Pray Before the Dawn

Chapter Four

Author's notes: The next two chapters have some very sad moments. They are also much longer than the previous chapters. This is just a warning if any of you aren't feeling up to reading anything too sad today. I'm also starting University tomorrow, so if there are any delays in scheduling I'll add it to the Author's notes when I publish future chapters.

Chris' weekend wasn't very interesting. For the most part, it rained, and he and Dylan ended up watching reruns of The Simpsons and watching Back To The Future for the third time this month. Their aunt, uncle, and cousins came over for Sunday roast. Chris and Dylan had to listen to their cousins' brag about their shenanigans and all the fun stuff they had done recently. The boys would pretend to believe them, but they both knew that they usually twisted the truth to try and sound better than their geeky, swot of a cousin Chris and their baby, loudmouth cousin Dylan.

Still, it was a good weekend, even the part where he hurt his ribcage laughing because Dylan kept trying to touch Chris' face with his stinky socks, or when he wandered around the house playing hide and seek like they were six and nine years old again. Chris tried to fit into a plastic box full of underwear, and when Dylan took half an hour to find him; he gave him quite a fright when he jumped up shouting "I WIN!" Sadly, it came to an abrupt halt, as Monday reared its familiar, ugly head.

The first lesson on a Monday was always Science. Chris shuffled in a few minutes too late, hoping there'd be no spaces left except at the very front near where the teacher sat. This would mean he would be protected. Nobody would try to smack him when the teacher was so close. Everyone would just leave him alone, which is what he liked. What he didn't realise was some new kid was starting that day.

Chris' body turned to jelly when he realised the only seat left was near Jeremiah. "Stupid new kid", was Chris' first thought of the day. He wanted to run far away from class, but with slow, brave steps he walked towards the empty space and sat down. All eyes were on him. Quiet chatter brought a collective atmosphere of anxiety. Chris quickly turned a pasty white. Jeremiah was a beefy, popular, and thug of a boy who had terrorized Chris since they were seven years old. At primary school, Chris would stand on the bench in the corner of the class, squeezing up against the window for protection. Seven-year-old Chris would try to throw whatever he could grab but the whole class would cheer when Jeremiah managed to grab him by the ear and throw him to the ground. Chris would roll around trying to trip him up, and it'd turn into a wrestling match the weedy Chris never won. Eventually, they were both towed to the staff room. They'd be equally scolded, even though it was Jeremiah's constant taunting that had started it. Six years later they still fought like angry dogs, but the teachers had given up trying to stop it. Chris had given up trying to make any real effort to fight back; it had been going on for so long he had lost the willpower.

"Ah crap," said Jeremiah, as he knocked his water all over his science workbook. The pages seemed to dissolve into puddles, and the equations he'd been working on for the five minutes turned into led smudges. Chris, sitting next to him, nervously smirked. It was like he'd done the damage, though it had been an accident. This was met with a disapproving glare by Jeremiah.

"Shut up, ratboy" Jeremiah said, kicking Chris' leg from underneath the desk. A quiet quarrel ensued, with Chris eventually finding his whole body moving away as Jeremiah tried to flick his ear. Chris found himself trying to push his arms away from him, and with both boys using increasing force, he had pulled Chris to the floor. With Chris laying fearfully on the ground, the whole class watched eagerly. Boys and girls edged on the side of their desks, wanting a clear view of the action. They may as well not have had a teacher. Miss Williams conveniently left the class when she sensed Jeremiah's rage flicker. She had to 'go speak to the head teacher' about their behaviour but everyone knew she'd be making a cup of tea. She didn't come back for another fifty minutes. "Fight fight fight!" a few of the kids chanted, as Chris prepared himself for the blows that soon rained upon him. He tried to get up, to push Jeremiah into the lab stool, but it was impossible. Sometimes he liked to daydream about waking up with superhuman strength, and being able to crush a can singlehandedly. He'd do it in front of Jeremiah and instantly command the respect of the whole school. Of course, he was really just a bullied, friendless kid.