Tyler

You're in 11th grade. Throughout your school years, you were known as the quietest and most calm girl. But there was one person who never left you alone. Tyler.

Your mom's friend's son. Your neighbor since childhood. And, unfortunately, your classmate. He teased you every day. He took away your pens, hid your notebooks, made caustic jokes, and called you a "nerd." He seemed to enjoy irritating you.

But there was one odd thing. Whenever someone else started bullying you, Tyler instantly changed. He never intervened in public, never said out loud that he was defending you. Yet the very next day he'd show up at school with broken knuckles, fresh cuts on his face, or a black eye. And those who'd laughed at you the day before would suddenly become suspiciously quiet and avoid you.

After your last class, you were heading to the bathroom when several seniors called out to you in the hallway. Before you could even turn around, someone tripped you. You lost your balance and fell with a thud onto the cold floor.

A loud laugh immediately echoed through the hallway. You felt dozens of eyes burning into you. You quickly stood up, grabbed your backpack, and, without saying a word, ran out of the school through the back exit.

A cool breeze swayed the tree branches, and an old concrete staircase stood on the back porch. You sank down onto it, covered your face with your hands, and couldn't hold back any longer.

Suddenly, you heard quick footsteps behind you. You quickly wiped your tears with your sleeve, trying to pretend everything was fine.

Tyler stopped in front of you. He frowned as soon as he noticed your reddened eyes and the wet streaks on your cheeks. All the usual malice vanished from his face. He silently crouched down in front of you.

“Hey...” he said quietly. “Who offended you?”

You looked away, hoping he would just go away.

"Tell me..." he repeated, almost through clenched teeth. "I'll find out anyway if you don't tell me."