Havenwood. A tiny town where the morning begins to emerge.The far-off, steady hum of a lawnmower in some early-morning yard is already in operation. Muffled footsteps on a gravel driveway are followed by the gentle clang of a screen door opening and closing.
The streets shimmer in the early light, reflecting muted homes whose curtains draw open, revealing snatches of kitchens where the sharp but subtle scent of coffee brewing begins to seep into the cool air
Figures begin to appear. Some, backpacks slung over their shoulders, walk towards school, their laughter a mix of happiness and a lingering sleepiness that resonates in the still morning air. Others head towards the bakery or the small general store, offering a friendly nod or a wave in passing to a neighbor. their biggest concerns might be a pop quiz or a lost lunchbox.
Ben went to Alex's house on his bike, He leaned over the handlebars, calling out, "Alex! Come on, we're going to be late for school!"
Alex shuffled out of his front door a moment later, his eyes appearing a little heavy and his shoulders slumped. In the bright light, he blinked slowly.
Ben "Hey, what's wrong with you?" he asked, his voice laced with concern. "You look like you wrestled a bear and lost."
Alex managed a smile. "Nah, it's just... I didn't sleep well yesterday," he mumbled, rubbing his eyes.
Ben's eyebrows shot up. "Did you keep playing video games again ?" he teased
"No, no, it wasn't that," Alex said, shaking his head. "I just had a really weird dream."
Ben's curiosity was instantly piqued. "A weird dream? tell me about it later" "Now we have to go to school" he pressed, hopping off his bike.
They arrived at school, as Ben sat in class, his attention drifted to Mary, who was sitting a few rows ahead. Ben felt his heart race at the sight of her laughter, which echoed in his mind, filling him with thoughts of how to gather the courage to finally tell her how he felt.
Alex, Ben, and Mary have been friends since childhood. They lived close to each other and played together all the time. And Ben had started to develop feelings for Mary. Her kindness drew him in, and he couldn't help but notice how her eyes sparkled when she laughed
As the final bell rang, signaling the end of class, Ben and Alex quickly gathered their things and stepped outside into the bright afternoon sun. The air was fresh. But they froze at the scene that sent a chill down Ben's spine. A group of bullies had cornered a smaller kid, Ethan , against a wall. They were shoving him around, and rifling through his backpack and taking whatever they pleased.
"Ben, wait," Alex said, grabbing his arm. "Don't do anything stupid. You know how these guys are."
"I have to help him. No one deserves this." Ben said.
Ignoring Alex's warning, Ben pushed through the crowd. As he approached, he could hear the bullies laughing.
"Hey!" Ben shouted, stepping in front of them. "Leave Ethan alone!" The bullies turned their attention to him, surprised by his sudden appearance. "What's your problem, Ben?" Jake Thompson, the lead bully, sneered
"You can't just pick on people like that. It's pathetic." Ben said
Jake stepped forward, looming over Ben. "And what are you going to do about it? "
Ben felt a surge of adrenaline. "I'm not afraid of you." At that moment, Alex arrived by Ben's side, looking worried . "You don't have to do this alone, Ben. "
The bullies hesitated, sensing the shift in power as students gathered, watching the scene unfold. Realizing they might be outnumbered, Jake scoffed "Guys, let's go," he said, gesturing to his friends. "This is lame."
With that, the bullies backed down, disappearing into the crowd, leaving Ethan trembling. Ben turned to him, "Are you okay?"
Ethan nodded, looking up at Ben with gratitude. "Thanks! I thought they were going to take everything." As Ben and Alex walked away