Pandora’s POV-
I jogged around the track in the back of my school, turning up my music louder to ignore my gym teacher. I rolled my eyes and ran past her, panting.
“Come on, White! Hurry up! The rest of the class finished five minutes ago!”
“I know, I’m sorry,” I muttered, finishing up my last lap. The rest of my gym class sat on the bleachers, doing god knows what on their phones. I checked the time on my iPod, seeing a text from Austin pop up.
I’m out in the parking lot. See you when you get out! – Austin
I smiled. Tonight we were going to try again and have dinner at his house. This time, all of his mates were going to some party out of town. That eliminated the possibility of them coming home drunk. I hadn’t seen them since the last incident, but I’ve talked to Austin. He said they felt really bad, but I wasn’t mad at them. In their head I probably over reacted to the situation, although Austin assured me that they didn’t think so. I sighed and crossed the finish line, pulling my ear buds from my ears as my classmates groaned. I smiled and apologized.
“You think you could run a little faster fatty?” a girl from my class muttered, laughing with her friends. I bit my tongue and walked into the locker room. Another girl walked past me and pushed me against my locker.
“God, you’re always in the way, Pandora,” she complained. I looked down to the ground and made my way to the showers, shedding my clothes before getting in and closing the curtain. I leaned against the cool wall, letting the water run off my hair and onto my skin. I had to admit, I was excited to see Austin. He treated me very well and was always respectful of me. A smile tugged at my lips, but frowned when I thought about all the negativity that I received while running. I hated gym class. I hated school. I hated all the people here. I opened my eyes when I heard all the girls in the locker room laugh before leaving for the day. What were they laughing about? My heart stopped when I thought of something. No, no, no. I opened the shower curtain a bit to see the clothes that had been lying beside the shower, gone. I looked down the hall to see my locker emptied of the clean clothes it held before.
“Have a good weekend loser!” one of them yelled, slamming the locker room door. Tears ran down my face. I had no clothes and Austin was outside waiting for me. I slid down the side of the blue tiled wall and hugged my knees to my chest. You’re a loser, Pandora. What would Austin think if he found out what they did to you? He’ll think you’re weak. Why are you crying? Are you a baby? I laid my forehead against my knees and cried, not caring if anyone heard me.

---

Austin’s POV-
I sat outside of Pandora’s High School, waiting for her to get out of gym class. Thank for tinted windows. My car was a bit nicer than some of the students here and that gained a few looks from kids leaving the parking lot. I drummed my fingertips on the steering wheel and searched the growing crowd of people for Pandora. She said she’d be right out after her last class. My phone vibrated in my back pocket. I pulled it out and saw Pandora’s number.
“Hello?”
“Austin,” she was crying.
“Pandora, are you alright? What’s wrong?”
“Do you have any clothes in your car that I could wear for a while?”
“Why, what happened?” she was quiet. “Tell me,” I said softly.
“The girls in my gym class took all my clothes. I’m in the shower.” I frowned.
“Are you kidding?” I turned around and looked in my backseat. I had a duffel bag of gym clothes that I had washed last night. “Okay, I have some clothes for you. Where are you?”
“Go to the front office and ask for directions to the locker rooms.”
“Will they let me in?”
“They should. Just please hurry…”
“Okay,” I smiled. “Hang in there beautiful, I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
“Thanks Austin.” I hung up and shut off my car, putting on my sunglasses before walking over to the front doors with some fresh clothes. I walked in and pressed a button so the office lady would let me in. She looked at me and examined my face for a second before unlocking the door. I smiled at her and walked up to her desk.
“Could you tell me where the locker rooms are?”
“What are you here for? Are you a sibling of a student?”
“Well, no.” I frowned and held up my duffel bag. “I brought some clothes for my girlfriend. She just got done with gym class.”
“What’s the name of the student?”
“Pandora.”
“Ah, White?” I nodded. She gave me a dirty look before handing me a visitor’s pass. I hung it around my neck, feeling as if I was on tour again. “The locker room is on the second floor right next to the gym doors.
“Thank you,” I smiled and walked out and into the hallway.

---

Pandora’s POV-
I sat in the shower, waiting for Austin to bring me some spare clothes. I wondered if the mean office lady let him in. I thought of calling him again, but I didn’t wanna bother him. He was such a sweetie to me and all I had done to him was be mean and insulting. I laid my head against the cool wall, closing my eyes as the locker room door opened.
“Pandora?” Austin called. What should I say? I didn’t have an clothes on.
“I don’t have anything on,” I said cautiously.
“It’s okay, I’m not gonna look or anything. Where do you want me to put the clothes?”
“Just stay there… Leave them on the floor.”
“Uh, who don’t you just come out? I’ll turn around and you can grab them.”
“No,” I shook my head.
“Trust me, Pandora. The last thing I want to do right now is disrespect you. Just come out and take them from me. I promise I’m not looking.” I sighed and stepped out of the shower, my heart beating fast. I looked around the corner to see Austin facing the wall, holding out a fistful of clothes. I quickly grabbed them and got back into the shower. I buttoned up Austin’s red flannel over my small bare chest, inhaling his scent. Surprisingly although I didn’t have a bra on, it laid over me comfortably. I pulled on a pair of boxers that hung loosely over the hip bones that jutted out from my skin. Thank god that the sweatpants had drawstrings, otherwise them and the boxers would’ve fallen off. I walked out and saw him staring at my locker. The girls who took my clothes had taped insulting notes on the door of my locker. Tears flooded my eyes once more as I sighed. I sat down next to Austin who wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into his chest, letting me cry on his shirt. He kept his eyes on my locker as if he was in disbelief. “I’m sorry sweetie…” he whispered. I shook my head and balled my fist up in his shirt. He grabbed my legs and pulled them into his lap, holding me close.

---

Austin’s POV-
I rocked Pandora back and forth as she softly cried. After putting my sunglasses on top of my head, I ran my hand through her hair and leaned down to kiss her forehead, burying my nose into her wet hair.
“Can you take me back to your place, please?” she whispered.
“Of course, beautiful… You want to leave now?” She looked down at the clothes I had brought in for her.
“Do I look bad,” she frowned. I smiled.
“Not at all.” I took off my sunglasses and handed them to her. I stood up and wrapped my arm around her shoulder, as she buried her head into my chest to avoid seeing anyone she knew. “Ready?” She nodded as I opened the door and walked into the hallway with her and out to my car.

Notes