Quiet boy-------Gus Bell

The Man

It's been a week since the whole Gus bullying incident, and while things have calmed down a bit, it's still hanging heavy in the air. Luke, the jerk behind it all, seems to have learned to keep his mouth shut, at least when it comes to Gus. But Amy's still fawning over him like he's some kind of king, always desperate for male attention. She's such a pick-me girl, willing to do anything for validation from guys.

I wish Gus could stand up for himself, but he's always been so quiet. I've known him for five years now, and in all that time, I've never heard him say a single word. Even his little brother, Eli, gets bullied, and he tries to fight back, but it never seems to do much good.

I've tried talking to Gus a few times this past week, but it's always been the same: a nod or a wave in response. But today, I've got my next class with him, so I'm determined to try again. I don't really care what the others think anymore. I've realized that no matter what I do, people still seem to like me. Luke's tried to say it's just because of my body, but he's just a gross little boy who doesn't know anything.

I find my usual spot in English class, plopping down next to Tara. My eyes automatically drift over to Gus, and man, he's really looking good today. But before I can get lost in my thoughts, Shelly, Gus's too close female friend, swoops in and takes the seat next to him. Jealousy starts bubbling up inside me, but I squash it down. Everyone keeps saying they'd make the perfect couple because they're both so... unique. But honestly, I'm kinda relieved they're not together.

Then it hits me—I've been staring at Gus. Shit.

"Why the hell are you staring at Gus?" Tara's voice cuts through my little daydream, and suddenly, all eyes, including Gus's, are on me.

"I, uh... I wasn't!" I stumble over my words, trying to play it cool.

"You don't have a crush on him, do you?" Tara's got that mischievous glint in her eye, like she's already planning my wedding or something.

"No way! I was just, you know, daydreaming," I quickly reply, hoping she'll drop it.

"About Gus?" Tara's not letting this go, clearly enjoying my discomfort.

"No, actually, I was picturing myself punching Amy in the face," I blurt out, feeling a surge of anger at the thought of that girl.

"Amy?" Tara raises an eyebrow, clearly amused by my outburst.

"Yeah, Amy. She seriously needs to get out of this school. Like, nobody wants her here anyway."

"You secretly love her, don't you?" Tara's teasing now, and we both crack up, earning some disapproving looks from our classmates.

Finally, the teacher shows up, fashionably late as always. She announces that we'll be working on a seven-chapter short story with a partner. Yes! This is my chance to team up with Gus. As everyone starts picking partners, I waste no time and make a beeline for Gus before Shelly can get to him.

"Hey, Gus," I say, catching him off guard.

"Wanna be partners? I've heard you're really good at storytelling." Why do I sound like I'm proposing marriage or something? Shelly shoots me a look, but I glare right back at her. I'm not usually this territorial, but I'm not about to let her steal my spot.

Gus raises an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at his lips as he nods in agreement. I sneak a glance back at Tara, who looks utterly confused. I mouth "Sorry" to her, and she just rolls her eyes in response.

Gus's nod of agreement feels like a victory, even though it's just for a school project. As we settle into our seats together, I can't help but feel a surge of excitement mixed with nerves. Working with Gus means spending more time with him, and who knows, maybe I'll finally get to know the guy behind the quiet facade.

As we brainstorm ideas for our story, Gus surprises me with his creativity and imagination. He's not just good at storytelling—he's great. His ideas flow effortlessly, each one more intriguing than the last. It's like he's unlocking a whole new world right in front of me, and I can't help but be drawn in.

But amidst our collaboration, there's a lingering tension in the air. Shelly keeps shooting me dirty looks from across the room, clearly not happy about Gus and me teaming up. I try to ignore her, focusing instead on the task at hand, but her presence is like a dark cloud hanging over us.

Despite the distractions, Gus and I manage to come up with a solid concept for our story. It's a tale of adventure and mystery, set in a world unlike our own, where anything is possible. I can't wait to dive into writing it with him, to see where our imaginations will take us.

Gus drew up his ideas, he was amazing at art, I admired that about him. his art was so simple but said so much.

Gus's cheeks flush with colour at my compliment, and his smile lights up the room. He quickly jots down a "Thank you" in the corner of his drawing, his gratitude evident in every stroke of the pen.

"Gus," I begin, and he nods in acknowledgment.

"Do you want to come over and work on this at my house?" I ask, feeling a rush of nerves at the prospect of spending more time alone with him. His face turns even redder, and he hesitates for a moment before tracing a message in the air with his finger. Unfortunately, I'm completely clueless as to what he's trying to say.

"Gus, I'm dyslexic as fuck. I can't read that," I admit, feeling a little embarrassed.

He nods again, a small smile playing on his lips, before grabbing a piece of paper from his English book and writing a response.

"I would love to come over, but can we go back to mine first?" he writes, and I can't help but wonder what he's hiding about his home. I've heard rumours that he lives in the poorer part of town, but I don't care about that. Gus is Gus, no matter where he comes from.

"Sure, I can get my mum to pick us up from your house and drop you home," I offer, hoping to reassure him. His smile widens at my words, and I can't help but feel a flutter of excitement at the thought of spending more time with him. Maybe this could be the beginning of something great.