𝐏ʜᴀɴᴛᴏᴍs || ᵗʸˡᵉʳ ʰᵉʳⁿᵃⁿᵈᵉᶻ ˣ ᶠ ! ʳᵉᵃᵈᵉʳ ⁽ˢˡⁱᵍʰᵗ ᵒᶜ⁾ || ˢᵇᵍ

(𝐒𝟏) 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝟐𝟓

𝟏ˢᵗ 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐏𝐎𝐈𝐍𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖.

"𝐈𝐬 he getting bullied..?" Ashlyn asks a bit confused. "..It's him again.." I heard Taylor say. "Yeah, yeah. I'm on it." Tyler says as he then goes to approach both of them. "I'll go with him.." I tell them as i follow close behind Tyler with one of my hands slightly balled up into a fist.

Behind us i could hear Aiden talk. "Woah, hey bud. Calm down. Half-wit and (Your Nickname) are going to handle it."

"Barron, what are you doing?" Tyler asks him. I heard Barron mumble something under his breath. I narrow my eyes at him. "If you have something to say, say it with a clear voice." I tell him in a firm voice. He rolls his eyes at me.

"..I'm just talking to my science partner about our project." Barron says. We both glance at Logan. I see that Logan had a bruise on his cheek and he was slightly shaking. I contain myself from punching Barron right then and there.

"We're not an idiot, Barron. We could hear you yelling from the end of the hallway." Tyler tells him, glaring. "Besides, you're already on thin ice with coach, so F off before he finds out how you're treating your 'science partner'." Tyler tells him mockingly.

"So annoying, fine." Barron responds as he turns away to leave. Both me and Tyler glare at him.

"..Thanks.." Logan thanks us quietly. "You're seriously scared of him?" Tyler asks Logan, narrowing his eyes at him.

"After being around those things every night? Pathetic." Tyler spats at Logan. I turn to Tyler.

"Don't tell him he's pathetic. He's not. He just needs better confidence to stand up for himself." I tell him, defending Logan.

Taylor comes up and puts a hand on Logan's shoulder. "What was that about?" She asks Logan. "..I forgot to do his part of the project.." Logan says quietly. Tyler scoffs and looks at me. "How is he supposed to survive when he can't even stand up for himself? Right now isn't the time to be soft." He says sternly. I narrow my eyes at him.

"Tyler's right." Ashlyn says. I furrow my eyebrows in confusion at her statement. She then continues to speak. "Though, his way of saying it, was uncalled for.. Logan definitely needs some strength training. We all do." She explains. I sigh slightly.

"That's why I'm thinking about asking my parents to teach us all self defense. They taught me some when i was younger, but i don't remember it enough to teach you guys on my own. Although i know (Your name) does kickboxing she may still need work."

I grumble slightly. "Weren't you worried about all of us getting sent to an asylum or something? What are we going to tell them when they ask why?" Tyler ask Ashlyn.

"Yeah, that's the reason i haven't asked them yet. But, after what just happened, i think we can use Logan being bullied as an excuse. Something along the lines of him wanting to defend himself, and to be supportive we're all going to learn with him." Ashlyn tells us, explaining the plan.

"I think that sounds pretty believable." Taylor says. "I guess, anyways where's the psycho and the big guys?" Tyler asks them. "Oh- um.. I think Ben started to act weird. Aiden said they were going to the vending machines and will see us in class." Taylor explains.

I nod. I then get lost in thought for a moment. "I'll be back. I've got to check something from my car real quick. I forgot that i had (Iced drink) in there and i've got to make sure it doesn't melt." I tell them as i go to leave.

They all stare at me curiously and only nod. I wave at them and start to head around the corner and my face darkens only slightly as i smile. '..I think i'll have a nice chat with Barron.' I think to myself.

𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐋𝐘𝐍 𝐏𝐎𝐈𝐍𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖.

'Aiden, Ben, and (Your name) haven't returned. (Your name) only said she'll check something in her car.. i don't think it would take that long..' I think to myself as i furrow my eyebrows confused.

I get my phone out and check the time. 'Class is almost over, what are they doing?' I ask myself. I then get a notification.

𝐀𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧;
𝐒𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲, 𝐰𝐞'𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐮𝐲𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡. :𝐃

I stare at the message in confusion. "Alright, everyone turn your assignments in on the way out!" Mr. Thomas says to the class. I head to his desk and hand him the assignment. "Thank you-.." He then pauses and halts his movements.

I look at him in confusion. "..Mr. Thomas?"

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Word count; 762
April 20ᵗʰ, 2024
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EDIT;
Word count; 803
June 18ᵗʰ, 2024

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