As days went by Janis and Kevin got closer. They kept meeting for lunch in various spots. Janis had even driven Kevin home few times, when days were rough. Kevin started to talk a little more each time. Both him and Janis talked about almost anything, except when it came to the football camp or chase or Gym. If Janis did pry , He would just sit quiet or try to change the subject. "It just something I need to get through." Was his typical response when ever Janis would ask about an attack. Once, she asked him about what he thought of the coach. Stump by this question, Kevin change the subject.

With out really knowing it, Kevin, started to improved. He started to think about Janis more each day. He even began to eat bigger bites. The confrontations with Chase were still brutel and painful. But, some how they didn't "haunt" Kevin as much. His mind still would wonder back to chase, But it was mostly consumed with thoughts of Janis. He had a friend!

Kevin headed back towards the bench as quickly as possible. For some strange reason, his usual "run in" with chase had not occurred for that day. He just knew chase was planning something big. He then turned the enter the hall and saw Janis. She then met him half way.

"You're not going to believe this!" Janis chimed," Chase is absent!"

"What?" Kevin said as he stopped in his tracks. "Chase is absent?" He was stumped by the news. Chase wasn't there. He was free fore one day. He then took a deep breath and smiled. "I never thought it would never happen."

"I was talking to Delores this morning." Janis started, "When she over heard the coaches talking about him missing practice that after noon. I think it was for an appointment or something. The point is. He's not here. So, I was thinking...":

"NO!!... I can't go in the cafeteria! Chase..." Kevin stammered.

"I told you Chase is absent. Oh, come on ... You have to be curious" Janis said with a warm laugh, "It will be OK! Trust me" Kevin then took a stepped back . "Don't you want to see it?"

"Kind of..."

"Well come on then." Janis said as she took his hand and started to walk down the hall. "Look, we'll sit in a corner. No one will know"

"Chase will find out... He has fiends. JANIS, STOP!!" Kevin yelled as she turned towards him. " It's a rule I have to ... fallow!" Kevin then headed down towards the gym.

"Didn't you hear me?!" Janis yelled as she ran after him. "Chase can't deny you this right. OK, Can we go in for a minute. I want you to see it. Come on" Janis then took Kevin's hand and drug him to the cafeteria.

"They'll see you! You'll be seen with me, with hairs." Kevin said as the stop in front of the cafeteria. Janis then gave him a look as she laugh..

"I'll go in after you.." Janis said as she open the door. Kevin stare at the interior of the room. "Go in..."

"I... I.. " Kevin started to back away . He then swallowed hard. Feeling the sting burn. He knew Chase would find for sure. He then looked at Janis. He wanted to be any where else but there.

"Oh, come on." Janis said as she pulled him closer to the cafeteria. He then stepped in Janis stepped in right behind him. He then looked at her. Her deep eyes seem to comfort him. She then then walked in. He then started to look around. It was bigger than he thought it was. More chaotic too. He was invisible to everyone except Janis that tapped him on the shoulder and pointed out a table, which was in a corner.

They headed over to it and sat down. Kevin then looked at the room again taking in every thing. Banners of past state championships hung from the ceiling. In the center, there was a extended ceiling framed with windows. Kevin held his breath as Janis ate. He couldn't believe it he was actually sitting tn the cafeteria. He got out his lunch out and tore off small bites. Then he started to hear it. Soft at firs , but seconds later it got louder. He was spotted!

"Hairs! It's hairs!... Chase is not going to like this... wait until he finds out...Man I hate to be him tomorrow!." the voices became more clearer as they began to synchronize. He then looked at Janis, who had a worried look on her face. He then stared at the table, regretting everything.

"Hairs!" A voice finally rose above the crowd, "Trying to pull a fast one?" It was one of Chases friends. " You know what Chase says about you being in here... LEAVE!" Kevin scrambled to get up Janis tried to stop him, but he had already made his mind up. He then glance around at the crowd. All he saw was eyes! Slinging his back pack over his shoulder he dashed out of there hearing the crowd break into laughter. He then ran down a hall and into a familiar closet.

"KEVIN!!" Janis said as she knocked!

" I told you! I don't belong there! Just leave!" Kevin said through his breaths.

"Look, I'm sorry. It was a bad idea. I just..."Janis tried to apologize. Kevin then backed toward the wall and slouch down into a ball. "Can I come in at least?" Janis said.

"Yeah." Kevin muttered. Janis then stepped in to the closet. Kevin then looked at her. Her eyes were big and deep as they usually were when she was concern. " I'm fine."

"Fine? Kevin... Look...all those ... I thought you were... You forgot your lunch." Janis said as she look at Kevin. He was slightly trembling . He then started to think about Chase.

"Did.. Did they see you... with me?" Kevin said as he saw Janis closed the door. She then turn on the light and stared at him. Their eyes met and once again Kevin felt that everything else disappeared.

"I don't care.' Janis said with a smiled, "I didn't realize that it was that bad. Are you OK?" She then brush his arm.

"I'm fine!" Kevin snapped. He wanted to be mad at her. He then looked at her. " Why do you hang out with me?" He asked as he calm down. Janis sighed and rolled her eyes.

"Because I like you! How many times will I have to say it!" Janis aid as she put her arms around him,"I don't care about what anyone thinks!"

"BUT, I'M HAIRS!" Kevin yelled as he push Janis off of him. "You shouldn't even look at me."

"YOU'RE NOT HAIRS! YOU'RE KEVIN! I MET KEVIN! ... HAIRS IS JUST A DUMB NAME THAT CHASE MADE UP! WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO SHOW YOU?" Janis yelled , making Kevin jump," The past few weeks have been great. I look forward to seeing you! Chase,..."

"You don't have to look after me!" Kevin growled.

" I'm NOT ! ... Why can't I just like you for you? WHY WON'T YOU LET ME? I "LIKE" YOU! Get it!" Janis said as she paced. Kevin was still unsure about the whole thing. His mind was more on chase and what might happen tomorrow. He then looked at Janis, She was staring at him with her warm eyes. He couldn't look away. "Don't you get it?" Her voice said under her breath. "You're Kevin, to me, not hairs!"

Being flustered, Janis kissed him. It was a small kiss, but, Kevin was still taking back by it. "There." Janis said releasing her breath. "Now! Do you get it?"

"YYYYou...kissed me..." Kevin said as he stepped back.His mind raced with confusion. In away he wanted it, but, he was scared. "You Kissed ..."

"I kissed you, Kevin. I told you... I like you." Janis said as she sat down and looked at him," Here, I brought you you're lunch. You need to eat."

"I don't want to eat." Kevin said as he sat down right by her, Feeling the sting in his stomach."I don't know about meeting tomorrow."

"What?"

"Chase will find out for sure about today! I just want to stay hidden." Kevin rambled out.

" Oh, alright. On one condition!"Janis said.

"Anything?" Kevin muttered

"I have a cross country meet on Saturday. I thought you could come with me and we can hang out. Please" Janis asked.

"I guess..."Kevin sighed," I'm not doing anything."

"Great! I'll come by and pick you up then around. 7ish." Janis exclaimed.

" 7'ish...?" Kevin wonder why it had to be early.

"Look, We'll talk more Friday. Are you sure you don't want to meet tomorrow?" Janis remarked.

"I'm sure! I don't know about Friday..."

"We need to meet Friday! I want to make sure that we go over the details. Plus, I want to make sure you made it." Janis said as she wraps her arms around him. Kevin was still thinking about the kiss. He himself had thought of kissing Janis once or twice. But, he was afraid to. Chase then popped into his mind. He then jumped back. " What's wrong?" Janis ask.

"Chase!... You Kissed..." Kevin started to panic. He didn't want chase to find out about Janis. He knew he would.

"We're the only two that know. How would he know?" Janis exclaim trying to calm Kevin down.

"He has ways! He'll know about the cafeteria! He'll find out!" Kevin babbled out... he then look at her again "Sorry! I just..." The warm feeling that he got when he was around her came flooding back. He felt awkward. He wanted Janis to like him, but, he dreaded Chase

"Kevin, it's alright!" Janis laughed. He then smiled, he had have his first kiss. He then looked at Janis again. Seconds later the bell rang. The two gather up their bags and fumbled around. Janis then slowly open the door. "I'll go first. " She said as she looked out into the hall. "remember Friday! at the bench" Kevin nodded and put his hood up.

The afternoon flew by fast. As he got on a bus, A kid stuck his foot out and tripped him. Hearing the laughter he got up and went to the back. His mind then went back to the kiss. He still didn't know what to feel. He then got the warm feeling.

As he laid in his bed that night. His mind raced with thoughts of chase and Janis. He feared what Chase might do. "He probably knows by now." Kevin thought as he tossed and turned while trying to get comfortable with his stomach pain. He then thought about the kiss. He wished it had been longer, then wished it never happened. As he closed his eyes he thought of Janis.