- Simon's P.O.V -
The stranger offered his hand out to me and I gladly accepted, he pulled me up with ease. We start to walk, I know exactly where to take him so we can talk.
"Sorry, how rude of me not to introduce myself. I'm Joshua Bradley." he spoke up, the name fits him so well.
"I'm Simon Minter." I reply back, smiling.
"I'm new around here, just moved from about 200 miles away so you're the first person I've spoken to since moving." he explained.
That makes sense to be honest, everyone around here knows each other so it was strange to see a new face, especially someone like Joshua. It's not a bad thing but Ethan's area isn't the best and Joshua looks a lot cleaner kept than people who live around here.
"Well apologies for your first interactions being with someone in such a state that I was in." As I say this I realise I've stopped crying and actually have a proper smile on my face.
"No need to apologise, I'm more than happy for it to be you." he says with sincerity in his voice.
We walk in comfortable silence until we reach where I was looking for, a little cafe in the back streets of town. When we get inside, I instantly spot the barista who was one of my only friends outside of school.
"Afternoon Vikram, how's the day going?"
He responds without even turning around.
"Hello Simon! Today has been extremely busy, you know what its like on Saturdays." he finishes talking and turns around to spot that I'm not alone.
"Oh, and who's this?" he questions.
"This is Joshua, Joshua this is Vikram." I introduce them to each other and they both smile.
"So how come I've never seen Joshua around before?"
I look towards Joshua so he can explain.
"I just moved here from about 200 miles away and have never been here before so unless you've been to my old village then you would've never seen me." he says adding a laugh onto the end.
Vikram mouths a simple "oh" also laughing along with Joshua.
"We're gonna sit in my usual spot so we can talk, bring over my usual if you have time and whatever he wants." I say pointing towards Joshua and smiling at Vikram.
"I'll just have a hot chocolate." he adds shyly.
I guide us to the little booth in the back corner, where I sit every time I come here, which is quite often. We both sit down opposite each other and sit in a little bit of silence before I decide to speak.
"Are you sure you wanna hear everything I've got to say? It will take a long time and I don't want to be a bother." I cautiously ask.
"Simon, would I really have come here with you if I didn't want to listen?" he replies.
Okay he's got a point. I just sigh, thinking of how to even start telling him everything and if I should leave out certain details.
"Well it all started in high school to be honest, so about four years ago. I was a little bit smarter than your average year seven student and I got picked on for that. Then about two years ago, I came out as gay and oh my did that make everything a hundred times worse. I got kicked off of the football team because the team captain, Olajide Olatunji, didn't like the fact that there was a 'gay boy' in the changing rooms whilst they were all getting changed. I offered to get changed somewhere else but he wasn't having any of it. I basically lost all my friends due to this, because it was apparently cool to go along with the crowd and hate on the 'gay boy'." I take a deep breath after all of this, I'm not too sure if I can carry on talking.
Joshua gives me a reassuring smile, a signal to carry on but I just decide to skip to the events that happened today.
"And this all leads to why I was in such a state earlier. Basically I hav- had a friend in school who I thought I could trust with anything. But turns out, he gave my number to Olajide and now I'm certain most of the school have it. So I went to his house to confront him about it and got very angry and emotional, hence why I was I was crying so much."
I was too busy looking at Joshua whilst I was talking that I didn't realise Vikram was standing there and listened to everything I was saying. He puts our drinks down and slides into the seat next to me.
"Simon, you should've told me as soon as you came in, I could've taken my break so we could talk." Vikram says, rubbing my arm comfortingly.
I shake my head at him. He's way too sweet for his own good, I'm so grateful for him. Me and Vikram are very close, considering we are basically each others only friend. He cuddles himself in my side, as a way to try and comfort me further.
I put my arm around his shoulders to make him feel more comfortable.
Joshua speaks up,
"So how long have you guys been together?" he asks with innocent curiosity.
We both break out in laughter, obviously confusing Joshua quite a bit. I get that the way we were acting could have been seen as affectionate and something a couple would do so I do understand why he asked.
"We aren't together" I say chuckling and Joshua's face flushes red instantly with embarrassment.
"Oh.. uh I'm sorry I just thought..." he rambles on and Vikram interrupts him.
"No honestly, don't worry. A lot of people confuse us as a couple so you aren't the first and most probably won't be the last." he adds with a soft smile on his face.
To turn attention away from this conversation, I decide to ask Joshua something.
"So what school are you going to?"
"I'll be starting at Woodhill tomorrow." he says with a nervous look on his face.
"Oh that's where I go! Have you been given your timetable?" I ask excitedly.
He hands me his phone where he has his timetable all written out and I realise we are literally in every class together.
I tell him this with enthusiasm and he shows me a very big smile.
"Well at least I'm not going to be alone." he remarks, still smiling.
"Same to be honest." I say half joking, half serious and both boys now have sad smiles on their faces.
I look at the time on my phone and realise I'm late for dinner with my parents and I'm going to be in big trouble.
"Shit, I'm late. I'm so sorry guys but I have to leave like now. You good with getting back on your own Joshua?" I ask panicking.
He just nods and I'm glad. I get up and rush off. The last thing I hear as I leave is Vikram saying,
"Look after Simon, yeah? He's a good kid."
And Joshua replying ,
"Trust me, I wouldn't dare do anything other."
This has made me feel all warm inside and almost made me forget about what has happened today.
Almost.
