All The Way

Chapter Nine: The Lion, The Witch, and The Irish Boy

**Third POV**

The bell rang, alerting everyone to scurry out to lunch. Jack lingered beside his lab stool, letting everyone go before him. Wade looked back at him, and waved for him to leave with him. Jack hesitated, then followed in pursuit. Wade draped a casual arm over Jack's shoulder, and began to ramble on about a new Zelda game that was supposed to come out pretty soon.

"Sounds neat," Jack mumbled in response, eyes looking around him cautiously.

He didn't want there to be another incident like yesterday's, so he wanted to avoid any of the seniors.

"Wanna eat lunch with us?" Wade asked, the wind making his short curls bounce. His brown eyes twinkled with something like hope, and excitement.

They stood near the doors leading out into the mall area, out of the way of passing students. A boy with round cheeks, happy eyes, and brown curls, came up beside Wade, a bright smile stretched across his face. He shifted his glasses, and held out his hand.

"You must be Sean!" The boy exclaimed, his high, rustled tone making Jack smile shyly.

"Hi," Jack said quietly, taking the boy's hand hesitantly.

"I'm Bob!" The chubby, taller boy smiled, shaking Jack's hand. "Are you gonna eat lunch with us?"

"Um..."

"Please!" Wade whined.

Jack rolled his eyes and chuckled, "Fine."

Wade led the two boys to a table far from the others, beside a trash can, and small tree. Jack sat down, fiddling with his nails. He didn't feel like eating. Bob pulled two paper bag from his backpack, sliding one across the round lunch table, to Wade. They busied themselves with unpacking their lunch, as Jack looked around him, nervous eyes searching for Felix, and his crew.

"So, Sean, what's Ireland like?" Bob asked, through a mouthful of his sandwich.

"Um, you can call me Jack. And Ireland is... nice, I guess. Kind of boring, but it's home."

"Do you miss it?" Wade asked, his usual spunky voice, a bit more somber.

"Yeah, I do," Jack admitted. "Adjusting to new people is kinda hard."

"Welp, you are more than welcome to sit with us. Wade says you're pretty cool," Bob smiled.

Jack raised a brow, "Cool?"

"We're like the Cool Patrol!"

"Wade, shut up! We aren't cool."

"Glad you realize that," a smoky, Swedish voice hissed behind Jack.

Jack tensed, too afraid to turn around. A cold, lanky hand gripped his shoulder, squeezing it painfully, but Jack wouldn't let him see the pain. 

"Hey body, where's your boyfriend?" Felix hissed, the rest of his crew chuckling robotically.

Jack stayed silent, staring at Bob, who looked more angered than intimidated. Wade, on the other hand, looked like he had seen a ghost. Felix shoved Jack forward, pinning his cheek against the lunch table with his hand pressed against the side of his face.

"Felix!" Marzia gasped, yanking him back.

Jack stood up, rubbing the side of his face. Felix yanked out of Marzia's grasp, turning sharply around to glare down at her.

"What the fuck?" he snapped, his cruel tone making her flinch.

"Leave him alone, Felix. He hasn't done anything to you," she whispered, her innocent voice relaxing Jack's nerves.