tripped you. Or, three days ago when he took your lunch and told you you were FORBIDDEN FROM EATING!" Janis ranted.

"What ever chase told you to do, GET ON WITH IT!" Kevin said as he trembled.

"YOU THINK...I..." Janis said as she calmed down " CHASE IS A JERK!" She look at kevin firmly. " I witness almost every attack that he did to Hairs, I mean you. Also I been looking for you. To see if things got better." She then notice that Kevin was staring at her. "Look, I.."

"DON"T!" Kevin yelped .Janis then took a step back.

"I'm sorry" Janis said in a quiet voice. " I guess you don't trust anyone." She then sat down on a bed an waited for Kevin to calm down.

"You're real. " Kevin said as he inched foward.. Janis let out a small laugh and gave him a smile. "Why are you talking to me?" he asked with a gulped.

"I just want to make sure you're ok." Janis said getting up. " I like you."

"You... you do?" Kevin asked as he took a step towards her. "NO! No one likes me!"

"I do." Janis said with a laugh.

"Why did you come in the office?" Kevin asked with a gulped.

" I was just talking to Deloreses." Janis said, "We're friends. I come by after school and help her out. with mail and stuff. She said you came in here." Janis then sat quiet for a minute. Kevin still didn't know what to think. He then took a step closer. " You're pretty shook up." Kevin nodded.

" Chase says.." Kevin mummbled

" Just forget chase!" janis said as Kevin jumped back.

"I CAN"T!" Kevin yelled as he reaplied the ice bag. He then sat down on the bed.

"Look! You need to..."

"I GOT TO GET THROUGH THIS ON MY OWN!" Kevin shouted interupting Janis.

Janis sighed . "Well I better get to class." Hey, why don't we meet for lunch?"

"WHAT? NO!... I CAN'T, CHASE..." Kevin whimpered.

"He won't find out." Janis said as she walked over to him. "I promise

"HE WILL" Kevin cried again, petrified that chase would walk in, but, he wanted to talk. "W W W When?"

"Lunch, tomorrow. Where we met." Janis said.

" Ok" Kevin said trying to group all his bravery. "I'll be there."

"Great" Janis laugh, "I hope you feel better Kevin." She then left the room , Kevin watch to make sure that she didn't say anything to any one. He then went back to icing his eye.