Jonathan heaved a deep, exhausted sigh. He should have just stayed with his parents, went to his old school, spent time with his good old pals.

Instead, here he was, in a totally new and strange environment, alone.

Why did he think he would have a better life here in Redwood High? He should have just stayed in his hole. Another sigh escaped him.

He had tried making friends in the cafeteria during lunch break. But everyone just shooed him away. The nicest of the kids had ignored him politely. And he ended up sitting in one corner, all by himself.

School was almost over and Jonathan was walking through an area with less people and more trees. The cool breeze somehow made him feel at ease. As he walked with his hands tracing the railing that seperated the park with the pathway, he heard someone call out.

"Hey loser!"

He didn't remember his first name being 'loser'. So, he just kept on walking with his head hung low, secretely hoping that the boys, whoever they were, would just go away. Dealing with a bunch of bullies was not on his bucket list today. He has had enough for a day already.

"Hey you!" An arm pulled at his collar, bringing him down to the ground.

Jonathan hit his back on the railing and yelped.

Man, that hurt...

He looked up to see a blond guy and a bunch of other guys who stinked of trouble, behind him.

The sunlight that came through the trees behind the guy made him squint his eyes.

"Watcha staring at, a-hole? You wanna fight me?" The blond grimaced.

"I wonder why they let pricks like him in here. Now this place stinks of jerks" One of the guys said and kicked Jonathan's face, causing his glasses to fly away.

Jonathan didn't know what to do. He wasn't strong enough to fight them. The fact that they had a lotsa metal accessories on them wouldn't help either.

"Are you dumb or what? Speak!" Another kick to his shin and he winced.

"Dude, this jerk reminds me of another jerk.

Remember Zanders?"

"Yeah, all he does is read and stare. Heh" The blonde said, widening his eyes with his fingers for the last part and the others started to laugh.

Jonathan vaguely wondered who they were talking about. Anyhow, they were so enjoying dissing the guy, that they had forgotten about the poor little Jonathan at their feet.

"Hehe. I bet he runs to his mama everytime he is sad"

"Duude! That was dark!" Everyone erupted into laughter, momentarily appreciating the guy who "cracked the joke" with a pat on the shoulder.

Really, what was so funny about it in the first place?!

Jonathan couldn't see clearly without his glasses. Everything was a blur. And the excess sunlight didn't help either. But he noticed something behind the laughing group of boys.

They probably haven't noticed the presence of the guy behind them, having their eyes screwed shut from laughing too hard.

When the laughter died down and the blond looked down at Jonathan, he saw him staring past them.

"Whatcha looking at, you scum?" He lowered himself and gave Jonathan a tiny knock on his nose. It was a tiny knock, but it still hurt.

When Jonathan continued to gaze behind him, the blond turned around to see what's up.

He flinched back and Jonathan noticed everyone go visibly pale. "H-hey Addie!" The blond stuttered out and looked at his friends.

"You know, we were just joking before, really, didn't mean anything"

Jonathan could only make out a blurry image of the guy. He seemed like he had his backpack slung over one shoulder and a book on the other hand. He was glaring daggers at the boys who was stuttering infront of him.

And Jonathan couldn't really understand why he should be so hurt just because they said he might run to his mom when he's sad. Sure, he does that too. His mom is the only person who could comfort him when he is sad. So, what's the big deal?

He dragged himself closer to his glasses and shook off the dust off of it and put it on his nose, trying to get a better view of everything.

The other guys had already ran away and it was just him and the guy.

Jonathan gazed up at him and smiled.

He couldn't understand why he was staring down at him. He opened his mouth to mutter out a thanks, but the guy just walked away, clicking his tongue.

Now, that was rude!

Jonathan watched his retreating back in confusion.

He was sure about one thing, if it wasn't for the guy, those idiots would have still been picking on him, talking shit. And he didn't even get a chance to thank him. He really needed to make it upto him.

With that in mind, Jonathan rose from the ground, flinching a little at his aching back and started walking towards the exit of the school.

Adrian had gone to the park to simply sit and read in peace. But he was met with some silly 'bullies' and some poor, helpless kid. In his spot.

He was annoyed that he had to find some other place to sit and read.

He couldn't quiet understand why those imbeciles kept picking on weaklings, just to show off. And what was it they were talking about?....

Adrian clenched his jaws and ran a hand through his hair as he desperately tried to sweep his thoughts onto the back of his mind and concentrate on the book he was reading.

He couldn't.

He grunted and got up, dusting his pants. He had to pay his mother a visit.

•••

Jonathan was tired. He had found out his back had swelled up a bit, where he hit it on the iron railing.

He flinched when a loud noise was heard from the other room. He heaved a sigh as he wondered how thin the walls of his apartment was.

Well, it was the cheapest place he could find in there, what did he expect?!

Jonathan walked himself to the window, trying to pop some bones, but he only ended up straining a few of his muscles.

He stood with his head resting on the window frame, watching two couples argue on the other side of the road. He tried to listen in, but he could only make out a few words.

He was eagerly watching the couple, but something else caught his eye.

Someone.

The guy from the park, Zanders, he believes his name was, walked into the flower shop that was on the other side of the road.

Jonathan waited.

He waited til the guy came out. He had a bunch of daisies in one hand.

Maybe he has a lover?

Jonathan watched him walk away and continued to watch his retreating back until he disappeared into the crowd.

He heard another thud above him and mentally cursed his whole life.

Why did he think he'd be fine in here.....

Plopping himself down on the couch, Jonathan grabbed a book as he made himself a mental note to find this Zanders-guy and thank him personally at school the next day.

•••

Jonathan spend half of his day, asking around for the guy named Zanders. Most of the kids had no idea who he was talking about. And some kids had looked at him in weird way, like he was crazy.

Was he that hedious of a guy?!

Roaming almost all of the school, Jon finally decided to rest, hoping he would find the guy somewhere. He leaned himself on the wall near the door to the library.

He stood there for a few moments until the door opened with a creak and someone walked out of the Library.

An asian guy who looked like a typical nerd.

Maybe, he can help him, he thought. Atleast he wouldn't shoo him away like the others, hopefully.

"Excuse me?" Jon called out and the guy turned around, adjusting his glasses.

"Do you know where I can find a guy named, uh... Zanders?"

The boy put on a thinking face and after a moment, he spoke. "You mean Adrian Zanders?"

"Er..maybe?" He had no idea what his first name was.

"He should be somewhere in the classic literature section" The boy said, gesturing towards the library, and continued "Or you may find him in the park, behind the school"

Oh, why did he not go to the park in the beginning?

"Um, thank you!" Jon muttered and did a little speed walking to the park.

•••

Jonathan was sure the guy whould be in the park. It was stupid of him that it never hit him before.

He wasn't wrong.

The guy sat on a bench near the iron railing. Exactly where he saw him yesterday.

No wonder in why he was so annoyed...

"Hey!" Jon beamed and the guy looked up.

Adrian's expression turned into a frown. His thick brows drew closer and his dark eyes sharpened themselves into a glare.

Jon frowned as Adrian turned his gaze back down onto his book.

"Er... I just wanted to thank you. You know, for--"

"I don't wanna talk" His voice was deep and barely a whisper. It scared Jon a little.

"Um... Guess I'd just... Go for now and come back later when you're... Not engaged in anything"  Jon pursed his lips.

Adrian didn't even look up, but replied with a grunt.

Jon gave himself a curt nod as he turned around and started walking in a fast pace, mentally cursing himself for acting so weird.

Well, was he?

•••

Jonathan couldn't think of anything else as he walked back to his apartment. He was so deep in thought that it took him a few minutes to realise that he had walked past his apartment. He had to walk back.

Why was he so rude? No wonder why everyone thinks he is crazy. Maybe, he didn't want to be disturbed.... He just wanted to thank him! What's the big deal?!

He got into his room and slammed the door shut.

Wait, did the room just shake???

Jonathan threw his backpack onto the couch and walked to the kitchen to grab some drinks from the fridge.

He then went to his window, from where the breeze entered his room. It was fun to look down on the world below him from there. People looked like tiny ants roaming around. And Jonathan found it funny and entertaining to watch.

He let his eyes wander until he saw a familiar figure walk into the flowershop. Again.

Jon cocked his head to a side and waited until Adrian came out of the shop.

Does this guy go on a date every day?! Does he even have a girlfriend?!

Oh, wait a second.... Maybe daisies are his favorite flowers.

It would make total sense, because, well... He was him. From what Jon knew, the guy is a fan of classic literature and trees and all. So...

Jonathan would have lingered a little longer , watching the passers by, but he had school work to do and he didn't want to give his teachers a bad impression.

Jonathan lazily walked out of the apartment as he saw a boring school day ahead of him. Everyone just thinks of him as a geek and the funny thing was, not even the geeks let him anywhere near them!

He shook his head and kicked the soil off the ground as he walked. Then his head perked up as he remembered something.

He looked at the flower shop on the opposite end and crossed the road. He pushed open the glass door and got in.

He was met with an old lady who smiled fondly at him. He returned the smile.

"Um... Can I have some... Daisies?"

The old lady nodded with a smile and walked further into the store. She came back with a bunch of flowers.

"I assume it is for your mother, young man?" She asked Jon.

Jon was confused. "Er... No. It is for a... Uh... Friend. Why do you ask?"

"Oh, don't you know? Daisies symbolize motherhood" The woman gave him another warm smile and Jon smiled back with a slight nod.

He felt stupid for not knowing literally anything other than the stuff written in his textbooks.

He paid for the flowers and ran out of the shop, afraid that he might get a few minutes late for school.

•••

The first thing Jon did on reaching school was run to the park. He ran all the way to where he thought Adrian might be and let out a sigh of relief when he found him there.

"Hi" He squeaked out, almost breathless.

Adrian looked up from the book and lowered his gaze to the flowers in Jon's hand. He then looked back up at him with a blank face.

"Oh, um, this. Please accept this.... As a gift. Y'know, a.... Thank-you-gift?" Jon said, extending the flowers towards Adrian, with a grin that threatened to tear his face in half.

Adrian just got up and walked away, ignoring the bunch of flowers that were shoved on his face.

Jonathan blinked in confusion and ran at Adrian. He threw his arms up in the air as he tried to keep up with his fast pace. "I brought these for you!"

"Why am I not surprised?" Adrian said dismissively as he continued walking, leaving behind Jonathan, who stood there wondering if the guy was even human.

How can someone ignore a generous gift and not even feel bad about it?!

Okay, then. He is going to stalk him with daisies until the day he finally accepts them.

Jonathan scrunged his nose up and walked to his class, with a determined face.

***

For the next few days, Jonathan kept going to Adrian with a bunch of daisies and Adrian kept walking out on him. It hurt his feelings. He was just trying to be nice and now he was making himself look like a stalker, chasing around a  guy with.... Daisies.

He almost gave up. What was it to him anyway?

Jon sat on the stairs, dropping the daisies he had brought with him onto his side.

This is going to be the last.

He put his head on his hands and started swaying to his sides, just not to get bored while he sat there.

He missed his home, his parents, and his old friends. He even missed his least favorite teacher from his old school!

He missed how his good ole buddies, Gar and Pete teased him about having stuffed animals.

Yes, he still had them.

His train of thoughts were interrupted when someone kicked him on his back, and he went tumbling down the stairs. He wouldn't be surprised if he got his hands or legs sprained after this.

"Ooh, I've been seeing you walking around with a bunch of flowers for a while" Jonathan looked up to see the blond from the other day stepping on his daisies. "You tryna hit on some chicks?" He snickered.

Jon felt relieved that the guy was alone this time. He didn't want to listen to his buddies shit-talks.

He tried to sit down, but fell back down when the blond slammed his fist on his face.

"Ow!"

"Aw, did that hurt? Here, have another one!" Another hit to his face and Jonathan yelped in pain.

He couldn't say if he was hallucinating but he heard footsteps approaching them.

No, he wasn't.

"Leave him alone, Sean. Go pick on someone your size"

Was that..... Him?

Jon tilted his face up and saw Adrian towering over him, with an irritated look on his face.

The blond, Sean, leaned himself on the stair's railing. "Oh, hey Addie,.... W-wait a second"

He then leaned down, extending his arm towards Jon, confusing him. "Why didn't you tell me you were his friend? Shoulda saved a lotsa trouble" Sean said with a nervous chuckle, momentarily glancing at Adrian.

He helped Jon up.

Jon leaned himself on the wall and wiped the blood that dripped off his nose with the back of his hand.

"Er... Guess I'll see you around" Sean walked away, giving Adrian a pat on his shoulder and sure enough, Adrian didn't even spare him a glance.

"Why do you bring me daisies everyday?" Adrian asked, turning to Jon.

"They are undoubtedly your favorite flowers! I see you buying them every single day!"

Adrian rubbed his forehead and heaved a sigh. "Daisies aren't my favorite flowers. My mom loved them"

"Uh-uh, she seems to have an obsession" Jon mumbled.

"Used to. I buy them to put on her grave"

Jonathan felt gravity pull at him. He felt bad as he thought about how he might have reminded him of his mom, with those flowers.

Stupid...

"I.. Am sorry. I didn't mean to--"

"Help yourself to the medbay" Adrian said gesturing to Jon's bloody nose.

Jon pursed his lips.

He doesn't even want to help him...

"You knew him?" Jon asked as Adrian was about to walk away.

"Who?"

"... Sean?"

"We used to be friends back in elementary school"

"But...the way he talked about you in the park.."

None of it made sense to Jon. What kind of a friend jokes about your dead mom?!

"He didn't want to be friends after my mother died"

Adrian turned his back and walked away.

Jon really felt bad. But then again, he wasn't a bad person. Maybe he was someone worth his company, unlike the rest of the kids in this school...

"Adrian!" He called out.

Adrian stopped in his tracks and turned his head to his side.

"Can I tag along with you?..." Jon tightened his grips on the hem of his shirt. "I... I don't want to be kicked around like a loser" his voice had dropped to a whisper.

Adrian gave it a thought, then shrugged.

"Just don't get on my nerves"