The Plant

4

After a month more had passed I began to see the other boys getting interested in talking to him. Maybe they saw that he was approachable when I talked to him?
It all seemed to go well.
But soon it seemed like some of them were bullies. At first glance it looked like it was just a random conversation. But after a while I heard some of what they said and it was all directed at him. The voices got louder. They pulled on his hood and pushed his chair too close to the desk so that he struggled to get loose.
I couldn't sit still. I simply couldn't watch this. The others only sat there wondering what to do.
I pushed my chair back so fast it fell to the floor. Rushed in front of him blocking the way for the leader-bully. Everyone looked at me now but I didn't care. All I wanted was for them to stop.
At first they seemed a bit confused. But then they began laughing again.
"Are you trying to protect him?"
"Yes. Do you have a problem with that?!" I could feel my anger and that my voice could break at any moment. I also felt fear and insecurity from behind me as the bullies found me as another target.
"Really? He must be saved by a you? Haha!" He said laughing in front of me while trying to grab around me. But the moment he did I kicked him in between his legs. He yelled in agony as he crawled on the floor. The other guys went in, tried to hold me and drag me down too.
"Apologise to him!" One of them yelled.
"Why would I apologise? You bullies are the ones who started it!"
I looked around the classroom from the floor and realised that most of the class had run outside to avoid trouble.
Suddenly I heard a crackling sound behind me and something hit the bullies away from me. They seemed confused and scared for some reason. Got up fast and ran away. I tried to understand what was going on and turned to look. But all I could see was something plant like retreating into his sleeves.
What was that?
I went back to him in curiosity. "What? How? You saved me... but what was that?"
"... you're imagining things..." he said while looking away. I couldn't see his face but I knew he was lying.
"I won't tell anyone." I said nearly whispering. He turned to look at me and I could see his face changing into curiosity. He looked at me properly as if trying to find out my intentions.
"You really would... but why?"
"I have my reasons." I said and smiled. A relieved smile came to his face too.

One by one everyone returned to the classroom. Some of them looked at us for a moment before sitting down. And a natural chatter of voices slowly began to fill the room.
The teacher came in and school was on again. As if nothing had happened.

The classes was over and I was about to go home when I saw him sitting there passively a bit tired staring out into the air. Should I say something or just go home? I decided it would be best to let him be, but at the same time, my feet wouldn't move. Instead I ended up walking to him. Found a  chair and sat down beside his desk.
"Are you okay?"
"Oh... sorry. I'm okay."
He put his hand on my arm gently. "You really would keep this a secret, right?"
"Yes. Of course." I said still wondering what actually happened.
Soon after I felt something covering my arm. Roots began to twirl around my arm squeezing it tightly. Then as I was wondering how he could do that, what in this world could have happened to him, it loosened again and retreated into his sleeve again, leaving only his hand on my arm.
"I'm not sure what this is but... I think I'm partly a plant... people wouldn't get it... so..."
"Hmm... that's kind of cool... but also scary.. I guess? Don't worry about it. I want to help you." I put my hand over his for a moment and felt the warmth of it.
"Cool? Uhm...Thank you. Let's go." He said determined and pulled his hand back, packed his stuff and began walking out of the classroom. That was fast, I thought and went after him. For some reason I felt so happy. As if I had achieved something important. And I kept wondering why, but no answers came. All I knew was that good feeling that I took with me home.