Mom grabbed my backpack and headed out of my bedroom, leaving me to follow. I stuck my hands in the pockets of my jacket and walked out after her. I'd been fairly quiet that morning, thinking over what Alex had said the night before. There was still so much I didn't know but wanted to.

Mom was buckling me into my car seat when I gathered the courage to talk to her. Alex had given me permission to rat him out yet it still made me feel uneasy.

"Mom, can I tell you something?"

She looked up at me with a wary expression on her face.

"I know who messed with my bunny."

She raised her eyebrows. "Who?"

"A boy in my class. The one who was beside me at nap time. I don't know his name."

"Why didn't you tell one of your teachers yesterday?"

"I didn't see him do it. He told me but that's not proof that it really was him."

She sighed and reached for her keys in her pocket. "I'll talk to your teachers today. I don't want you to be afraid of anyone at school."

I wasn't afraid of Alex. Maybe by what he said but not by him. He wouldn't have hurt me.

I let my head fall back on the headrest and watched mom walk around to the front seat. My head was racing and there was so much I needed to know. But I knew I wouldn't get any of my questions answered. I was meant to be a baby and that was it.

When we got to school, mom walked me into my classroom like always. She held the door open for me, letting me go in first.

I noticed Alex was standing by Ms. Diane's desk. When he heard the door open, he glanced back at me.

He said something to Ms. Diane then turned and pointed at me, calling me out for something. I wasn't sure what I'd done but I didn't like the attention being placed on me.

I shrank back and hid behind mom, almost grateful that she was there to help me handle the situation. I never did like getting yelled at.

Ms. Diane patted Alex's arm before she walked over to us. "Good morning, Lyla. Do you want to go play while I talk to your mom?"

I stayed where I was, my backpack still on my back. I glanced between her and Alex. "Am I in trouble?"

She smiled. "No, sweetie. I just want to talk to your mom for a few minutes."

"Is this about my bunny?"

Mom pulled the backpack off my shoulders and kissed the top of my head. "Let us talk, honey. You go play."

I rolled my eyes and walked away from them. I knew mom wouldn't have told me what they talked about. Maybe I would have a chance to ask Ms. Diane later.

I went to the table and pulled out the box of crayons and a coloring book. I had just sat down when Alex walked over and sat across from me.

"You shouldn't be sitting here. I told my mom about my stuffed animal."

He shrugged, glancing at them as they watched us. "I'm not going to hurt you."

"They don't know that."

He rolled his eyes. "Diane won't say anything. Unless you start crying or something."

"I don't cry."

"That's such a lie. You lost it your first day here."

"You would too if you were told you had to wear a diaper and actually use it."

He crossed his arms on the table and leaned toward me. "I've been using them since birth. Around here, it's normal."

"Well, it's not normal."

He straightened quickly and looked over my shoulder, a smile on his face. "Hi."

I looked behind me to see mom standing nearby. She knelt down beside me, her hand on the back of my chair.

"I'm heading to work now. Will you be okay?"

I nodded.

She brushed my hair from my shoulder. "Have one of your teachers call me if you need me."

I pulled away from her, embarrassed of her touching me like a child in front of Alex. "Mom, stop babying me."

She kissed the top of my head and stood. "I love you, sweetie."

Alex grinned at me mockingly. I glared at him until I heard the door shut and mom had left for the day.

"Such a mommy's girl."

I grabbed a handful of crayons and threw them at him. Some hit his chest while others flew behind him, rolling across the floor.

Ms. Diane watched it all and came right over to us. "We don't throw things, Lyla. Go pick the crayons up then have a seat at my desk. Alex, I want you to go to the end of the table and sit."

His mouth fell open and he turned his attention to her. "Why me?"

"You were antagonizing her."

"I was what?"

I rolled my eyes as I stood. "You're such a baby."

He grabbed a handful of crayons, far larger than what I had, and threw them at me. Right in front of Ms. Diane.

She grabbed the tub and put it out of reach of both of us. "Alexander, that's enough. Clean these up. Lyla, go have a seat."

"Now I have to clean them up? That's not fair."

I stuck my tongue out at him as I walked away, feeling a bit victorious. I knew Ms. Diane was going to call mom and tell her what had happened. Which meant I'd be in trouble. But as long as I played the card of him ruining my stuffed animal and 'scaring me', I had nothing to worry about.