*Annabell's POV

  Something's different. I used to be sort of depressed all the time at school. But in history on Tuesday it ged.What hides behind that 'something', is a mystery to me. Not that I want to pin or anything. Even in this short time I came to like the soothing ess I feel now, as I'm walking towards my st css of this week.It is strahough. It seems like this feeling has something to do with the unusual presence I noticed around me retly. It's strong and brings me the sense of safety. I've known one like that but... that's long ago. I shook my head to keep sad thoughts out of it.  The st css on Friday I have study hall and no matter how hard I try, I 't trate on the audio book in my headphones, we have assigned for the English css. I gave up trying listening to the same chapter for the fourth time and sneaked out of the library ten minutes before the bell rang.

  After taking my jacket from the locker I headed out. The bell rang at the same time I reached out for the door. Heh, no one say I went behind the school. I smiled to myself. Like always, my good mood didn't st long. And as per usual, I had Mike to thank for it. The sed I stepped out of the building he grabbed my hands "e with me sweetie." He said with an unspoken promise of something I didn't like o. Then started pulliowards the farthest end of the school yard before anyone else could see us. This wasn't usual behavior even for him. But what do I actually know... I heard ahree pairs of footsteps around me. Great, his minions are tagging along. I thought sarcastically turning to 'look' at eae of them to let them know that I know, they are there.

  It worked nicely. One of them, I assume Jeremy, the biggest scaredy-cat of the four, nervously coughed. I swear that boy believes I am some sort of devil. Smaller figure by my other side, probably Nicos, tripped over something. I bet, his ow. I almost burst out ughing. So... that means behind me is Tyler . "What is it freak? Afraid? We're just gonna have a little fun with you." He said sounding just as nervous as Jeremy, firming his presend position to me.

  " freakie, we won't be interrupted by any stupid teacher here." Said Mike, probably thinking he sounds sedug and finally stopped walking, while I was making feeble attempts to get out of his grip the whole time. He liked what he saw, vihat he's strohan me. "Let go of me Mike." I warned him, so annoyed by this low life. Sant, just because he's got money he has half of the girls in here head over heels for him. The other half he already had 'a little fun' with and threw away, so they hate him. And then, there's me...

  "Aw, don't be like that. You'll enjoy it and when you stop struggling, it won't hurt. Promise." Said Mike sweetly. I felt like vomiting. He's got it ing. Should have kept your hands to yourself, Mike. Now you- I didn't get to finish that thought. I heard somebody approag. Did they invite a spectator? Or they wanna have fun too... "What do you want from her?!" hissed the newer.

  The four would be no problem, then this guy appeared. This is a pletely different story now. What should I do? It's an unfamiliar voice. Must be one of the udents. He was angry and his presence screamed DANGER! I have no idea why he would be this angry or ossibly could his iions be. His footsteps stopped few feet away from us. I ot do a thing with a witness so close and I all but dream of taking this guy on. That thought rendered me quite helpless, uo react at all.

  "None of your business, Whittie." retorted Mike in an irritated manner using a niame I overheard in some of the csses this week. Riiight, go ahead and make him even angrier, idiot... Boys seemed very displeased with one of the new male students. Precisely with Jasper Whitlock, the only one of them who arently single and girls from the whole school were totally crazy about him. I wonder if he's anything like Mike. That would mean I'm in some real trouble here.

  Mike took advantage of my distra and moved unfortably close to me, holding my wrists with one hand while putting his free arm around my shoulders. I stiffened and really had to suppress the urge to vomit this time. The stress from not knowing the iions of this Jasper-guy making it even harder. The four around me ughed. I guess they find my situation very amusing.

  "Take your hands off of her or you may lose them!" Hissed Jasper again.

  With that decration my worries disappeared. Repced by the stra and inexplicable o move closer to this person. I suddenly felt that he came to help me, not knowing I didn't really . It sill made me happy, a lot. I have met a very few people that would stand to my aid through my entire life.

  "OR, what?" replied Mike mogly. Mike's body shifted and leaned even closer to me then before. When his breath brushed over my face I knew what he's going for and I shivered with disgust. I've had enough. My fist made its way to ect with Mike's jaw. At the same time I heard a low growl ing from this Jasper and my body moved on its own. I smoothly slipped out of Mike's arms and with a spark of joy I moved to stand behind my newfound savior.

  I could sehat he's furious and- no that's not the only reason. I felt sudden urge to touch him and almost unsciously I put my hand on his apparently very broad and mase back that I could feel under a shirt from pretty much the same material as my own. Simir style huh... I smiled to myself.

  At that very moment Michae put into words, what I felt. Calm down my warrior. I'm safe. She whispered in my head and his baoticeably rexed under my touch. It made me even happier.

  "Don't you dare to bother her again." he warhem and my smile broadened. When I heard them turn around and their retreating footsteps I took my hand off of his back. Theuro face me.

  For once, after such a long time I wished again I could see. I wao know what this boy... no, this man in front of me looks like. I could ask him to let me feel his face which obviously wouldn't be the same as actually seeing him, but it would be something. Although I could n myself to do that. He most likely doesn't realize that I am blind. There was no sign from him that he'd know. Well, I did not give him any reason to even think that I ot see. He may not have heard about it yet. I wish for it to stay that way.

  Almost every single person I came to know, when learned about my disability, they ged their behavior towards me. I don't want that to happen now. So I simply thanked him instead, dove into the woods and headed home.