As he enters the classroom, walking across the white tiles, his black, cheap laceless shoes clicking on the floor, as he enters a seat in the back right corner and opens his notebook. I overhear some students talking.

"Hey that's Mr. Nothing isn't it?" One asks.

"He helped me with an argument with my dad," another whispers, "really helped me make amends with the guy."

"He was so nice when I went in there," a third whispers, "I asked if he wanted to hang out and he refused. I heard he does that with everyone."

"Did you see the school paper?" A fourth asks their friend, "talking about how he just talks to anyone? Who does that?"

"Hey Wilson," I whisper leaning back, being in the seat in front of his.

Wilson avoids eye contact and retorts, "not friends Henry."

"So?" I ask, "can still talk you know."

"Do you need something?" Wilson asks, annoyed.

"No not particularly," I reply, "but-"

"Then talking is a waste of time," Wilson opens a notebook and starts writing in it, muttering to himself about something I can't quite make out. I glance over to see two collums with names listed, one labeled "protect" the other, "protect from". The one labeled protect goes to the bottom of the page, and I would assume off the page, while the other is empty.

"What are you doing?" I inquire.

He pulls his notebook away and explains, "identifying threats."

"Threats?" I inquire.

"Shitty parents," he explains writing the names of various parents in the "protect from" collum, "scumbags, bullies..."

He trails off after writing about a dozen names, all of which seem to be bad people from what I've heard before he sighs writing in the name of several students I've only heard good things about, in fact, one of them is captain of the football team, Emmret. He explains with a somber frown, as if trying to repress a painful memory, "wolves in sheep's clothing..."

He falls silent looking at the notebook, a look of pure despair and guilt on his face as he grips his locket. Why does he always go for the locket? What's in that thing that he prizes so? Why does it say brother of all things? Was it given to him by his brother? Maybe? I dunno.

Before I can ponder this more class begins. He seems deep in thought during the lecture before suddenly writing in his notebook and tearing out the page. He offers it to me, but as I reach for it, he pulls back as if changing his mind, and shakes his head.

Afterwards he is silent until lunch, where he sits alone. I decide to try to sit with him but am beaten to the punch by Emmret, a tall, fair skinned young man with a beefy build, blue eyes, and dark brown hair, wearing shorts and a red football jersey.

I approach and listen in, Emmret sounds angry as he slams his fist on the table demanding, "you have beef with me?"

Now, "Mr. Nothing" has never shown true anger, annoyance with those who try to pry, sure, but never rage. However, with the mysterious new kid and football captain in one place with drama, all eyes are on them. The entire cafeteria watches, shocked as Wilson's eye twitches, but he ignores Emmret, and takes deep breath.

"I'm talking to you you little shit!" Emmret exclaims, slamming his fist on Wilson's tray, which Wilson also ignores.

He proceeds, "what I do on the weekend with my friends is my business! Don't you go starting rumors about me!"

Rumors? I've overheard his name a few times but not the rumors themselves.

He grabs the locket, and what happens next, I can only call horror.

The second he touches the locket, Wilson lets out a screech and and flips the table, forcing the football star to jump back. Wilson speaks rapidly and loud, "you rotten, worthless, future child abusin', scumbag! You ain't nothin'. You are the very type of human I despise most! I protect people from scumbags like you! If you have a problem with the consequences of your crimes come at me!"

Wilson is poised and ready for a fight, but that's when I decide it best to step in.

"Wilson if he's truly scum he's not worth it!" I exclaim rushing over, "listen to me!"

Wilson spits at Emmret and chuckles, returning to his cool, bitter demeanour, "he's right. I'd spit on you, but you're not even worth that. You're someone who understands, aren't you Henry?"

Wilson now turns to me, and his eyes hold now, a pleading look. A hopeful look.

"Understands what?" I ask.

"That he's one of their kind," Wilson replies.

I look back at Emmret, unsure what to say, but looking at Wilson I can tell, in his eyes is fear. He does seem to he telling the truth, to an extent, at least to a mild extent, Emmret is dangerous, but that's not the root of his fear. I see that as he desperately and rapidly looks over the cafeteria. He's not afraid of Emmret. He's afraid for the ones Emmret can hurt. His desire to protect...

He's afraid he'll fail.

I nod. The relief on his face as he smiles seems genuine. Emmret charges him, enraged, and knowing Wilson has his back turned. I push Wilson out of the way and counter with a throw.

"Everyone saw that!" Wilson yells, "it was self defense! While we're at it! My locket! Everyone knows, right now, you touch this..."

Wilson holds up his locket, "you're dead!"

With that Wilson glares at me. "You protected me."

"I panicked," I shrug, "Get pissed if you want. I'm not sorry."

Wilson sighs and turns away. "I won't let you help me," Wilson sighs, "and this doesn't mean you can but... wanna be friends?"

"Sure," I smile.

"You deserve some answers," Wilson smiles now, "here."

He hands me the note.

"So does that mean you're actually making friends now?" A student asks.

"No," Wilson shakes his head, "this dude's my bro now. He's an exception."

Wilson offers an affectionate back pat before leaving. As soon as he's gone everyone crowds me about the note.

"What's it say!?!" They demand, "what's his deal!?!"

"He helped me fix my relationship with my boyfriend," a young man explains, "I wanna return the favor somehow."

"Helped me pass my biology quiz," a young woman adds.

"What's it say?" They eagerly demand.

"Lemme read it," I reply.

I open the note. It only had a few sentences.

"I hide my accent because I grew up in a redneck Hell," it reads, "and everyone in that town was a threat. I'm tainted by that town, and seek to delay the unavoidable fall to becoming a threat. When that day comes Henry, protect everyone from me. There is no escaping that town..."

The students are shocked, reading over my shoulder.

I sigh, "hey if I tell the guidance counselor can we all agree to pretend she overheard rumors?"

Everyone, concerned, nods.

"Well I'll go do that then," I reply walking towards her office...