Changed For The Better

TW: No Idea

Music finally came to an end and it was time for break. My third favourite part of the day. The second being lunch and the first being home time.

We made our way to the bench where we always sat. It was strangely quiet not having Bailey, Carmen or Tee there. At the same time I don't really miss it. They somehow made going to school even worse than it already is.

Instead it was just Ryan, Sasha, Kazima, Jody, Tyler and I. Jody and Tyler were well into some conversation and Kazima was reading a book. Sasha was on her phone and had her headphones in, so it was pretty much just Ryan and I who were there.

It's weird how literally none of us have any friends at school outside of the dumping ground. Like people know other people and can get along, but none of us have people who we meet at break or see outside of school.

Are people really that judgemental? I mean yeah, I personally haven't made any effort whatsoever to get on with anybody else, but I haven't been approached by anyone. Well apart from Harley but he's an idiot so he doesn't count. Speak of the devil...

"Heyyyy Marie" he said awkwardly as he approached us all. Ryan clenched his jaw and the others looked up at him, nobody said anything.

"Hey" I replied awkwardly. I didn't want to be mean or rude, but I did want him to leave. Also, where are his friends? I thought he had people who like followed him around or whatever? Where did they go?

"What are you up to?" He asked.

"Just, hanging out. With my friends" I said, emphasising the last part. I was hinting st him to leave. Like seriously. Leave!

"Cool cool" he brushed me off.

"What do you want Harley?" I said after an awkward silence.

"I just wanted to come and see you"

"Why?"

"Thought, maybe we could...hang out?"

"Well, I'm hanging out with these guys" I said, gesturing to the others. He isn't getting the hint. Idiot.

"Well, how about lunch? We could meet up at lunch?"

"I don't think so. I've got plans"

"What plans?"

"Meeting up with my friends"

"You're always with them!" He sort of yelled. "Why do you never hang out with anybody other than the same people it's boring they're boring!"

"They are not boring! They are my friends and y u will respect them and treat them as such. Go away Harley"

"But..."

"Go away"

"Fine, fine. But by lunch you'll see I'm right..."

"I don't think I will. Bye"

"Alright alright, but I'll see you soon"

"I doubt it" I said as he walked away.

"Okay, what just happened?" Ryan asked.

"Harley was an idiot is what happened" I replied. "Can you believe what he said about you guys? He acted like you weren't even there!"

"And he also made out like he was sick of out hanging out with us all the time. We've literally only been back a couple of hours so how is that even a thing?"

"I don't know. Weirdo. I don't get him"

"Oh yeah you weren't here were you?"

"For what?"

"It must have been while you were at secure" Ryan said. He and the others shared a few glances, until Sasha nodded. Um, what?

Ryan turned to face me in his place next to me on the bench.

"Ok, umm" he seemed somewhat nervous. "I can't believe I haven't mentioned this to you sooner. I guess I should have told you about it when it happened"

"When what happened? Ryan?"

"Okay" he took a deep breath. "So, a while ago, after you'd left, Harley started acting....weird. Different. Suddenly his friends weren't talking to him and nobody really understood why. We all sort of let it slip by, but then he didn't come into school one day. Or the next day. Or the day after that."

"Well he's here now?"

"Yeah, he was off for a couple of weeks though, and even his 'friends' didn't know why he wasn't there. Then, when he came back obviously everyone asked about it, and at first he didn't say anything. You know for like a week and a half, he didn't say a single word, not to anybody"

"Well what happened?"

"His Mum died. She had some kind of cancer I believe, and she passed away. It sent Harley into a depression. He started cutting, he didn't want to talk to anyone. Apparently he didn't come out of his room for days. His friends took it personally so now they won't talk to him any more"

"Oh my god" was all I could muster. I had no idea. And now I feel really bad for not talking to him. He went through all those things. Some of those things I've been through myself and I know how much it hurts. Maybe he just needs someone to understand him.

And I feel like, as much as I don't like him, I could be that person. Not too close. I just mean that, I get some of what he's going through and he probably feels like nobody on the planet even comes close to understanding.

"I should apologise to him" I said.

"No you shouldn't. You don't have to"

"Yes I do Ryan"

"No you don't. You did nothing wrong, you didn't know"

"I know. But when I was in his shoes, it's still hurts for people to say something, even if they don't know what they're doing"

"But that isn't your fault"

"I know, but I probably made it worse. Look Ryan, I know you don't like him, to be honest I don't either, but I don't want to see anybody going through the pain he's in right now. Imagine if you're mum died, then your friends stop talking to you, so you try to reach out to someone else and they act as if they would rather see anybody but you? Can you imagine how that feels?"

He was silent for a moment. "Okay" he finally agreed. "You can speak to Harley. I know you weren't asking my permission but I agree with you now. I've seen what you've been through, I can see how hard it must be"

Then, the bell went. Wow what amazing timing. "I'll do it at lunch" I said as we gathered our stuff. "I'm sure he won't mind. I expect. He'll be eating alone anyway"

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A/N

So from now on I'm going to put "TW" in the title of the part as a trigger warning in case someone is sensitive to anything, just because it will save me time. But I'm thinking if you've read this far then what I write about, you must be comfortable with. If not just skip the chapter and drop me a dm, and I'll fill you in on any important information from that part, not including whatever caused the trigger warning.

Ly x