James had always been like a big brother to me. We weren't actually related but to anyone who asked I said he was my big brother. His and my family were really close so I spent a lot of my time with James growing up. I had never had an actual older brother but I had always, since birth, had James.
In school I got bullied. I wasn't a 'loser' but I definitely wasn't one of the popular kids. I always wondered how it was to be sitting on the popular table at lunch and have everyone begging to be your friend. No one was ever begging to be my friend. Apart from James. But that changed when he joined the school band. He had started spending less time with me at break and lunch to go and practise in the music room, leaving me alone to wander around the school.
Lots of girls in my classes would call me names, steal my things and pull my hair. Sometimes they would get the boys in on it too and that would make things even worse. It was childish but that's exactly what they were. I tried and tried to focus on my school work but they were in every single lesson with me; never leaving me alone.
One day I had enough and decided to tell someone. Of course I didn't want to make things worse and tell a teacher or my parents, so I told James. The only person I could trust. He looked really hurt when I explained what people in class were doing. But then the hurt in his eyes turned to anger as I continued to talk.
"Amelia, why didn't you tell me this sooner? I'm gong to talk to them. They have to stop."
"They won't stop just because you tell them too, James."
"They will."
-
The next day James marched over to the 'popular' table and sat down next to one of the boys who had been bullying me.
"So you've been bullying Amelia, have you?!" James spat.
"Bullying? Hardly, it's called having a bit of fun. She needs to learn what a joke is." The boy laughed back.
"You obviously need to learn what bullying is; pulling her hair and stealing her stuff. Not cool."
"A bit like your friend then?"
"You know what. You've obviously got something going on in your life which is making you feel so bad that you have to make other feel bad about themselves. I feel sorry for you, I really do." James scoffed and walked away.
"Trust me, Amelia. They won't be bullying you again. I've told your teachers to keep an eye out for you, but you can start coming to the music room with me now. I don't want you feeling alone."
"Thank you James... You're the best." You half smiled, giving him a hug.
