Part 3The Ex-Files

The first time I met Ethan was in my junior year of high school.

My dad's job transferred us, so I was the new kid. My assigned desk mate was Ethan.

Because the only empty seat was next to him.

For the first two months, we barely spoke five words.

I thought he was a rich, lazy delinquent. Rumor had it his family was loaded, and he never studied.

He called me a nerd. Every time I collected homework, he impatiently told me to get lost.

Until one night, walking home, I saw a fight in an alley.

A group of guys from another school, armed with pipes and bats, were ganging up on a student from our school. The boy fought hard and well, holding his own even outnumbered.

But he was overwhelmed. Someone hit him from behind with a bat, and he stumbled with a groan.

A girl in our school uniform was crying beside him, eyes red.

"Stop it! Please stop!"

I don't know where I got the courage, but I rushed over and shouted:

"Stop! I called the cops! They'll be here any minute!"

One guy looked up. "Sh*t, who's this busybody? Get lost or we'll beat you too!"

I tried to stay calm. "The police station is five minutes away. You still have time to run."

Hearing that, the group cursed and scattered.

I approached cautiously.

"Are you okay?"

The boy leaning against the wall looked up. It was Ethan. Messy black hair, sharp features, a cut on his forehead bleeding. He looked wild and dangerous.

I frowned, confirming my opinion of him as a troublemaker. Still, I pulled out a band-aid. "You're bleeding."

He glanced at the pink Hello Kitty band-aid in my hand, scoffed, and turned away.

The girl he was protecting thanked me profusely. She took the band-aid and tried to put it on him, looking heartbroken. But he slapped her hand away impatiently.

"I'm fine."

He grabbed his bag and walked off.

"Ethan..." The girl stepped back, her face pale.

I noticed she had a limp. I felt bad. Such a pretty girl, but her leg was injured.

I didn't think much of it. But the next day, when I collected homework, Ethan didn't tell me to get lost. He lazily took my homework and started copying it.

"Wait."

After finishing, he tossed the notebook back to me, raising an eyebrow. "Turn it in, Little Miss Class Rep."

I had seen him fight, so I didn't dare argue. I cursed him internally and turned to leave.

But he called out to me.

His voice was slightly raspy, with a hint of awkwardness.

"Hey. About yesterday... thanks."