Coy age - 8     Luke age - 8

"What's wrong with you?" A boy from my class said as he looked down at me sipping his juice box.

I was sitting in the nurses office in elementary school after having accidentally wet my pants during recess. 

*Sniffle Sniffle*

I tried to cover my crotch with my shirt and turned my head in an attempt to hide my embarrassment.

"That's Luke Harding, the school bully! And he's in my class! He's going to make fun of me!" 

"This is the worst...the absolute worst."  I thought 

*sniffle sniffle*

"And I can't stop crying!"

Luke just kept staring at me, still drinking his juice box with an unchanging, yet curious expression.

"Luke!" Came the nurses voice.

She stepped in front of me. "Is she trying to help me out by blocking his view?" I thought.

She put her hands on her hips. "So what is it today Mr. Harding? Another "tummy ache"  hmm? Feeling a bit "dizzy" are we?"

Luke's expression never changed as he looked from her then back down to me. 

I quickly flipped my tear stained face away from him again.

He took the straw out of his mouth.

"No today I came.....to help a friend."

"Huh?" Said the nurse.

"The teacher sent me to take Coy to the gym locker room so that he can change into my extra gym clothes."

"Really?" Said the nurse with the sound of relief in her voice. 

"That would be great because I cant seem to reach his mother over at the high school."

"Whhaa.." I said as Luke grabbed me by my arm. I tried to pull my shirt down again but he was moving too quickly.

"Lets go." He said as we exited the room.

We stayed silent all of the way to the locker room. However, he never let go of my arm.

He started to rummage in his locker as I sat there silently on the bench. "Here." He tossed me his gym shorts. "I don't have any extra underwear so it might be a bit breezy but it's better than sitting in piss."

My face turned red. "Piss?......what kid even uses that word?!? Even my mom and dad only say it when they are really really angry....they would kill me if they heard me use it!"

"Well are you going to put them on or not?" Luke threw his empty juice into the trash.

"Oh no.... " I thought. "I'm getting embarrassed again." 

I tried to wipe my tears but it was no use, they just wouldn't stop falling. 

*Sigh*

Luke squatted down to my level. I shut my eyes tight expecting the worse, he was the school bully after all.

I felt a soft hand on my cheek. I opened one eye only to be met with his striking green eyes looking straight at me.

"Huh?" I thought as he took his other hand and began to wipe my tears.

"We need to hurry before the teacher finds out that I am not in the nurses office and have skipped class."

"Ehhh?!?" I grabbed his wrists without thinking. "I thought you said the teacher told you to come down and help me."

He looked down at his wrists and slowly slid his hands into mine and pulled me up. "I never said that." pressing the shorts into my hands. "I saaiiiddd I came to help a friend, not that I had permission to." "But we aren't even friends.." I thought.

"Now get changed I won't look." He turned around. I sneaked a look at him out of the corner of my eye. "He's much gentler than I thought..and he really isn't looking....he's being respectful."

"You done yet?"

"He could have me fooled with the tone of his voice though." 

I looked away.

 "Really, his overall personality......no wonder everyone thinks he's a bully."

"yee-yes..." I stammered.

"Good. Now lets go."

As we walked down the hallway back to class we were silent once more, walking with me behind him..

"Hey." He said. I jumped startled. 

"What is it?" I said quietly.
"Be careful who you show your weaknesses to.." He mumbled.

"What was that?" I answered even though I heard him just fine.

"Nothing." He said sternly.

"His ears are red..."

I covered my mouth and let out a little giggle.

"He actually DOES have quite the soft side."

"Whaa..what is it?" he said. As he stopped walking.

"Nothing." I said giggling a little more.

I'll never forget his face when he looked back at me. 

It was bright red.