세상을 구할 열쇠를 아이의

I walked by her side, thinking about what just happened. I was embarrassed but intrigued all the same. She just singlehandedly dealt with the biggest bully in the whole school, thereby saving the shreds of my dignity remaining.

  "Why did you do it? Why did you save me?" I asked, in the calmest voice I could manage. Truthfully, the last time Cain picked on me was probably five years back. Tyler came to my rescue then. I'd forgotten what being bullied felt like.

  "Well, you looked like you could use some help and, I'm a black belt in Karate, so I thought, hey, why not? So I did" she was nonchalant about the reply, making it seem as though it wasn't a big deal. But I knew it was, at least to me.

  "Whichever way, you just saved me. Or my ass, at least. You deserve a proper thank you. I'm sorry, though, and I’m lousy at apologies and showing of gratitude. But really. Thank you. I owe you one," I said, meaning every word. I'd always been reluctant to apologize, so I try as much as humanly possible not to offend. Trust me, and it wears on your mind.

  "Now would you look at that. Even when you don't mean to, you end up charming. How quaint. You should write a book with the title, 101 ways to win a girl's heart. Pretty sure it'd be a rave, sweet talker," she nudged me, smiling, her eyes laughing at me. She was teasing, but still, it warmed me to my toes. I did something right this time around.

  "Does that mean I charmed you?" I said with a sly smile. I was playing her game without batting an eyelid.

  "Well, one day, you might get there. Who knows?" and she sashayed off, leaving me to wonder what the phrase "one day" meant. At that precise moment, Tyler walked up to me and hugged me. He saw the whole thing, but he was handicapped. He couldn't help me because he didn't want to fuel the rumors of him being queer. The funny thing is, no one takes Cain seriously. Since girls were always around him, the whole thing was dismissed as a petty diss told to rile me. Well, it did.

  "I'm so sorry I couldn't help, I just didn't know what to do. I was conflicted. Can you forgive me?" he said, eyes downcast, actually feeling what it must have been like for me.

  "You know I'd never hold anything against you, and you're my best friend dummy. If not for my misguided sense of duty... Well, I'd have shown him a thing or two. Trust me, and violence isn't the way" I'd already entangled myself from the hug. I saw a look of disappointment flash across his face, but maybe I imagined it. My mind has been going haywire lately. Flashes of memories that don't belong to me whenever I look at a person for too long. My overactive imagination... Again.

  "By the way, your savior, the Ice goddess, just passed by me a few minutes ago. How did you do it? Get her actually to talk to you?" Tyler said, looking at me, incredulously. I was hurt. I know, I'm not the ladies man, the guy who always gets the girl, but it never bothered me. While he goes off doing whatever playboys do during their spare time, I read on the Apocalypse.

" Do not call her that. Who named her that anyway?" I said, pretty irked at the nickname. She'd just saved me. She didn't deserve it.

  "I did. Just now. Why? It's true. She's cold. No friends, no plans to make any. Well, apart from you, that is," he said after a second thought. I realized something.. Tyler was jealous. It wasn't just him, more like half of the school. The prettiest, hottest girl in the school and she picked me, plain me to be her first friend. If only they knew...

  "Well, I have to go now to class. I'd see you later." I waved to Tyler as I walked away, not giving him a backward glance. The most annoying thing is, she might not even talk to me anymore. It might have been a one-time thing. One she wouldn't like to repeat. I just walked dejectedly to class, shoulders hung in defeat. I wasn't in the mood for small talks. Then, I heard my name, a seat behind me. I'd know that voice anywhere.

  "Hey, Dean. We have to talk after school—the parking lot. I have something to tell you," she whispered from behind me. She sat alone, probably still acting the ice princess just to have peace of mind. I could respect that.

  "Well, I thought you'd never ask. Sure. I'll be there immediately after school. I'm rarely late" I smiled as I spoke, happy I'd found a friend at last. Well, apart from Tyler, and right now, he's acting weird.

  "You think? It's on—a race. First, to get there wins. Deal?" I heard her voice before I looked, she was sitting beside me, a goofy grin on her face. I have to give it to her, though, and she was fast. Very fast.

"Well then, it's on. So, friends?" I asked, extending a hand. She just shook her head and drew me into a hug.

  "There. That's better. And yes, friends." she said in a singsong voice. I didn't know what I did but, I'm glad I did it. I could see the faces of those around me, ranging from shock to anger, in varying proportions. I just smiled and sat upright immediately the teacher came in. Playtime is over.

* * * * *

  "I know that the sporadic increase in temperature leads to an increase in the pressure. I just wasn't sure." I said, trying to defend myself as we walked to the parking lot together. I couldn't see Tyler anywhere, lost in the innumerable girls all over the school, maybe. I didn't want to worry about him. I was still pissed off about the nickname he gave Brianna.

  "Race you to the parking lot," she said, taking off when we were so close. I'd forgotten our little fame, so I ran to catch up with her. It has been a while since I'd done this, and it felt good.

  "I beat you to it." she laughed, leaning on a car I'd never seen before. Before I could give a retort, Brian stepped out of the car, and I forgot to breathe. I'd forgotten how huge he was. He incited the fear of God into me.

  "Brian, meet Dean. Dean, Brian. He's part of the family now," Brianna said, smiling. I was dead scared. Brian just smiled, held my hand, and pulled me into a hug.

  "Welcome to the family, Dean," he said as he hugged me. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I was home.