Weekends

6- Hallways and Hesitation- D

Tw: violence (dm me if you want a summary)

Brendon was always on my mind somehow. Whether it was me thinking of his amazing smile or his piano skills, he was there one way of another. He was so small and adorable, but I could tell that not everyone felt that way. Brendon's friend Jack told me that Brendon gets harassed a lot by the group jocks.

He was really sweet, though. I felt so happy when I was around him. He was the kind of friend that could progress into a best friend that I could watch movies with. However, I was really worried about what Steve, the leader of the jocks, would do to Brendon. Now that Brendon was sort of aligned with me, a popular person, he was at risk. Steve heavily targeted the 'freaks' who were partnered with popular kids. I was brought back to reality by Spencer.

"Hey, Dallon! How are you?" Spencer walked up to me. "Fine. Do you think you could help me find someone? I need to talk to him," I asked him, and he sighed. "Who is it?" I looked at him carefully. "I need to talk to Brendon," I explained.

I checked the bathrooms but had no luck. Steve, however, was dragging Brendon by his bicep over to my locker. I lost my breath at the triumphant look in his eyes. I'd never have dreamed that he would have gotten to Brendon so soon. Steve laughed at Brendon's attempt at intimidation. Brendon was trying to glare at him, but his chin was quivering ever so slightly, letting everyone know that Steve already had the upper hand. "I just wanted to talk to you, Brendon." I stayed put as Steve let go of Brendon's arm. "I just wanted to ask you what sound you make when you get punched in the stomach. Can you tell me that, or would you rather I find out for myself?" Brendon shook his head quickly, his attempt at intimidating Steve ending.

"Then what sound do you make, Brendon," he teased, backing him against my locker. His face went red as people watched him try to make the pained noise in order to avoid getting hurt. "Hmm, that didn't sound real. I don't think that's what you'd actually sound like." Brendon squeezed his eyes shut and seemed to be bracing himself. "Look at me," Steve shouted in his face. His eyes shot open, tears gathered. "Let's hear that real sound, yeah?" He swallowed harshly. "Yeah, Brendon," he asked again, yelling. Brendon nodded his head, starting to cry as Steve cocked back his arm.

His fist collided with the poor boy's stomach, but he made barely any noise. He scrunched up his nose and only let out a small grunt. "That didn't sound like much. Maybe I didn't hit you hard enough," the bully grinned. He shook his head so fast that I thought that he might get whiplash. I went to step in, but Ryker came over to me and held me back.

Brendon had let out a loud sobbing noise as Steve's fist made contact with his small body. "Ryker, get the fuck off of me, I'm not willing to just stand back and let him get hurt!" Steve punched Brendon in the same exact spot each time but stepped back after the ninth one and let Brendon collapse to the floor with a small yelp. "Nice to know," Steve said as he walked away from Brendon, who was curled up in a ball on the tile.

It only took minutes for the nosey students, including Ryker and the rest of the group, to scatter. They saw people from administration marching down the hall and left to head to class. I didn't make any move to leave. I actually ran forward to go to Brendon, but a staff member got to him first. She immediately took him to the nurse. She had to keep his arm draped over her neck in order for him to be able to stand up without doubling over in pain.

I couldn't stop thinking about him for the rest of the day. In fact, I felt terrible and blamed myself. Steve always hurt unpopular kids who got paired up with the popular ones, so if Brendon wasn't partnered up with me, that wouldn't have happened. No one deserves to get hurt like that.

I thought of messaging him on Skype but quickly pushed the thought out of my head. If Ryker found out that I had messaged him, he'd crush me.

Brendon wasn't in chemistry, obviously. I'd heard that his dad had to leave work to come and pick him up. I found myself overwhelmed with boredom as I sat at the lab table by myself. We were supposed taking notes, but I couldn't tear my mind away from thinking about my absent lab partner. He looked so small when he was pushed up against my locker. Small and terrified. I decided that I should message him.

Dallonjw: Hey

Brenny_boy12: Hey

Dallonjw: How are you

Brenny_boy12: I'm okay. How are you

Dallonjw: How's your stomach

Brenny_boy12: I have a few bruises, but I'll be back at school tomorrow

Dallonjw: Does it hurt

Brenny_boy12: Yeah

Dallonjw: I'm sorry

Brenny_boy12: What

Dallonjw: If you hadn't been paired up with me, Steve wouldn't have done that to you

Brenny_boy12: He corners me behind the school most mornings and threatens me or kicks my shins and harasses me at lunch daily, so that wasn't really your fault

Dallonjw: Really?

Brenny_boy12: Yeah

Brenny_boy12: Are you in chemistry

Dallonjw: Yeah

Brenny_boy12: Are we doing anything important

Dallonjw: We're taking notes

Brenny_boy12: Cool

Dallonjw: Do you want me to call you later

Brenny_boy12: What do you mean

Dallonjw: Do you want to Skype after school is out

Brenny_boy12: Sure

Dallonjw: Cool

Dallonjw: The bell is about to ring. I'll talk to you later, okay?

Brenny_boy12: Okay

I sighed and put my phone in my backpack. It all finally made sense. The the loose clothing, the long sleeves, and the jeans. He probably had bruises covering his skin as a result of Steve doing that to him. I couldn't believe it. Steve was strong enough and just terrible enough to seriously injure Brendon.

I felt like I couldn't breathe. Guilt was the only emotion that I was feeling as I made my way to my locker before third period. I was mentally kicking myself for not being observant enough to pick this up before.

I could only imagine how much this must affect him. After being belittled told he's useless and a freak daily, he probably started believing it, and the thought of someone as incredible as he is thinking that way about themselves made me nauseous. Maybe if I took him somewhere after school one day, he'd understand that he's not what everyone says he is.