"Yeah I don't know," Shelby shrugs, "I've always been bad with comma rules."

"You and me both," I sigh, "I probably bombed on that quiz. My question though, where was Wilson? I was honestly gonna ask him to quickly jog my memory before the quiz."

"Oh you didn't hear Henry?" Shelby inquires, "he's sick."

"I am not surprised," I sigh with a shrug, "he was pushing himself way to hard."

"Yeah," Shelby replies, "and now this school has become Ferris Builer's Day Off. Kinda split though. It's like, the school is split between Emmret and Wilson. Weren't you there when Emmret and Wilson had that confrontation?"

"I was actually," I reply, "Emmret just came in out of nowhere, but it seems like Wilson started some rumors."

"Yeah I dunno what's going on," Shelby sighs rubbing the sides of her head, "it's just a fucking pain to keep us with this stuff. I need to get this frustration out of my system."

"Well I know karate," I shrug, "wanna spar?"

"Come on dude," Shelby chuckles, "you're not even close to me as a black belt. I'll destroy you."

Insulted I retort, scowling, "don't underestimate me now. One hit wins. That's the standard rule."

We enter the room for the karate club, which contains two punching bags, a mat for sparring matches in the center, in addition to various other forms of training equipment. The two of us get on opposite ends of the mat. We bow to each other to show respect before she takes an offensive stance on one leg. I take a more defensive stance, if only to fake her out as she opens with a roundhouse kick, which I block with my left forearm and him for the stomach, only for her to jump back, and sweep my leg, knocking me over.

"Dammit," I sigh, "I'll get you next time."

"Probably," she chuckles, "we've been going back and forth for years."

"How long has it been since we started karate together?" I ask, "seven years?"

"I started before you," Shelby reminds.

"By like a day!" I retort laughing.

"Day ahead of you for third degree black belt!" Shelby responds laughing herself.

"Man I sometimes imagine if I wasn't an always child we'd be siblings," I explain, "you ever wonder if there's more to family than blood? I mean if I can be honest."

"Go on ahead," Shelby replies.

"I love you like a brother loves a sister," I explain, "I feel that we're family even if there's no blood ties at all. Is that just me?"

Shelby falls silent, and looks at the ceiling, sitting down, as if deep in thought. Maybe I said to much, but really, worst case sinerio, it'll just be a little awkward. It's really no big deal in the end is it? Some people see family as only blood. I mean my family is great and all but I feel a similar bond with Shelby.

"I understand," Shelby shrugs, "I mean I feel the same to be honest. I know I can, like, count on you if I need advice on girls or just a helping hand. Isn't that all family is? People you love in a non romantic way that you can count on?"

"I guess so," I reply, "makes you think. Wonder about those who are abused. I guess that makes their parents not family doesn't it?"

"I guess so," Shelby replies.

"Anyways," I reply, "I'm hungry. Let's get some dinner eh?"

"I'm thinking Chinese food," Shelby replies getting up, holding the door for me.

"I was thinking Italian," I explain as we walk outside and through the courtyard as the cherry blossom trees begin to shed their flowers for the cold Auttum.

"It's already this cold in October?" Shelby asks.

"I mean we are pretty far up north," I shrug, "I bet it'll start snowing soon."

"I really hope we get some snow days," Shelby smiles, "I love sledding and stuff. A snowball fights with my moms is always a blast."

"Yeah my mom's always worried I'll get sick," I chuckle, "she always has hot coco when I come inside."

"Hey before we eat should we see if Wilson wants anything?" Shelby asks, "he's sick so he can't go anywhere."

"That's a great idea," I reply, "let's go do that."

We enter the dorms and knock on the door to Wilson's room.

"Hey Wilson are you awake?" I ask.

"Yeah," Wilson replies.

I hear another voice, "what's up? Wait shit."

"Cathrine?" Shelby asks.

"No," Wilson replies, clearly lying.

"He just wanted to cuddle OK?" Cathrine sighs.

"Not judging," Shelby reassures her friend, "we're getting dinner from the mall. Do you guys want anything?"

"I'll take a burger," Cathrine replies.

"I can't pay you back right now," Wilson replies, "I'm kinda broke."

"Hey dude it's fine," I reply, "what are friends for eh?"

Wilson sighs, "I don't want your-"

"I'll get you teriyaki chicken maybe?" I ask.

Wilson sighs, "maybe... Maybe your eyes were bigger than your stomach, right? You got to much food?"

"Yeah man," I reply, "That's it. Work with me here. So chicken?"

"That would be great," Wilson replies, "thanks."

"We'll be back," Shelby replies as the two of us begin to walk off.

I overhear some students talking, "so I think Cathrine and Wilson are a thing now. Did you overhear her voice coming from his room too?"

"Shit. Rumors," I sigh, "oh well it was bound to happen huh?"

"Hey I wanna ask," Shelby inquires, "when Wilson and Emmret... well it wasn't a fight but, whatever happened, did he really look that scared?"

"He was fucking terrified," I explain, "that look in his eyes was true fear. His eyes shook, he almost looked like he was shivering, his voice was full of panic. Whatever his deal with Emmret is, it must be related to whatever happened back in his hometown. So, red beverages, shitty hometown, Emmret. What does all this have in common?"

"Did you not hear about how he broke down?" Shelby asks, "That's some stuff too."

"Broke down?" I ask.

"It was last night," Shelby explains...