Bully // Phan au

100

Dan

I take a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. We sit down on the bench, sitting slightly sideways as if we are almost facing each other.

"So... you know how I have a broken arm..." I say.

"Yeah, that bright red cast might indicate you broke it." PJ replies, laughing slightly but stopping when he sees my serious and nervous face.

"I didn't exactly tell you the truth about how I broke it. I don't-" My voice cracks, "I don't actually know how it broke. The only p-person who does is Phil."

"Why?" PJ asks.

I take another deep breath. "Because he's the one who broke it."

We sit in silence for a couple of seconds. I'm nervous about what he'll say - does he think I'm lying?

"But- why would he break it?" He asks. Here goes nothing...

"Well, before you and Madison joined the school, Madison only came a couple of weeks before you, he bullied me. Badly. I'd come home with b-bruises and cuts all over my body - but only two days before he broke my arm did I ever get a face bruise from him." I say. "That time he broke my arm - he got a week long suspension. Me? A broken arm, sprained knee, and a three day coma."

"But- But why did he do it?" PJ says, in shock.

"I don't know - we were friends before, and he just turned on m-me and started calling me gay slurs and insulting me. Before too long he was physically bullying me." I admit. "So, I might as well come clean, at this point I just need to admit everything."

PJ looks at me in confusion as I check around to see if anybody is around - nobody is.

"I'm gay." It's no more than a whisper, but PJ hears it. He looks at me, frowning.

"Did you think that would make a difference - I would be hypocritical of me if I was being homophobic, as I'm pan." PJ says, and I let out a sigh of relief - he took everything well.

"Thank you." I say, pulling him in for a hug. He hugs me back, and we stay there for a few seconds before pulling back.

"So, what did they like... say when they bullied you?" PJ asks.

"Worthless, fag, waste of space, depressed emo freak, countless other ones I can't remember off the top of my head." I list, and PJ pulled me in for another hug.

"That's horrible, Phil seems so nice!"

"He was. He said, when he thought I was still unconscious, that he was sorry and he would stop. He mainly has, but just insults me and I hear him edging Chris on."

"I can't believe it - and you're stuck with him for English?" I nod, "Is he unhappy that you're Peter?"

"Absolutely, but he can't do anything about it - unless he puts me in another coma." I say, sighing.

"You've got to tell the school! He should be expelled!" PJ yells,throwing his hands up in the air.

"But we have no proof."