FAMILIES ALWAYS HAVE YOUR BACK

CHAPTER THREE

"H-H-Hi," I stutter. This guy, Ryan, was extremely hot! "D-Did you just c-call me b-beautiful?"
"Yep! Sure did! You are beautiful too. What's your name?" he says.
I feel my cheeks go warm. He chuckles and I realize that I was blushing. I quickly look down, embarrassed and shy.
"Uhm...T-Tom H-Holland..." I answer.
He holds out his hand for me to shake. I shook it but his grip was rather tight. Was that normal...?
"Tom. I'm Ryan," Ryan says.
"N-Nice to m-meet y-you..." I stutter.
He let's go of my hand. I turn to face my friends to introduce them but Harrison had a straight face, his lips pursed together, as if he's trying to control his anger or something. Zendaya, who had a purple T-shirt and blue pants; her hair tied into a curly bun, looks at Ryan dreamily. And Jacob? Well he looked almost like Harrison, trying to keep a straight face.
"These are my friends," I say. "Harrison," I gestured toward him, he still has a straight face but I can tell he's not happy for Ryan to be standing next to me. "Zendaya," I guestured to Zen who's still daydreaming but she comes up and rests her chin on Ryan's shoulder. Ryan looks uncomfortable and jerks his shoulder so her chin is off of it. She looks shocked. "And Jacob," I guestured toward Jacob who also didn't seem real happy about Ryan being next me.
"Nice to meet you all," Ryan says. "I'm assuming you all did great service to Tom?"
"Yeah," Harrison growls. "Listen here punk, Tom is my best friend. And I'd do anything to protect him, so hurt him and you die."
"HARRISON OSTERFIELD!" I shout. I was angry with the fact Harrison was being protective of me. It's bad enough I already have two protective brothers and a father. "That is enough!"
Ryan stifles a laugh. Harrison growls and glares at him. Harrison turns to face me and looks down. Like a three year old being taught a lesson.
"Sorry, Tom," he apologize. I forgive him and we continue to talk until the bell rang.
"So, see you at lunch, Holland?" Ryan asks. I nod and we head off to class.

+ + +

I walk out of class, which was mathematics. My least favorite. I put my things in my locker and grab out my lunch. I was about to head to the cafeteria when Gerald, the school bully, stops me.
I roll my eyes and stare into his green eyes. He always tries to flirt with me whenever he can. Whenever I'm most vulnerable.
"Hi ya, Holland~" Gerald says. I push pass him, ignoring him. "Hey! No hug or anything?!"
It smells as if Gerald threw himself in the dumpster. He was never healthy, never shower. His hair has tint of grey but other wise is black. He wears a tattered old tangtop and ripped jeans. He looks like a homeless man who's in love with me.
"No, Gerald," I say, "now leave me alone."
I continue to walk to the cafeteria. There, I see Ryan and his buddies. I smile a bit and turn to the left where I see my friends.
"Hey, Tom!" Harrison says. "You okay? You look annoyed..."
"I'm fine, Haz," I reply. "It's nothing. Let's eat, okay? I'm starving!"
Little did I know, that something terrible was going to happen to me that night.