Lisa

“History class is the worst!” Will complained as he slung his arms over Lisa’s shoulders. His locker was nowhere near hers but she always found him there waiting, every time she went to grab anything. In fact, half the time he would put his books in her locker. After all, he’d known Lisaher locker combination as soon as she did.

“You say that every year.” Lisa tried hard to ignore her best friend’s arm and the warm feelings his casual embrace stirred in her. If he knew what she was wishing, she would die of embarrassment. In an effort to remind him and herself of their ‘friend’ status she promptly elbowed him. “And you are going to get in trouble with Anna if you keep hanging on me Will.”

Instead of dropping his arm as she was expecting he wrapped both arms around her waist, pinning her arms to her side, and lifting her off the ground in a huge bear hug. 

“Anna doesn’t care. She knows we’re just friends.” He laughed as he bounced her around.

Lisa couldn’t help but laugh, although she knew for a fact that Anna cared very much. “Let me down.” She ordered, even though in the deepest back part of her brain she hoped he wouldn’t. When he didn’t listen she repeatedly tried to kick his legs but he managed to nimbly dodge each kick, swinging her all around like a rag doll. “Will!” She screeched, erupting into giggles. 

He didn’t stop as he easily slammed her locker shut with his foot and dragged her out the hallway, tucked snug and secure to his chest.  Everyone else in school was as used to Will’s antics as her and didn’t pay Will any attention. While she was glad she wasn’t getting laughed at she also wasn’t being rescued. As he walked out into the quad he jolted to a stop and shifted her up and over his shoulder. “That’s better.” He declared, “Now I can keep you up there forever.” 

“Will!” Lisa tried again. “I don’t have my backpack.” Anything to get him to set her down, especially before Anna saw. 

He didn’t even slow down. Instead he hitched her further onto his shoulder so she couldn’t ‘accidentally’ wiggle off. She pounded on his rugby-hardened shoulders but he either didn’t care or didn’t notice her efforts.  

“Will?” Anna’s shrill voice echoed through the quad. 

Lisa stilled. She knew instantly it was too late to avoid angering the latest girlfriend. Again, in a last desperate attempt, Lisa whispered. “Put me down Will.”

Will laughed as he swung to face Anna. This effectively cut Lisa off from entering the conversation in her own defense. She could only listen. If she wasn’t the one slung over his shoulder Lisa would probably be on the sidelines laughing but, as usual, she was the one Will was getting in trouble with his girlfriend about. Many breakups had happened because of his friendship with her. 

Again, she struggled to be put down but screeched when he tickled the back of her knee in order to stop her. 

“Something wrong Anna?” He asked. 

Lisa could practically hear Anna’s hands go to her hips as she huffed in irritation. And here Lisa was going to be stuck on his broad shoulder through the whole fight. With a sigh of her own, she put her elbows on Will’s back and her chin in her hands. She might as well be a little comfortable. 

“Put the girl down Will.” Anna demanded. 

Lisa was jostled as he tried to shrug. “Aw Anna. You know it’s Lisa. We’re just having fun. See?” With that Will spun around so that Lisa was abruptly face to face with Anna. She didn’t have time to do more than grimace in Anna’s angry face before she was whirled back away. 

“Will.” Anna whined in her poutiest plea. “I haven’t seen you since this morning. I want you to kiss me.”

Will leaned forward, holding tight to Lisa’s knees. 

Anna protested, “I am NOT kissing you while you are holding her like a caveman.”

“Now’s the time to put me down.” Lisa added, hoping reason had finally set in. Instead he simply tickled her knees again, not even bothering to answer her. She persisted, “Stop ignoring me Will. You’re starting to hurt me.” 

With a jolt Lisa was once again on the ground. Thankfully Will still had the presence of mind to help her stay standing since her legs had fallen asleep. When she looked up, his full attention was on her. “I’m sorry Lis. I wasn’t thinking. You ok?”

All Lisa could do was nod. She seemed to be the only one acutely aware of Anna and the bitter glare leveled her direction. When Lisa tried to step back, his arm snaked around her shoulder and to her waist, effectively tucking her into his side. She couldn’t stop the blush. After a few heart stuttering seconds she thought to at least try to push away. Anna was standing there and here Lisa was melting into a silly puddle of goo in front of her.

“Will!” Anna screeched.

“What?” Will jerked his attention away but took a moment before he could focus on Anna. “What?” He repeated when she continued to glare, his hands up in defensive confusion.

“I am still waiting.” Anna stomped her foot. “For my kiss!”

“I’m not a dog, Annie. I don’t sit, stay, or kiss on command.” For the first time since they’d started dating Will wasn’t going out of his way to appease Anna. Even Lisa was surprised by the change. Instead of seeing it as a warning sign, Anna snapped.

“Do not call me Annie!” She shrieked.

Lisa tried to step back and away, but Will had forgotten about his hold on her waist. Unfortunately the movement caught Anna’s attention. In seconds Anna narrowed all of her anger into one point: Lisa.

“You.” Anna seethed.

Will quickly stepped in front of Anna, enabling Lisa to finally back away. “Leave her out of this.” He growled.

“How? She is always in this. I feel like the third wheel with my own boyfriend. If I didn’t know any better I’d think that she was your girlfriend.”

“Well, maybe she should be.” He barked out angrily. He suddenly paused with a blink, going quiet as Anna stormed off with a shriek. Will turned slowly, looking very contemplative. Lisa gulped.