Someone Like You

15

Warnings:
-Mentions physical (child) abuse
-Bullying (body shaming)

George's POV

I woke up slowly as I realised the bed was empty. I immediately sat up and looked at the time as I noticed I overslept. I panicked and grabbed my bag, standing up after spraying some body spray onto my body.

I ran downstairs, seeing my parents on the couch. 'Why didn't you wake me up? I'm too late!' I yelled out as I ran to the door. 'The bus isn't coming for the next fifteen minutes, SHIT!'

'I thought you had the first period free,' my mother admitted. 'You can better get your old bike, it's in the back.'

'No, I'm not cycling with that old thing. It can collapse any second from now. I'm going to run, see you.'

I didn't wait for an answer and started running as fast as I could in the hope I'd be somehow in time today.

~~~

I arrived at school forty minutes later than I was supposed to and I ran to my first class to still be there for the last minutes.

I was panting loudly, covered in sweat when I knocked on the door, immediately holding my hands up after opening it.

'Miss, I'm so sorry. My alarm, I slept through it and I forgot to set up a second one and then my bus didn't go at the right time so I had to run.'

I leaned forwards and held my hands on my knees as I tried to catch my breath. 'I'm so sorry, I can go if I need to.'

'How did you sleep through your alarm?' she asked. 'Doesn't that go until you turn it off?'

'No, miss. There was someone with me and they turned it off because they needed to wake up earlier than me. I'm actually so sorry, I've never been too late at school.'

'Sit down, but if you're late one more time, I'll report it to the principal.' She pointed to my chair to sit and I sat down, breathing quickly as I noticed I sat in front of Clay and Sapnap.

One of them tapped my back and I turned around, seeing Sapnap tapped my back. Clay looked at him with an annoyed face and then smiled at me.

'I think it's better if you run to school every day so you'll burn some of that disgusting fat on your body.'

I was about to turn back again as he grabbed my shoulder. 'I bet you slept next to your mom because you're too scared of the dark,' he grinned. 'Aww, or do you not sleep because you realise how ugly and fat you are? You can just kill yourself, you know that, right?'

'Dude, shut your shitty mouth,' Clay suddenly scoffed. 'You're not funny, you know that, right?'

Sapnap looked at Clay with a shocked and mad face. 'Since when are you defending that idiot?'

'Since you're such a dick to him for no reason. What has he ever done to you, dumbass?'

Sapnap didn't answer and rolled his eyes. 'Have you seen his ugly face?'

'No, I haven't seen his UGLY face, because he's not ugly,' Clay replied, he sat back as Sapnap looked at me.

'He's wearing your clothes... oh my goodness. You stayed with him?'

'Yes,' Clay answered bluntly. 'I did, because I trust him more than I've ever trusted you. You're a dick and I've always hated this dumb behaviour because it's not how I am. I was angry, very angry and I had that hidden inside so I let it out by being a dick, regretting what I did after that.'

'Sure, Clay. You have a perfect life, don't complain now, idiot. You're pretty rich, your dad was really kind when I met him and you have a girlfriend and loads of friends. You're popular, handsome and you're the best soccer player on the team.'

'Mhm, and I have a dad who beats the shit out of me when I breathe too loudly.'

My face lifted up as he looked at his hands, tapping the table when another few faces turned into Clay's direction.

'Yeah, funny,' he scoffed. 'The popular guy gets abused at home, beaten up so often that he escapes every time he has the chance to. I didn't trust anyone but George with that, because George is so much more trustworthy than all of you combined together.'

He grabbed his bag and stood up as even the teacher was quiet now. Not everyone heard what he said, but Sapnap, a few of his friends and the teacher definitely did.

I saw him swing his bag on his shoulder and he walked to the door, slamming it behind him as loudly as he could.

The whole classroom was quiet as I stood up slowly. I knew I needed to go to Clay and the teacher nodded as I ran off too, seeing Clay in the distance sitting down on a bench.

I sat next to him and wrapped my arm around him as I noticed he was sobbing softly. 'I should think before I speak,' he whispered. 'If my dad figures out people know I get abused at home, he's killing me. This morning I ran away from home already, he's actually going to kill me.'

I didn't say much because I didn't know what was best to say right now. I pulled him closely against my body instead and let him cry.

'Can I turn it back? I don't want them to know, but I don't want to act like I'm just seeking attention or anything.'

I breathed out. 'I support you through anything. You can keep it like this or tell them whatever. I know you're not lying or seeking attention and I'm here for you.'

He sighed. 'I'm just going to say that it was a dumb joke and that I shouldn't have done that. I just don't know anymore, my dad is killing me if he knows.'

'Whatever you do, I'm here for you.'

With that, he stood up and ran back to class. I vaguely heard him say that it was a joke and maybe a lot of people would hate him for this, but the real friends would understand that he panicked and lied about lying. Only the real friends would stay, understanding that he actually got abused at home.

1056 words