Lance skillfully dodged the most crowded places in the school and waited in the back until he could leave. He looked at his phone. 4:37 huh Lance thought. Good enough. He set off for the gates to freedom.

He saw the gate and almost felt good until he rounded it and saw a shadow waiting for him. The reason he waited till after school was to avoid the shadows. Lance was never sure who would jump him after school, so the waiting was to discourage them or just let them get bored waiting. Lance instinctively touched his wallet in his back pocket and took a more defensive stance. He might as well try and keep his money this time.

“What's up with the sudden fighting spirit” the female voice, shocking him out of his defensive pose. The same “girl” from today. Why is she so driven to see or talk to me? Lance wondered. I don't know her, and there is no way I could have seen or done anything to make her fall in love with me.

The only thing that made sense was this was a trap to bring him to the certain group that would beat him. His gut twisted with disgust and a hollow feeling wrapped his heart.

“Why are you here?” Lance asked. Might as well figure what she wants.

“Well, I was hoping to walk home with you,” She added to so quickly it threw Lance off again.

“Why?” Lance said without thinking. Did just step on a landmine? What if she gets  angry and the group makes a move!

The shadow went into thinking pose for a moment. It then nodded and looked him dead in the eye.

“Well, to be frank, I found you to be interesting” Lance was stunned. That came straight out of left field. Why is this happening! Lance cursed inside his head. So instead of beating I'm going to be an experiment now?! If this was their new tactic, it was lower than low.

Negative thoughts took over. So she found the guy without a “door” impressive. So this is just a fun event for “her”. I;m just  way to pass the time! He felt his anger flow out.

“Listen, if you are doing this to ease your boredom, there are a million other things to do. I don't need a pest who only hopes to use the guy without the “door.” It was more than just the current situation. He yelled for more than just that.

“Why don't you just join one of the thousands of hate group for my existence? I don't need this! So just go away already!. He turned his back. But he had to say one more thing.  

“Tell the group waiting to beat me up or steal from me, to get it over with already!” Resentment toward other burned in his heart. The silent flame had been smoldering in his heart for years. All the abuse, names calling, and threats to his life, had finally taken too much.

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Everyone who treated me like dirt, should go just and di….

Lance then felt a pain on his cheek. It was quick and hard. He should've expected this. “She" had slapped him. He did say some mean things. Now this farce is over. I can be free of the annoyance. "She" pulled her hand back and looked Lance dead in the eye once again, yet this time, the amber eyes were hurt and twisted with pain.

“Did that jog some sense into your head?” He couldn't see her expression, but he guessed she was mad.  

“I think it should be clear, but I just transferred here today.” The thought had crossed his mind. “I have heard and seen the treatment of you. I was even told do just what you said, but..” She took a breath and I stood straight up.

“I have no intention to be like those others!” Lance flinched. “Why should I treat another human being so badly, just because he doesn't have "God" inside of him. You are you with a “door” or no “door”! A human being!” She yelled at me. It seemed, to Lance, she was letting all her anger. She must have held in “her” thoughts throughout the whole day.

A….human being? Had a single person even treated or called him that. It was then that the wild fire in his heart cooled.

Lance was having a mental breakdown, and his mind processed as fast as it could. Then a suddenly the shadow slapped “her” hands together. Getting Lance back to reality.

“Now that that is done shall we go?” “she,” said, “she" grabbed his hand and pulled lightly. Lance, his mind blown, simply trudged along like a drone.

Is this a trick or is she honest? Is someone willing to accept me? No, it has to be a trap. , but....What if......She can be trusted. He felt something warm burn in his chest and for a moment, almost like time had stopped, a flash of brown hair caught his eye, and before Lance stood not a shadow, but an actual girl.

She was a bit shorter than him, but that made her feel more important than him. She was dignified down to every corner of her face.

The long brown hair, looked like wheat, with the way it reflects the lowering sun. Her skin was a darker white, yet it showed like a bronze statue.

He felt the grip on his hand. His hand was bigger than her’s, but hers had the grace to them that his didn't. So this is a feminine touch? It was strangely beautiful and warmer that he could have ever dreamed.

Her arms were thin but had a bulky to them. She, all around, looked frail, but from her attitude, Lance guessed she had a healthy bite to her.

Lance was paralyzed, His grip on her hand faded, and he let go. He rubbed his eyes; The warm feeling burned in his chest more intensely this time. Lance felt like crying for some reason. Lance rubbed his eyes to see if there were actual his eyes. He was in such confusion and was scared.

“Hey you coming?” Lance looked up and felt despair, the girl was replaced again, by the shadow, but it still held her shape.

Lance snapped himself out of it and decided to say something.. “Hey,” it came out smaller and lighter than he had intended. She turned to look at him with a confused look on her. He suddenly felt a heat come over his face.

He felt like he was burning up. Why now of all times was he bothered about her being a girl?

“Well….hey, listen, if we are going to be friends, I need to know your name?” Lance said all this while rubbing his head and looking at the ground. Shyness filled his every word.

“Well, I think that is fair,” She extended her finger and pointed at Lance. “Well your Lance Conner” She may have said it normally, but it sounded like the first time someone had said his name in a long time. Plus without any malice mixed in.

She moved her finger back at herself. “and I'm Alice Monte”, she added a smile while saying it.