Bullied by the Sidemen.

- chapter two -

'S-Simon' I stuttered.
'Um yeah, listen Mia I wanna talk to you' he replied, not in the harsh tone he usually uses but a softer tone, one i wasn't expecting.
A million things were running through my mind at this point, what does he want me for? Is he trying to lure me into some kind of trap? A false sense of security? Coming to bully me in my own home, I never thought it would come to this.
'Um o-okay, come in then' I said.
He walked through the threshold and shut the door behind him. I led him up to my room and shut the door. I sat on my bed and he sat down next to me. I felt nervous, as if I was taking an exam I didn't know I had. As if there was something I was supposed to prepare for but hadn't.
'You see the thing is Mia, I came here to apologise, the way me and the guys have been treating you was wrong. We shouldn't have done it, I shouldn't have done it. I regret bullying you, even the word bully makes me cringe but that's what I was, what I am. Well not anymore. I'll stop being mean to you Mia, I promise. And I'll try to get the guys to stop but I don't think they'll understand' he said trailing off at the end.
'Understand what' I said as I tried to blink away the tears that had formed in my eyes.
'That over the years I've grown to like you Mia. I wish we could overcome what I've done to you and become friends.' His voice cracked as he said the word friends. I didn't know how to reply, I was feeling a mix of emotions. I wanted to be friends because I've never had a real friend but I don't know whether I can trust Simon or not, at least just yet anyway.
'Um Simon, I didn't know you actually liked me, why didn't you tell me sooner?'
'Because I only just realised it to be quite honest, it was in biology today at school. I was looking at you and trying to think of reasons why we ever bullied you and the only thing I got was that the guys wanted to. You know how it is when you try to fit in, I went along with it at first but then started to enjoy the sense of power it gave me. But as time went on it dragged, it got boring and I didn't want to do it anymore but I was scared; scared of what would happen to me if I left the guys and stopped bullying you. I wanted to remain a part of the group and in order for that to happen I had to keep on bullying you. But not I promise to you, Mia, that I will not bully you anymore. I will try to get the guys to see it from my point of view and try to get them to understand, this has gone on for too long Mia, I'm so sorry.' And with that I could see him holding back the tears.
'Simon I don't know what to say, I guess I would be okay with being friends with you, I just need to feel like I can trust you' and as I finished that I leant over towards Simon and embraced him in a hug, I know normally it's the guy embracing the girl but I wasn't normal, neither was this situation so I just thought fuck it. Sometimes throwing caution to the wind has better results then you thought. He hugged me back, it felt strange knowing I was hugging the boy who gave me years of suffering, and that he is now bringing me just a fraction of comfort. We sat there like that for about ten minutes, neither of us wanting to let the other go. Finally Simon moved, he lifted his head off my shoulder and looked me in the eyes. For a split second I thought he was going to kiss me, for a split second I wanted him to kiss me.
'Does this mean we can start fresh?' He asked, his voice croaky and raspy as if he had just been crying.
'Yes Simon' I replied, not knowing what else to say. It felt strange, the atmosphere had changed. Simon was the closest thing I have ever had to a real friend, he is the only boy I've had in my room and the only boy I've properly hugged. I somehow felt a new connection between Simon and I. And somewhere I felt the need to kiss him, but somewhere else, a more prominent part in my mind, I felt the need to hit him. To punch him. To cause him the pain I had suffered through for years. Of course I wouldn't, no matter how angry I felt at him I admired his courage to go against his six best friends and show real emotion, which I know is a difficult concept for boys. I will always remember this moment. I don't know what will happen from here but I hope it's good, I hope it doesn't end badly for Simon, over the course of the hour that he's been in my room I've grown to care for him. It's a strange feeling, knowing that you're beginning to care for the person who caused you so much pain, that he entered my room a bully and will be leaving as a boy with a shred of compassion and care.

Simon's PoV
I felt a new found connection with Mia, I don't know if she felt it but I did. The hug we just shared was different, it was the first time I've ever cried in front of a girl. I know I didn't cry properly, the tears were on the brink of falling but had not had enough power, but it was something, some emotion was there for sure. I'm sure she felt it too. I really didn't expect this outcome when I pictured tonight in my head earlier. I thought it would end in some argument and her rejecting me, after all, it's what I deserve. I've been awful to her and I'm amazed at her ability to forgive and to trust like she does. It's so brave, I think, to be able to just let things go like she does. I'm really feeling something for Mia. I honestly thought we were going to kiss earlier but we didn't, I think both came to our senses. The atmosphere has definitely changed though, it seems calmer, like there was tension but now it's gone. I don't know what will happen from here on but I hope it works out well for Mia, she deserves some good in here life as opposed to all the shit I've put her through.