Secluded - Jeffmads [DISCONTINUED]

Chapter Four

James stared at Thomas, wide-eyed and confused. It took a while for James to even process what Thomas had said, let alone understand it. "B-But no one l-likes me," he stated, fiddling with the bottom button of the jacket.

Thomas smiled softly, looking at James with sincere eyes that seemed to be radiating a feeling that James couldn't quite put a finger on, a feeling that made his heart beat slightly faster, that gave him butterflies in his stomach. "James, I like you. I like you a lot." Thomas hesitantly set his hand on James', making James tense under the touch. "Jemmy, your hands are freezing!" Thomas said, concern laced in his tone.

James ignored most of what Thomas said, furrowing his eyebrows in confusion. "Jemmy?"

"It's a nickname," Thomas explained absentmindedly. "We should really go inside, you're going to get a cold," James shrunk back against the bench, shaking his head. "James, you're going to get sick."

"E-Everyone's going t-to laugh at me, e-even the teachers," James mumbled, hiding his face in his hands. He felt tears pool in his eyes, threatening to fall as he shivered in the cold air. "I-I hate when they l-laugh."

"James, the first person I see laughing at you, I'm going to punch them in the face," Thomas said, his apprehension growing by the second. "Please look at me, James." James reluctantly uncovered his face, letting Thomas see the tears rolling down his cheeks. "Please don't cry, I hate seeing you cry." James wiped his face, his bottom lip quivering. Thomas glanced at his watch, seeing that they didn't have long before they'd have to go back inside, whether James wanted to or not. "Okay, we have about five minutes left until we have to go inside. You have the same class as me next, so I'll be with you the whole time, but James, you're going to have to go."

"I-I know," James mumbled, taking shaky breaths. He slumped back against the bench, not saying a word more.

Thomas didn't know what to say, small talk would be too awkward, and he doubted James would even be open enough to say anymore than a few words at a time, so the minutes passed by, every awkward second being nearly unbearable.

"Finally," Thomas muttered under his breath as the bell rang out, signalling students to get going to their next period. He stood up, holding out his hand for James. James shook his head, not moving from his seat on the bench. "Please?" Thomas asked, giving James a small awkward smile.

James liked Thomas' smile, it made him feel safe. But he also didn't like the fact that it made him feel safe, he hated that Thomas had any affect at all. James didn't want to get close to Thomas, he knew eventually Thomas would turn on him like any friends he had in the past, but he just could help himself.

He slowly let his palm rest on Thomas' open hand. Thomas grinned, intertwining their fingers before pulling James, nearly dragging the shorter boy inside.

"I have to go to my locker," Thomas said as he walked through the sea of students, James at his side. As they got to Thomas' locker, James cowered into the wall, nervously watching the students pool around him as Thomas sifted through the contents of the too-small lockers the school provided them with. "James, calm down, there's nothing to worry ab-"

"Thomas, why the hell is freak wearing your jacket?!" Thomas hit his head with the door of his locker, utterly annoyed by his friend's voice. Thomas turned around, seeing out of the corner of his eye that James looked utterly terrified seeing Reynolds and Charles Lee standing in front of them, looking angry and confused.

"Why's it any of your business, Reynolds?" Thomas said, stepping forward, ushering James behind him.

"Don't tell me you're actually being nice to that... that thing," Charles scoffed, crossing his arms. "Honestly Thomas, did you hit your head or something?" Thomas rolled his eyes, knowing his friends weren't going to drop it.

"Just leave James and I alone," Thomas growled, crossing his arms, standing up straight. He was taller than both of them, and more menacing than the two combined. Charles and Reynolds just glared for a few seconds before walking away, much to the relief of Thomas. "I'm so sorry about those guys," Thomas said as he turned back around, his stance immediately changing as he saw James. He grabbed a few things before shutting his locker. "We're going to be late, come on," Thomas pulled James along, heading into the classroom right before the bell rang, luckily.

James let his hand slip out of Thomas' as he rushed to the back of the classroom, taking a seat in the corner, setting his things on the table.

Thomas sat next to him, making James jump slightly. "What?"

"I-I didn't think y-you'd want to sit by me. Especially a-after I made your f-friends angry with you," James whispered, keeping his voice down so he wasn't a disturbance to to the class.

"Those douchebags are not my friends," Thomas said, shrugging. "To be honest, you're the only real friend I have." James stared at him in shock, baffled by Thomas' statement.

"I-I'm your f-friend?" Thomas nodded, grinning.

"Of course."