*daniel's p.o.v*
When Rick, the school bully, turned the corner Joey's grip tightened. Stopping in our tracks, we looked at me. He looked us up and down with a look of disgust. I stood closer to Joey, ready to protect him. Rick's eyes went to our hands.
"What are you doing? Holding hands?" Rick said and laughed. "Maybe you two fags should have stayed missing. It would have been better for all of us." The whole hallway laughed. I flinched at the word he used, offended. Joey stayed quiet, looking at his feet.
"Let's... Let's just go." he said quietly and started to turn around. I stopped him, holding him in place.
"Yeah, run away." Rick said. "Run away like a pussy." That was the last straw. My grip tightened so much I heard Joey whimper as he tried to pull away. With all the might I had, I punched Rick right in the nose. He backed off, holding his nose. Blood dripped down his shirt. "What the fu-"
A teacher walked out in to the hallway. "What is going on?" she asked. Her eyes went from Rick holding his bloody nose to me, standing in fighting stance with a clenched fist. "You two - the principals office - now."
I gave Joey a look, saying, oh shit. As I walked away, he stared. We turned the corner and I lost sight of him. This is great. My first day back and I get in trouble. It's not like my parents will care. They never have and never will.
~~~
I sat outside the principals office and listened to Rick tell his story. Everything was a lie. He said that I just attacked him when he tried to say 'welcome back'. All a bunch of bull shit. The door knob turned and Rick walked out, giving me a look saying try to top that, with a smirk.
Standing, I walked in. The principal, Miss Freeman gave me a stern look and nodded to the chair. "Mr. Preda, what is your side of the story?" she asked. I folded my hands in my lap and looked at her pictures on her desk, avoiding eye contact.
"Well, I walked in to school with my bo- I mean Joey Graceffa and we were uh... holding hands." I expected her to make some sort of disgusted face, but she didn't. "Rick turned the corner and confronted us about it. He called us a derogatory name and was rude. I-I just got so angry I reacted with violence. I know I shouldn't have but..."
Miss Freeman shifted in her seat and clasped her hands, setting them on her desk. "Mr. Hames's story sounded a bit far-fetched for his school record. Your story is much more believable. I do believe you and will spare you suspension, but you will have detention. Is that clear?"
"Yes." I said quietly. Miss Freeman sent me off to class. As I walked the empty halls, I looked at my reflection in the lockers. It was distorted, but I saw a face I didn't recognize. I looked more.. depressed than upbeat and happy.
At my locker I grabbed my stuff and headed for class. Looking at the time it was nearly the next period, so I headed to that class, trying not to get caught up in the crowds. My next class was world history, one with no one friends.
*joey's p.o.v*
As Daniel walked away my stomach dropped. Now I'm all alone, which gave me a feeling of dread. With my waking boot on, I couldn't move very fast, but I tried. I reached my first class and sat down.
It was still a little early, but I don't want to be in the hallways. Never before have I had an anxiety of the hallways. This is all so different. I've changed, but not in a good way. My usual tough and my rather stoic facade is gone. Now I'm just a scared boy who doesn't want to get hurt.
Usually I don't care, I'd probably fight back. But now it's different. And I don't like it. I want the old me back. The pencil in my hand snapped I was clenching my fist so hard. Sweeping it off the desk, I put my head down.
The teacher walked in and touched my shoulder. She said nothing but she gave me a sympathetic look. I don't want sympathy. I've had enough of it. More kids started to file in, whispering and pointing to me. Just ignore it, I told myself.
~~~
Lunch time came around and I met up with Daniel. "What did the principal say?" I asked. He led me away from everyone, to the hallway. There we leaned against the lockers in silence. "Is it bad?"
Daniel was silent for a moment, then said, "It's not bad. Miss Freeman spared me suspension, just giving me detention." he said. That's good, I thought, but didn't say it. I didn't want to ruin the silence that had settled over us.
We stayed there until lunch was over. Both of us got swept away by the crowds, unable to say goodbye. My last few classes of the day weren't hard, but I felt drained. It was hard to concentrate and I missed a bunch of notes. Daniel wouldn't leave my mind.
The bell rang and everyone hurried out of class, but I stayed behind. When the crowd had thinned I left, heading to my locker. After packing my stuff I went to Daniel's locker. He wasn't there, so he must be in detention.
Outside my dad was waiting in the car. I got in, throwing my backpack in the back of the car. "How was your first day back?" he asked.
"It was okay. Daniel got detention so he won't be coming home right now." I said. "I can pick him up when he's done." My dad didn't question why Daniel was got detention, he just drove home, The radio played softly, my dad tapping the steering wheel to the beat.
I hate to leave Daniel, but they won't let me stay behind. He should be okay, it's just detention. But there was an unsettling feeling in my stomach. As we drove off, I looked back until the school was no longer in sight.
One last time I told myself, he's fine, and focused on something else.
~~~
so i don't really like this one but i hope you guys like it. this one seems a bit rushed. sorry, i had to work with writers block. I think this will probably be more than 15 chapters.
also... 1k+ READS?? YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME I LOVE YOU SO MUCH. All the votes I have to are amazing.
I never thought my book would make it this far. what I expected was maybe 100 reads and 10 votes. thank you all so much ☺
~Rose♥
