my heart stopped a beat / a caswen au

THREE

Ashlyn looked up from her phone knowing what she had just said was a lie. She had been at Higgs for two weeks and had yet to make any friends. She was very introverted and quiet which made it hard for her to make friends. She was only friends with the group because she had been friends with Ricky for a few years now and met Big Red and Seb through him. Sure she liked Higgs because at least she didn't get picked on and people called her by her preferred name and pronouns, but it wasn't the same without her friends.

Meanwhile, Ricky was on his way to meet Ben in Library after a random last minute message from the boy. "I'm sorry about ignoring you yesterday." Ben apologized before proceeding to make out with Ricky. After he pulled away he did his day routine of wiping his mouth, saying bye, and leaving Ricky standing there alone.

"It's been quite awhile since you've hidden in here at lunch." Ms Jenn, Ricky's art teacher, told him. "I'm not hiding." Ricky responded from the floor in the corner of the room. "Then what are you doing?" "Eating lunch." The boy replied. "So everything's okay? No bullies I need to sort out again?" She questioned. "No. Everything's fine... Actually there's kind of someone." The boy told her. "A bully?" Ms Jenn cut him off. "No, I've got a boyfriend." Ricky admitted to her. "Oh, well, congratulations." She said, clapping her hands together. "Well, um, I don't think he even thinks we're boyfriends anyway. He ignores me sometimes. He doesn't even like people seeing us talk to each other in the hallway. He pretends like he doesn't know who I am. But then when it's just us two he's fine." He admitted to her. "Well, have you talked to him about how that makes you feel?" His teacher asked him. Ricky shook his head. "Maybe you should talk to him then." She asked, Ricky leaned his head against the wall as a response.

"What do you want me to say? Break up with him?"
"I don't know."
"Well, do you want to break up with him?"
"I don't know."
"I can't solve your problems for you, Ricky. Just talk to him, it's better to be honest in the long run."
"I hate being honest."
"I know. It took you three months to tell me you were being bullied."
Ricky sighed. "Maybe you're right, maybe I should talk to him." "Yes, I think you should." Ms Jenn repeated.

After lunch, Ricky set out to find Ben. Only to find him making out with some girl outside the school gate. Ricky ran the other way with tears streaming down his face.