Someone Like You

25

Warnings:
-Mentions physical (child) abuse
-Bullying

Clay's POV

~ The Next Morning ~

I walked with George to the bus as I took deep breaths. I didn't want to go to school today, but I didn't want the bullies to get what they wanted. They already caused me to be in so much pain and enjoyed that enough.

'Clay, are you actually sure you're able to go today? You're in so much pain.'

'I went to school most of the time after my dad beat me up too. I can deal with this.'

He nodded slowly. 'We have PE today, though.'

I shrugged and sighed as we sat down to wait for the bus. 'I'm not sure yet what I'm going to do. I think I'll ask to skip this time... I'm not wearing makeup so he'll get why.'

George smiled shortly and rested his head on my shoulder. 'If you're not okay, make sure to tell me, alright?'

'I will. I will not cut today either, I know I can do this. I'm motivated again to quit,' I admitted happily as I ruffled his hair up, seeing the bus come closer.

We both stood up and stepped into the bus, seeing Sapnap sitting down with some of his friends. They immediately looked up and glared at me as I struggled to walk to two seats. The only seats left were next to Sapnap and an old friend which caused me to scoff.

I sat down slowly and George sat next to me as I purposely looked the other way so they wouldn't say anything.

'Imagine getting abused at home,' someone suddenly laughed. 'Imagine being too weak to fight back.'

I stared at my hands and leaned back on my chair without saying anything. They all started laughing and one of them stood up, walking up to me with a grin. I slowly looked up at him and he lifted his hand in the air, ready to hit me.

I immediately lifted my hands up to hide my face as he wheezed. 'Aww, are you scared? Does the most popular guy cry when he gets beaten up? So cute.'

'How is this funny?' George yelled out of nowhere. 'Firstly you make fun of him for "lying" because you don't lie about being abused since that's a very serious thing and now you're humiliating him because he gets abused. Just stop, okay? Leave him alone.'

'I'm going to give his dad a little visit, I think,' Sapnap grinned.

'NO!' I shouted. 'Don't! Sapnap, you were my best friend, why do you want to hurt me so much now? Do you realise what being abused means, Sapnap? Do you get it?'

'Well, you just get hit every now and then,' he scoffed.

I jumped up and lifted my shirt up. 'THESE BRUISES ARE BECAUSE MY DAD MADE BOOKSHELVES AND BOOKS FALL DOWN ON TOP OF ME.'

Sapnap stared at my chest full of bruises, he looked away after a while and turned quiet.

'And I must admit that it's not so funny when your dad sees you as his personal football. Do you get that he doesn't just hit me every now and then? If I breathe too loudly, I can at least get three punches and two kicks against my chest. He rips my drawings apart, he swears at me and chokes me when he finds me annoying while BREATHING.'

The whole bus turned quiet and I saw the bus driver looking at us in the mirror.

'Do you know how it feels when your dad hurts you so incredibly much that you can't even walk anymore? I've put on my sister's makeup for years to hide these bruises and it makes me feel so hopeless because it never ends. He keeps hurting me.'

'You're just a liar,' one of my other old friends scoffed. 'I don't believe you, idiot. You're not getting abused at home, you're just hopeless for attention.'

Sapnap nodded and grinned as he looked away.

'Did I draw all these bruises on my body?' I asked as George stood up behind me. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me back, smiling softly as I looked at him.

'Clay, we are going to stand in the back there, okay? Let's ask if those students want to move,' he whispered.

I looked at my old friends with tears in my eyes and then turned around to go with George. He asked the two girls if they wanted to move and since everyone heard me scream, they nodded and let us sit here.

'I believe you, Clay. You're not seeking attention, they are just incredibly dumb. Of course you're not just faking this,' he comforted me. 'I love you, remember that.'

'I'm going to cry,' I sniffed with a tear rolling down my face.

'That's okay. You can sit at the window so no one will see you. Come, hold your head on my hoodie.'

I nodded softly and moved seats with him, holding my head against his hoodie as he held his arm around me, pulling me into a tight hug so no one saw me cry. I completely bursted down and cried loudly as I hitched a breath, lifting myself up.

'It's okay,' he whispered, running his hand through my hair. 'It's okay to cry and you're going to be okay too. I won't leave you, okay?'

I cried for the rest of the bus ride and when I stepped out, I held George tightly while I cried softly. Sapnap and his friends walked behind me to school.

'Such a pussy. Boys don't cry,' I heard Sapnap scoff.

I felt George freeze and then he suddenly turned around like all his anger from the past years came out. I turned around and looked at George who grabbed Sapnap's shoulders with the maddest glare I'd ever seen.

'DON'T THEY? GO THROUGH THE SAME AS CLAY GOES EVERY DAY.'

He suddenly hit Sapnap in his face which caused his friends to try to get George away. George hit him again causing Sapnap to fall down.

'YOU RUINED MY LIFE, I HATE YOU SO MUCH,' he screamed, kicking Sapnap's chest as he was about to fall down onto his knees to beat him up. One of his friends pushed George away and lifted Sapnap up as I grabbed George's hand.

'We are going to leave here now, okay?' I whispered as I held him tightly.

He hit his leg out of anger and pushed me away, turning back to Sapnap.

'IF I DIDN'T HAVE CLAY I WOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD BECAUSE OF YOU, SAPNAP. I CUT MYSELF BECAUSE OF YOU, I WANT TO STARVE AND DIE ALL BECAUSE OF YOU! DO YOU REALISE THAT WORDS HURT? DO YOU REALISE PEOPLE ACTUALLY KILL THEMSELVES BECAUSE OF BULLYING?'

'Ssh, it's okay. Come with me.' I held him very tight and he let me take him with me.

1149 words