When sixteen year old Evelyn Drake stepped into her English classroom one warm Friday afternoon, she was surprised to find someone already occupying her seat next to her best friend Hannah.

“I’m sorry Evie,” she said quickly as Evie reached them. “I tried to get him to leave but he wouldn’t listen.”

Evie gestured to say ‘don’t worry about it’ and frowned at the boy. He stared back with piercing blue eyes, his head cocked to one side, leaning right back on the chair.

“That’s my seat,” Evie said politely. “Could you please move?”

The teenager hesitated in mock thought. “No,”

“But it’s my seat, I usually sit there,”

“It’s not your seat,” he replied, sweeping his hand through his ear length black hair. “You do not own it. I can sit wherever I want.”

A wave of anger washed over Evie. She threw her bag down and glared at him. He stood up with a grin on his face. He towered over her by about a foot, his black hair flopping over his eyes. The eyes that made Evie want to melt.

“I’m so sorry,” he said. “My mistake to confront a lioness.”

He grabbed his tattered bag and turned to move towards the back of the class, chuckling softly.

“Fucking trailer trash,” Hannah said under her breath. The laugh stopped. The stranger looked over his shoulder. Evie saw a look that was so angry, and so hurt, that it could have curdled milk.

But he turned back and continued his trip to the back of the class. Evie watched him. The screen-print of an obscure rock band was cracked on the black shirt, and his grey, baggy jeans scuffed along the floor under black shoes that had turned grey-brown with dirt and age.

“You didn’t need to say that, Hannah,” she said as she sat down. As she took out her books, the final bell rang and the teacher came in, closing the door behind her.

“Good afternoon class,” she said, putting down her notes. “We have a new person in our class today. Kyle Lewis is new to the town so please make him feel welcome.”

And with that, she started the lesson.

--

After school Evie decided she’d walk home. She said goodbye to Hannah, who was driving, and set off. It took her half an hour to walk home. Most people at her school who walked left the main road within fifteen minutes, and soon she was alone.

Almost.

A little ways farther, she saw a familiar black shirt with cracked screen-printing and baggy jeans. She knew where he was headed then. There was a trailer park a few houses away from where she lived.

“Kyle!” she called. He turned and waited for her to catch up.

“Hey,” she said, adjusting her bag on her back as they started walking.

“Hey, it’s the lioness,” he replied. He had an amused smile on his face, but Evie could tell it was fake. He was still hurting about what happened at school.

“I’m sorry about what Hannah said,” she said. “She seems to have forgotten that she lived in a trailer once too.”

“It’s fine,” Kyle grunted, his face and neck going a shade pink. “I don’t care what she says, or what anyone else says.”

“I can tell that it’s not fine,” she said, brushing a strand of dark blond hair from her face.

“I’ve had worse,” he replied flatly. “Could we change the topic please?”

“Sure. I’m Evelyn Drake. But you can call me Evie,” she held out her hand.

“Kyle Lewis,” he said, taking her hand. He had a strong handshake.

For the rest of the way home, they talked. About their likes and dislikes, hobbies, obsessions, music, films, and their family.

Finally they got to her house and they said their goodbyes.

Evie checked the letterbox and went inside her two storey house, while Kyle carried on.

As soon as she closed the front door she let a smile spread across her lips. She liked Kyle. He was very kind, funny, and down to earth, despite his first impression.

“Grandma? I’m home!” she called into the house.

“I’m in the kitchen dear!” Evie’s grandmother, Jacqueline called back.

Evie went into the kitchen, where the smell of baking cookies overwhelmed her.

“Who was that young man you were walking with? He’s very scruffy,” Jacqueline asked as opened the oven door to check on the cookies.

“Grandma!” Evie exclaimed. “His names Kyle, he’s new, and he lives in the trailer park down the road. And if you must know, he has a personality that completely contradicts the way he looks.

“Ah, that explains it...” Jacqueline said whimsically as she pulled the cookies from the oven.