Friendzoned

Seventeen: I don't understand anything.

I don't understand anything.

***Madison***

I woke up, feeling the hard surface beneath me and poking at my ribs.

"Go away...just give me a minute." I mumbled, eyes still closed.

"Wakey wakey sleepy head. I never knew you were such a rebel Madison, sneaking out of school and sleeping on a bench in the school grounds." a familiar voice spoke, poking my shoulders and my cheeks this time.

William, William Stansford.

Quickly fearing for my position in the newspaper club, I sat up straighter and rubbed my eyes. "I'm sorry, I'm just...really tired." I apologized, head bowed in embarrassment.

William gave me a sceptical look before sighing and sitting beside me. Taking my hand and squeezing it reassuringly. "You can tell me if something's wrong you know. You don't have to if you don't want to, but it feels good to let it out. I'm here, not going anywhere." William said tentatively, choosing his words carefully.

The tears were pricking my eyes again as I remembered what happened earlier with Sebastian and genius.

Sighing, I gave in and sent William a curt nod. Indication that something was really wrong and bothering me.

"How can I trust you?" I asked.

I should know if I can trust William with my..."secrets" shouldn't I? I should be able to determine if he's trustworthy right?

"You can trust me because I'm not giving you a lecture for your absence in the club today, and for your rudeness earlier. Also, you can trust me because I'm sitting here with you, wanting to help you out." William replied smoothly, a triumph grin appearing as he saw my 'yeah...I guess I can trust you' face.

"Okay then...Do you know this boy? I don't know his name but he's the one that got sent to the infirmary during lunch period." I began, wiping a stray tear from my cheeks, "basically, his glasses broke, I wanted to help him out and intended to give him some money, but...he lashed out on me."

"I know this is a really small and not that big of a deal, but his words really hit me hard ya know? Like a freaking bat to the stomach." I immediately snapped, before William could say anything along the lines of "that isn't such a big deal".

"I see, I see. It's okay, words hurt, more than sticks and stones." William nodded slowly, giving me a small and reassuring smile.

William came closer and now, our thighs were in contact, and he pulled me into a nice little hug.

That's really what I needed, a small and nice hug.

Hugs always made me feel better.

We were silent for a while, letting the whole situation sink in and the atmosphere transition to a comfortable one, with my head leaning on William's shoulders.

William spoke all of a sudden, "His name's Joseph. Joseph Evergreen."

"I see you hang out with him often, I even saw you walking with him to lunch earlier today. Do you know what's going on? Why he punched that jock? What triggered him to punch that jock?" William continued, taking a deductive turn.

"I don't know why gen-I mean, Joseph's been so reserved and quiet lately. We don't even hang out often like you said, it was just today. Cause the rest of the days, he's hiding out in the classrooms, sleeping." I said exasperatedly.

It was odd...why he punched Sebastian.

Come to think of it, I don't even know why he did such a careless act. Something must have triggered him to make that move, but what was it?