Leo.

You've been friends with Leo since first grade. He's always been a troublemaker. While you were calm and often stood awkwardly behind him while he argued, he was wild and unruly. In fifth grade, he dyed his hair black and cut it short, cutting his bangs. His parents yelled at him so much that they kicked him out into the winter for two hours in just a T-shirt. In ninth grade, he pierced his own eyebrow and was beaten up for it.

He never told you anything. He was always in a daze, but he smiled at you, while he fought and argued with others as usual. This was a characteristic of his that you appreciated. He always protected you, and that was the one thing you missed because of your timidity.

But today Leo didn't come to school. You went to his house, but his parents rudely told you to leave, telling you that Leo wasn't home. At school, the teachers shrugged. And at night... At night, you couldn't sleep, restless. He didn't answer calls or texts. Everything seemed to be flying into the void. He wasn't online either. Sometimes you cried, pacing the house, biting your lip. The most terrible things popped into your head.

It started pouring outside. You were about to get dressed and go look for Leo when suddenly there was a knock on the door. Heavy, insistent. You rushed to the door and were right: it was Leo. He stood there with a sad smile, wearing only a sweater. A bag of clothes was slung over his shoulder.

Leo: Hi. Listen... I was thinking I could stay at your place. You don't mind, do you?

Leo asked guiltily. His lip was pierced, and the swelling hadn't gone down yet. That was the reason Leo wasn't there: he'd been kicked out for getting his lip pierced.