Hope and Friendship

Part 39

The final bell rung and we were free. People rushed through the halls while I walked. I was thinking of some things. I feared the worst when I told Mark the truth; the fact that he would side with Rodrick. I got to my locker and as I headed for the door, people started running and looking over to the left. "What's goin...he didn't....!" I hurried along with everybody else just to find Don and his friends blocking something. "That'll teach you...." I ran over there and Mark was on the ground. "Don?! What the hell did you do? You said you wasn't gonna do anything." Mark looked up inflicted in pain. "Honestly, dude, you can't take sarcasm? We were actually going for Rodrick but he's a bus rider so...." "So you decided to go after him?" I pointed at Mark. "I didn't want THIS to happen!" Don smirked. "Hey? What can I say, haha." "AYE, Don! The teachers are coming!" "See yah, Alex hahahahaha." Don and friends all dashed out while all the other people pretended nothing happened. "So.......this is your doing, huh?" He said as he coughed and slowly rose up. "Mark......no.." "No, no....it's okay, Alex. I see the way it is. We argue so you go and get people to beat me up?" "Hey, you don't even know the whole story and plus, did I not warn you?" He got angry. "I would have never done this to you...NEVER." It was awkwardly quiet. He stood to his feet. ".........Sorry? I know I'm probably like other people but..." "No. You're in fact worser. My past friends did things but not to this extent." "Well sorry if I can't live up to whatever Rodrick or Larry can do." Out of nowhere, Rodrick came. "I thought you was on the bus?" Mark said looking at him. "Oh, no, I stayed after in one of my classes to catch up on something....what happened to you?" Mark then looked at me. "I got jumped because of Alex!" Rodrick turned to me and said, "At least I would have protected him, some friend you are." "Um, excuse the crap outta me, but you wasn't here either. And, stop putting on a show. Why don't you tell Mark the truth huh? You like causing trouble, especially among friends. And you're nothing but a-" Then, all of a sudden with the strength he had left, Mark shoved me as hard as he could. People that were waiting to be picked up or hanging around the school started to look again. "Don't.....you dare talk about my friend like that." Mark and I just stared at each other. I could tell he was serious. "Don't associate with me at all anymore Alex. I don't care how sad you are, lonely you are, wanting to cut OR kill yourself, just DON'T." I looked around in the crowd and everybody had their eyes on me. I was completely embarrassed and I didn't do anything. I stated to Mark, "Well, at least I know where I stand....." and I walked home.