𝗕𝗨𝗖𝗞𝗬 𝗕𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗘𝗦 𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗧𝗦

You're Pretty

SONG REQUEST FOR THIS CHAPTER: MY KIND OF WOMAN by MAC DEMARCO

1,011 Words

Class was always the same. The teacher would wait 5 minutes for the class to stop talking because she was too scared to yell at anyone. Then she would babble on about whatever the hell the topic was. I think this was History class? She would tell us to write down her notes but no one's pens would move. I was lucky I was a knowledge sponge and this stuff just came to me without effort. Then the bell would ring and everyone would run out the room.

It was always the same.

I had a free period, so I walked over to my locker, putting all my books away and planning on sitting in the Library corner, my nose stuck in a book until lunch. But, when someone taps my shoulder and I turn around, I know my plans are thrown out the window.

Bucky, the new kid, stands behind me awkwardly, not making direct eye contact for too long. He's only been here for a few months, having been transferred from another school in the middle of the year. Because of this, he's been visibly struggling with his work. He's in a few of my classes, but no one would recognise him. He's so quiet and always sits in the back, never putting his hand up or talking to anyone. Unfortunately because of this, the football team have put a target on his back and people pick on him. Name calling, pushing and shoving him, and picking him last in gym.

"Hey, you okay?" I ask.

"Yeah, um-" He stutters. "God, this is weird." He awkwardly laughs. "You're good at history. How-what-"

"You want me to help you with the test." I fill in the blanks.

"You don't have to."

He seems scared of me. Maybe I'm seeing things that aren't there, but the small bead of sweat dripping down his forehead and his constant widening eyes tell me differently.

"I have time after school." I nod. "Meet me on the bleachers."

"Uh-"

"Don't worry," I smile as I walk away. "Football practice has been cancelled today. They won't be there."

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I didn't have to wait long. He met me on the bleachers after school, his backpack on his back and a pile of books pressed to his chest. He looked nervous, but I put it down to the possibility of the guys from the football team possibly turning up and embarrassing him. We quickly get started by comparing notes and making flash cards that I occasionally test him with. But when I can tell that's it's becoming too much for him, we take a break.

"You didn't have to do this, you know." He nervously chuckles.

"What are you talking about? I don't mind." I shrug.

"I know, you've said that. But I'm not stupid." His smile fades. "I know what it could do to you if you're seen with me."

"Bucky, I-"

"I just want to say, I really appreciate you doing this." He finally looks over at me, this time not breaking eye contact.

"I don't care about all that shit." I shake my head. "In a few years, we're not going to remember the names of half the people here. I don't care what they think of me. And besides, you don't see a lot of people liking me anyway. It's not like I'm risking a precious reputation by being with you."

"I think you're cool."

"Yeah?" I smile.

"Yeah," He smiles back at me. "You're really smart. Like beyond human capabilities smart. I never see you study and you always get an A on your test. And you're super nice. You don't even know me and when you walk past me in the hall, you always smile at me." He rambles. "And you're so pretty." He stops suddenly. His eyes widen again and he covers his mouth, his brain catching up with his mouth and hearing the words that came out his lips. He starts to breathe heavily, obviously not meaning to let the last part slip.

"Hey, it's okay. Don't worry." I rub his back comfortingly. "I think you're pretty too."

He laughs slightly before hesitantly looking up at me. "This is so embarrassing. This is why I don't talk to you. I knew this was going to happen."

"Don't worry. I can forget about it, if you'd like."

"I don't want you to." He blurts out. But this time, he gains enough confidence to keep speaking. "If I'm being honest, I've thought you were pretty for a long time now. I've just always been too scared to say anything. I mean, you're you and I'm me."

"Bucky-"

"No, please let me get this out before I'm too scared to." He interrupts. "I like you. But I've never said anything because as much as I like you, you scare the living hell out of me. You don't see the way other guys look at you. And I've always been scared that you'd reject me and go for one of the jock guys instead, so I never said anything. And as embarrassing as this is right now, I'm glad I said something. But please, if you're going to reject me, all I ask is that you do it nicely."

"Who said anything about rejecting you?"

"Huh." He looks at me as if I've grown another head.

"What if you were to ask me out on a date and I said yes? What would you do then?"

"I-I," He stutters. "I would pick you up from your house and drive you to the park. I know you like motorcycles and I bought a new one recently. I would make a picnic of all your favourite foods. Especially those plain chips you always buy from the vending machine in the cafeteria. We would talk until the sun went down and I would drive you back home, making sure you were safe inside before I left."

"I'm free this weekend." I beam.

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