New Boy (A Javid Story)

Elmer

When Davey got to Romeo's house, he threw off his coat and shoes and made his way to Romeo's bedroom where he was waiting with Elmer and Jojo. 

"What's wrong?" Davey asked, kneeling down next to the bed. He looked Elmer over, and let out a small gasp. He had a black eyes and a split lip. His arms were covered in bruises, and there was dried blood under his nose. 

"Delancey's got him bad. We called Jack, but he didn't pick up." Romeo explained. 

"We cleaned him up best we could." Jojo said. "But that's not why we called you here. He's been mumblin' to himself. Wouldn't let us touch him for a bit. He's been shakin' too." 

"So why'd you call me?" Davey asked. 

"You know more about emotions than any of us!" Romeo defended himself. 

"Alright, then, just, okay." Davey nodded. He carefully made his way over to Elmer, who was shaking. "Elmer?" He whispered. Elmer looked up at him, terror in his eyes. 

"Don't hurt me." He whispered. It broke Davey's heart to see the boy so scared. 

"I won't hurt you, Elmer. It's me. It's Davey." Davey tried to reassure him. 

"No, no don't touch me." Elmer stayed curled up. 

"Elms, please, let him help." Romeo tried, putting a hand on Elmer's arm. 

"Romeo. Jojo." Elmer whispered. "Help." 

"Elmer, we're trying. That's why we called Davey." Jojo reassured. 

"Davey." Elmer nodded. "Davey and Jack." 

"Jack isn't here." Romeo reminded. 

"Then Davey." Elmer nodded, and he turned to face Davey. 

"Hey Elmer." Davey smiled. 

"Hi." Elmer responded meekly. 

"Elmer, can you tell me what happened?" Davey asked. 

"Oscar and Morris." Elmer confessed. "I was walking over. They found me. Started picking on me. Something they said made me upset. I kicked Oscar. They got mad. Beat me up. Left me there. Jojo found me. Brought me here. Cleaned me up." He somewhat smiled gratefully at Romeo and Jojo, then winced in pain. 

"What did they say?" Davey asked. Elmer just shook his head in response. "Elmer, can you tell me what they said?"

"No." Elmer shook his head. "It hurt." 

"Okay, that's okay." Davey nodded. "You don't have to say it. I'm just gonna try calling Jack one more time." 

"Good." Romeo nodded. Davey took out his phone and stepped into the hallway, giving his boyfriend a call. That left Romeo, Jojo, and Elmer alone in the room once again. 

"How're you feeling, Elmer?" Jojo asked. 

"Lousy." Elmer croaked out. 

"That's alright. You h-" Romeo started, but was interrupted. 

"Do you guys think I'm fat?" Elmer asked. 

"What?" Jojo asked. "Elmer, no. Why would you think that?" Elmer just shrugged in response. 

"Is that what the idiot brothers told you?" Romeo asked. Elmer nodded. "Elmer, you aren't fat. Not at all. You're my best friend, you aren't fat." 

"Really, Elmer. If anybody is fat, it's Oscar. He just sits there and watches Morris beat people up." Jojo reasoned. Elmer let out a weak laugh. 

"But, really, Elm, you're at a perfect weight. In fact, nothing about you is imperfect." Romeo put a hand on his shoulder. 

"And we'd love you no matter what." Jojo reminded. "You're our best friend." Elmer nodded. 

"So please, don't ever think you're fat." Romeo added. 

"Alright, guys, I get it." Elmer laughed, then winced in pain. 

"Good." Romeo nodded. "Cause we all know how stubborn you can be." 

Davey burst back into the room. "Just got off the phone with Jack. He's on his way over." 

"Good." Jojo nodded. "Good." 

"In the meantime, Elmer, do you want anything?" Romeo offered. 

Elmer nodded. "Water." 

"On it." Romeo stood, leaving to grab the water. 

"Elmer, listen. I know the brothers got you bad, but they're gonna pay for it." Davey promised. 

"Don't hurt them." Elmer requested. 

"Oh, I'm not hurting them. I was gonna report them to the principal, get them in bad trouble." Davey admitted, putting the back of his hand against Elmer's forehead to check his temperature. 

"That doesn't work for two reasons. One, it didn't happen on school grounds, so they won't care. Second, their uncle is a teacher. They get away with everything." Jojo explained. 

"Who's their uncle?" Davey asked. 

"Weasel." Jojo answered. 

"Who?" 

"Mr. Wiesel." Elmer informed.

"Business class?" Davey asked. 

"Yup." Jojo nodded. 

"Oh, I hate him." Davey groaned. "He always conveniently forgets I sit in my row, and doesn't give me enough papers." 

"Really? He always gives me enough." Jojo commented. 

"Yeah, but you're nice." Davey reasoned. 

"So are you." Jojo pointed off. 

"Yeah, but on the first day I thought he'd, y'know, be more lenient for me because it was my first day and I didn't know what to do, but he didn't seem to get that." Davey admitted. 

"Yeah, well, he's related to the two diablos. I don't know what you expected." Jojo shook his head, laughing. 

"Yeah." Davey nodded. Then, he turned to face Elmer, who was laying down on Romeo's bed. "How are you doing, Elmer?" 

"Lemme tell you, Dave, I could be a lot better." Elmer groaned from the bed. 

"Well then, I'm glad I brought pain meds." Jack said, suddenly appearing in the doorway. He shook a bottle, and Davey smiled. "Romeo told me what happened. Trust me, those idiots are gonna wish they never messed with you." Jack took out two pills, handing them to Elmer. 

"And your water." Romeo handed Elmer a water bottle with a silly little bow. Elmer laughed, then winced again. 

"Thanks." He smiled a little. 

"Jackie, can I talk to you?" Davey asked, motioning to the door. 

"Yeah, yeah." Jack nodded, putting the back of his hand against Elmer's forehead like Davey had a few minutes before. The two walked out into the hallway and shut the door. 

"I'm worried about Elmer." Davey confessed. "They got him bad." 

"Yeah, I am too." Jack nodded. "Did ya see his eye?" 

"Yeah." Davey bit his lip. 

"And Romeo told me that the Delancey's told him he was fat. He believes them." Jack informed him. 

"I can't stand them!" Davey groaned. 

"They're gonna pay." Jack growled. 

"No. We are not beating them up." Davey reminded. 

"Then what are we gonna do?" Jack asked, opening the door a little to look at Elmer, Jojo, and Romeo. Elmer's split lip was bleeding again, and Jojo was holding a napkin to his lip. Romeo was running his fingers through his hair, a worried expression on his face.

"I don't know." Davey admitted. "But we'll figure it out."