Pinkie Promise

Chapter 2: There

When the bell finally rang at twenty five minutes past three, Phil almost sighed with relief as everyone started chatting and standing up, scrapping their chairs while Mr Anderton called for attention. When he finally got it everyone stood up and said the usual 'thank you for teaching us' malarkey before the run for the door began. Phil, in no real rush, just waited until they had all gone out before calmly making his way out, finally escaping the sweaty Religious Studies classroom.

You would have thought by Year Eleven some of the boys in Phil's all-boys high school would have calmed down but it wasn't surprising to Phil that they hadn't. As the corridor filled up with the wild boys, Phil felt so alone, pulling his books closer to his chest as if he was the only mature one here. He still had Dan, and even if he had new better friends in his class, they would still talk and get the bus home occasionally.

Dan was so much more popular than Phil, he played rugby and starred in so many school plays. All Phil did was give his opinion on books to the librarian and eat lunch alone while reading. Phil didn't hold a grudge: promises can't last forever, Phil rationalised, and he was happy with his books for friends. Books didn't abandon you the moment they were read by new people.

It was at that moment a Year Eight kid ran into the back of him nearly making him fall over. Most people would shout but Phil just adjusted his shoulder bag and kept walking. Maybe in an all-girls school or a co-ed school it would be different and he could happily read his book in the library without being called a nerd or be respected. However here, in this world of mad hooligans, he would just have to learn to put up with it.

It wasn't long before Phil made it out of the school building into the worsening British weather. It was neither snow nor rain but came down in a mushy sleet never staying long enough for it to be worth having. Plus when the wind blew it might as well just have been raining. It was through this half snow Phil trudged out towards the school gate alone until he heard someone shouting his name.

"Phillip!" It was clear above all the noise of the boys. Phil made the mistake of turning round and coming face-to-face with Toby, his personal tormentor and devil.

"It's Phil." Phil spoke curtly, turning back around in an attempt to escape.

"Now -- not so fast, Lester." Toby smirked, grabbing Phil's shoulder, making him turn back to face him. "I wasn't finished with you."

"If you'll excuse me, I have a bus to catch." Phil politely reflected. It didn't help that Toby's friends were already walking up towards them both, surrounding them, while passers-by scuttled around them, pretending to not notice what was going on.

"No, this business is much more important than a bus. You owe me something?" Toby grinned.

"What might that be?"

"Shall we take this inside? And I when I say 'shall', I mean 'will', faggot." Toby threatened, gripping on Phil's arm. Phil didn't even put up a fight when they dragged him inside. Phil had learned many things in high school, the most important one being the more of a fight you put up, the more they would fight back. No one tried to stop them, no one tried to get a teacher.

Toby pulled him by his arm while one of his friends pushed Phil from behind now and then as they walked toward the PE block.

Once inside one of the changing rooms away from prying teachers and students eyes one of them kicked the back of his legs making Phil fall to the ground, whimpering a bit at the pain.

"This is what you deserve, queer, and what you owe me: a good punching bag." Toby sneered as he let loose the first kick to Phil's stomach. The red-hot pain was blinding and Phil felt like throwing up there and then.