Kevin returned to school the next day. Chase "ran" into him as during his second passing. He cornered Kevin and grabbed him by the shirt and shoved him up against the wall. "Where were you yesterday, Hairs?" Chase snarled.

"I...I... was at home, chase!" Kevin said as he trembled.

"Sick?" Chase laughed, He then shoved Kevin back against the wall. "You better not had forgotten your place!... Who are you?"

"I'm... I'm..."Kevin started

"WHO ARE YOU?" Chase demanded.

"HAIRS!" Kevin yelled. He then trembled harder after hearing his own voice say the name,"I'm Hairs."

"That's right. A nobody, a nothing." Chase whispered into Kevin's ear. He then shoved him on to the ground. "PICK UP YOUR BOOKS!" Chase ordered. Kevin did what he was told. He then rushed to class. Once again he sat in the back trembling. He tried to focus on the lesson ,but his mind was stuck on the attack.

Trying to dodge every one in the hall he made it to his next two classes. Half way through his forth class he looked at the clock. "10:45" He then remember that he was meeting Janis. Suddenly he began to feel better. Getting anxious , he watch the clock. He couldn't wait to see her. He couldn't wait to see the bench. Then, he remembered that chase had been back there two days ago. He didn't want Chase to find out. His mind was back on chase again. Jumping at the sound of the bell, he raced out of class. Feeling the sting in his stomach he pushed on. Even though that there was no way Chase would go back there, he still worried. He then felt the crowd thinned.

Halfway back to their spot, Kevin Wounder if Janis would show. "She said she would." He thought as he turned the corner. Looking up he saw her waiting He smiled and took of his hood.

"You're Back!" Janis greeted him as he came closer. Looking around, Kevin then remembered what had happen two days before. Janis then stared at him. "Do you want to go some where else?" She asked . Kevin nodded yes. "I think I know of a spot." She then took his hand and lead him off. Kevin thought they might go out to her car. He was proven wrong as they turn down a flight of stairs and stop on the landing. "Is this OK?" Janis ask as she pulled of her bag. "I thought you might want a different spot after well, Tuesday." They both sat down on the floor.

" I did , thanks" Kevin said as he lower his hood.Reconizing the spot, as one of his common hiding places, he took his bag off and breathed easier. He then Started to pull his lunch out. He still had the sandwich he had two days ago. He tore off some of his sandwich and ate.

"Your stomach still bothers you?" Janis ask as she got her own lunch out. "Do you want some of mine? It's fresher!"

"I'm fine, really. " Kevin said as he ate another bite. "It's just my nerves."

"Are you sure? It's been a few weeks." Janis said with a concern tone.

"I'll be fine Janis." Kevin Snapped "...Sorry, I..."

"I know, I know, You'll be OK." Janis laugh.

" I just haven't... You.. and.,... I... I don't" Kevin tripped over his words as he got up. He still didn't understand why Janis like him. "Are you taking pity on me? because if..."

"Kevin, we been through this before! I know you can take care of your self! I was just hoping you were better. You're my friend, I care about you! How many times will I have to say it?" Janis ranted interrupting him.

".. I just ... SAW CHASE TODAY!" Kevin yelled,"He made me... HE MADE SAY I WAS ... " Kevin held back the name.

"What? Hairs?" Janis pried.

"YES!!" Kevin said as he kick his back pack. He then started to tremble as chase flash through his mind. "I... I..."

"Just relax!" Janis said as she stood up,"Chase is a jerk." He then took a step closer. She put her arms around him,"Are you feeling any better?"

"I do feel better." Kevin said as he took a deep breath. "What was everyone saying yesterday?"

"Nothing .. Just stupid stuff ! "Janis said," Like, 'I guess Chase Finlay got to hairs.' Or 'Chase is in a better mood with out Hairs around. Or 'Gee, isn't nice not too see hairs.' Or 'He's probably not coming back.'"

"I knew it!" Kevin sighed," They don't want me. They don't even like me."

"I DO!!!" Janis Yelled. " That last one scared me. I thought... you... I like you. I wanted you here! It was strange being in the cafeteria yesterday. I hated it. "

" ...What's it like?" Kevin asked , Never being in the Cafeteria more than a minute, He never actually seen the whole room.

"You never been in there? " Janis asked in shock!

"Not really. Chase, chases me out because I'm not allowed." Kevin said as he slumped down to the floor. Janis

"He can't do that. Is that why ... Well that needs ..."

"It's fine, Janis! I thought I told you that.. Look just forget I said it." Kevin said as he interrupted her.

"NO, I'm not forgetting. ...Chase can't make these rules!" Janis tried to object.

"YES HE CAN! HE'S CHASE, THE STAR QUARTERBACK! A SENIOR! " Kevin yelled at the top of his lungs. He then paused as he trembled. He then look at Janis as he breath heavily. He wanted to make her understand without telling her anything.

"Kevin! ..Just because he's the quarterback, doesn't mean anything. He can't treat you like this." Janis said as she sat down by him,"But, if you don't want to ..."

"I want to see it! I never been in there for more than "ten seconds". I know it's nothing special, but I just... I have to fallow his rules." Kevin said under his breath.

"Why?" Janis said lifting his chin.

"I just do!... I don't wan't to talk about it." Kevin said looking at her.

"Because you're ..."

"Yeah, .. 'Hairs'." Kevin said as he got up. He then got the warm feeling again. As he looked at Janis, everything else disappeared. She then looked into his eyes. It had felt as if everything had stop.

"Are you sure you're OK?" Janis said as she picked up her bag.

"Yeah, I'll be fine." Kevin said snapping back. "Um.. So... what class do you have next?"

"Jr. Lit. Remember?"Janis laugh.

"Yeah, Did you finish that book, yet?" Kevin asked awkwardly.

"We're almost done. I think we have a test." Janis said as the bell rang. They then started up the stairs."You have Gym, right?"

"Yeah." Kevin said as he felt his sting. "I better head out."

"Wait, do you want me to drive you home?"Janis offered.

"I'll be fine! Um.. but, thanks any way." Kevin Quickly replied.

"Can I at least walk with you?" Janis asked.

"You want to been seen with me?"Kevin asked

"Why not?" Janis Laugh , "We're friends !"

"NO!... Chase might see! Look, ...We better not! Hairs..." Kevin stumbled out.

"Forget about being that name!! "Janis remarked as Kevin then looked up . "What if I walk in front of you like a few feet." Janis suggested.

" Well..." Kevin mumbled. He thought of the idea of knowing that she was there.

"Look, just half way and if anything happens..."Janis said.

"Don't do anything! Just don't even look back!" Kevin snapped.

"OK, OK... I'll let you handle it. " Janis joked,"Why do you put up with it?"

"I guess I'd gotten used to it. It's been like this since football camp." Kevin said as they started to entered the main hall.

"Football camp?" Janis said as she stopped him in the door frame, "You were at Football camp?"

"I really don't want to talk about it! I shouldn't of had said anything. sorry." Kevin said under his breath as he put his hood up., "You better, start off.."

Janis sighed and started off she only walked a couple of feet in front of Kevin, Who was kicking him self for mentioning football camp.Half way down the hall he turned off towards the gym and locker room.

Entering the locker room, he put his bag down.Then headed into the gym. He was the first one out do the fact he never change. His mind was still on Janis through out Gym. Before he knew it, class was over. He had made it through gym class without upsetting the coach. He really didn't pay any attention to the coach really. He just fallow the group and tried to keep up. It didn't hit him until he was back in the locker room. He was nervous, because the coach didn't yell at him, but his mind wondered back to Janis!

Janis had stayed in his mind through the remainder of the day. As he got to a bus, he realized that he was thinking about Janis even more. As he closed his eyes He could she her smile. Then from out of no where.. He heard Chases's voice. "HAIRS!, Chase yelled as Kevin jumped and looked out the window. He froze in fear, of the idea of, Chase entering the bus and trapping him for sure, like he did once before. He watched as Chase laugh and turned away heading back to football practice. He thought about leaving, but then the bus started to move. A second later, Janis returned to his thoughts. He fixated on her until he the bus came to a stop by the middle school. He then got off and headed home. Still thinking about Janis.