Pray Before the Dawn

Chapter Five

There was usually an empty seat next to Chris, and his ex-best friend Malcolm liked to joke it was for Chris' "imaginary friend". Chris spent all his maths lessons attempting but failing to concentrate on his schoolwork; whilst Malcolm would whisper how Chris deserved what he got and how much better his life was without being friends with him. If Chris didn't react, Malcolm would jab him with a pencil until he did. Chris would give him an angered glance, and Malcolm would snigger with a sly look on his face.

Chris shuffled reluctantly into math class; straight away with folded arms, he rested on the desk. He had a headache from this morning, and he was already desperate to go home. Emily, the girl who sat on the other side of him, greeted him with the typical "move your bags" and Chris ignored her. She began to poke at his satchel like it was some diseased creature, and complain to the teacher why she had to sit next to "Chris the miss".

"He's just a fat little cow," Malcolm laughed, even though it was clear that Chris was very skinny, "poor Emily getting traumatised every maths lesson". Chris ignored them. He was used to it.

"Why can't I sit here?" a voice asked softly, turning round to answer Malcolm's warning. The new kid seemed to be very shy, he'd barely said a word to anyone, which wasn't a good way to be in this place. Lifting his head, Chris slumped down in his chair, wishing he could talk to him, but he wasn't exactly bursting with confidence either. Plus, since he was late to Science, he never got to learn his name. He felt a bit rude if he called him "new boy" except in his own head. He was too anxious to ask for his name and decided to keep quiet.

"You wouldn't want to sit next to the school retard" Emily spoke up, "you'll probably catch some infection". Andrew, a few rows in front of him, laughed. "I tried to warn him, Emily" he chirped in, as Chris sighed heavily Regardless, the new kid still sat down, and Chris shifted uncomfortably. The whole class was looking at them.

"New boy's murdered your only friend, " Malcolm whispered into Chris' ear. Chris gave him an annoyed glance, trying to push him back as Malcolm leaned closer. Their teacher soon hushed the class ready to begin the lesson.

After registration, the textbooks were handed out to the class and the new boy seemed eager to start, ignoring the table behind. Malcolm was telling the embarrassing stories from when he and Chris were best friends. He was doing it in such a way as to get the attention of the new boy as if trying to coax him into joining in. He was inviting him to join the rest of the school in giving Chris hell every single day. He'd make big sweeping gestures, and try to force eye contact, but the new kid seemed preoccupied with the maths in front of him. Emily sometimes dared Malcolm to try to smack Chris, but he had pushed his chair as far away from them as he could. The new boy, however, ignored them. He occasionally gave them a disapproving glare. It was the oddest behaviour Chris had seen. Did this boy actually enjoy learning? This was his second class of his new school, why hadn't he laughed at him yet?

Realising he was staring, the new boy looked at him, making Chris quickly recoil out of instinct. "Rats," Chris thought, but the boy only gave him another smile, like the one from earlier.

"Sorry" the new boy apologised with a quiet yet nervous laugh, "I like math."

Chris smiled back, reciprocating the laugh. He was too shy to respond, but he hoped his smile said something along the lines of, "you don't have to apologise". He knew what it was like to apologise over and over, to worry about what people were going to say or do.

Though boys went back to their schoolwork quickly, for the first time in his life he felt almost safe. He felt safe next to this strange, kind boy that offered tissues. Who smiled at him when he caught him staring, and refused to laugh at him when the rest of the class treat him like he was the star of a freak show.