D͓̽o͓̽u͓̽b͓̽l͓̽e͓̽ N͓̽e͓̽g͓̽a͓̽t͓̽i͓̽v͓̽e͓̽s͓̽ (A Logicality story)

The Bruse And The Panic

TW: injury, bullying, guilt, panic attacks

Logan arrived at his locker and set down his books to open the lock. He turned back to face his locker and heard a loud thud behind him.

He turned around to see the boy from the library face down on the floor, his books and papers scattered across the hallway. People in the hallway passing by stopped to snicker at the boys' misfortune. 

"Oww...." he whispered, looked up at Logan and blushed, then proceeded to quickly pick up his things and run in the other direction. He walked in and made his way to his seat in the back, dogging Janus' attempt to trip him. As he started to unpack his stuff, Logan noticed someone walking back towards him. It was the boy again!

He walked nervously back and took the empty desk next to Logan. He stared wide-eyed at him.

He glanced at Logan and gave him a nervous smile before turning back to organize his stuff. Logan noticed the boy now had a decent-sized bruise on his cheek. The trip.

"ALRIGHT!!! Settle down, everyone! It's time for attendance!" Mrs. Princeton said with enthusiasm. Roman, one of the most popular kids in school was her son and you could see that clear as day. They both had the same peepy personality and short temper. Mrs.Princeton wore a clean white dress with a red stripe down the side. She had on red flats witch matched her heart-shaped earrings that were slightly covered by her wavy blond hair.

"Logan Berry?"

"Present"

"Janus Lieston?"

"Here"

"Pet-ton Pacani?"

"Here... it's pronounced Patton though... "

"Ah yes, the new student! Why don't you come up and introduce yourself!?" she said as he nervously walked to the front of the room.

"Now class let's make sure to let Patton feel welcome here alright?" Logan heard Janus whispering something to his friends. 

As Patton walked back to take his seat he felt something hit his arm, he looked down to see a spitball stuck to his elbow.

He quickly brushed it off and headed back to his seat watery-eyed and buried his face in his arms. Logan could hear Janus and his friends laughing to themselves.

He didn't think much of it, every student went through bullying until they made friends so he wasn't too concerned.

-------------------

The rest of the day went as normal, Logan got some homework, agitated his English teacher by correcting his grammar, Janus annoyed him during lunch but Janus did put away some time to bother the new student, Patton.

Logan gathered his things from his locker and carefully placed them into his backpack, as he walked out of the school he couldn't help but feel bad for accidentally tripping Patton in the hallway. He tried to shake the image of the boy out of his head as he started down the sidewalk.

He reached the house, proceeded inside, and unloaded his backpack on the kitchen table. Logan decided to do his work outside, grabbing his things and heading out the door to the picnic table under the large oak tree in their front yard.

As he started setting up his things he noticed something moving. Someone was walking on the other side of the street, but everyone was at work. As Logan looked closer he could tell who it was The new boy, Patton!? Logan watched as Patton walked into the house across the street from Logan's.

He was his neighbor! How had he not noticed this before!? Logan tried to ignore what had just happened and get back to his work but now thoughts and questions flooded back into his head like a tsunami.

Is he okay? Should I apologize? Does he hate me? He could no longer focus, questions and images rattled around in his head like beads in a maraca, being shaken furiously.

Logan's breath quickened as he ran his fingers through his hair. What was happening to him? All he could see was that boy on the floor looking up at him with a bruised cheek and tears in his eyes.

Logan put his head down on the table resting his forehead on the cold moist wood bringing his hands up to rest on his neck. He heard a car drive up and a voice out in the distance. "You taking a nap out here nerd?" Logan looked up to see his brother walking towards him

taking a sip out of coffee and twirling his car keys around his finger. "Uh?! no!" Logan said as he sat up straight and started to stand up. "I was just....doing homework," Logan replied. "With your eyes closed?" Remy said with a smug look on his face. "I....uhh," "Whatever I don't care," he said as he started to walk inside. Logan decided to finish his work inside.

As he packed up he couldn't help glancing back at the house one last time. There was a boy, out on the porch in a purple and black hoodie typing on a laptop.

The boy looked up to see Logan looking at him from across the street. The boy gave him a confused smile before being interrupted by someone walking out of the house and up to him. Patton.

Patton held an ice pack to his cheek and said something to the boy. The boy in the hoodie said something then pointed in Logan's direction. Patton turned his head to look at Logan then jerked back to grab the boy's arm pulling him inside.

He was more confused than ever what had Patton said to him? Why did he pull them inside so suddenly? Did he really gets hurt bad enough to need an ice pack?

Logan tried to ignore the thoughts in his head and guilt in his stomach as he walked into the house.

-Shattered-Starlight