After parking the car, Nick strapped his backpack on and headed for the front door with Michelle.  But he quickly realized that even his own backpack was feeling inordinately heavy to him now, and that’s when he had an idea.

“Michelle …” he began smugly, stopping and taking his backpack off.  She stopped and turned to him.  “You could carry my bag …” he told her, more of a demand than a question.

Michelle blinked in surprise, but after a moment’s thought she replied, “OK, sure.”

With a satisfied grin, Nick held his bag out with one arm for her to take – though he quickly realized he needed both arms for the task.  He watched her single hand reach down and lift it easily upwards, slinging it effortlessly over her shoulder.  His pride was damaged just a bit by seeing just how much weaker his body was than hers, but that was nothing compared to his pride over getting her to do things for him now – especially knowing that the whole school would be watching, knowing that she was putting her own reputation on the line.

Unburdened and sporting a victorious smirk, Nick led the way towards the front entrance of the school, with Michelle trailing close behind.

But before they stepped onto school property, a man wearing a nondescript t-shirt and a baseball cap who had been standing nearby suddenly pulled out a camera and pointed it directly at them – as if he had been waiting for the two of them specifically.  The man didn’t approach any closer, but he began to snap photo after photo as they walked by.

Nick was bewildered; though Michelle didn’t seem completely surprised.  “Freelance photographer,” she commented with a bit of scorn.  “I was wondering how long it would be until people began to take notice …”

Nick stopped and blinked up at her.  He hadn’t thought of that – but it made sense.  Despite the principal’s announcement not to make a big deal of Nick and Michelle’s situation, word was bound to get out sooner or later, and people would be curious.  This guy didn’t seem to pose much of a threat – Nick noticed he didn’t step on school property, probably wasn’t allowed to – but there would probably be more like him in the future.  Nick was embarrassed to be seen like this – he just hoped he’d be back to his old height before word really started getting around.

Having been distracted, he looked up again to find Michelle smiling pleasantly down at him – as if she had already forgotten about the photographer and was already taking the opportunity to admire Nick in that outfit of his she found so sexy … God, that look she was giving him …

Apparently bashful from getting caught in the act, she blushed and averted her eyes modestly, then added demurely, “Well … should we go inside?”

Right.  It was time to lead Michelle inside and show their classmates how much things had changed between the two of them …

As they stepped through the front doors into the main hallway, Nick would never forget the look on his the other students’ faces when they saw the most popular – and tallest – girl in school carrying the bag of the school’s shortest and most despised member.  The two of them were the talk of the school again, but for a much different reason.  Now, students stepped out of the way in sheer shock to watch Michelle following Nick to his locker just as subserviently as he had followed her the day before.

Unfortunately, his locker was on the top row, and even the bottom of the locker cleared the top of Nick’s head.  His diminished height would make things quite difficult.  He hated to say it, but he would need Michelle’s help on this. 

“Alright, Michelle …” he called over his shoulder, sounding as authoritative as possible to put on a good show and hide the fact that he needed her help.  He gestured up to his locker and told her, “You can take out my economics textbook for first period now but put everything else away.”

“Sure, Nick,” she replied without hesitation, to the amazement of those listening in nearby.  She stepped up just behind him and opened his backpack up above his head.  His back was to her, but he knew she was almost close enough to bump into him.

A moment later, though, she told him, “Oh, you’re gonna need to open it for me.”

“Oh … right.”  Nick reached up for the built-in combination lock on his locker – but it was a lot higher than he had expected.  It had been a few days since he had used his own locker, and … man, even after rising up onto his toes he could barely reach the dial to turn it.  And even so, his eyes were at such a low angle that he would have no idea what numbers he was turning the dial to.

He dropped his arm, embarrassed.  “That’s OK,” Michelle comforted.  “Just tell me the combination.”  She reached out above his head and put her hand on the dial, a little below chest-level on her, and then looked down at him patiently.

“OK …” he said reluctantly, his pride taking a hit.  “Um … the combination is …”  His voice trailed off.  Somehow, he seemed to have completely forgotten the numbers.  It hadn’t been that long since he had used his locker – he used it every day!  And he should have been able to remember it automatically.

He really couldn’t think of the combo, not even the first number.  He just stared up at her for a good ten seconds, his mind blank.

But after a few awkward seconds Michelle, in an understanding voice, intervened.  “Don’t worry about it; people forget stuff like that all the time.  Hey, if you want, I can watch your stuff while you ask for the combination at the front office.”

Why hadn’t he been the one to think of that?  She seemed so calm and collected, while he on the other hand was acting like a bumbling idiot, unable to remember even his own locker combo, and frozen in a stupor as a result.  He knew taking so many potions was making him smarter … but at times like this he sure didn’t feel like it.

This momentary show of weakness and vulnerability sure didn’t help in his efforts to keep a step ahead of Michelle, keep her under his control.  He couldn’t help but let his frustration show a bit when he replied indignantly, “Yeah, whatever.  Just wait here,” and stomped off towards the front office.

He didn’t have nearly as easy a time making his way through the crowd without Michelle there to ‘part the sea’ for him.  As pair after pair of long legs and tall chests whooshed by him, he slowly realized just how different he was now.  At least yesterday he could occasionally find others – usually freshmen – who were almost as short as him.  But how much had he shrunk since yesterday afternoon – half a foot?  He thought back to their last measurement and realized he was probably no more than a few inches above 4 feet tall.  And now, even the shortest girls looked like Amazons to him, tall and proud, able to look down on him with ease.

And those were just the short ones.  The taller students, especially the ones six feet or taller – that was a whole different story.  Their size made him feel insecure, almost making it dangerous for him to walk amongst them in the packed hallway.  He almost got run into several times by classmates who didn’t even see him walking in front of them.

He was already sick of staring at the middle of people’s torsos by the time he got through the crowd and reached the front office.  He took a moment to calm down and remind himself that nothing was wrong – he was still in charge of things.  His height didn’t matter, as long as he had Michelle around … and he’d be back with her as soon as he got this quick errand taken care of.

He heaved open the office door with both hands and went up to the nearest staff member he could find, a young male intern in his twenties, sitting at his desk and working diligently.

“Who do I need to speak to to get my locker combo,” Nick asked him, rather rudely.

He looked up from his screen, surprised at first by the remarkably diminutive size of this high schooler.  But then his expression soured.  “That’d be me.  But I’m busy.  Come back another time.”  He returned to his work.

Nick, angered by being treated this way by a lowly front office intern, stepped forward and persuaded forcefully, “C’mon, just look it up for me real quick.  I’m sure it can’t take long.”

The intern was also getting increasingly annoyed.  “I said come back later, dude.  Besides, there’s forms you gotta fill out, and you need permission from the principal.  Can’t have just any random guy asking for other people’s locker codes.”

Nick clenched his fists.  “Well then, take me to the principal!”

“Can’t; he’s busy all morning, and said not to disturb him.”

“Well, I need to get into my locker before class!” Nick exclaimed angrily, raising his voice.

“What’s going on here?” a stern voice called out from behind Nick.  He turned to see a tall, well-built woman getting up from her desk.  He recognized her as a regular at the front office – Mrs. Pryce was her name, he believed.  She was some kind of supervisor around the office, and he remembered her as being a particularly annoying person to deal with, always a stickler.  But now, as she was walking briskly up to him, he found her scowl much more intimidating than he ever had in the past.

“This little brat’s been bugging me about his locker and won’t go away,” the intern announced to her with indignation as she stepped up to Nick.  She wasn’t as tall as Michelle, but she was still very, very imposing nonetheless.

Nick sneered at the intern and told the lady, “All I was doing was asking h—“

“I know you,” she boomed authoritatively, drowning out his words easily.  “You’re Nick Avery,” she continued, her voice soaked with disdain.  “Didn’t recognize you at first since you’re so tiny now.”

He hated how bluntly she said this.  Gritting his teeth, he told her, “Look, lady, I—“

“Don’t interrupt me!” she boomed.  “I’m not done talking.”  She bent at the waist so that her face loomed threateningly over his.  Nick suddenly began to feel afraid.

She pointed accusatorily at him.  “YOU were supposed to be at detention this morning.  But I was just informed by Ms. Blakeley that you skipped out.  What do you have to say for yourself, young man!?”  Her tone made it sound like she was scolding a child.

Nick shrank away in fear, bumping into the desk behind him.  She was right about the detention; he had completely forgotten about it until just now.  “Look …” he replied, now half-arguing, half-pleading, “I forgot about it, OK?  I’ll make it up later.”

“You’ve earned yourself much more than a single detention, young man,” she returned crossly, grabbing his arm and effortlessly hauling him to her desk despite his violent protests.  “Don’t push your luck, you little brat!” she scolded harshly, wagging her finger insistently to stop his squirming.  “You always were such a rude jerk whenever you came to me in the past.  Don’t think I’ve forgotten that.  So just sit down and be quiet, because you don’t want to get me any madder than you already have.”  She released him roughly and pointed at an empty chair as she walked around to her desk and sat down, pulling out some forms.

God … everyone seemed to have a vendetta against Nick these days.  He vaguely remembered having done something to this lady in the past, something particular that must have really pissed her off.  He couldn’t remember what, though – it wouldn’t have been the first time he had pulled some prank on the front office staff – and he usually got away with it since the principal liked him so much, being a fan of the basketball team as he was.  Meanwhile, the front office hated his guts but he never cared – until now, that is.

But he stood his ground, telling her sarcastically, “Ha!  What can you possibly do to me?  You’re just a secretary.”

She put her pen down and shot him a haughty, vicious glare that sent shivers down his spine.  “I supervise the entire front office, little man.  I control all the paperwork that comes in and out, and I can get the principal to sign off on any form I write up – especially for you.  Let’s just say … the administrators’ opinions of you have recently taken a turn for the worse, I’m afraid.  And,” she added, leaning in for emphasis, “if you give me any more lip, I will make you regret it.  Remember, it only takes three referrals to keep you from graduating – and, who knows, maybe you’d make a great errand boy for me next year …”

Nick’s eyes went wide, the smug grin wiped off his face.  He realized maybe he didn’t have an advantage over her like he thought.  He began to mouth a protest but quickly thought better of it and climbed into the chair.  He didn’t make a sound as she calmly filled out form after form.

Finally, she stacked them in a neat pile at the edge of her desk, informing him, “You’ll be receiving two referrals, as soon as the principal signs off on them: one for missing detention, and one for your little outburst with our intern just now.  On top of that, you’re getting three weeks of before-school detention, starting Monday.  And watch yourself, Mr. Avery,” she added, raising her eyebrows.  “One more slip-up – no matter how tiny – and you’ll get your third referral.  And you know what that means …”

Nick gulped.  Christ, this was so absurdly unfair!!  But he didn’t dare raise a finger in protest.

She raised her eyebrows at him and gave a victorious grin.  “Class is starting soon.  Off you go now …”  She saw the burning hatred in his eyes, but this only broadened her smile.  Nick clenched his fists but knew he had no choice.  He spun around and stomped off angrily, hearing her call out behind him, “Hope I’ll see you soon, little boy …”

He stormed out of her cubicle and headed for the front door of the office, only stopping when the intern at the desk nearby stuck his hand out holding a slip of paper and said gruffly, “Here.  Now beat it.”

It was the combination to Nick’s locker.  But Nick was in no mood to thank anyone, so he snatched it just as rudely and clenched his fists – but thought better of sneering a reply, instead just turning and stomping out of the office, cursing under his breath and holding the slip of paper. He just wanted to get his backpack from Michelle and get to class as quickly as possible.  But that was easier said than done, considering the throng of students in his way.  He darted through the crowd, amidst a chorus of laughs and jeers; it was all he could do to avoid getting knocked down by one of the endless stream of impossibly long legs swinging forward all around him.  Things were supposed to be going so much differently now … where was Michelle?  If only he could get to her, then kids would leave him alone.

The crowd was beginning to thin.  He was getting close to his locker, and he headed there with haste.  But, as he rounded another corner, he noticed a couple of familiar faces across the hall – Tracy and Hillary, two of the girls in his clique – well, still technically Michelle’s clique at this point.  He wouldn’t have thought anything of it, except that Tracy soon caught sight of him, nudged Hillary, and the two of them began slowly sauntering towards him, with predatory smiles on their faces.

There was nowhere else to go but towards them in the narrow hallway.  They stopped a few feet in front of him, crossing their arms.  “Well, hello there, Nick …” Hillary said with an evil grin.

Nick tried to play it cool.  “Hi, girls … sorry, I can’t talk; gotta get to my locker.”  He tried to squeeze between them, but Tracy’s leg swung out in front of him to block his path, while at the same time Hillary’s hand fell heavily on his shoulder.

“Aww, that’s not very polite, Nicky.  We just wanted to chat with our little buddy.  Right, Tracy?”

“Yeah, you’ll stay and chat with us, won’t you, Nicky?”

Nick tried to break free, but Hillary’s other hand came down on his opposite shoulder, pinching him tightly in place with just her fingers.  He tried to squirm free, but it was useless.  “Looks like he’s decided to stay!” Hillary laughed, grinning at Tracy.

Tracy laughed as well, but then her eyes settled on his chest.  “Holy shit … look at his shirt, Hillary …”

Hillary looked down.  “No way …”  She quickly dropped to her knee, still holding his shoulders, to get a closer look.  “Angry Birds!??  Oh my god … that’s like something my ten year old brother would wear!  Hillary, he’s wearing little kids’ clothes!!”  Their laughter echoed down the hall, which was now vacant except for the three of them.

Nick struggled to break free again, but this only brought more laughter.  “They’re not kids’ clothes!” Nick protested, not knowing what else to say.

Hillary laughed.  “Oh, really??”  Even kneeling, she was still taller than him and, of course, far stronger.  She pulled him into her with one hand, leaning her head over his shoulder and inspecting the tag in the back of his collar with her free hand.  “Yep!  Boys size 8.”  She pulled her head back just enough to look him in the eye and tell him with an evil smirk, “My little brother’s a size 10, by the way.”

Nick couldn’t take much more.  He felt tears coming on.  With both hands, he tried to pry her fingers off him.  “Nuh-uh, Nicky …” Hillary warned, but he kept trying.

Hillary’s hand reached behind him.  Then, suddenly, he heard a loud ‘whack!’ and felt a biting pain in his rear.  “OWW!” Nick yelled instinctively, grabbing his bottom.

Amidst her uproarious laughter, Tracy said, “Oh my gosh, Hillary, what are you doing??”

“Well, that’s what I do when my little brother misbehaves.  Why should I treat little Nicky any different??”  Her mirthful eyes stared penetratingly into his, her grinning face just inches away.  This was all just a game to her – a very fun, very hilarious game.  Nick began to cry.

“That’s not helping your case, Nicky!” she laughed.  “Crying makes you look even MORE like a kid!”

The two girls couldn’t stop snorting with laughter as they watched him break down in front of them, tears streaming down his cheeks, sobbing like a child.

Eventually Tracy said, “C’mon, we’re late for class,” and the two girls were content to wave goodbye for now and leave him crying on the floor.

He managed to drag himself to his feet a few minutes later, picking up the slip of paper with his locker combo from the floor and trudging down the hallway, wiping away his tears in the process.  Just before rounding the corner, though, he realized he’d probably be getting in trouble again for being late.  Which meant the lady in the front office would no doubt hear about it.  “Fuck my life…” Nick muttered.

But things were about to get so much worse …

He turned the corner quickly only to run headlong into a long pair of legs and a nice, round backside about level with his chest.

“What the hell!?” a strangely familiar voice called out.  It wasn’t Michelle, though – this girl was definitely tall, but no one was as tall as Michelle.  Still, he felt an interesting mix of recognition and intimidation as he observed this girl’s tall, slender physique, her healthy C-sized bosom, and her elegantly tapered neck leading up to striking facial features and –

Holy shit, it was Cindy.  His girlfriend, whom he hadn’t seen or heard from ever since he had shrunk.  ‘Oh God, Oh God, Oh God,’ he thought, ashamed to be seen by her in this condition – but it was too late to run.  He was already right in front of her, and they were now the only ones left in the hallway – not surprising, since he knew Cindy often showed up late to first period, perhaps even intentionally now to avoid seeing him.  But what terrible timing …

By now Cindy had completely turned to face him and was now glowering down at the puny little shrimp that had so rudely run into her.  “Fucking dweeb … watch where you’re going, you –“

Her voice cut out as her eyes went wide.  “Oh. My. God.”  Her jaw dropped as she saw what had become of him for the first time.  She had heard rumors, of course, and had consciously been avoiding his normal routes between classes just because she didn’t want to deal with it … but nothing could have really prepared her for seeing her towering stud of a boyfriend reduced to this.

“Um … hi, Cindy,” Nick began, shifty-eyed and uncomfortable.  He wanted to at least explain things to her so things wouldn’t be weird between them, so he said, “Uh … as you can see, I’ve gone through some … changes, and –“

He heard a derisive snort from above him.  He turned his eyes upwards to see her finally seeming to get a hold of her initial shock – and now, slowly, her demeanor was starting to change, a wicked smile crossing her lips.

“Look, Cindy, I—“

She interrupted him with a sudden bout of laughter.  “Some changes??  Jesus Christ, look at you!  You’re … you’re …”  She covered her mouth with her hand in disbelieving amusement.  “You’re fucking pathetic …” she said under her breath, her smile widening more and more.

He didn’t know how to take this.  She was being so mean …

She reached down towards him – what was she doing!?  She began to poke and prod at his chest, his biceps, feeling the total lack of muscle on his scrawny frame.  He tried to back away but she moved herself in front of him with the row of lockers behind.  And she just kept prodding him rudely, violating his privacy, bullying him.

He didn’t know what else to say.  “Stop it!” he whined, his weak arms feebly trying to fend her off.

“Oh my god, your voice sounds like a little boy’s now.  Nice shirt, by the way.”  She laughed again, finding his Angry Birds shirt hilarious.

Her hands on his body, her pleasing appearance and the familiar scent of her perfume – it dredged up wistful memories of their time together.  He could still remember the last time they screwed, and how good it had felt …

And now, that was a thing of the past.  She actually found him laughable now.

“God, I can’t believe I ever found you sexy …” she said, enjoying every moment of humiliating him.

Where was Michelle?  She was nowhere to be found – she must have gone on to class.  But Michelle – she still found him sexy.  He found new strength in that.  What the hell did he care what Cindy thought of him anyway?  She was nothing compared to Michelle.

With renewed confidence and vigor, he grabbed her large hands and shoved them off him in one swift move.  “WE’RE THROUGH!” he boomed, his words echoing through the halls – well, so he imagined, anyway.

Cindy’s look suddenly turned sour, and even – he noted with satisfaction – surprised that this little man had the gall to say that to her.  “WHAT!?” she barked, taking a step back as if sizing him up for the second time.

Nick saw his advantage and took it.  “That’s right, bitch – I’ve found someone better than you, someone who still thinks I’m hot, and—“

“HA!!” Cindy exclaimed, laughing loudly at his expense.  “Who – MICHELLE!?  I’ve seen her; she’s WAY fucking out of your league now.  You know she’s just pretending, right?  Everyone’s laughing at you behind your back.”

Nick’s eyes widened in confusion and rage, finding it difficult to speak.  “N-No, y-you’re wrong!” was all he could say.  Cindy only laughed at him again.

He clenched his fists again.  “SHUT UP!!  You don’t know what you’re talking about.  She wants me now, and … and … I don’t need you anymore!  I’m breaking up with you!!”

Her arrogant smirk soon faded, only to be replaced with fury.  “Fuck you.  NOBODY breaks up with ME …” she hissed through clenched teeth, closing her fists in rage.  She took a quick, threatening step towards him, and he couldn’t help but cower in momentary fear, instinctively putting his hands up against this towering girl who could easily kick his ass.

But she stopped, seeing the crumpled slip of paper in his hand.  She snatched it up and saw the locker combination written on it – and her eyes lit up as a devilish idea came to mind.  She glared back down at him – and he could tell from her look that he was in deep shit …

She suddenly reached down and wrapped her long fingers around his scrawny upper arm, hauling him to the other side of the hallway where his locker was.  He tried to wrest himself free but she was clamping down on him so hard it hurt.  She just held him there as she used her free hand to twirl the dial in the correct combination.

“Wh-What are you doing?” Nick asked, his confidence wavering.

She didn’t answer.  Instead, in one swift series of moves, she swung the locker door open above his head, dropped the slip of paper, then grabbed him by the other arm and lifted him into the air.

“This is what you get, you pig.  You were always such an asshole, anyways.”  She shoved him into the locker, wedging him in between what few books and papers were in there and cramming his legs up into his chest so that his small body fit completely.

“Oh, one more thing: I’ve been cheating on you. Like, every fucking week.  Have a good life, asshole.”  She flipped him a middle finger right before slamming the locker door shut, trapping him inside.  He began to yell and scream, pounding the metal walls around him but to no avail.  The only sound was her footsteps walking away, growing fainter and finally fading out completely.

He continued to pound his fists, grunting in bitter frustration.  His locker was fairly large, as far as lockers go – more than two feet high, and fairly deep.  But there wasn’t any room for him side to side; his elbows and shoulders, even as small as they were, were crammed uncomfortably tight.  And with the few books poking painfully into his back, he had to hunch forward and lean against his folded legs which wanted to stretch out but couldn’t in the narrow confines.

He tried feeling around the door where the handle was – but there was nothing to let him open it from inside.  He was literally, completely trapped until someone came and got him out.  He spent the entire rest of first period – a whole hour – frustrated and claustrophobic, tears of frustration trickling down his cheeks.

* * *

He heard the bell ring, and it filled him with dread as the hallway began to fill.  People coming and going, even opening the lockers next to him, oblivious.  But he couldn’t call out for help – it was too humiliating.  He just waited, and sobbed.

But after a minute, a shadow fell on the narrow slits which were the only source of light.  The shadow moved downwards, then returned, just … staying there for several seconds.

And then, he heard the dial begin to turn.  His heart beat faster and faster as, in a few seconds, the door opened to let in the blinding light.

He shielded his eyes, and cried out when he saw who it was.  It was Michelle – and she had never looked more beautiful.

“Nicky!!?” she exclaimed, dropping the slip of paper that held his locker combo – she must have found it lying on the floor below – and rushing her arms forward to help pull him out.

“What happened!?  Are you OK??”  She curled her fingers around his chest and pulled him off the ledge, holding him in the air and looking concernedly at him.

He could hear laughter booming out from all around him as people saw what had happened to him.  But Michelle only shot them a dirty look and tuned them out, turning her kind, gentle gaze back to him and staring compassionately into his eyes.

He looked across at her beautiful face, doing everything he could to hold back tears.  She was just so wonderful to him; he needed that smile of hers now, more than ever.  He couldn’t help himself – he cried again, despite how embarrassed he was to cry in front of her.

Her face lit up in compassion, sharing his pain.  “Oh, you poor thing!”  She did what any girl would do – instinctively drawing him into her for a supportive hug.  Suddenly, he felt one arm wrap around his back, the other cupping his bottom, as he was pressed into her warm flesh, his chin resting on her broad shoulder.

Holy god … her body felt so amazing, her smooth abs pressing into his crotch, her warm, soft breasts mashing against his chest and upper abdomen … It was like nothing he had ever felt, so indescribable, so wonderful …

“It’s OK …” she whispered softly in his ear, in response to his sobs.  “This doesn’t change anything … you’re still the same big, sexy man to me …”

“R-Really?” he whimpered, squirming against her, overwhelmed with sensation.

He felt her nod as she pulled him even tighter, saying, “Of course, sweetie!  Nothing could ever change that.  Now tell me – who did this to you.”

He felt moved, beyond words, even as his arousal for her grew and grew.  Michelle had now erased all his doubts about her feelings towards him – but still, he couldn’t get over the horrible things that had just happened to him.  “Cindy …” he whimpered.  “I-It was Cindy …”

He felt Michelle’s muscles tense up.  She pulled him off of her and set him on the ledge of his open locker, still supporting him with her hands on his sides.  “Your old girlfriend?”

Nick nodded.

Michelle scowled.  “That bitch …”  She turned back to Nick and said with resolve, “Don’t worry, she won’t bother you again.”

He could see the fire in her eyes.  He wanted to ask if she was planning to do something about it, but maybe he didn’t want to know.  He only sat, humiliated, on the edge of the locker and stared at her beautiful face and stunning torso filling his vision.

But then, a terrible thought came to him …

“Oh no …” he said, suddenly seized with distress.  “I-I missed class …”

Michelle shrugged.  “Oh, that’s not a big deal.”

“No!” Nick replied urgently.  “You don’t understand – I went to the front office, but … but … she was so mean, and …”

“Who was mean?” Michelle asked, sounding concerned.  “Was it Mrs. Pryce?”

Nick nodded silently, sadly, closing his eyes for a moment before resuming softly, “S-She said if I had any more slip-ups I’d be held back a whole year!  She’ll do it, I know she will!  I … I …”  His eyes blurred as another tear gathered in the corner of his eye.  He was acting like such a pussy in front of Michelle, but he just couldn’t help it …

But he felt Michelle’s hands squeeze gently at his sides, lifting him into the air again and holding him in front of her.  “Hey … it’ll be alright.  I’ll talk to them.  Everything will be fine, I’m sure of it.”

He shook his head, disbelieving her, but she only pulled him in for another brief but wonderful hug, even tighter this time.  His tears suddenly went away, his sorrow passing, as he focused on the incredible softness of her skin, how warm her chest was pressing against him …

He felt her move one arm away to close the locker behind him.  Still carrying him effortlessly, she took a step back and leaned down.  He reluctantly let her set his feet on the floor, withdrawing from her comfort.  But he was already feeling better, more confident, mollified.  Michelle really did have a way of making everything better.

She slung his backpack over her shoulder and smiled down at him warmly.  “Don’t worry about a thing.  Next time I see you, everything will be taken care of.”  Leaning down, she took her hand in his, her long fingers wrapping around his palm and giving a gentle tug, inviting him forward, as she continued to smile comfortingly down at him.  Nick balked at first, astonished by her boldness.  But he let her lead him forward, his eyes staring up at her while marveling the softness of her touch as she held his hand engulfed in hers.  He walked hand-in-hand with her, oblivious to the stares of those around them, all the way up to his second period classroom.

“I’ll be here when you get out,” she told him warmly outside his door, setting his backpack at his feet then giving his hand a gentle squeeze before letting go and heading to her own class.  His gaze lingered on her as she walked away, only turning his attention elsewhere once she was long out of sight.