ADOPTED BY PHAN

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Due to lacking education, Iris no longer learns at the pace of her class. She goes to a special room during school hours to catch up with her classmates. It'll take months, maybe even a year or two, but she's willing to learn quickly.

Only five other kids join Iris in the room. Four have disabilities - they're quite irrelevant to Iris - and one is on the verge of suicide. Iris doesn't know what to think of him. He never puts in any effort. It's as if he's already dead.

It's hard to believe Iris was once in that place.

"Excuse me," Iris whispers to the boy once the teacher leaves the room. He slowly turns to her, his eyes full of nothing. "What's your name, again?"

"My name doesn't matter. I don't want friends." The boy replies nonchalantly, staring off to a wall.

"We don't have to be friends, I just wanted to put a name to your face." Iris suggests.

"My name is Vic." He states, before going back to his work.

"It's nice to meet you." Iris says quietly to the air.

"Not really." Vic replies.

Entering the room, the teacher brings the conversation to a silence. Vic puts earbuds in his ears, blocking out the world. After an hour or so, the teacher leaves again. Iris takes a chance.

"What're you listening to?" She asks kindly, pulling one of Vic's earbuds out.

"La Dispute." He replies, loosening up a bit. Before Iris can reply, he adds. "It's a band."

"Can I hear?"

"Whatever."

Iris got a new favourite band that day. And a friend.

* * *

"So do they like have sex while you're in the house?" Floyd asks Iris, putting his hand on hers from across the cafeteria table. It's now Friday afternoon, and Floyd is in a Phan mood.

"If they do, they don't make noise." Iris replies.

"Do you wanna go for a walk?" Floyd changes the subject. "I'm in the mood for a walk."

"Alright." Iris agrees. "Come on."

Standing up from their table, the two pack their finished lunches into their bags before exiting the cafeteria. They walk down a few corridors, suddenly hearing cries of pain coming from the boys' washroom.

"Floyd, do you hear that, too?" Iris asks, stopping them in their tracks.

"It's no big deal," Floyd complains. "Come on."

"No." Iris demands. "Go in there and help."

"Why don't you go in there?" Floyd fights back.

"I'm a girl. That's the boys' washroom"

"Yes, and I'm a boy attracted to boys. But who cares?" Floyd drags Iris into the washroom.

The view is horrific. Vic is passed out on the bathroom floor, that same group of jocks who beat up Iris are kicking the shit out of him.

"Oh, fuck no." Iris whispers-shouts. Then she really shouts, "What the fuck do you think you're doing?"

"Oh hey, just giving the fag his daily beatings. Would you like to join him?" The boy's kind tone sickening.

"How about you beat me up instead of him?" Iris offers, stepping forward.

Floyd grabs her elbow, pulling her back and whispering, "Iris, what are you doing?"

Before she can reply, the boy cracks his knuckles and answers; "It would be my pleasure."