You Found Me

Chapter 1.8: Bully

       As Daniel checked his hair in the mirror trying to make it sit properly, he had soft music playing in the background. He stepped back and observed his outfit, simple ripped black jeans with a chain and a band tee-shirt. As he turns to see how he looks in the mirror he hears his door creak open.

      "Going somewhere?" Tori asks before taking a sip from her drink.

      "Nick invited me to the cinema with his friends." A nervous smile playing on Daniel's face.

        Daniel immediately noticed the face Tori was making "What? What's wrong?" He asks in a worried voice.

        "Glad Nick is such a nice...friend." Tori says almost jokingly.

        "Well he is but... we're going out." Daniel finally admitted to her.

       Tori smiled and nodded her head not feeling the need to speak "But don't tell anyone. He's not out yet." Daniel says even though he knows she won't.

       "I'm happy for you, you've liked him for ages." Tori says, taking another drink of her lemonade. "So you're hanging out with his mates now?"

      "Yeah I know, but I promise I'll be okay." Daniel says fully understanding her concern.

       "Just... just be safe please." Tori says genuinely as the two twins have always looked out for each other like their lives depended on it.

     "I will. I promise." Daniel says, grabbing his phone before getting ready to head out of the door.

       The drive to the cinema was relatively quiet as Daniel and his dad simply listened to music on the short drive. They pull into the cinema and Daniel quickly gets ready to get out before his dad stops him.

     "I'll pick you up at 10. If any of those boys says or does anything nasty give me a call okay?" His father said in a nervous voice knowing how teenage boys can be.

      "I'll be okay, Nick will be there." Daniel reassures him as well as himself.

      Daniel walks in immediately seeing Nick and smiling. "Are you sure your friends won't mind if I'm here?" Daniel asks nervously as he messes with the sleeves of his hoodie.

     "Yeah of course, Ben and Harry aren't even here. Why are you nervous?" Nick tries to reassure him as they walk through the cinema.

     "A little. They probably just see me as this gay nerd." Daniel says a bit bitterly knowing how most people see him.

      From the distance they hear Nick's friends chatter. "Oh look, it's Nick and his best mate."  As the view becomes more clear, Daniel sees Harry and Ben standing in the middle of the group causing his heart to drop.

      "Why did he even bring him?"

     "Look at him hiding behind Nick like a girl."

     "Are you friends with him Ben?" One of the boys asked and honestly Daniel was curious what he'd respond.

     "Who? Daniel? Never even spoke to him." He says in a snide voice causing the boys to laugh.

      "Let's get popcorn." Nick says pulling Daniel out of his thoughts and away from the group. "Do you want sweet or salty, or maybe both?" Nick says as they approach the concession area.

     "I'm not really hungry." Daniel says gripping his bicep and looking at his feet, knowing that's a lie. "You get some though."

     "Danny..." Nick says in a compassionate voice as he gently meets his eyes. "Are you okay? I honestly had no idea they'd be here. I wouldn't have suggested we come if I'd known." Nick rambled on but Daniel was focused on one thing.