"Good morning," Frank said when I walked down my driveway.

"You always have so much energy," I muttered.

We started walking as he smiled and pulled a chocolate bar out of his pocket and handed it to me.

"Really?" I asked.

He nodded and I took it from him. I broke it in half and handed him one.

"Have you finished unpacking?" I asked.

"Pretty much, we still have some kitchen things in boxes but the majority of it is all unpacked," he said. "My mom told me she'd get the rest of it today while I'm at school."

I smiled and nodded, pulling my hoodie tighter around me. We ate chocolate as we neared the school.

"God, I should've stayed home today," I muttered.

"But then I wouldn't have been able to see you," he said.

I blushed, looking at the school.

"Come on, let's go in," he said.

"No, I-I really don't want to," I said. "You go ahead, I'll see you later at home."

"Gee, it's okay," he said softly.

I shook my head and he reached over to hold my hand.

"I'll be by your side the entire time," he promised.

"You've still gotta go to your own classes," I said.

"I don't care, I'll skip just so I can follow you around all day," he said.

"Frank, it's your second day of school, you can't just start skipping classes already," I said.

"Oh yeah? Watch me," Frank said.

He started walking away from the school and I hurried to catch up with him.

"Frank?" I asked.

"I know that you have a really hard time in school so we can just skip," he said. "We can do something fun, you can show me around."

"I don't know, it's your second day of school," I said nervously.

"Well fuck it, who cares?" Frank asked

"No, come on," I said.

Frank followed me inside and I looked around nervously. Of course it was just my luck when I saw Pete no less than five feet away.

"Look who it is," Brendon said, pushing me back against the locker as I whimpered.

"Hey, don't fucking touch him," Frank said.

Frank stood between us and I looked at him with wide eyes. Oh god, what was he doing?

"Frank, stop," I whispered, tugging on his arm.

"No, they aren't going to pick on you anymore," Frank said.

I gasped as Pete punched him. Frank didn't seem to mind as he just fought back. I managed to break them apart, gaining a few punches from Pete in the process. I pulled Frank down the hall quickly

"I'm sorry," I said. "I didn't mean for--"

"Gee, it's alright, it's not like that was my first fight or anything," he said.

I looked at him sadly, noticing the small cut on his cheek and the bruise on his jaw.

"You don't have to fight my battles for me," I said. "Just let them hit me and stuff, it's not your problem."

"In not going to let them fucking hurt you," he said. "I'll fight anyone for you, Gee, you shouldn't have to go through this. Those guys are just a bunch of douchebags who each deserve a foot up the ass."

I smiled softly and he reached over to squeeze my hand. My heart skipped a beat as I looked up at him with wide eyes. Frank just stared back, a small smile on his face. Our trance seemed to be broken when the bell rang.

"Well, I'll see you later, Fate Boy," he said.

"Oh god, don't call me that," I muttered. "It's not fate."

"I believe in fate and you're my fate," he said.

"Fate for what?" I asked.

"To be best friends? I don't know," he said. "It just is fate, trust me."

Frank gave me one last smile before walking off. I stared at him as he walked away, wanting nothing more than to just follow and stay by his side.

I hadn't felt this connected to someone since I met Jamia. And even this connection seemed to be far deeper than any that I've had with anyone. It scared me a little, what if Frank was right and fate really is real?

"Shouldn't you be in class?" A teacher asked.

I hurried down the hall to class in embarrassment. I sat in my seat, keeping my head down. I tried to pay attention in class but I just kept thinking back to Frank. How is it that I can meet one person and after a day of knowing them they're already stuck in my brain?

"Mr. Way, can you tell me why the author decided to represent the character this way?" The teacher asked.

I blinked a couple times as I looked at her.

"Um, it...i-it uh..." I trailed off, my cheeks flushing.

"Um it uh um uh," I heard Hayley mock from the back row.

My eyes watered as I looked down at my lap. The teacher didn't even say anything to Hayley as she went on to the next question for another student.

But then I thought of Frank again and dear god he was starting to drive me insane.

Fuck Frank.

I was probably just thinking about him a lot because he actually stood up for me today, he's the only person who has ever stood up for me. Of course Jamia and I try to stand up for each other as best as we could but it's hard when we're both being bullied by them.

And then this fucking guy comes along and he just ducking changes everything. Not that I don't want him here, don't get me wrong. It's just different and i'm sure it's for the better but it also scares me a little.

I've never been a fan of change. Ever since I was little I've hated change. After my dad and brother died there was so much change. My mother didn't talk to me much, leaving my grandma to take care of me. And when my grandma died a few years ago it broke my heart. She had become like a mother to me, since my actual mother didn't want to be part of my life anymore. And then after that I was alone, I only had Jamia.

Change scares me, it's terrifying. Now there's a change in my friend group and he's standing up for me against Pete and them. And it's different and weird and I don't really mind either. Frank was amazing, he was really kind and funny. I really liked having Frank around, he made me feel happier and even a little safer.

I tapped my pencil against the desk as I looked at the board in front of me. I copied down some notes before looking back down at my desk. I traced along one of the lines on the on the wood of the desk.

I felt something hit the back of my head and I looked back to see Hayley and Kristin snickering. There was an eraser in the ground, which was what had hit me in the head. My eyes watered as I looked back ahead of me.

"Look at him, he's such a fucking baby," Kristin said quietly, but yet still loud enough for me to hear.

I fought back tears as I looked down at my lap. I wrapped my arms around my myself, biting my lip as I tried my hardest not to cry. I didn't want to be a baby, I didn't want to be weak. But I was so weak, the scars on my wrist can prove that.

I haven't cut in awhile, not since Jamia begged for me to stop. She had been sobbing and a complete mess when she had found out. She was my best friend, I loved her more than I've ever loved anything.

"Is that new kid really hanging out with people like Jamia and Gerard?" I heard Hayley ask Kristin.

"Frank is hot, he doesn't belong with them, he belongs in our group," Kristin said.

"I wouldn't mind him getting into my pants," Hayley said.

"Yes, I would too," Kristin said. "Hopefully he finally realizes that he shouldn't hang around those queers all the time."

"Maybe he'd be my date to the dance," Hayley said. "And you know what happens after a dance, a whole lot of fucking. I bet he's good in bed."

I shifted in my seat, frowning slightly. It made me seriously uncomfortable listening to them talk about my friend like that, it just made me think of him in bed with Hayley. But there was also that small bit of fear that maybe Frank would realize he's better than us and leave us. He is better than us. If seems almost inevitable that one day Frank is going to realize that he's better than me and Jamia and he's going to leave us, soon he's going to be one of the ones bullying us too.

"Oh my god, do you think he'd have a threesome?" Kristin asked. "That'd be, like, so hot."

"Maybe, he seems like he'd maybe be up for it," Hayley said. "That'd probably be the best sex of my life."

I scrunched my nose up at the thought. Kristin and Hayley having a threesome with Frank? I'd rather not have to ever think about that. It almost made me sick to my stomach too. Not just from disgust but also a little bit of jealousy. I don't know why, maybe because Frank is one of the first people to ever be kind for me so I just clung to him. I didn't want him leaving to have other friends.

It sounds like I'm a clingy girlfriend or something but I've just never had many friends. I liked having Frank around, he just seemed to make everything nicer. I thought Frank believing in fate was just silly, but a small part of me was starting to think he might be right.