Put Yourself Between David and Alice.

"Leave her alone David." I yelled and stepped forward without thinking putting myself between them. Next thing I knew I felt him grab me by the collar and the back of my head slam into the wall.

"Or else what? You want to kick your ass fagot?" David said as I felt his fist clinch tight against my shirt.

"Fight fight." Someone yelled. It wouldn't be much of a fight.

"If it will get you kicked out of school then go for it. You can kiss your basketball scholarship goodbye if when you get kicked off of the team for fighting. So go ahead. I am not afraid of you but you will have to put me in the hospital before I let you lay a hand on Alice." I sneered trying to put on a brave face. I clinched my fist to hide the fact that my hands were shaking. I was ready to duck encase a swung came hoping I might stand a chance of ducking it and he would smash his fist on the locker.

"You know what. You can have the stuck up bitch you fagot." He slammed me into the locker again and let me go walking away. He looked like he wanted to tear me apart but turned and walked away as the crowd that had started to form parted to make way as he steamed off.

"Are you okay?" Alice said as she touched my shoulder.

"I am fine." I said touching the back of my head which hurt like hell and then pulled my hand back to see a little bit of blood.

"Fuck you are bleeding. Lets take you to see the nurse." Alice touched my arm

"It is fine. I probably hurt the locker as hard headed as I am." I shook my head.

"Here. Put this on it at least." Alice dug into her purse and pulled out a wet nap.

"Thanks." I said taking it and dabbing it to the back of my head. I could feel a small cut where I had hit a hinged or vent but it wasn't bad. The crowd had began to disperse now that I wasn't going to get y ass kicked for everyone to see.

"Thank you for standing up for me." Alice rubbed my shoulder.

"I didn't really do anything. I am just used to getting pushed around." I shook my head. All I had done was give him a different target to vent his frustrations out own.

"Bullshit. You were totally bad ass daring him to hit you like that. He won't mess with you again after I talk to my dad." Allison said.

"Please don't. If he gets kicked off of the team or something his friends will just make my life hell." I shook my head. One asshole was bad enough.

"Typical hard headed guy.” Allison smirked at me. “At least let me buy you lunch and make sure you don't have a head concussion or anything."

"Okay. Let me wash up first." I nodded toward the bathroom.

"Sure. Why don't you go ahead Britney and we will catch up." Allison looked at Britt. I went into the bathroom and washed up a bit dabbing a dry paper towel at the back of my head then headed back out and Alice took my arm and led me toward the cafeteria.

"You sure you are okay?" She asked once we were outside.

"I am fine." I shook my head.

"I get it. You don't want me pampering you." She frowned.

"Sorry. I don't mean to take it out on you. It pisses me off when guys act like that towards girls." I shook my head. It wasn't like I could do anything about it. If it wasn't David it be some other guy tomorrow.

"Now you know why I like you."

"I am not entirely sure why?" I sighed.

"Stop." She yelled. She stopped dead in her tracks and yanked my arm around to face her.

"I like you because you aren't like other guys. You can accept that and stop questioning why or we can end things now before things get serious.” She poked my chest. She looked furious with me.

“Alice. I am sorry. For what it is worth I was ready to get my ass kicked back there because I do like you to. I sure as hell am not good with saying what I feel but I wouldn't have done it if I didn't. I think it took every once of bravery I had to just stand there and act though but I am not.” I sighed.

“You stuck up for me even if you aren't some knight in shinning armor. I don't want that but I love that you did. I like that you don't just see me as a pretty girl you just want to sleep with. I don't have to pretend I am not smart and you actually encourage me to be me. I can talk to you like any of my friends about anything and we actually do share some of the same interest if you haven't noticed.” Alice took my hand. “Now are we done with the little pity party and you just accept the fact that we are friends?”

"Okay." I said forcing a smiled.

"Good. Now for a serious question and this one is a deal breaker." She smiled and started walking again.

"Shoot." I nodded.

"Lunch. It's hamburgers today, so are you going to eat all of your fries?" She gave me a sideways glance and a smile.

"I suppose not now." I shook my head.

"Good answer." She said giving my hand a squeeze. I hadn't even realized she was still holding it. “So you think we should call your sister. I think she could take Dave's ass.”

“Pass. Though she totally could.” I smiled back. The rest of the school day went by pretty fast thankfully. Even with the stuff Alice gave me I had a little headache. I didn't see Allison after school got out because her mom came by to pick her up so I headed straight home. I told mom what had happened so she didn't hear about it from someone else later and then went and rested my head for a bit. A knock came at the door and Ginny came in.

"Hey. Your girlfriend is here." Ginny smiled.

"She isn't my girlfriend." I shook my head and sat up.

"Keep telling yourself that. Denial is the first stage. Just a heads up her mom is here to." Ginny replied.

"Thanks." I rolled my eyes and headed down.

"Ms. Fairchild." I **** a smile as I came into the living room where she was sitting with mom and Alice..

"Hello dear." Ms. Fairchild smiled.

"You decided to come to the park as well?" I asked. That ruin another part of my day with Alice.

"No. I just came by to drop my daughter off and to say thank you for sticking up for her at school. I understand you want to be left out of it but me and my husband will be meeting with his parents over his continued harassment of my daughter." She said as she stood up and walked over.

"I totally understand. That is the only reason I got in the middle of it." I nodded.

"And I am glad you kept a cool head about it.” Ms. Fairchild touched my arm and smiled. “If things get bad for you let me know. I know many of the kids parents including Davids and want stand for him bullying you." She gave me a hug.

"Thank you." I said a little taken back.

"Of course dear. Now you two should really get moving if you want to beat the rain we are suppose to get later." She said as she let me go.

"Crap.” I said. I had meant to check the weather forecast but had totally forgot having other things on my mind. “Sorry ma'am."

"It's fine. Me and your mom are going to get to know each other while you kids go have fun.” Ms. Fairchild smiled. I grabbed my stuff I had put in my camera bag and headed out with Alice.

“Congratulations. You got a hug from mom. That is like seeing Bigfoot riding the loch ness monster or something.” Alice teased as we got into the car. I couldn't help but smile at her. I suppose one good thing came out of almost getting my ass kicked. We drove for the park which was pretty dead. Which was good for us. I saw a couple of moms with there kids on the playground and that was about it. Luckily any clouds were off in the distance still and we still had the light on our side.

“Wow. I can see why she picked it.” Alice smiled. The lake was beautiful. We had been here a few times before when I was smaller but so was the park then. It had expanded greatly as they had added a little pavilion which Nicky had rented. At least having the wedding here if any kids got restless the park was nearby. Nicky had picked it mostly because it was close to the church her and Kevin attended which was her back up location if the weather went south. Plus the location was beautiful. Every girl dreamed of a spring wedding.

"So where should we start?" Alice smiled. There was the Gazebo. The small wooden bridge, . The lake, playground. Any number of spots to choose from. Pat of the reason I was here was to maybe find something I might not think of Sunday. If I had free time I had originally planned on maybe getting some quit peaceful nature shots along the jogging trail, I could use the exercise, but now I had a model so those were out.