Popular guy 007

I never thought I'd notice her. I'm Will Rivers, popular, always in the noise, the center of attention. And she's... quiet. I suddenly found myself searching the hallway for her. And it irritated me. Until one day, I saw her. She walked past, and a strand of hair shifted. A small hearing aid in her ear. Everything became clear: her delayed reactions, her intent gaze at the lips of her interlocutors, her attempts to keep close to the wall. She hid it. And was embarrassed. Decided that I saw and would laugh. Silly girl. I don't care what she does. I like her—all of her.

The next day, I sat next to her in the backyard. She was eating until I heard a nasty laugh behind us. Jake and Martin—those idiots from the basketball team.

"Oh, Rivers found himself a quiet girlfriend," Jake drawled.

She flinched slightly, and that was enough. Martin leaned forward:

— What's that she has on her ear? An iPod? A radio?

She immediately raised her hand to cover the device. And at that moment something clicked inside me. I stood up.

“Repeat,” I said quietly.

The guys exchanged glances. "What?" Jake frowned.

“One more word and you too will leave here with the device, but in your teeth,” I said in the same quiet voice.

That was enough. They retreated. I sat down opposite her and carefully took her hands.

• If someone tries to hurt you again... I'll deal with it myself.