My backyard is my favorite place to be. Trees, a river, and a beautiful view of mother nature. Relaxing and amazing. Peaceful really, until I found that dead body of Xavier Marek. Well, kind of. I saw him and when I went to touch him he disappeared...
I watched Xavier enter class late, as usual, but he looked nervous. I looked away when he sat down, I felt him look at me. First period, English. We have this together. The girls around me we're snickering and staring at Xavier. He just sat there, paying no mind to them. They may be spreading rumors about what happened to the side of his face. I could see it better now, bruised and scratched. I wonder what really happened.
The teacher shushed everyone to start class. We talked about, well, English. We wrote a bit, but then the bell rang to go to our next class. I heard what the girls we're whispering about.
"I heard he got attacked by his cat!"
"His older brothers beat him up."
"His parents are abusive."
"He did it himself so he looks cooler."
Laughter. Teasing. Hurtful words. Odd things.
I must admit, I feel bad for the guy. I never liked him because I thought he was like all the other popular kids. Now I see they hurt their own 'friends'. Makes me despise them even more. How can you do that to someone?
Nothing special the rest of the day. Only more talk about Xavier. Making fun of him. I still can't believe them. I take my bike, it's raining now, and ride home. The rain is refreshing. I love it. I keep heading home.
I see something following me. I speed up.
"Wait!" I think I know that voice. I speed up anyways. It starts to rain harder. "Please! Just talk to me! Xavier! Xavier Marek!" I stop my bike quickly. "I'm Xavier Marek." He comes into view and I see his bloodied face. He breathes hard.
"Why are you following me?!" I watch him stand up straighter.
"Why we're you in my backyard the other day? You looked dead!"
I felt scared all of the sudden. Me? I don't even know where he lives! He looked dead in my backyard. I started pedaling again.
"Hey!" He yelled, but I ignored him. Kept going home.
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