settle down // josh dun {2}

t h r e e

--Declan's P.O.V--

Not having friends that truly cared for your well-being sucked.

Every single day I walked to school and dreaded even making an appearance because I knew I was just going to be bossed around by people bigger than me; people who believed that they were better than me.

However, that was partly my own fault.

When I joined the hockey team, I knew I was going to be picked on because I was smaller. I knew that I was going to be made fun of because I was the rookie, but I still wanted to be on the team. Although, I knew I was going to be treated terribly, I still joined the team.

I let myself be bossed around. I let myself be walked all over and it fucking sucked, but somehow, I couldn't stand up for myself.

Someday though, I knew I would eventually stand up for myself. I would stand up for myself in such a big way  that everyone will remember it.

I just had to make it to that day.

"Practice starts right after school today," Parker remarked as we stepped into the lunch line.

"I know," I responded, grabbing a tray. "We have practice the same time every single day."

The dark-haired boy scoffed. "Sounds like someone is having a bad day today."

He was right. From the moment I woke up the morning, I was in an angry mood. I wasn't mad at anyone or anything in particular. I was just mad and wanted to go home. I didn't want to play hockey tonight.

I kept quiet as I moved through the line, not really wanting anything that was being served.

Parker piled his tray full with two cheeseburgers before turning to me. "Eat some protein, Gray. You need it for the big game tonight."

"Not hungry," I told him.

"Why do you mean not hungry? You have to eat something."

I rolled my eyes, waiting for Parker to finish getting his food before heading towards the lunch lady to pay.

Suddenly, somebody knocked into me, causing me to slightly lose my balance. I turned my head to see the new kid with red hair.

"I am so so sorry," were the first words that came out of the red-haired boy's mouth. The boy was watching me warily wondering what I was going to do or say to him.

I was going to be nice. I was going to say "oh, it's no problem, man. Don't worry about it." However, it seemed that Parker had a different thing he wanted said.

I opened my mouth to say something, when Parker Axton nudged his shoulder against mine. He shot me a look and I wanted to just punch him in the face.

He wanted me to tell the boy off. Apparently, by some unspoken hockey rule, it was okay to be rude to everyone around you that weren't hockey players. It was nonsense.

But when it came to the hockey and Parker Axton having the power to kick me off of the team, I had to act like he wanted me too. I had to do what he told me to do.

I took a deep breath before speaking once more. As soon as the words left my mouth, I felt guilty.

"Watch where you're going, you redheaded freak," I hissed, roughly shoving him aside with my shoulder. The boy stumbled back slightly, his mouth agap, disbelief written all over his face.