The rustle of clothes, screams, and other cuss words filled Noah’s ears when he stopped sobbing. Reluctantly, he peeked over his arms and between strands of hair. His sight was still blurry from the tears, but he managed to discern the figure of another boy standing right in front of him.
“Next timeyou’llthink before acting,” his rescuer parroted as the three bullies ran away. “Are you okay?” he asked, turning toward Noah with an outstretched hand.
He stared at it for a few seconds, considering whether he should trust him or not. But those big ice-blue eyes and the kindness of his smile made Noah feel safe.
“Thanks.”
“No prob. I’m Kaj, by the way.”
“Noah,” he mumbled, looking everywhere but at him.
“Why were those guys beating you again?”
Of course he’d seen it happen before. Noah was the weirdo no one wanted to play with.
“Because I was reading this,” he said as he picked up his G.I. Joe comic from the ground. It was wet and wrinkled, but hopefully putting it by the heater at home with some books on top would fix it.
“Who’s your favorite?” Kaj asked, crouching down to help Noah pick up the rest of his stuff. “I love Snake Eyes.”
Noah looked at Kaj wide-eyed and with his mouth slightly agape.
“What?”
“Nothing. He’s my favorite, too.”
Kaj’s smile grew as he handed Noah the pencil case and notebook he always carried around. “He’s the coolest with the katana and all.”
“Yeah…”
“Why come here to read, though? Don’t you have a room at home?”
“I... yeah. I just like it better here. They have candy, and I love those beanbag chairs. I don’t know. We also live with Grandma, and she doesn’t hear well, so the TV is always too loud for me to read in peace.” Noah regretted it instantly as those words left his mouth. He either didn’t speak much or overshared. There was no in-between, and he hated it. Maybe that was why he didn’t have many friends before and hadn’t made any new ones here.
Kaj chuckled. “How old are you?”
“Eleven,” Noah said as they started walking, the crunching sound of snow under their feet accompanying them.
“Just like me! When’s your birthday?”
“Ehm, uh... N-November thirteenth.”
“So it was a month ago.”
“Yeah…”
“Happy super belated birthday!” Kaj grinned.
“Thanks?”
“Mine’s in June. On the thirteenth, too.”
“Cool.”
“Did you get many presents?”
“Hmm... Mom bought me a second-hand guitar and a book.”
“A guitar? That’s awesome!” Kaj’s eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. “I’ve been bugging Dad to get me a drum kit, but he says I’m already too loud as it is.” He shrugged, then laughed. “He’s kinda right. So, are you any good?”
