Love is when the other person's happiness is more important than your own.

by H. Jackson Brown, Jr

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The cafeteria bustled with chattering teenagers, a few laughter here and there; whereas, Enrico stood in front of the displayed dishes holding a tray in both hands. He stood still as he waited for the person on his left, right next to him to take up his order on food before walking away. Meanwhile, his consciousness of who stood on his right, quite close to him made him a little on edge. Unable to contain his urge of taking a look at her, he slightly turned his head to her. Their eyes met, a simple smile drew up on her face. He reciprocated it with a smile of his before shyly looking away from her, then taking the next step to his side to occupy the space the last person who walked away occupied. Food was dished unto his tray before he walked away, giving space to the next person.

Eventually, he came to a standstill. He stared straight ahead at the cafeteria which now seems like a jungle of animals, each animal mingling with their own species and staying within their class. He should walk right up to his species, right? But the problem was that he belonged to none of that. Well, he was actually way too shy to belong to one. No one wanted to be his friend for some odd reason he knew nothing about, so he stuck to staying by himself. That has been the order of his life in this school for the past few years. Did it bother him at all? Yes, yes it actually did but there was nothing he could do. Presently, he scanned the cafeteria for somewhere safe for him to sit but unfortunately, he really couldn't find a table without a single soul at it.

He sighed. Perhaps, he might have to have his lunch by his usual spot out by the field.

"Scary, right?" She asked, as she stood beside him. He took a slight look at her, caught quite unaware of her presence. She stared ahead as her eyes scanned for somewhere to sit.

Eventually, Enrico withdrew his eyes away from her and unto his tray. Nervousness overtook him. He tried his best to take control of his breathing and not make a fool of himself each time she speaks to him. The day Kiana stepped into his class, almost immediately, he became smitten by her beauty and to top it all up, she spoke to him. She was very kind and if his perception wasn't mistaken, she spent quite a few times trolling around with him. Sometimes, she's his seat partner at practicals, other times she walks home by his side as their homes were in the same direction from school.

She smiled at intervals at his replies and honestly, he couldn't recall one outstanding thing he ever said to her. All he ever does when she's around is stutter his replies, lower his lashes quite shyly away from her and trembles a little each time their hands brush. Sometimes, he spends the entire night staring up at the ceiling of his room and wondering why Kiana was being so nice to him.

It was quite obvious his classmates and the rest of the school found him a little weird. A kid who rarely talks, walks around with head bent, has on these huge metallic braces as well as large cylindrical glasses and it was obvious he took to the liking of dressing in something quite different from kids his age. Perhaps, it was for the decency feeling it gave him or the fact that being all covered up made him feel secured and protected. He couldn't tell. It just felt okay at that time.

He gulped down as he held the tray in one hand while his other hand pushed his glasses to rest properly on the bridge of his nose. If she really wanted to be his friend, he wasn't going to push her away. Truthfully, he had grown a liking for her and would be devastated if she was to look away from him.

"Oh, I found somewhere!" She exclaimed a little before taking steps further. He stared at her walk away, not quite knowing if he was allowed to follow her. Perhaps, she has finally found her own species. Suddenly, she came to a stop and turned to him.

"What are you waiting for? Come on." She urged, staring directly at him. His eyes widened a little. Was she really talking to him? He points a finger at himself and she nods.

"Yes, you. Come on quickly before we lose the spot to someone else." She told him and a slow, but brief, smile displayed on his face before she turned away and walked off. He took in a deep breath before following her behind.

He had his eyes set right on her, not wanting to lose sight of her that he failed to notice the trap set ahead of him. Unfortunately, he tripped on someone's foot and fell right to the floor, all that was on his tray came kissing the ground.

A few laughs erupted mainly from a particular direction.

Kiana came to a stop and slightly turned to take a look at what the disturbance was all about. That was when she noticed Enrico on the floor. Her brows slowly furrow as she watched him try his best to pick up all his stuff on the ground and back onto his tray. The mocking laughter grew a little louder as eyes turned to view the scene so did Kiana's shift to the person who caused this not so hilarious scene. Her brows furrow further as she stared at the blonde-haired boy seated at the table and having quite a laugh with his friends.

This was it. He had gone too far. Ever since she got into this school, she had seen no one else trouble Tyler the way this very young boy does, so she made a decision to finally speak up. She walked up to them and before they could see her presence, she slammed her tray on their table causing all eyes to look up to her.

"Stop being a jerk, Nicolas!" She exclaimed, as she stared directly into his eyes, quite irritated by his constant abuse on the weak.

The smile on Nicolas' face slowly fades away. The thought itself of someone standing up to him vexed him, let alone some transfer student telling him what he should.

"If you don't stop picking on Tyler, I'm going to..."

"Do what?" He asked, interrupting her statement as he stood to his feet, his eyes staring down at her, challenging her to do her worst. Kiana herself refused to back down as she stood glaring back at him.

Suddenly, she felt a little tug on the sleeve of her shirt.

"L-let's go." Enrico stuttered, not quite able to look up to his bully.

Nicolas's eyes shifted from Kiana to Tyler who stood slightly behind her. A light scoff escaped his lips.

"Aren't you just one big coward? Now, you make a girl fight your battle." He added, quite mockingly and Kiana's hands folded into a fist, her contempt for him grew by each second, so she glared at him quite hard. Several thoughts on how to handle him scattered in her mind. If only looks could kill, he would be dead right that minute.

Nicolas noticed just how she glared at him; he didn't like it one bi, so the smile on his face slowly died down.

"What are you staring at?" He asked her, quite annoyed with her but she said nothing and kept glaring. It vexed him to the core. He took a step forward to close up any space between them and by this time, they had become the centre of attraction.

"Don't think I won't hit a girl." He warned through gritted teeth and almost in a whisper as he stared down at her. Kiana still didn't budge. If he thought his bullying tricks would work on her, he was in for a different treat. He knew absolutely nothing about her, especially, what she was capable of doing.

"Is there a problem here, Mr. Clark, Ms. Stuart?" The Principal asked as she strode right into the cafeteria after receiving a call that a fight was about to break out within the school premises.

She stood still, awaiting a reply from either of the two students involved. Suddenly, Nicolas looks away from Kiana and to the Principal. He put up a broad smile.

"Not at all, Mrs. Lee." He replied, a little enthusiastic that no one would believe a few seconds ago, he was at the verge of losing control.

The principal shifted her eyes from him to Kiana.

"Really?" She asked, a little directed at Kiana. Kiana remained still a little taken aback by what was going on. Nicolas noticed the Principal's act and then unexpectedly, he put an arm around Kiana's neck much to the surprise of Kiana as well as Enrico. She looks up to him. The look in her eyes clearly warned him. He ignored it and went on with his act.

"Yes. Kiana and I were just having a staring contest. Isn't it, Tyler?" He asked, staring directly at Tyler, who stood back a little confused. The look in Nicolas's eyes was that of warning for him to cooperate, but Tyler had never been a good liar. How was he supposed to do this without getting caught?

"Yes." Kiana interrupted everyone's thought. Nicolas shifted his eyes back to her, away from Tyler.

"Yes, that's true." She stated, quite boldly as she stared directly at the Principal.

Mrs. Lee sighed as she stared at them.

"Good. You better behave Nicolas. One more strike for you and you know what's going to happen." She warned before turning and walking away.

Immediately out of sight, Kiana takes Nicolas's arm off her. She gave him one last glare while he stared back before she turned away.

"Let's go, Tyler." She told Tyler as she took hold of his arm and dragged him along with her towards the exit of the cafeteria.

Tyler slightly turned his head to take one last look at the bully, who wouldn't let him be; their eyes meet. Nicolas slightly tilted his head to the side as a sly smile grew at the corner of his lips. The look in his eyes, quite devious. Tyler's brows slightly furrow as he felt plunged into an uncomfortable state. Eventually, he looked away from Nicolas.

Now, standing by the staircases, Kiana stood in front of him.

"Don't listen to anything he says. He's just a big bully that makes himself feel better by hurting others. Perhaps, in the past, you didn't have a friend, someone to stand by your side but now, you have me... Friends?" She stated all at once before stretching out her hand for a handshake.

He stared at her with his eyes a little widened in surprise. She just said all the words he never thought were possible and now, she wants to be his friend. Why? He couldn't quite fathom the reason but the fact remains that this has just become the happiest day in his life.

"Friends." He stated as he accepted her handshake. She smiles at him, happy with his decision and he smiles back quite pleased with hers.

Perhaps, there was still hope for him. The future was indeed brighter than he had presumed. He was going to make sure to hold onto this little happiness. Nothing could possibly go wrong.