Standing Next To Me [Milex]

1.

"Piss off, Taz."

"Awww, tha gaybo's mad!" They surrounded the weaker student, appearing like a barricade.

"S-stop!" Alex screamed, but the crowd just seemed to close in on him.

Taz responded with a shove into the locker. "Shu' up, faggot!" Laughter erupted from the wave of people.

"Stop!" He shouted once again, but instead, he lay on his bed, processing what just happened. Alex was a sweaty mess, with noticable eyebags hanging from beneath his eyelids. His heart hastily pulsed as he attempted to get up, struggling to stand straight.

"Mondeh... realleh?" He spoke to himself, sitting down and burying his face into his hands.

"Alex!"

The sleepy boy screamed, startled by his mother's random entry. His face instantly formed into an annoyed expression after realizing who it was. He didn't bother to keep staring at her.

"Alex, ar' ye okeh!?" Her eyes were wide open in contrast to her mussed hair.

"Yeh 'm fine..." He croaked. Penny noticed his expression already, she could read him like a book.

"Nightmares again?" She frowned. Penny knew about his dreams, remembering the first time he cried to her about them.

《《《

"Mum..." She heard someone stifle a cry behind her.

"Alex, it's three in th- oh my-!" Penny instantly got up from her bed and hugged Alex. Her eyebrows furrowed with concern."Wha' happened, love?"

"T-hey we-were all b-bullying me!" He sobbed into his mothers shoulder, starving for comfort.

"Oh babeh... who?"

Alex hesitated before answering. "M-Max and his f-friends..."

Max? Penny thought. She was unfamiliar with that name.

"It's okeh hun... You can sleep wif me tonight." She holds him even tighter, carrying him into her bed.

》》》

Penny shakes the flashback out her head, bringing her attention back to her son.

"Are yer sure ye don' wanna stay home?"

"M' sure mum..."

She didn't seem convinced at all, but gave in anyway. "Alreyt, alreyt... just get readeh okeh? I'll meet ye downstairs." Alex just nods and continues to look out the window.

》》》

Welcome to hell, Alex. He knew he could've stayed home, but he couldn't afford to. His desire for a good paying job made him stay and obtain good grades.

It'll all pay off... I guess.

"Heya Alex!"

"Oh, hey Matt." Alex didn't seem amused by his best friend's prescence as he was unsuccessfuly trying to open his locker.

Ah, finally.

"Why the straight face?" Matt asks, cocking an eyebrow.

"Erm... nothin'."

"Was it one o' those weird dreams again?"

Alex looks down and doesn't respond, grabbing his supplies from the locker. He starts to make his way to class, keeping his head low.

Matt let out an internal sigh. He always knew what bugged Alex, but he never knew how to help him. The best he could do is comfort him.

》》》