Ghost (Second Edition)

Chapter Two--In the Crossfire

Nathan

Nathan lolled back in his seat at the back of the maths classroom, listening to the teacher rattle on. He zoned out as he stared up at the blank white ceiling, his mind almost asleep to the teacher's monotone. It was because of this that it took Nathan a second to realise that the bell had gone for class swap.

He sat forward, the front legs of his chair coming down on the hard lino floor with a sharp clap. He scooped up his mostly empty maths books and followed the tail end of the students leaving the classroom. He had Biology now. It was the only subject he had to pay some kind of attention to and make sure he had the right books...which he didn't.

With a sigh, he stopped outside his locker and took out his key, tucking his books under his arm as he ran his hand through his hair. He hated Biology. Did he really need to know how the cells of the body worked? It didn't matter, it was still a fairly easy pass.

He was closing his locker door, Biology books under his arm, when there was a loud clang and a loud laugh. Nathan shut the locker door and frowned.

Andy and two of his friends had slammed another boy into the lockers a few down from Nathan's. The boy was skinny and wore a slightly frayed and creased grey hoodie that hung loosely from his frail frame, and brown track pants. His hair was almost ink-black and in desperate need of a brush and a wash. His eyes were a soft, pale green. Right now, the boy's eyes held a thin wash of tears and fear.

"Where's your lunch money?" Andy asked, his voice unnaturally hard as he glared at the boy.

The boy just whimpered. A small, scared sound that tugged at Nathan's heart.

"For fuck's sake!" Andy yelled, shoving the boy into the locker again, causing the boy to let out a muffled cry and gather a few indifferent and curious looks from passing students. "Where is it?!"

"In—in my pocket." The boy squeaked, as he looked at Andy in fear.

Andy shoved his hand roughly into the boy's jumper pocket and drew out a measly four dollars—enough for a small thick shake and nothing else.

Andy's eyes filled with fury. He threw the coins to the floor and slapped the boy across the face hard enough to leave a bruise. The boy flinched. "I told you to bring ten bucks! Ten fucking bucks! Where is the rest of the bloody money?!"

"I—I was hungry." The boy said fearfully, looking up at Andy with wide green eyes.

"You son of a—" Andy growled, raising his fist again.

"Hey!" Nathan snapped out of his shocked and frozen state, "Andy, what the hell are you doing? Leave him alone!" He yelled, pushing himself between Andy and the boy with a glare.

Andy lowered his fist, breathing hard, hands clenched at his side. "He. Has. My. Money," he ground out, hunching his shoulders and looking at Nathan in fury.

"You dropped it." Nathan said flatly. "Pick it up and leave." He didn't move from his protective stance in front of the boy.

Andy glared at him for a few more seconds before bending down and gathering up the coins. With a last hateful look at Nathan and the boy, he stormed off. His disappointed and angry friends behind him.

Nathan relaxed his shoulders and turned to look at the boy behind him. When he saw the boy looking fearfully after Andy, his eyes softened. The boy had that adorable messy look about him.

"Are you alright? What's your name?" Nathan asked him.

The boy looked at him in shock.

Nathan smiled. "Why are you so surprised? I'm interested." He asked.