Page 2 of 4-Ever

The boy towered over Nathaniel, and I hid my face again. I heard footsteps but I kept my head down until Ronin’s voice echoed in my ear.

“He’s gone now. Are you okay?”

I slowly looked up again and nodded. Even though I wasn’t okay. I was still trembling. Today was turning out to be the worst day ever.

“Faisel, right?” Ronin asked, crouching down in front of me. “I’m Ro. Do you need help getting up?”

Shaking my head, I used my t-shirt to wipe my face and stood up on trembling legs. Ronin joined me, and when I stood up, I realized he was way taller than me. Bigger too. He looked like he was twelve or thirteen, not ten.

“Thanks,” I whispered gratefully, a huge lump in my throat.

“No problem. I got a younger sister, Ciara, and I look out for her. I don’t like bullies.”

“I have an older brother but he’s at another school.”

The one for gifted students. Not average ones like me.

“Is this your first day here?” he asked.

I nodded. “I’m from New York City. I miss it already.”

“I’ve never been there, but the city sounds cool. I wish I lived there and not here.”

“Yeah.”

“I moved here a week ago with my mom and sister,” Ronin explained. “My parents just divorced.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m not. They argue all the time. Now at least I can sleep.”

I didn’t know what else to say.

“You want to go play on the jungle gym?” Ronin asked.

“Okay,” I replied and looked back up at him. Ronin’s eyes were so blue, like a summer sky. My stomach calmed and my anxiety started to fade away. “You can call me Faise.”

He nodded. “You’ve got a cool name. I think being different is awesome. Who wants to be like everyone else?”

I did. I just wanted to fit in.

“People here don’t seem to like different,” I suggested.

“Then they’re boring. And dumb.”

And thinking about what he said, I began to wonder.

“Your hair’s long,” I blurted out.

Ronin laughed and I felt my face heat.

“Um, I mean, it’s nice. Your hair. It’s, um,” I paused. “Yeah, different. But good.”

Jeez, could I sound any more awkward? I began to walk away, flushed with embarrassment. I was never going to make friends here.

“I know what you meant,” Ronin replied, and I stopped walking. “Thanks.”

“What do you think of school so far?” I asked tentatively.

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