Two weeks had gone past and I was finally happy. Me and Phil had gotten closer, Alex says that the band are touring in March, and my parents have stayed away from us. I was happy.
I walked into school, already starting to walk to mine and Phil's meeting place near the library. I was just about to get there when I was suddenly stopped in my tracks by four guys. I frowned as I looked at them, then gulped.
Phil had already explained who they were. Mark, Steve, James and Keegan. Otherwise known as the schools bullies.
I tried to walk past them but Mark grabbed my shirt, slamming me back against the wall, my head hitting it quite hard. "L-Let me go." I said, trying to seem confident but probably just sounded scared. Because I was scared. I'd been in this position too many times to know where this was going.
Steve chuckled and rolled up his sleeves, "Lets have a little fun first. Shall we, Dan?" He smirked, pulling a fist back and hitting me straight in the face, causing me to whimper as my nose started to bleed.
As Keegan punched me in the stomach, knocking the wind out of me in the process, a crowd started to gather. I closed my eyes, shrinking back as James went to through another punch.
I opened my eyes slowly as the punch wasn't delivered. I blinked a few times, seeing Phil holding James fist back. "What the fuck are you doing!?" Phil glared.
I was taken back. Phil was protecting me? He swore and he /never/ swears unless something's really pissed him off.
Mark smirked, "Just having a little fun with our new friend," Phil looked up from James and to me, gasping softly as he saw my beaten face. I could see his jaw clench shut with anger as he shoved James back against the wall, kicking him straight in the balls.
He shoved past Mark, "You ever touch him again, I'll tell everyone you're little secret!" He spat and I could see worry cross Mark's face as he stepped back and away from me.
Phil reached forward and grabbed my hand, gently pulling me out of the crowd as I reached a hand up to my face, gently touching my swelling eye and wincing.
"Dan... Are you okay? Well- you're obviously not okay.... But what I mean is; how bad is the pain?" Phil asked, concern obvious in his voice as he walked me out of school. "I'm taking you home. I'll explain to the school why you're off, don't worry."
"Pretty bad ... I'm alright though. I-I've had worse." I nodded a little, not having it in me to protest. "O-Okay."
We got to Phil's car and sat down as he began investigating my face, "They got you bad... I'm so sorry, I promise that I'll never let then hurt you gain. Ever." He pecked my cheek gently, my face heating up as he did so.
He dropped me off at my house and helped me to the front door. "I-I'm sorry that I can't invite you in... Alex will freak.. Thank you so much, Phil, really."
He nodded and pecked my cheek again, "Don't worry about it, Dan. And don't thank me either. Just... Text me later and let me know how you're feeling, yeah?" I nodded, the kiss to my cheek making my blush worsen. "I will, promise."
I pushed open the front door as Phil walked back to his car, I turned and waved slightly at him before stumbling into my house, hoping to get upstairs and into my room without Alex noticing.... But apparently that wasn't going to happen.
I looked down at the floor, hiding my face as Jack and Alex walked down to stairs, "Dan...? Shouldn't you be at school? Why are you back? You okay?" They questioned and instead of answering, I just looked up, showing them my battered and bruised face.
They both gasped, anger quickly spearing across Alex's face. "Who did this? Was it that Phil guy?! I swear to fucking God I'll kill him!"
I could see Jack hit Alex's arm gently, a way I guessed that told him to calm down. I shook my head, "N-No! It wasn't Phil... Some guys at school started on me but Phil stopped them and helped me home. He's not a bad guy, Alex, he isn't."
Jack nodded sympathetically, "Go sit down and I'll get the first aid kit..." He said before leaving Alex's side, walking off into the kitchen. "I'll phone school and let them know you're off. Go do as Jack said, I'll phone." He muttered, obviously trying not to appear angry. He'd always been bad at covering his emotions ever since our eldest brother died.
I nodded and walked into the kitchen, where Jack quickly started to wipe the blood away from my face gently. "So... You gonna tell. Me more about Phil?" He asked, causing a small smile to form on my face. Jack was literally the best brother-in-law ever.
