"And I dunno if I should forgive her," she sighs.

I clench my fist and speak firmly, "she hurt you. Physically. I know I said everything was confidential, but your friend, Shelby?"

The young girl pushes her hair back, which is long and black, her being a kind African American girl by the name of Whitney, wearing a blue jacket and black jeans, nods.

"Shelby was in here two hours ago," I explain, "and she has a huge crush on you. That bruise on your left cheek, she commited a crime and you deserve better. Report her and let her rot in jail for a couple of months, cause dammit you deserve to be happy. Follow your heart to Shelby. That's where it leads. You know it. That abusive bitch who you're about to dump gonna pay."

"Thanks Wilson," she smiles.

"You have a great day," I reply, "take a lollipop on your way out. Glass bowl on my desk."

She turns and takes the red candy and smiles at me before leaving.

The next student enters.

"I'm with the school paper," the young man explains, "what is going on?"

"No questions," I glare, "get out."

"There's a line outside!" He exclaims adjusting his white baseball cap backwards, "why are you doing this man?"

His short blonde hair is full of volume and he stands taller than me, fair skinned, blue eyes, black shirt, grey jeans.

"I ain't havin' no one pryin' on my business," I glare, "ya' ain't welcome round' ere'."

"Look you must be hungry," he sighs, "at this non stop since Saturday morning and it's Sunday evening! Look, I'm with the school paper, and since kids started walking in here news has spread. I'm just going to offer you this-"

He hands me a burger wrapped in fast food paper. I push his hand aside.

"I don't want your help," I glare, "if it's for the paper, three questions, but if you ask them, you're blacklisted, and I don't just mean I won't help you..."

I chuckle, "I mean... I've talked to a large number of kids, and see, I've heard a lot of gossip. Damaging gossip. I could destory your reputation, and I just wanna help people. Do you understand? I don't want to be your enemy. Stop trying to get answers to pointless questions. You don't want to need to know about that town..."

"That town?" He asks, "hey, I'm not even here of my own accord, so chill the fuck out!"

I sigh, "sorry. You're right. I'm in the wrong here. Have a seat. As an apology, any questions you want, answered. Also a lollipop."

He takes a lollipop and asks, sticking it in his mouth, "why are you doing this?"

"To protect," I shurg, "it's what I do."

"Yes but why protect?" He asks.

"Cause they won't," I clench my fist, "them hicks ain't got no morals. They ain't got no laws down there. It's not like round' ere'."

"The student body wants to know," he explains, "you've already developed an... odd reputation as some sort of... of..."

"I've been called... Mr.... Mr..." I try to recall the nickname.

"Mr. Nothing," he asks, "right?"

I nod as he takes notes now.

"I think it's cause I protect but no one knows anything me?" I explain uncertain, "I'm just a nobody. I don't even know why people come talk to me, but they do, so I stay. I just helped a girl get out of an abusive relationship so, yay."

"It has been stated," he adds, "that someone came in with a strawberry soda? You refused to speak to them until they moved their beverage outside?"

"No red drinks," I shake my head, "no red drinks please God no."

"What happened?" He asks.

"I plead the fifth," I reply.

"That was more rhetorical," he explains, "but no one can figure you out. No one's seen you eat or sleep and you just take in person after person. Have you even left to use the restroom?"

"When I gotta get more lollipops," I reply.

He finishes his current lollipop.

"Take another," I smile.

He smiles back and does so, inquiring, "why the lollipops?"

"Candy is dandy," I smile.

"True true," he replies, "so, that's it? No deeper cause? Just, help others? Yet you have zero friends? People have asked you to hangout but-"

"Waste of time," I sigh, "I help them. I don't trust them."

"Trust anyone?" He asks.

"No," I shake my head.

I hold onto my locker tightly, "not since... not since the Fourth of July."

"What an oddly specific day," he comments.

"Hey," I ask, embarrassed, "that burger..."

"You hungry?" He asks.

"I..." I reply, "I... I..."

I can't form the words to accept his help. I can't. God help me! Please! Please I'm falling apart! I'm falling apart! Someone!

"Dude?" He asks, as tears begin to stream down my face.

"I can't accept help," I shake my head, muttering to myself, "I can't. I don't deserve it..."

"Wilson?" He asks.

I begin to hyperventilate, remembering that moment, that singular moment, where I became worthless. I block is out shaking my head.

"That day..." I mutter, "this locket..."

I grip my locker tighter.

"Look at me Wilson," the young man demands. I comply, uncertain what to do.

"It's gonna be OK," he smiles, "if it's any better, I didn't help you. I just accidentally left a burger in here and you're hungry. That's not accepting my help right?"

I nod, wiping my tears away.

"Man whatever happened fucked you up," he sighs, "I'll leave this out of the paper. If you ever wanna make friends? Ya got me, Henry Smith. I'll see ya later."

With that Henry is out the door. There's a knock. I look at the burger, left sitting at my desk, and overwhelmed by a hunger that chews away at my insides, exhaustion hits, my vision begins to blur.

"I'm gonna sleep!" I yell, "those waiting come back later!"

I grab my burger and wolf it down, even though it has cheese and mayo, and I despise mayo and cheese, I find it to be to be the best burger I have ever eaten, as I look out my window, opening the purple curtains to see the setting sun, I look up at it, expecting a pleasant sunset, but my eyes go wide with horror to find the sun black as night.

I recall the red demon that appeared, and sigh. I have no choice...

I have work to do tonight...