The House Next Door.

The students formed a circle around the tree in the court yard of the school. As they sat and ate their lunch, Addison noticed another circle forming inches away.

Marcy followed her sharp gaze and a frown ceased her lips.

A popcorn was thrown toward Addison to grab her attention. A laugh escaped her lips as she turned her attention to David.

David leaned into Addison, bumping her shoulder with his.
Addison smiled and thrown a kernel into the air and caught it with her open mouth-

But stopped suddenly thinking of Mr Hardy.
Addison noticed the constant urge to be around him. The teacher and student were spending every lunch hour with each other.

Addison was developing a distasteful crush for her neighbor, teacher and coach.

So, she skipped the hour to spend time with Marcy.

But Addison still felt some sort of guilt. Absently she grip the novel Mr Hardy had bought her in her hands.

A cry of laughter caused the trio to turn there gazes to the circle beside them.

"Fight"

Addison frowned instantly. School fighting never sat well with her.
She cocked her head trying to get a better look at the crowd.

Troy Herrow stood against the pile of students forming, smiling devilishly at a younger student.

Thats a freshman

Addison quickly grabbed her bag and scrambled to a stance.

"Ah shit" Marcy mumbled following Addison.

The ninth grader was a boy, who's name was Sam Colt.
Troy was triple Sam's size. This made Addison furious.

"No, Addy wait-" Marcy called getting ahold of Addison's arm. She yanked Marcy grip away making her way toward the crowd.

Addison pushed and shoved against the crowd.
Addison, with Marcy right behind her grabbed Sam's hand.

"Leave him alone, Troy" Addison glared.

The captain of the football team threw up his shoulder lazily. "We're just having some fun"

"Just leave him alone" Addison said tugging on Sam's hand.

Addison step in tow with Sam but a rough smack to the back of Sam's head caused the pair to halt.

Addison gasped and met eyes with Marcy, who only nodded, giving Addison the green light.

"Are you okay?" Addison whispered.

"Yes" Sam nodded swallowing.

Addison took notice the tears brimming in his blue orbs.
Addison turned.

"You're a complete dick"

"Why don't you go suck on-"

Addison clenched her bag and wrapped the straps around her hands.
Addison swung the bag and aimed right for Troy's nose.
The bag collided with Troys nose causing the blood to gush out.

"You fucking bitch"

The most alarming thing happened. Troy aimed his fist directly toward Addison.

Addison was yanked backwards as a broad figure stepped in front of her.
Teacher and staff surrounded the crowd.

"I honestly doubt you would cause harm to a female?"

Addison lips spread into a smug smile.

"No, Mr Hardy" Troy shook his head.

"You bumped your nose" Mr Hardy noted sharply turning as a teacher snatched Troy by the collar.

Mr Hardy took hold of Addison's forearms yanking her away from the crowd.

"Are you completely mad?"

Addison eyes narrowed to meet Sam, who frowned at Addison.
Addison gave him a thumbs up.

Marcy , Henry and David and the rest of the students began to cheer for Addison.

Mr Hardy began chuckling under his breath.

Mr Hardy loosened his grip on Addison as they stepped into his office.

"May I just say" Addison began. But Mr Hardy interrupted her with a wave of his hand.

"Where were you?"

Addison's brow furrowed. "In the courtyard eating lunch but-"

"You bailed on me?" Mr Hardy brows raised.

Addison sighed, her lips twitching. "I had plans"

A slow dazzling smile ceased on his plump lips. "I'm teasing you. But my feelings are a tad bit hurt"

"Well now I know not to eat lunch in the courtyard" She said glumly.

"That was very brave" Mr Hardy marveled.
"But astoundingly stupid" he finished dryly.

Addison winced.

"You probably broke his nose. Suspension will be noted"

"I will have the whole student body to vouch for me"

"You literally made the boy bleed" A light chuckle escaped his lips. "I shouldn't be laughing" Mr Hardy sighed.

"It was funny" Addison offered mumbling.

"Hush" Mr Hardy scolded. "You will spend every lunch hour with me. So I know you're not breaking anymore boy's nose"

Im not going to argue with that offer

Addison pressed her lips together and nodded weakly.

"Come" Mr Hardy led her away.

"Gotta take you to the principle"

And Mr Hardy led Addison all the way to the office with his broad hand on her lower back.
Sending the butterfly's to soar in her stomach.
____________

Principle Cavil clasped his hand together at the madness in his office.
Three families, arguing over each child. Two teachers defending the one student; Addison Frost.

"Addison was only helping Sam" Sam mother interjected.

"Addison should of minded her own business"

"And allow a bully to pick on my son?" Mrs Colt said outrage.

Addison lowered her gaze and Elizabeth sighed. "My daughter was doing something right" Elizabeth said calmly.

"Troy was intentionally going to harm Addison. I believe there's something terrible wrong with that picture"Elizabeth said.

"As do I" Mrs Colt agreed. "Counseling shall be appointed"

"My son does not have anger issues"

"Clearly" Elizabeth muttered. Addison fumbled with her hand muffling her laugh.

Addison took in the snicker from Mr Hardy.

"Please let's address the situation" Mr Cavil said calmly.

"Sam you may leave. I am sorry for this Mrs Colt" Mr Cavil nodded.

Mrs Colt breath a sigh of relief and shook the principle hand.

"Thanks,Addy" Sam mumbled as he exited the room.

"I will address the following" Mr Cavil said turning his hard gaze toward Troy. "Such acts will not stand in my school. You will be suspended for two weeks and you will attend after school community ".

Addison bit the inside of her cheek as Mr Cavil gaze landed on her.

"Addison" She took in the softness in his voice. "Violence is not the key.-"

"I didn't break his nose" Addison reminded.

Elizabeth hushed Addison.

"You will are suspended for week"

"Mr Cavil" Elizabeth said. "She was defending herself. This man was going to lay his hands on my daughter"

Addison lowered her gaze.

"Troy is lucky Addison had not broken his nose. Even though it was indeed fact bulling, he was doing to the younger class man" Mr Cavil said gently.

"I do not condoned fighting in anyway. Addison will attend after school for her work and will not attend practice"

"No" Addison burst. "I need to attend practice-"

"Mr Cavil" Mr Hardy interrupted her.

Finally

"I will attend to Miss Frost work and practice. One on one"

Mr Cavil nodded then Addison noticed the small smug of smile corner his lips.

"That's settled"

Elizabeth wrapped her arm around Addison's and led her out of the room.

Elizabeth leaned down to whisper in Addison ear:

"You should of had broken his nose"
_______________

"I cant believe that"

Addison sat around the fire pit roasting marshmallows.
Logan shook his head frowning.

"I'm real glad you stuck up for that boy, Addy" Logan said.

Addison nodded staring into the fire. Lifting her gaze she locked eyes with Mr Hardy, who sat with her family.

"I wish he would of swung at you" Marcy whispered to Addison. "Can you spell lawsuit?"

Addison laughed leaning her mouth in her sweater.

"English is going to suck without you" Marcy sighed.

"Only for a week" Addison offered brightly.

The girls smiled and turned their gazes to Mr Hardy.

Mr Hardy threw his head back laughing with Logan.

Marcy sighed dreamingly. "I have to go its getting late"

Marcy leapt up from the bench and waved goodbye.

"Help me with the dishes" Elizabeth murmured to Logan.

As her parents left the fire pit. Addison quickly locked eyes with Mr Hardy.

"I want to thank you for sticking up for me"

Mr Hardy smiled his gaze averting to the steaming fire in the pit.

"Of course I would of done that" He replied.

Addison smiled. "How will we work out practice and my work?"

"After school you will swing by"

"Are you sure that's okay with you?" Addison frowned.

"I wouldn't have it any other way, Love"
________________

The next day Addison waltz into the English room with two coffees in her grasp.

Mr Hardy peered up from his desk and rose a single brow.

"You're a bloody star"

Addison beamed up at him as she placed the java down. "I love the afternoons. I'm taking a liking to this whole suspension business"

Mr Hardy chuckled. "Oh no you don't"

Addison shrugged sheepishly. The beanie on her dark hair matched perfectly with the half red sweater she wore leaving one shoulder revealed.
The brown knee high boots clicked against the tile as she shifted into her assigned seat.

Addison rested her soft cheeks in her hands, beaming at Mr Hardy.

"You are rather chipper this afternoon" Mr Hardy commented.

"I slept for nine hours" Addison sighed happily. "That's any senior dream"

Mr Hardy licked his lips and began to smile slowly at her.

"Go on, work"

Addison grasped the pen that was given to her and began to complete the assignments she had missed that day.

Addison tapped her pen against her desk, her eyes narrowing as she wrote.

Mr Hardy sipped on his bought coffee.

Science and Criminal law work done..

Addison quickly wrote a summary of a short story for English and dotted down answers for college math prep.

"I'm done" Addison placed down her pen and peered up at the clock.

She had been here for only a half an hour. Addison's shoulders slumped. "You have to be kidding me"

Mr Hardy smiled wickedly at Addison. "You were a good choice to pick to stay after with eh?"

"Very clever" Addison smiled.

"Ready to leave?"

"Actually" Addison said taking out a notebook. "I wanted to show you my writing"

Mr Hardy lips turned in the comers. "Gimme"

Addison shot up from her seat and skipped to Mr Hardy.

"Be kind" Addison winced.

"Nonsense you're marvelous"

Addison heart danced in her chest, she surprisingly manage to smile.

"May I read?"

Addison grasped the notebook and opened to the first page.

"I like this one"

Mr Hardy took in the neat handwritten passage with care.
The book held her thoughts that were jumbled into poetry as well.

One passage stuck out to him.

The star of our love has fallen into the miss of the shadows. It landed in my arms, it brought the darkness. It left me blind. I am stuck in your shadow you call love. I am the fallen love

Mr Hardy blinked and leaned back in his seat.

"Remarkable"

Addison lifted her lips into a smile. "Do you really think so?"

Mr Hardy locked eyes with her.

The pounding of her heart filled her eardrums.

Mr Hardy lips parted and replied with.

"I know so, you astound me"