Quiet boy-------Gus Bell

Lover

The lunch bell rings, signalling the start of the lunch break. Kids spill out of classrooms, eager to grab their lunches and socialize. I make my way to my locker, reaching in to retrieve my meal from my bag. Across the row, I catch Gus's eye. His expression is somber, but there's a flicker of a smile as our gazes meet. I've never really noticed him before, but there's something about his kind face that draws me in. There's a warmth, a vibe he gives off that's hard to ignore.

"Hey, Gus," I greet him with a smile, but his response is hesitant, almost wary. He nods in acknowledgment, and I can sense his unease.

"I'm sorry about Luke. He's such an asshole," I say, trying to offer some comfort, though I know Gus doesn't speak. Still, I wish I could do more than just exchange pleasantries.

"Uh, um... Well, I'm going now. Bye," I mumble awkwardly as Gus waves goodbye.

Returning to my friends, I'm met with a barrage of questions.

"Why were you talking to quiet boy?" Amy asks, her tone dripping with disdain. It's no secret she's infatuated with Luke and will do anything to impress him.

"You mean Gus," I correct her firmly.

"Yeah, why were you talking to quiet boy?" Luke interjects, adding his two cents.

"Are you jealous that I'm talking to other boys?" I retort, the rest of the group chuckling at the jab.

"What? No, I don't give a shit, you slut," Luke shoots back, and I feel my blood boil. Did he really just say that to me?

"Sorry, what the fuck did you just say to me? Get the fuck out of here if you're going to call me that," I seethe, locking eyes with him.

"Bro, chill, it's just a joke," Luke stammers, taking a step back.

"Well, it's not fucking funny. Do you see anyone laughing?" I demand, the tension thick in the air as Luke gathers his things and retreats.

"Well, that's one way to get rid of him," Tara remarks, breaking the silence.

"I would have fucking punched his ugly ass in the head," Hannah adds, her fists clenched in anger.

"You didn't have to do that. It's just rude what he said, but it's not that bad. He's a boy, what do you think he's going to say?" Amy chimes in, and suddenly all eyes are on her, disbelief written on our faces.

"You can go run off with your little boyfriend too," Tara retorts, pointing towards Luke playing cricket with his buddies.

"Don't be so rude, and I won't have to," Amy snaps back, her tone defensive.

"No wonder nobody likes you," Abbie interjects at us, and with a huff, she and Charlotte walk off with Amy, leaving the rest of us stunned. Abbie and Charlotte may act as Amy's minions, but we all know they secretly despise her, yet they stick by her side out of fear of reprisal.

With Amy and her entourage storming off, the tension lingers in the air like a heavy fog. I exchange a bewildered glance with Tara and Hannah, both of whom seem just as taken aback by the sudden turn of events.

"Can you believe her?" Tara mutters under her breath, shaking her head in disbelief.

"I knew she was bad news, but that was low," Hannah agrees, her voice tinged with disappointment.

"Yeah, well, at least we know where we stand now," I sigh, feeling a mix of frustration and relief at having confronted the issue head-on.

"Anyways why were you talking to Quiet boy" Jack asks

"I felt bad for him"

"Why, her weird as fuck, he probably doesn't care" Jack says

"Yeah apparently his dad tried to kill him and his brother" Conner says

"I know your trying to be nice but he can't even speak English, he talks with his 'magic finger'" Hannah says.

I look over at Gus who's playing hand ball with his friends. this girl who hes playing with holds his arm, Is that his girl friend? a hint of jealousy creeps over me.

"He speaks English, and hes not dumb either"

"He paints those stupid photos, and his brother claims they mean something, he says there like fortune telling" Conner says

The group continues to talk about Gus.

"So, what do you guys wanna do after school?" Tara asks, attempting to lighten the mood.

"I want to go to Maccas" Hannah suggests, a hint of excitement creeping into her voice.

"FATTIE"

"FATTIE"

"FATTIE" everyone shouts at her and we all laugh. 

"Sounds good to me." I agree, grateful for the distraction.

With plans in place to unwind after the final bell, we finish our lunches in relative silence, each lost in our own thoughts. But as the minutes tick by, the tension slowly begins to dissipate, replaced by a sense of anticipation for the freedom that awaits us at the end of the day.

And as I glance over at Gus, who's at his locker getting his books, I can't help but feel a pang of empathy. Maybe I'll invite him to join us at Maccas. After all, everyone deserves a little kindness, especially in the midst of all this chaos, but I can't, no one in this group likes him and they will all bully him more if hes with us.