TMR/TBS Imagines

Thomas // Growing up

"Hey geek," a boy snickered above me as I finished copying the math problem onto my paper. It was lunch time and that meant I sat alone working at an empty table in the corner. He stood towering over me with his finger ripping the pencil from my hand as well as an evil smirk curled over his lips.

I knew this kid. His name was Derek Saltsman and he was in the same grade as me, 6th. He was nothing but a bully and I happened to always be his target. I was looked at as the ugly nerd who dressed funny and never spoke. Perfect for their little games.

"Why don't you just finish the work for all of us okay? Maybe then someone won't hate being around you," he grinned as I returned to my page with a blank expression as I was used to this.

"Go away Derek," I stated with little force. He just hunched over laughing as another boy called his name. Still laughing, he jogged over to another table.

The two boys, Derek and the other named Marcus, hovered over a small boy. When I say little I mean the kid looked like he was seven with papers in front of him and looking petrified.

I knew the kid too. His name was Thomas Sangster and he was in most of my classes but like me, he never spoke. He was looked at as a little kid even though he was the same age as us.

"Aww I think you need to go back with the first graders," Marcus laughed as he crumpled a few of Thomas's papers.

"What are you gonna do about it? You can't even reach my head you're so tiny," Derek roared as the cafeteria grew silent with all eyes on them.

"Just leave me alone," Thomas pleaded as I felt my heart ache for him. He had been picked on as much as I had.

"Does someone need a nap? I bet you're really only five." Now I had enough.

I jumped from my seat and ran to the table and pushed myself between Thomas and the boys. Each of them had a different expression but I kept myself grounded.

"Leave him alone," I said as Derek and Marcus hunched over laughing as a few snickers echoed through the silent cafeteria.

"Why would we listen to the ugly nerd? You're even more pathetic than he is," Derek chuckled with his hands crossed over his chest.

"Oh who taught you that word? We all know you're not smart enough to know that unlike me and Thomas. You're just pissed that you fail everything you do so you take it out on the kids who will do something with their lives unlike you two," I snickered. I wasn't sure where the sudden anger and sass came from but it felt amazing.

The boys stood with flushed cheeks before spinning around and walking back to their table. Whispers spread through the cafeteria until it's loud roar filled the silence.

"Are you okay?" I asked sitting beside Thomas who had his stuff packed in his bag now.

"Why did you do that? They could just make your life even worse," he said sounding sympathetic and angry.

"I don't care. They shouldn't pick on you for something you can't control." We exchanged small smiles as I shifted my eyes to my table. "Would you umm... want to sit with me?"

"Sure," he breathed and threw his backpack onto his back and followed me to my previous table.

I quickly threw my stuff into my bag and set it in the booth beside me. I sat across from Thomas who looked unbelievably uncomfortable.

"You don't have to sit with me if you don't want to," I sighed and pulled my hands into my lap.

"Thank you (Y/N). For standing up for me. No ones ever done that for me," he smiled wearily.