Space boy //Phan//

Dan

As Dan washes any trace of potatoes from his skin, he hears the bathroom door slam open and two people stumble in, one very small and frail while the other one towers over, wearing a very thick coat so Dan can't see the exact body shape.

"Dude, c-c'mon, cut it out!"

"Nah, gay lord. Where's the courage you had out there in front of all of your friends?"

Dan squints to see the boy against the wall to see Josh, the same kid who bullies Dan every day.

"I- I'm.." Josh says, not knowing what to say.

"That's what I thought."

The dominant guy releases josh before turning around.

Isn't that the new kid? Isn't that Phil?

Why would Phil be harassing kids? Yes, Dan got a face full of mashed potatoes everywhere but his mouth, but did Phil already start terrorising other kids?

"What do you want?" Phil says to Dan and Dan chokes in his words, walking backwards into the corner of the bathroom.

"I thought you would have figured it out by now, you answer me or you get hurt."

Dan holds his breath as a blow to his stomach occurs.

He groans before slipping to the ground, and he can hear the tapping of shoes as Phil walks out of the bathroom.

Dan hears the bell ring and groans even louder. His father would no doubt be awake by the time Dan got home, and he would be, of course, drunk.

Dan feels his head pounding and rubs the back softly before feeling a cold liquid. He looks confused as he pulls his hand towards the front of him, looking at his palm covered in blood. Dan looks up at the wall to see a nail sticking out and a trail of blood down the wall. He myst have hit his head.

Damn.

***
As Dan walks down the road, he passes the empty elementary school.

Well, almost empty.

A little girl was sitting on the curb crying. She had short brown pigtails pulled into black hair ties.

Dan frowns and the crying girl and walks over, sitting down with her.

"Hello, are you alright?" Dan asks, looking down at the small girl, no older than ten.

"My brother forgot to pick me up again." She says as tears fall into the concrete.
"He never forgets!"

"He must just be late, what time did you get out of school?"

"Two thirty" she mumbles and Dan checks his watch to see its four.

"I can take you home, if you want." Dan suggests and the little girl nods before grabbing Dans hand.

Dan walks the little girl that he found out was named Tillie and is six, to her blue coloured house.

"Here you go Tillie" Dan says and let's go oh the little girls hand.

"Thank you Dan!" Tillie says, hugging Dan before he gets up.

Dan nods and smiles as the little girl runs up the steps and into the house, before shutting the door.