Nero(33)

“I know, kiddo. I hated riding the school bus, too. Want me to walk with you to the bus stop?”

“Yeah, I guess.” He put his fork down.

“All right, go get your stuff.” Elle took a bite of her biscuit.

“That boy taking you to school today?” her dad asked.

“I don’t know yet.” Elle took another bite.

“Well, let your mother know what day you’re off this week, and she will cook a dinner so you can invite him over.” Elle looked at her father. He didn’t look very pleased by the way he was shoveling food.

“Dad, it’s not like that with us.”

Elle’s dad stopped shoving food in his mouth. “Do it.”

Elle nodded and took another bite of her biscuit before setting it down. Josh was ready, wearing his backpack. Elle checked the time, seven-thirty.

She and Josh headed out the house, and she held Josh’s hand as they walked down the driveway. Nero wasn’t there, so she took that as a sign to take the bus. She would drop Josh off at his school bus stop first since it was on the way. They started walking down the street.

“Is there a reason why you don’t want to ride the bus anymore?”

Josh didn’t say anything.

“Fifth-grader, huh?”

“How’d you know?” Josh looked up at her finally.

“Because I’ve been picked on, too.”

“What did you do?”

Elle thought for a second and decided to tell him the truth. “Nothing.”

“That’s what I do, and they haven’t stopped.” Elle’s heart started to break. She didn’t want her brother to go through what she had.

When they were about halfway to Josh’s stop, a car Elle recognized drove past them and then parked on the curb in front of them. Nero stepped out of the car and leaned on it, crossing his arms. Elle could see Nero looked even unhappier than he usually did. Great, just what I needed.

“Hey, isn’t that your boyfr—” Elle covered his mouth.

Nero’s face started to become less pissed. “I still heard him.”

When Elle and Josh caught up to Nero, she felt his eyes look her up and down. She noticed his face didn’t look pissed at all anymore.

Elle became self-conscious and grabbed her jacket tighter around her. “Josh, this is my friend, Nero. Nero, this is my brother, Josh.”

“Hey, little man.” Nero held out his fist. Elle noticed it looked worse than the day before.

Josh smiled and fist bumped him. “Hey, Nero. Cool name!”

“Thanks, it’s Italian. Is there a reason why you’re walking toward the bus stop, Elle?”

Elle decided to not tell the whole truth. “Yes, I told Josh I would drop him off at the bus stop.” Elle lowered her voice. “I think a fifth-grader is giving him some trouble.”

“And you think you going with him is going to solve his problem?”

“Maybe I can talk to the kid and—”

“Jesus, Elle, that will only make it worse. Here, come on.” Nero nodded his head toward the bus stop, and Elle and Josh started walking again with Nero walking beside Elle the rest of the way to the stop.

When they were a few feet away, Nero stopped. “All right, Elle, you wait here.”

Elle decided not to argue. I’m not the popular one. He would know.

Elle ruffled Josh’s hair. “All right, kiddo, I’ll see you later.”

“Bye, Elle-bell.” Josh hugged her waist before he and Nero headed toward the bus.

When they got there, Elle could tell exactly who the kids were that had been picking on Josh. They were already picking on another poor, little kid. However, as soon as they noticed Nero and Josh, every kid stared. Elle knew why, too; Elle, herself, had been a little terrified when she saw Nero for the first time, and that had been years ago.

When the school bus pulled up, Josh and Nero bumped fists again and Josh jumped on the bus. Nero walked over to the older bullies. The little kid was able to run free when Nero reached them. She knew Nero was talking to them but wasn’t able to hear what he was saying. By the looks on the kids’ faces, Elle knew it wasn’t things you should probably say to a kid. Under different circumstances, Elle might have cared by the way they ran like their lives depended on it once he was done, but she was getting sick of all the bullying. Moreover, she certainly wasn’t going to tolerate it when it concerned her little brother.

Nero started walking back toward her with a smug look on his face. He might have enjoyed that too much.

Then Elle pictured Josh’s upset face. Nah.

When he reached Elle, he grabbed her hand to start the walk back to his car. Elle let him do it without resisting. He did just help Josh.