-Ethan-

  The next day the kids at school are giving me a hard time, so I end up leaving early. This only happens when they end up ruining my clothes in some sort of way, or I'm tired of them. Today they drenched me in water. I don't have gym this semester so I don't have any spare clothes. At least I don't have to deal with the people on the bus or anyone else in the rest of my classes.  

  I get home and dash inside. I quickly drop my bag in my room, change clothes and leave. I decided to make my way downtown and look around at all of the shopping stalls. There was suppose to be a new art café somewhere here. I wanted to check it out because I always love the calm vibe, drinking tea (or coffee) while reading, and the soft music. 

  When I walk in it's pretty empty, other than 2 employees, a couple in their early 20's, and an older dude maybe in his 40's. The walls are black are black, except for one yellow one, with paint splotches. The yellow wall has a neat grey bookshelf that an employee is currently putting books on. I order a dark coffee and go sit down. The man that brings me my drink starts talking to me, and I look up from my phone. It's him, and I feel really awkward now.

"Hey can I sit with you," he says with a wide smile.

I shake my head no, it may seem harsh but he asked and I answered. 

He sits down slowly and says, "Umm, I'm Leon from yesterday! You remember me right?"

I sigh and take a sip from my coffee. I pull out my phone and type "Yes, I remember you, you're my new neighbor..." 

"Ahh. Yes! My sister was also complaining about school and begged me to pick her up. She said the kid she sits next to was weird and annoying. But you seem just like all the other kids at school. You're normal... Ya know other than the fact you don't talk much."

I look at him. I feel so insulted to be called "...Just like all the other kids at school," I am nothing like them. Nothing. I type out "So I soak the mute kid's clothes, beat him up every chance I get, annoy him, and bully him? Apparently, you know me better than myself."

"What do you mean? Do you mean that like... people did that to you? Or people do that to other kids? If that happens I'm sorry, do you want me to help?"

This makes me laugh softly. I slowly type "Either way, I'm not like them. If anything I'm the victim. Your sister is probably Mallory, right? Well, I haven't messed with her." I go to show him this but when right as he looks at it I get a text from my sister. He ends up reading that instead of my message.

"... Are you gonna be ok to go home? That seems..." 

I look at my phone. It says " Do NOT come home! Mom and dad will KILL you! Dad found mom cheating and she blamed it on u Idk how but he believed it! He grabbed a knife..." The message is too long and gets cut off. I slap a twenty on the table and go to leave. I need to go find somewhere to sleep tonight, just my luck. 

"Wait up a sec," Leon stops me, "I don't know your situation right now, but if you want you can sleep at my place tonight. I'll tell my manager it's an emergency and leave early today. It's not like we're busy." If I go with him it could be dangerous... but so is home... Fuck it. Why not? I stand there and nod. He leaves and heads to the back counter. I can't hear what he says but the employee with pink hair nods takes his apron and puts it in the back. Leon comes back.

"Alright, let's go." as he ushers me out and down towards his house. Is this really a good idea? I'm literally down the block from my house. He looks like a good person, plus he's not some bratty teenager, well I don't think he is because his sister is in high school, and he has a job during school hours so... What could be worse than going home?

  His house looks different than what I expected, most of the walls are grey, the couch is grey, the tv stand is grey... Almost everything is a different shade of grey. It doesn't look bad but it makes the bright bookshelf stand out. His house looks pretty modern, but yet dark. I grab out my phone and imminently start typing, "Your house looks cool, and this may be a random question... But how old are you, and why did you invite me here?"

"Oh, thanks, I'm 21, and I invited you because I read that text."

"Yeah, but why invite me over a text?"

"Because it seemed dangerous? And I wanted to help."

"We literally JUST met... The only reason I came here was that I don't want to see my parents, and even if you did something to me I had planned to 'leave' next weekend."

"Hey, don't be so dark. And I have a question, is it true what that message said? About your parents? Are they abusive or something? If so, you could live with me! I had already been looking for a roommate... Plus we could become friends"

All I could was think why was he being so nice? Friends? Huh... Not like I want to go home anytime soon... "Sure... why not. And yeah, my parents are quite 'serious'..."

(Anything that Ethan says is him texting, jsyk >,<)