Down In The Forest

Chapter 3

Josh's P.O.V 

I'm honestly surprised he said yes, but I'm happy. He's seems really nice. We talk for the most of the lesson, occasionally laughing. It turns out we have a lot in
common. We listen to the same bands and his favourite lesson is music. The lesson finally ends, and we meet up with the others by the lockers. 
"Hi Tyler!" they say together. We chat and laugh for the whole of break. Our next lessons are separate, so we direct Tyler to his next lesson, which in his case was maths.  I hope he manages ok...

Tyler's P.O.V

For the first time in my life, I had a good time talking to people and I didn't want it to end, because when it did I would be alone again. I know them all by name now. I can tell Gerard from Frank and Brendon from Ryan and so forth. Unfortunately, the passing of time is inevitable, and once again after being escorted to my maths lesson, I am once again alone. I don't want them to leave. I feel lost without them. 
"Alone again, like you should be" initially, I thought it was the monster inside my head speaking, however I then realised it was a bulky kid who I recognised from my form. I couldn't speak. My throat had closed up.   

 "You don't belong here, freak. Look at me when I'm talking to you!" He yanked at my hair, forcing me to look him in the eye. My neck was bent back, and I was in pain.      "Please...." I I pleaded faintly.                    

  "You deserve it" this time, it was the "voice". I can always count on it to appear at the worst possible time. 
"You're so weak" the kid said. He jerked my head down sharply and I slammed into the cold, hard floor. I was reminded of when the voice told me I was weak. Maybe I was, but I couldn't show it. Not in front of him. I hear other kids laughing at me, his clique. I hate this school. I picked myself up off the floor, tears building quickly behind my eyes. "You mustn't cry, don't cry," I said to myself, aloud.
The kid laughed at me.
"fucking weirdo, he can't talk to other people so he speaks to himself," his gang joined in laughing and soon the whole class was laughing as well. It was true. God damn it why was it true.
---------------------------------------------

I sat by myself in class fighting back the tears. I listen in the register for the bully's name. After Jemima, Harry and Isabel, he responds to Jason. Jason was officially my least favourite name. I zone out, I don't know how long for. I'm interrupted mid thought, by the sound of 'Jason's' voice. 
"I'm sure Tyler knows the answer sir," he grinned at me wickedly. 
"Tyler, would you like to come up and answer the question?"
i scanned to question. Shit. It was something we had learned in the lesson. I sit there, frozen.
"Tyler? TYLER? Wake up! It's a simple question Tyler, were you not paying attention? GET UP TYLER!" Mr what's whatshisname yells at me. I get up reluctantly. He hands me a pen, I'm barely able to hold it as my hands are shaking. I can feel my anxiety growing in my stomach and it was making me sick. I look at the kids staring at me expectantly. I tried desperately to answer the question in my head but it seemed impossible. It was impossible to me. I couldn't sit back down, and I couldn't answer the question. I was stuck so I just stood there, shaking, staring at the question hoping it would miraculously solve itself.
"Tyler, a 5 year old could answer this question. A seventeen year old such as yourself should be able to solve this in seconds. Or do you need to retake reception?" The whole class burst into laughter. How could a teacher be allowed to humiliate one of their students like this? I feel my face burning red.
"I...I can't...do it sir" I whisper meekly.
"You can't do it? Sit down Tyler, and pay attention."
"Yes sir. S-sorry sir."
I sit there in silence, mortified. I physically can't wait to see Josh and the others. They made me feel welcome. Something I felt far from now. Only 1 hour and 15 minutes to go. Why has it only been 45 minutes?

Josh's P.O.V

I spend the whole lesson worrying about Tyler. Oh god, he's in the same class as Jason Thomas. Poor Tyler, it must be like living hell for a new kid, especially a quiet kid    who won't fight back, probably. Finally the lesson is over, and I practically sprint down the stairs to room 3, which was where Tyler had his lesson. I stood there waiting for a while. Eventually, they came out. Tyler's face was pale and he had a bruise on the left side of his face. 
"Oh, Jesus Tyler what happened?"
He shook his head.
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Do you need to see the nurse?"
"It's fine, please, let's leave."
---------------------------------------------"Get me out of here. Get me the hell out of here," Tyler said, it sounded like he was about to cry. I saw tears start to fill his eyes. I stopped him and I turned him so he was facing me. I lifted his head up slightly, so he was looking at me.
"It's always tough on the first day, but you've got to be strong. Was it Jason who did that to you?" I motioned at the bruise on his face. He nodded slowly and regretfully.   
"You've got to be strong Tyler. You can't let him do that to you."
"I'm not strong" he wimpered. 
"But you can be, I know you can be." He smiled at me. I don't know what happens to me when he smiles. I smile back and we walk to the cafeteria. 
---------------------------------------------

Tyler tells us about what happened in class. It sounded awful.
"That Bastard" Brendon said spitefully. "No one ever stands up to him no one even tries."  
"And that's what makes him stronger," Ryan added. 
"Screw everyone Tyler, there are lots of people like Jason. They might beat you up, they might call you names, but the satisfaction they get is out of seeing you hurt. You can't give them that satisfaction. Stay strong Tyler," Michael said. He reached out and put a hand in Tyler's shoulder. 
"Thanks guys," 
"We'll always be here for you," I said, and we all gave Tyler a big hug. It was the least we could do for him.

Tyler's P.O.V

I don't think I've ever been happier to see anyone. I was finally out of that hell hole.   He was worried about my bruise, I now knew what it felt like to be cared about. 
"He doesn't care about you, it's just an act." 
"Get me the hell out of here," say to him. I try to hide my tears but a few sneak out. That didn't matter though, I felt like I could cry around Josh and he wouldn't judge me. He stops me from walking and turns me to face him. He tells me to be strong.  
"You're not strong."
"I'm not strong," I say, weakly, further adding to my point.
"But you can be. I know you can be." 
"No you can't. You're weak Tyler, and you always will be."
It could say what it wanted to say. If Josh believes I can, I believe I can too. This makes me smile. He smiles back. He has the warmest smile. I feel like no matter the situation, it will always make me feel better.  

---------------------------------------------

We meet the others at the cafeteria and we go and sit at their table. We discuss what happened in our lessons. I tell them about what happened, I feel like I can tell them these things. They were all shocked and sympathetic. 
"That bastard," Brendon said. "No one ever stands up to him, no one even tries." Maybe I'll stand up to him one day. One day. Not today though. 
"We'll always be here for you," Josh said gently. It's the best feeling ever, knowing people are there for you, knowing there are people that care about you, knowing you have your own little clique that will always have your back no matter what. These were my friends; dare I say best friends.