A Modern Love Story

Chapter 1 - Meeting

Criticism spot! :)

Crutchie's POV

I put in the code for my locker and opened it, thinking for a moment which books I would need today. Looking around, I saw my usual bullies weren't near me, meaning it was safe to rest my crutch against my locker while I put my books in my bag. I balanced myself up while slowly putting my books in, my heart pounding with fear that they may show up. My painkillers for my foot were somewhere in my locker, but I was so panicked that I was having trouble finding them. That's when someone grabbed me by my shirt collar and pinned me against the row of lockers, inches from my face.

"Have any money on you, crip?" A kid named Oscar spat, one of my biggest bullies. I shook my head, absolutely terrified. "Morris, check his bag."

"I really don't have any-"

"Shut the fuck up!" Oscar pulled me back and slammed me against the lockers again, forcing me to be quiet. Morris, Oscar's brother, dug through my bag, finding nothing. He stood up and dropped it on the ground, my books falling out of it.

"Bring some tomorrow." He spat, motioning for Oscar to let go of me. He did just that and walked away, making me desperately grab onto my locker door so I didn't collapse. 

People walked by me and laughed as usual, seeing how badly I was struggling to get my books together and stand back up. Suddenly, someone began helping me, and I looked up to see one of the only kids that was nice to me right before me. I didn't know his real name, but I knew that his friends called him Race.

"Oscar's an ass, isn't he?" He asked, making conversation.

"Yeah," I said quietly, avoiding eye contact.

"Here, I'll help you up." He stood and put his hand out, allowing me to take it. 

"Thanks," I put my crutch under my arm, feeling as though I could break down.

"No problem. See you around Crutchie," he said with a smile, walking away.

Nobody in this school, besides the teachers, called me by my name. Most people just said insults, but Race had started calling me Crutchie from the moment we met. I actually quite liked the nickname, since it made me feel like a different, more put-together person.

The bell rang right as I closed my locker, and I began rushing to class. Thankfully, I was given a few exceptions at school because of my disability, meaning it was just fine if I got to class a few minutes late. Not only that, but I was allowed to use my backpack to carry my books, unlike other students, and I was also allowed to keep my painkillers on me. This pissed off a lot of kids, of course, since they saw it more as me getting special treatment instead of me genuinely needing a little help.

I got to my biology class two minutes after the bell, the teacher only just beginning to take roll. He looked up from his computer and smiled kindly at me as always, not getting angry.

"Morning Charlie," he said, turning back to his screen. I went to my desk in the back of the room, my heart pounding while I heard other students whisper, likely about me. The door them opened again, grabbing our attention. "Late again, Jack?"

"Yep," he smirked at Mr. Weisel, walking to his desk.

"One more and that's detention." Jack chuckled, not caring as he always did.

"Alright." Oscar looked at Jack for a moment before staring at me, fuming.

"Wait, so the crip can be late but we can't?" He asked, making most people smile as he insulted me.