Peer Pressure

Unwanted Help

When I get out of the Nurses' Office, Shane doesn't even look at me. I still can't help but keep an eye on him, noticing how he seems to be shrinking every time he sees Kier and Laurence.

"Okay, today you're doing paired work, please pick your groups." The teacher tells us.

I notice how Kier and Laurence instantly become a pair. Some of the other kids throw things at Shane but I decide to step in the way, choosing to pair up with Shane so that he doesn't have to be the only target people are aiming for.

"Hey shrimp, are you like magnetic or something?" One of the bullies checks.

I give them a fake laugh before noticing the dagger like glares I'm getting from Kier and Laurence when they see that I'm the only one trying to stand up for Shane.

"What the hell are you doing Drew? I can handle this all by myself." Shane whispers irritatedly at me.

"I'm just trying to do what's best for everyone, you should try it sometime." I can't help but retort. "And, as the teacher said, we're doing this work in pairs, I think we're both the only people who won't hurt and abuse the other."

"That can change now, if you want." He mutters.

I give him a disappointed look before looking around the room. "How would you like Mark to pair up with you? I've heard some of the things he's said to you and the fact that he spent the whole morning on whatever drug he could get his hands on, I'm pretty sure you don't want to be around him right now." I tell him when I recall overhearing the taller boy harassing Shane from outside the nurses' office when I was still in there.

"At least he doesn't want to sleep with me." Shane growls.

"I'm over that and I overheard him when he was threatening to rape you. You're wrong." I remind him.

"Drew, I swear to God, I'm not in the mood!" He warns. "Do you really think that just because I no longer have the other two to protect me from you that I will just play right into your hand? You're an idiot and everything that I'm going through now is all your fault!"

He's just about to get up before the teacher writes down all of the pairs on the board, solidifying our partnership.

"I'm so not in the mood for any of this with you." He groans.

"I don't recall asking if you were." I add humouredly.

I notice that he's no longer listening to me and is looking across the room with another devastated expression. I follow his eye line to see the other two making out intensely, knowing that it's an easy way to both hurt Shane and get him jealous.

"I can't believe they're doing that." I try to sympathise with him.

"I knew he could always do better." Shane murmurs.

"Hey, don't think like that. If he's gone to the first person he sees to make you jealous, do you really think that he's even worth it?" I point out.

"Of course you'd say that, wouldn't you?" He sighs. "The simple truth is that he is. I can't help the fact that I still love him but I know that I can never feel the same about anyone as I do about Laurence. He just means too much to me." He admits.

I'm partly relieved that I've managed to get him to talk about his feelings but I know that he still can't trust me as much as I want him to. "You should talk to him." I try. "Tell him how you feel."

He gives me a surprised look, actually managing to smile for a whole second before shaking his head. "I couldn't, not when they're like that." He tells me truthfully before remembering the conversation we just had. "And it's none of your business anyway." He covers up awkwardly.