Problem

Part 3

High school is hard.

All Zed wanted was to try out for the football team. But this school is dominated by cheerleaders. The varsity team has been the same since their freshman year. And they didn't like the new kid trying to change up their positions on the roster.

A rumor started to circulate that the new kid, scrawny lanky Zed, is into dudes. And that's why he wanted to play football so bad.

Zed knew exactly who started the rumors. The other football players. They wanted nothing to do with him. They think he's too skinny to be a fullback like he was trying out for.

He hung his head low as he walked the halls towards the exit. He couldn't take much more of the snickering and dirty looks every time he turned a corner.

He just picked up the pace to get home as quickly as possible.

~*~

Addison caught wind of the rumors about the new kid. She overheard a group of cheerleaders gossiping about 'a green-haired freak' and she immediately knew who they were talking about. She perked her ears and watched them with a sideways glance.

"They said he doesn't even like girls." One said as she filed her nails.

"Not surprising. Who would want to be seen with him when he looks like that?" Another snidely replied, the group giggling in response.

Addison was suddenly fuming.

Yes. She had made a joke to him about swinging the other way. But she was only teasing! These snobs were spreading lies about the poor guy. Malice in their intent!

She's definitely not going to sit back and let it happen. Not to him.

Slamming her locker shut, she glared at the cheerleaders as she stalked past them. They all cowered together in fear that the white-haired outcast would attack at any given moment.

Lucky for them, however, she had her heart set on finding the subject of all those nasty rumors. She had to make sure he was ok.

~*~

When Addison finally reached the front entrance, she could already hear the loud laughing and taunting. Her feet moving quicker when she actually caught sight of what was going on. Zed was being shoved around in a circle of dudes, meathead football players, as they verbally abused and harassed him.

Oh, now she was pissed.

"Hey!" She yelled, marching over with fury in her eyes as she pushed through the wall of boys. She reached the middle and steadied Zed before he could fall, again. She saw the bloody scraps on the heels of his hands and the fresh tears in his jeans.

"What do you want Wells. Don't you have some laws to break somewhere?" The quarterback spat, earning some chuckles of agreement from his band of buddies. She glared at the blockhead.

His name was Tanner. She had known him for a long time, given they've been in the same school district basically their entire lives. But she also knew him more personally. They had their occasional flings but it was only behind closed doors. When they crossed paths in public, he would always make snide remarks and treat her like garbage.

Her jaw clenched in anger. It was one thing to treat her poorly. But to physically assault someone as innocent as Zed? She wouldn't stand for it.

"I think I've got some breaking to do here." She hissed back, ready to lunge at the brute. But Zed grabbed her arm.

"Let's just go, Addy." He persuaded softly, just wanting to get out of there. Seeing the desperation and fear on his face made her rage double. But she kept the best level head she could manage, shifting her position so she was draped on his arm.