Connection

I was neatly organizing my books in my locker, the quiet rhythm of twisting my locker's combination and shifting through the textbooks easing my mind. It had been a decent day. Ashlynn had made me feel better about things with Tyler. Maybe things with him weren't so impossible after all.

But as I reached for my history book, I felt a sudden pressure against my back.

"Hey, new kid." A voice, gruff and unfamiliar, broke the silence, sending a chill down my spine. I stiffened, turning around just as a guy stepped into my personal space. I didn't even know who he was — but the smug look on his face told me everything I needed to know.

"Barron," he said, smirking as if I should know his name. His two friends were behind him, laughing under their breaths, a couple of jocks I'd seen around the school — yet I didn't recognize them either.

Before I could even say anything, Barron reached out, swiping my glasses off my face and holding them just out of reach. I blinked, my vision blurring as I reached up instinctively to grab them.

"Hey! Give those back!" I tried to sound confident, but my voice cracked slightly as the panic set in.

Barron just laughed, waving the glasses in front of me like a trophy. "What's the matter, four-eyes? Can't see without these, can you?"

The jocks around him chuckled, the sound grating against my nerves. I could feel the familiar sting of being humiliated creeping in. Why now? Why was this happening again?

"Come on, give them back," I said again, a little more forceful this time, but I knew it wouldn't matter. He wasn't listening.

One of his friends shoved me hard into the lockers, and I stumbled back, feeling my chest tighten as I braced myself against the cold metal.

Just when I thought things couldn't get worse, Barron grabbed the collar of my shirt and yanked me forward. My glasses were still dangling in his hand, and I could feel my heart hammering in my chest.

"Leave me alone," I said, my voice cracking, desperation slipping through - my eyes completely watery now.

And then, suddenly, the air shifted.

"Hey!" A voice boomed from behind me, sharp and unmistakable. I didn't have to turn around to know who it was. The tone of Tyler's voice was unlike anything I'd heard before — low and harsh.

Barron and his friends froze for a split second, but Tyler was already marching up to them, his gaze sharp as he stood next to me.

Tyler didn't even look at me as he spoke. He just glared at Barron and his friends, his arms crossed tightly across his chest.

"You better give him back his glasses, or I'll tell the baseball coach about this," Tyler said, his voice cold and unwavering.

Barron's smirk faltered, and one of his friends muttered something about how Tyler wasn't the guy they wanted to mess with, but Barron wasn't ready to back down.

"You really think you can scare me, Hernandez?" Barron sneered, still holding my glasses just out of reach.

Tyler's eyes narrowed, a fire burning in them. "Trust me, Barron. I'll make sure Coach knows you've been picking on people. And if that doesn't work, I'll just have to call you out in front of everyone next time."

Then, without warning, Tyler switched to Spanish, the words laced with venom. "Eres un idiota si piensas que vas a salirme con la tuya," he muttered, which I caught only a bit of, not knowing any Spanish, I had no idea what he said.

Barron's eyes widened at Tyler's outburst, and for a moment, it looked like he was about to say something else — but Tyler's glare stopped him. His grip on my glasses loosened, and before I could even react, Barron tossed them at me, his face flushed with annoyance and frustration.

"Whatever," Barron mumbled, stepping back. "This isn't over."

The jocks muttered amongst themselves, still unsure about how to handle the situation, but without another word, they turned and left, their footsteps echoing down the hall.

I stood there, still in shock, staring at Tyler, who was now looking at me, his expression still guarded.

"th-thanks," I managed to say, my voice a little shaky, but genuine.

Tyler didn't respond immediately. He just gave me a quick nod before turning on his heel and walking away without another glance. His shoulders were stiff, his pace brisk — but there was something in his eyes, something I hadn't expected, Maybe it was .. concern?

I stood there for a few seconds longer, holding my glasses in my hands. I couldn't quite figure out what had just happened. Tyler had actually defended me. Of all people, Tyler Hernandez.

I shook my head, trying to make sense of it, but one thing was clear. The school year was just getting started, and I was starting to realize things weren't as simple as they seemed.