Kevin and Janis kept meeting for lunch, for almost a week straight. Kevin actually started to look forward to school. What was once was a hostel place was beginning to be more warm. Still, Kevin never forgot his place as "Hairs", which he was reminded on a daily bases by Chase. He did still second guess Janis from time to time, but, when ever he saw her smile or herd her voice, his fears would vanish.
As Kevin watch the clock as it ticked down to lunch, he though about Janis. She made him feel better in some way, like he was never "hairs". The bell then rang. Kevin then raced out the door of his English class. He headed towards his locker with out hesitation. All of a sudden, Chase popped out of no where.
"Well, if it isn't hairs.", Chase said sly like, "Heven't seen you all day." Kevin then gulped as the vision of Janis, disappeared. He was then slammed down to the lockers by Chase. Then grabbed by two other boys who were Chases friends. They then slammed Kevin into his own locker. "Did I see you yesterday?" Chase whispered into Kevin's ear as he picked him up.
"I can't remember" Kevin forced out as Chase held him up . He then glanced around the group of on lookers that was forming. Hoping not to see Janis.
"WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT LOOKING AT PEOPLE?" Chase yelled as he caught Kevin eyes moving. "Maybe you shouldn't eat today.!" Chase said as he laugh.
"Maybe we shouldn't allow him to be in side?" One of Chases friends suggested and quietly said to chase. Chase then smiled and nodded yes. Kevin started to trembled as Chase drugged him to the nearest fire exit.
As the door opened Kevin could feel the rain bounce off the cemented square right outside. Chase and the others then shoved Kevin outside into the pouring rain. Kevin landed on the wet square hard busting his lip. He scrambled to get up before the door was shut tight. Hearing cheers from the other side. Kevin walked away. "They don't want me."He thought catching his breath. Freshmen were not allowed outside. He knew for sure he would get caught.
He then remember that he was meeting Janis. Panic then grew in him. "If he wasn't their. What would she do?" His stomach began to sting. He had to get in side. He then ran around the building trying every door. Making it to the back, he then saw Janis waiting. He started to walk away, when he saw a near by door. Thinking if he knock loud enough he could get her attention. From another window he saw chase walking down the hall by the door. He knew then, it was no use. His hope fade as he watch Chase go to the door and stand by it. Chase soon walked away.
Not knowing what else to do he walked up by the window where Janis was waiting. She was reading a book for her lit class. She would look up every know and then to See if Kevin was coming. He thought at any moment that she would leave and never come back. Kevin then then leaned his head on the glass. It made a small thud that alerted Janis. She then look up in shock. They both then headed towards the nearest door. Just as Kevin got close, Janis opened the door and looked at him. "Oh my god!" Janis spit out.
As Kevin stepped inside, Janis closed the door as quietly as she could. He was drench from the rain.They both stared at each other until, Kevin heard Chase's voice. He quickly ran off and hid in the nearest closet. "I thought I heard a door closed." One of chases friends hollered as Kevin heard footsteps thundering past the closet.
"Janis!" Chase cried out. Kevin held his breath. He knew Chase and Janis knew each other. "Did you hear a door opened?" Chase said more quietly. Kevin started to tremble.As he once again felt the lump and sting in his stomach.
"Yeah, I did because I was the one that open it." Janis said irritated , her voice was in a colder tone than she had with Kevin. "I Wanted to smell the rain." She continued. "Is that a crime?"
"Why are you back here anyway?" Chase asked. Kevin then knew he was going to be caught. "You're not a loner."
"I wanted the quiet. " Janis snapped,"I was tired hearing about that "Hairs" Kid. Everyone talks about him like he's this "thing"."
"He is a "thing". " Chase laughed. "It shouldn't bother you."
"I JUST GOT TIRED OF IT" Janis voice echoed in the halls." I needed to meditate anyway." She then quietly said
" OK.. OK" Chase joked." You runners and your meditation. gee-sh. " He said as Kevin heard his footsteps pass the door. Kevin then cowered in the closet trembling as he tried to compose himself. Hearing knocking , He jumped.
"GG GO AWAY!" he shouted.. as he shivered. His heart pounded as though it was leaping out of his chest.
"SHH! It's alright. Chase is gone!" Janis said as she headed closer to the closet door. Before she reached the knob, Kevin grabbed it and pulled in on it preventing her to open it.
"Please! Just forget about me." Kevin Whimpered as he held the door in. "You don't have to worry about me. I'll be fine!"
"Kevin! ... I'm not going to do that. Now let me in." Janis said as she tugged on the door harder opening it. Kevin scurried back and coward as Janis stepped in.
"Just, leave me alone. I'm not going to bother you..." Kevin said as he cowered.
"Your drench!" Janis said as she tried to touch him. He stepped back just as she raised her hand. He trembled hard. She then took a step back and look down the hall. "Come on!" She said as she held out her hand. "I'm going to get you out of here."
"NO! Chase won't like that. Freshmen can't leave." Kevin said as he looked at the ground.
"I can get you out of here. Look, I'll be right back OK. Promise you'll stay." Janis said as the bell rang. Kevin nodded as she left. He then then tried to compose him self He watch his hands shake has he felt his heart raced. He wanted the door to turned into a wall. He then squeezed his Sleeves out. As he sat in the dark he could her the rush of the passing students. Moments later, All he heard was him self gulping for air as tears fell. He then heard another knock. Janis opened the door as he jumped. " OK, lets go. I told the office..."
"WHAT??" Kevin Jumped ... Janis then wrapped a towel around him.
"... that you were sick! I told them you were too weak to walk all the way up there from where you were. Look, I worked it out with Deloris, my friend. I can only take you to my car though." Janis said as Kevin looked at her shock. He then took a breath and grabbed her hand.
"What about chase?" Kevin said as he looked down the hall. Ignoring him, Janis then pulled him down the hall and to the nearest door. Checking around every corner before they turned. Making it to the doors Kevin squeezed Janis's hand. The rain had lighten up. Kevin stared at the ground as Janis lead him to her car. It was a light blue "second hand" four door car.
Janis then open up the passenger door and held it open. Kevin stared at the door for a minute then got in. Hearing the door shut he started to trembled again. He jumped at the sound of the driver's door opened.Once she got in, the doors looked. She then turned on the car half way and looked at Kevin. Kevin just stared right in front of him. He then felt the warm air coming from the heater. " I shouldn't't be here" He said with a gulped. " I shouldn't even be ... "
"Hey!" Kevin jumped at Janis alerted voice stopping him before he could finish, "Don't think like that... Don't even look down that "dark path"." Janis said in her warm voice. "People like chase , don't deserve what they have." Kevin then turned on his side and cried. "You don't deserve to be treated like this." She sighed.
"I DO..." Kevin shouted as he grabbed the side of his seat. He didn't want to go back.,"I have to get through this. I HAVE TO PUT UP WITH THIS." He continued. Thoughts of Chase ran through his mind. He then started to breath harder.
"NO YOU DON'T!" Janis screamed. Kevin jumped and trembled harder. "Look at you self! You're a mess." She then looked at his lip. It was still bleeding. She then open her gloved compartment and got a first aid kit out. She then started to clean him up a bit. Kevin, still trembled and jumped as she did. "Hold still." She said as she open another wipe, "Your pretty banged up." Kevin then stared at her. He got the feeling that he always did when she was around him. She then stared back and sighed and then turn on the car full way.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Kevin said in terror.
"I'm taking you to eat! You can't go back in there." Janis said as she started to put her car in gear. Kevin tried to stop her from putting the car in reverse but she brushed his hand away. Kevin then sat back in the seat. He froze as the car started to move. " You have to eat." She said as they left school grounds.
She drove to a diner that was only a few blocks away. Kevin Whimpered as she park, His stomach was in knots ever since Chase attacked him. Fallowing Janis's Lead, he got out of the car and walk right by her. He then put his hood down as they walked in. Finding a booth, the two climbed in and started to look at the menus. "So, what looks good?" Janis said as she looked at Kevin.
"I don't know? ... my stomach.. hurts" Kevin said under his breath.
"Soup might be good then, huh?" Janis said as she looked at him. Her eyes then caught his. They were warm and deep. He then glanced away and looked at the soups.
"Yeah, it sounds good." Kevin said louder than before as the waitress came up to them. They quickly ordered lunch. The waitress left them alone.
"Feeling any better?" Janis said worryingly. Kevin nodded a yes as he touch his face to feel the scrape on his cheek. He fought back tears. Janis then took his other hand and held it. " You need to tell some one what is going on."
" I can't!" Kevin said fighting back more tears. "I just can't..."
"You have to!" Janis firmly said. "Don't you have other friends?" She asked. Kevin then shook his head 'no'. "Why not? you seem like a nice guy."
" I can't ... talk to them...Chase can't know who they are." Kevin blurted out as he wiped a tear, " They can't know "what or who" I am! They just can't !" Kevin then started to breath harder. Janis then switch sides and sat by Kevin . He flinched as she then put her arms around him." I have to protect them." He mumbled as tears fell from his face. "They wouldn't want to be friends with me now." He said under his breath. Janis then caught a tear from her eye.
"You got me!" She said as he looked at her. It then hit him. He finally had a friend. Looking at her He knew she was genuine . He then took his first deep breath. He then feared that chase might find out. She then tapped him on the shoulder. "Hey." , Giving him a smile she got back to her own seat as their food came. Kevin slowly ate his soup as he once again studied Janis.
"I ... I don't want Chase to ..."
"He won't find out about us." Janis said as Kevin started to worry. They then went back to eating. Kevin fought his stomach pains. He didn't realized how starved he was. He then got nauseous. "Slow down" Janis said as he "turn green". He then waited until his stomach settled , then return to eating. They finished lunch and headed back to the school.
Janis parked in her spot once again. Kevin then stared at the school. "I don't want to go." He said under his breath, "But I have to." He then turned towards Janis. She gave him a worried look. He then scrunch himself up.
" You know, You did almost throw up. So, you really aren't feeling well and Delores did give you a lot pass. You could stay here until school is over. Then I could take you home."She said looking at him," You'll be safer here." Kevin nodded and turn on his side facing the center of the car. Janis then started to get out of the car, "If you want to come in you can." She mention as she got out of the car. She then locked the car with Kevin in side.
Laying there his thoughts returned to chase for a moment, then back to Janis. He grabbed the edge of the seat as the car swayed. He was light headed. He then fell a sleep with out knowing it.
When he woke up. Janis was unlocking her car door as other students passed the car."Feeling any better?" She asked as she put her bag in the back. He nodded a yes as she got in even though he was a bit dizzy still. "Your color is back." She said as she looked at him with her warm smile. "OK, ummm..."
"I live by peach creek Junior high." He blurted out. "You can let me off there."
"I can drive you to your house. It's no big deal." She said as she turn on her car.," When I get to the Jr high, Tell me how to go, OK"
"OK" Kevin grunted. They then took of to the junior high. From there Kevin Navigated Janis to his house after she swore she wouldn't tell any one. As she turned into the cul-de-sac. Kevin was relieved that it was empty. He pointed out his house and she drove into the drive way.
"Is this is?" Janis said double checking.
"Yeah. Thanks for the ride and... well"
"It's no problem, Kevin. I'm just glad your OK." She said as he open the door. He then said good by and closed the door. As he entered his house, she backed out and left.
He then walked in his dark house. He still was coming to terms with Janis and what she did for him. Catching him self halfway up the stairs he waited for the dizziness to pass. then continued on up. He then entered his room an fell to bed. His mother woke him up when she got home.
"Are you OK dear?" His mother said as she rubbed his face.He slightly nodded yes. as he open his eyes,"You look pail."
"I'm fine, mom. Just had a big day." Whispered Kevin.
"Well I'm going to make dinner now. Will you come try down in a little bit?" His mother asked as he nodded "yes" again. She then left his room , never really seeing the condition that he was in.