Could It Be Another Change? (A Short Stack Fan Fic)

Chapter Four

'Shaun, Andy?' I noted worriedly seeing the two boys clutching their stomachs and noses whilst obviously holding back tears.

Andy looked at me straight away, 'Lani?' His eye was beginning to bruise and his eyes looked red and bloodshot.

'Guys, what happened?' I spoke worriedly whilst kneeling down to their eye height, I had only met these boys today and I already felt like I should help out with their problems.

'Nothing, just got in a fight that's all,' Andy spoke confidently trying to act like nothing happened.

'It sure as hell doesn't look like nothing!' I stated stubbornly, unsatisfied with his answer, 'your eye is as black as night, an you keep clutching your stomach as if its gonna fall apart and there's blood pouring out of Shaun's nose like there is no tomorrow!' My voice rose in pitch.

Shaun looked up with a tear escaping his eye and with gritted teeth, he spoke, 'Look, thank you for defending my brother today and thanks for giving a shit about us but we know that tomorrow you'll find a place in the school where you're not going to get bullied, you'll make nice friends and won't even choose to look at us as looking in our direction would tarnish your reputation, so just get used to it now and make the right choice. Stay away, and act like you don't know us, that would be the only way to save your reputation,' I stared at Shaun, stunned of his words,

'Shaun!' Andy chastised him through gritted teeth.

'No don't Andy! I'm just making things easier for her, she needs to not be associated with us, it's for her own safety,' Shaun said angrily,

I laughed at this and they both stared at me quizzically.

'You're saying that I should just become someone I'm not and make friends with people I don't like so I don't get bullied?' I laughed,

'Yeah pretty much,' he sad sadly.

'Well,' I began while standing up, 'if you hadn't already noticed by now, I don't give a damn what anybody thinks of me, why do you think I stood up to that Justin kid?' I said triumphantly.

'His name was Jake actually,' Andy corrected me quietly.

'That's beside the point, the point is that I honestly couldn't care less if everybody thought I was a freak for liking you guys or for taking a stand against the popular kid Jared!'

'Jake..' Andy corrected once again.

'I couldn't give a shit what his name is, I only care about the things I like and what interests me, not what people think of me,' I outstretched my hands to them, 'Now stop worrying about me and let me help you, or else we're gonna miss the next train home.' I smiled at them,

Andy grabbed my hand first and Shaun hesitated but gave in and took his hand away from his bleeding nose and held mine. I pulled them up and put both of their arms around my shoulder, supporting their weight.

'Thank you,' Andy whispered gratefully.

'Anytime,' I smiled, 'here I'll quickly buy another orange juice,' I said while quickly making my purchase from the vending machine,

'Why?' Andy asked,

I turned to them handing them a cold orange juice each, 'it's the only thing I have that's somewhat similar to an ice pack,'

'Thank you,' Andy said gratefully whilst Shaun remained quiet.

Once again I was supporting their weight and helping them walk down to where my brother was waiting for the train.

'Where's your other friend.. Brodie?' I asked trying to remember his name.

Andy laughed, 'Bradie, Bradie caught the first train home, you're terrible with names by the way,' he laughed.