Nightfall Woods

7★ monsters

Sebastian replied, "Oh, you'll get over it," as he stood up, grabbing his helmet.

Alex looked at him as he picked up his bag and started to walk away, muttering under his breath, "I really don't understand you." The confusion and irritation were evident in his voice.

Sebastian turned around and asked, "What did you say?" His expression was a mix of curiosity and annoyance.

Alex responded, "Nothing." He tried to brush it off, but the tension lingered in the air between them.

Sebastian grinned and said, "That's what I thought," before walking away for good this time. The finality of his departure left Alex feeling frustrated, confused, and upset.

Alex thought that Sebastian was actually as annoying and pathetic as William, and the thought of Sebastian caring about him felt so stupid. Frustrated, he stood up, picked up his bag, and headed towards his locker. Each step felt heavy, as if he was carrying not just his backpack but the weight of his disillusionment. He replayed the moments with Sebastian in his mind, feeling the sting of betrayal deepen with every recollection. The hallway buzzed with chatter, but all he could hear was the echo of his own thoughts, reminding him of how wrong he had been to hope for something.

He closed his locker and was startled when he saw Henry looking at him, leaning against the locker next to Alex's. Henry asked, "What is going on?" His tone was casual, but there was an underlying concern in his eyes. Alex hesitated for a moment, then decided to shift the focus away from himself.

"Do you think you could drive me home?" Alex asked, his voice a mix of hope and urgency. "I'll explain everything in the car." He could tell that Henry was someone he could lean on, and the thought of having that support made him feel a little lighter.

Henry replied, "Alright, if you didn't look so bad, I wouldn't, but the 10 minutes detour could be worth it." He pushed himself off the locker and gave Alex a half-smile, trying to lighten the mood. "Just hop in, and you can tell me what's going on." Alex felt a wave of relief wash over him, having Henry willing to help made everything seem a bit more manageable.

They walked towards the exit door, and as they did, Sebastian walked right the other way. Their eyes met for a brief moment, and Alex noticed the emptiness in Sebastian's gaze. There was no emotion, no hint of remorse or understanding, and Alex couldn't help but wonder if that man even had a heart. It stung to think that someone he had hoped would care could appear so indifferent. Shaking off the thought, he focused on getting to the car and sharing everything with Henry.

Henry started, "So, tell me everything." His eyes were focused on Alex, ready to listen. Alex took a deep breath, feeling the weight of his thoughts ready to spill out. He knew this was the moment to finally share what had been bothering him.

Alex turned to Henry, his voice steady but filled with emotion. "You won't believe what happened on the bus. I overheard William and his crew tormenting this poor student. They were brutal, saying things like, 'How do you even get through a day like this? Just give up'

But then, the student actually stood up for himself ! He called William out for being insecure. I chuckled at that, but then William was right next to me, and I felt this tap on my neck. I was terrified." Alex paused, hoping for understanding.

Henry looked at Alex, concern in his eyes. "That sounds intense, man. What did you do next?"

"So I turned, and there was William, looking at me. He said 'Do you think it's funny?' and i said no but he shot back saying that i should know better since my dad's a criminal and i have basically nothing to be proud of. His words hit hard, and I felt humiliated. I was so angry, i wanted to kill him, but I just looked out the window, my hand clenched tightly at the seat in front of me. That was just pathetic dude.. "