When You Left... (Prequel)

Ch.3 - 'I'm Fine'

"I'm Fine"

N A T E ' S P O V

I flop onto my bed as soon as I reached my room, I feel bad now. Well I already did feel bad, but I feel worse that I left Drew to get home by himself. He was probably happy he didn't have to be seen with me, I would be too if I'm honest. I made a rush for it throughout the whole day and hid in the toilets whenever it was break and lunch (Recess), so that the bullies wouldn't be able to taunt me or bully me. This is what my life has become, I'm not even a proper teenager yet and my life already sucks.

I almost started crying in front of everyone all because of the bullies, which would be much more years of taunting and bullying if it actually happened. It was a close call, I'm lucky I ran before anyone could see. I stare at my wall without a sound, I don't I can cry anymore. At least not until tomorrow or I get something to drink, all I want to do is sleep forever. No problems, no drama, no bullies. Just peace.

No one is home right now, it probably would have been Luke and the other guys if they weren't on tour. Mum is at work, so is Dad. They won't be back for another half an hour, though I wouldn't be surprised if they don't come back at all. I mean it's me, a cry-baby, a freak that no one wants to be seen with. That's all that I have been hearing for most of my life, that's all that goes through my head when I'm alone. That's what I believe as do many people, and the worst thing is. It's probably true.

"Nate?"

I keep quiet running a hand through my already messy hair, I hear footsteps getting closer to my room. Though I already know who it is, "Nate" I don't look up as he walks into the room. "Bro are you okay?" He asks sitting on my bed, I sit up hiding my face in my hands. I haven't even changed my clothes, though it's only my school shirt and trousers I have on.

I feel him wrap his arms around me pulling me into a hug, "it's them isn't it?" He asks. By them he means the bullies, that's how I address them. That's all they are to me, mean, evil bullies that want to make my life hell.

I nod moving my hands from my face and hugging back, "You need to talk to the teacher or at least your parents" He says. I shake my head, you know that feeling when you want to cry but you just can't?

"It's nothing, harmless fun, it's not like they're hurting me anyway" I mumble pulling away. He frowns,

"Maybe not physically but I can see it's hurting you mentally"

"Are you trying to tell me I'm mental?" I ask and he rolls his eyes,

"No you idiot I'm saying although they are not actually hurting you by touching you, they are hurting you with words."

"Drew I'm fine" He raises his eyebrows giving me a look, "Don't look at me like that, I am fine. I don't need you worrying about me or telling anyone about what happened" I say almost sternly, he rolls his eyes again.

"Fine then, but just know that I am here for you. You're my best friend and I don't like seeing you upset, I don't care if you push me away." He says before getting up and walking out the room.

Great. Just Great.

***

(A Week Later)

To: Lukey

I Miss You x

Sent 08:09

So remember when I said that I hid from the bullies on the day that they almost made me cry in front of everyone? Yeah that was a week ago and they made sure that I got the message not to hide from them, by that I mean instead of the normal stuff they'd say and do to me they did slightly worse. At first it started out that they almost slammed the locker onto my fingers, they purposely tripped me up all day, and they somehow found more hurtful words and two of them kicked me whilst the others watched and laughed.

No one knows about this other than the people that witnessed this, unfortunately Drew wasn't there to save me that time. So he knows nothing about this, neither do my parents. They don't even know anything about the bullies and I know there are so many people out there that would be telling me to tell someone but I can't. It's like my body and brain just won't let me, I get far too scared and panic. Though it's not like they'd care anyway, no one does.

I notice how much worse these bullies are now that they know Luke is not in the country or anywhere near me to help me, they are using this the best they can. I know it's only going to end up terrible for me. Their vocabulary have gotten harsher and they've started to use the slightest bit more physical movements.

Each and every day is getting hard to go through, I'm anxious of what to expect. I'm starting to get slightly paranoid, I have no one here for me. It's just me and my thoughts, which only makes my day and mood even worse. But I try my hardest not to let this get the best of me, it's just so hard. I don't know what to do, I'm surprised that I haven't got any bruises from all the times they've tripped me over and kicked me.

I sigh and turn up my TV, at least it's the weekend.

...

From: Lukey

I miss you too buddy

Received 18:30

"Honey I'm home"

I chuckle watching Drew walk inside my room closing the door behind him, "Do my parents know you're here?" I ask. He shrugs sitting down on my floor,

"I'm sure they heard the door close" He replies with a small laugh in which I join in with, that's another thing. I'm pretty sure my parents leave the door open just for Drew, he might as well have his own key. If he can't get in through the front or back door then he'll throw something at my window until I let him in, sometimes me and my parents will just come home and he's already there just watching our TV. As if he didn't have a house to do that in already, once I came home to find him hanging out with my mom.

As you can see that's how close me and him are, my family literally don't mind if he's over. In fact they question when he's not over, he spends more time here than at his own house. I don't think his parents mind ether, they have said that I am more than welcome to go there whenever. Though I don't think they would want me there to be honest, maybe they're just saying it so I don't feel bad.

I wouldn't be surprised if that were true, but whatever. Let's not think of the negatives shall we?

"I'm staying over Kacey decided she wants me out while her friends are over, it's not like I'm there for long anyway" Drew says, I laugh with a nod. He already has clothes here, it started out that he'd forget them when he stayed over and my mom would wash them for him now he just leaves them here for whenever he sleeps over.

It's weird and cool at the same time, maybe he just really likes my house. "Rock band?" I ask, he nods with that famous smirk I have grown used to. We stare at each other for about 5 seconds before both jumping up at the same time and running to the door.

From: Lukey

I miss you too buddy

Read 18:31