The Puppet Factory

Part 3

**********

"Mmhmm...mmhmm...Uh!"

Trinity why? Why now? We sat in History, Mrs. de Toit's eye sight isn't the sharpest and neither is her hearing so she wouldn't notice the 'new student' who sat beside my sister. That is not even my problem right now.

"Could you two not do that now, in here?"

My problem is the guys hand up Trinity's skirt.

"Just shut up- oh!" I placed my head on my desk before a sheet of paper was placed on my head.

'Hey beautiful. Sorry if this is offensive but you need to talk to your sister. I understand that she is comfortable living the life of a slut but becoming a 'cum dumpster' isn't the smartest career choice. Plus it's really annoying.'

~ Chad.

I smiled sadly. Looking up at Chad, he doodled away in his notebook instead of doing his work. His left foot rhythmically tapped at the steel bar at the foot of his table. I noticed his blue earphones were in one ear and a cotton ball in the other...

Am I really the only one trying to listen to the droning teacher up front? Guess so, everyone else seems to be in their own worlds or trying to be in Trinity's... Umm, yeah.

"Mr. Yasutora, where do you think you are go-" Mrs. de Toit was interrupted by the school bell ringing. Without a word Chad slipped out the door, I didn't even hear him get up or pack away.

After Chad's disappearing act I never saw him again until the end of the day, which rolled by rather fast. Like always, we met outside the school gates so he could walk me to Cresta Primary School; I'm an outside athletics coach- specifically for long jump.

"What's bothering the prodigy today?" When the school came into view I was answered with silence as we walked so I continued.

"The silence is normal but your stiff walk and tense jaw is not. You've been paying close attention to your surroundings as if expecting something to jump out. There's also the fiddling with the belt loop of your pants which you do, I've come to accept out of habit, when on edge. I half expect you to pull out a gun."

"...how long 'ave you been observing me?" Ever since we met.

"Since we left the school my quiet giant-" I was suddenly pulled to a halt by Chad as he held my forearm and called out to me. Looking up at him, his hair was swept out of his face, a serious expressing shadowing his features. Man I feel short...

"Look I know after practice you'll definitely go visit your mother and I couldn't be gladder about that. What does bother me 's the fact that you still 'ave to walk home, alone, in the dark." I gave him a small close-eyed smile before turning around to head to the school gates.

"Don't worry! I can take care of myself, when my life depends on it." With a soft groan Chad pulled me back into a bear hug. Awe he's so caring, it's sweet.

"The streets aren't safe for a beautiful girl such's yourself so try not to stay out too long... I won't always be there to protect you."

I rolled my eyes pulling away. Nothing I say now will get him to calm down. Only solution would be, when the time comes, to call him just to say I made it home alive. As I walked through the gates past other smaller children and their parents who came out, I realized what Chad had said. Turning back around I opened my mouth to confront him.

"Hey Chad? What did you mean by..." Like before in the past, I found myself talking to the wind. Once again the boy left before I could ask him something. Man, how do I loose such a noticeable guy like that?

"You won't be there to protect me?"

>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>