Just Us //Byler

Chapter 20

TW: details about being beaten up, slurs
and telling someone to kys.                              Will

I wake up hours later on the couch, Someone must have put a blanket on me and placed the Walkman on the coffee table beside me, I'm guessing it must have been mom or Jonathan.

"Good morning sweetie, You must have been really tired, I've made breakfast and don't forget your homework for your History class" My mom gave me a big smile and then disappeared into the kitchen again.

As I stand up I realize I've fallen asleep in my clothes from yesterday, I quickly change my clothes before finally sitting down at the table. I look at my plate, but the eggs and bread doesn't seem as inviting as it used to do. Then I realize something.

Mike

I'm going to have to see Mike today.

Anxiety is pumping through my body as my leg starts bumping up and down, I'm just gonna try to avoid him as much as possible.

-

"Bye Jonathan"

"Goodbye buddy, have a great day at school today" He said and drove off, I told him to drop me of a little earlier because I had to turn in my Science homework. Which was of course a lie, I turned it in days ago. I know that if I would come at usual time Mike would probably me waiting for me and I don't think I can handle a break up right now, but maybe we already have? I've never been in a relationship before, is this whats its really like? Maybe that's why dad and mom always was so angry at each other, or maybe mom realized how much of an asshole dad is.

The cold wind is biting in my cheeks as I walk up to the big entrance, the warmth is embracing me like a big hug when I walk through the doors. The halls are nearly empty, just some older students taking out their books for class while chatting.

I quickly got my things from the locker so I wouldn't need to get it later and speed walked to the library, Mike would probably search there, but he won't find me.

The library is warm and cozy, pretty weird for a school like this but I really appreciate it, and I think the other students do too since this is a pretty common study place. I really like being here, tho I don't enjoy being around older students and students from my class as much, But I don't have to worry about that now.

I walk past all the bookshelves with so many books that they we're nearly falling down, I take a right at the ninth bookshelf. In the corner, nearly invisible , my favorite teacher Mr.Jones. I am pretty sure I am his favorite student since he treats me like I'm his child and helped me build this secret little room that I could hide in if the bullying got to much, no one knows about this place except me and him, not even Mike. Sometimes on his breaks when he knows I'm here he would come and chat, just chatting. Something I really enjoy, he would talk about the new art store that has opened and artist since hes my art teacher and he knows I really like drawing. He knows everything to be honest, and I know pretty much about him too, I can really relate to him. He sometimes say that I am a exactly copy of him when he was little, Like a father and his son.

I get on my knees and gently open the small door, Just the size that someone who was just a inch bigger then me wouldn't fit. The room is cozy and has a little desk that he found at a second hand store, a little shelf with books and drawing all over the floor, There are some fairy lights on the wall and a little reading lamp but other then that there are no lights. I have a hatch in the roof with a ladder that so I can climb up and look at the sky and the green fields that are behind the school.

I lock the door behind me and sit down on the floor, doing nothing but staring at a drawing on the floor, one single drawing.

A drawing of me and Mike holding hands, I remember the day i drew it. I had got bullied really bad in a lesson, people calling me a fag and throwing paper notes at me, telling me to kill myself.