When they had turned 10, and was in the fourth grade, Apollo and Artemis was put in the same class. Most of the students knew from their parents not to bother the two, mainly Apollo because of his blooming reputation that started three years ago. He had gotten into many fights with the other kids because they messed with Artemis, and he had absolutely no tolerance for anyone whom teased or harmed her in any way.

It didn't help that he was put in multiple fighting classes just to protect the girl by his father and 'uncle'.

The girls crushed on the stoic boy, and they got jealous because Artemis was the only one that could be around him without getting nervous, or irritate him. They began bullying her since they knew that Apollo was forbidden from hurting any girls.

Or so they thought.

It was on a Wednesday, in the end of April. Thunder cracked against the stormy sky and rain poured from the extremely upset clouds, meaning there was no recess for the day and they got to play inside. Apollo and Artemis sat at their own table for two, and the small girl played with Legos as Apollo started on the homework that the teacher passed out when their math subject ended. It was pretty easy, and the kid rarely struggled with any of his academics.

A couple of giggling girls approached their table, sending glares at Artemis when she glanced up at them curiously. The tallest girl with long sandy brown hair and bright hazel eyes stepped closer, glaring menacingly. "What are you doing here? Bothering Apollo again? How lame." She spat, gaining giggles from her friends that were flanking her like she was their gang leader.

"I don't bother Apollo," Artemis frowned, furrowing her brows as she glanced at the still studying boy across the table from her, not paying them any attention since he had headphones on his head, listening to something that his mother gave him, knowing that he would use the cd player responsibly while at school.

"Of course, you do." Another girl pipped up, her dark hair pulled up into pigtails.

"Yeah." The other three girls, who are triplets, chorused.

Apollo paused his cd player and looked up, nearly glaring at the five girls surrounding his friend with sneers on their still chubby faces. "You are the ones being bothersome. Go away," he says darkly, making them all, except Artemis, flinch violently at his menacing voice.

"S-Sorry, Apollo!" they all stammered and scurried away, sending a fleeting glare at the smiling Artemis. Groaning under his breath, Apollo put the finished homework in his folder and glanced at the still smiling Artemis as she played with her Legos.

"Why don't you stand up for yourself?" he asked curiously, not angry at the slightest.

"Because you're here to protect me, Apollo," she said with an ear-splitting grin, making him roll his light eyes in amusement.

"I won't be there all the time, ya know." He muttered as he pulled out a 20-chapter book from his bag.

"Even when you're not there, you will still be there with me," Artemis said wistfully, gaining a confused look from the boy, but he didn't bother to respond. Later in the school day, Artemis waited for her father to pick them up through via car-riders, but was worried for Apollo since he forgot his lunchbox in the classroom, thus making her wait by herself while the other students huddled in groups and chatted amongst themselves. And surprise, surprise, the group from earlier that was harassing her, was standing nearby, staring at her. They seemed to come to an agreement before strutting their way to the apprehensive Artemis, who sensed them walking her way.

"Hey, Loser," Misty, the sandy-brown haired girl, called out. "Ran off our dear Apollo, did you?" she mocked with a frown. Artemis ignored her, clenching the straps of her bag harder than necessary.

The oldest triplet with boyishly short hair tugged on their victim's medium length brown hair and snarled. "She asked you a question!"

"Answer her," quipped the youngest triplet with waist length hair. The middle triplet and the other girl with dark hair merely nodded along, sneers gracing their features.

"She doesn't have to," a calm voice said from behind the huddled group, causing them to gasp and spin around, staring wide eyed at the irritated, yet calm Apollo. The oldest triplet still had Artemis' hair in her tight grip, making the tall boy narrow his eyes.

"A-Apollo!" the group of six called out in surprise.

The boy said nothing as he slowly made his way to them, intimidating them with his menacing glare. Once he came upon them, he reached out with a steady hand and grabbed the eldest triplet's wrist, whose name escaped him and always will. "What are you guys doing to Artemis?" he asked lowly, his shaggy mixture of brown hair fell into his eyes as he tightened his grip on the fragile wrist of his captive.

"N-nothing!" Ellis, the girl he was holding, squeaked out.

"Hm," he hummed lightly before glancing at Artemis, who made her way to his side so she could look at all her tormentors. "Is that true, Art?" To their horror, the girl shook her head and stared at them apathetically. "So, you lied to me, huh?"

"L-Let our sister go!" the youngest, Elaine, shouted.

A smirk crawled across Apollo's face before it disappeared in a flash. "If you insist." He let Ellis go, who was pulling at her wrist, and watched in amusement as they fell like dominos, falling into a large puddle that was behind them. They all shrieked as Apollo ushered Artemis to the awaiting black Lincoln in front of them, his 'Uncle' greeting them with suppressed laughter.

"Have a nice day?" With a giggle, Artemis nodded while Apollo boredly looked out the window, chin in his hand.