Bad Boy

Bad Boy- Chapter Seventeen

"Hey, come on now, leave him alone," Layne whined, tugging on Jerry's arm, "We got better things to do than this."

Jerry sighed. "What else do we have to do, other than skipping around the hallways until the bell rings?"

Mike sat in front of them, his eyes swollen with fear, since the group had him surrounded. His friend's were already long gone to class, and he was pretty much alone.

"Guys, leave me alone." Mike whispered softly. He closed his eyes, hoping they'd all go away. As he sat on the cold, hard floor of the school, he began to think of the old times, when he used to be their friend.

"Look, he's got all the answers to the test, and you know they're right, since he's a so called, genius." Sean said, pointing down to a smaller man who sat at the bottom of the bleachers, studying over a sheet of paper.

"I don't think we should bother him." Layne said, shrugging his shoulders, as he sucked on a cherry blow pop he had gotten from Mike.

"Me either." Mike denied.

The other Mike, which was Mike Starr, shook his head at his two friends, "Come on, guys. All we need is to get that paper and write down the answers super quick."

"I don't really-" Layne began, but Jerry cupped his hand over Layne's mouth.

"Sean's right. It's our grades we're talking about here. Let's just get the paper, then we'll leave him alone."

Layne removed Jerry's hand from his mouth, and softly gave a sigh. "Well, alright. Fine."

The group headed down the bleachers, yet Mike kept a little behind. He loved his friend's, he did, but he hated the things they did. Always trying to act tougher than everyone else. Mike knew he was with the wrong crowd.

Beating up people, drinking, getting suspended... it wasn't much of Mike's likening. When the guys would drink, Mike would pretend to sip around, even though he couldn't bare the taste. He had never actually even finished one beer.

"If you don't mind, we would like to borrow that." Sean spoke, reaching for the paper, but the man pulled the paper out of his reach.

"Get out of here." The man spoke.

Mike took a look at him. He had seen him around the school a few times, but had never much payed attention to him. His face was so beautiful, and looked to be so fragile and soft.

His eyes sparkled off such a beautiful color, like nothing Mike had seen before. He was almost lost for words, and he was so lost into his thoughts, he didn't even realize that the guys began to fight over the paper, until he seen the boy throw his fist at Sean, and soon after Jerry and Sean began to attack him.

"G-guys, stop it." Mike yelled, but his voice seemed to do nothing.

"They won't listen to us. You'll just have to wait until it finally gets broke up." Layne sighed, throwing his half eaten sucker onto the bleachers.

Mike couldn't watch a second longer. He didn't have time to think, his body just moved. He found himself shoving Sean and Jerry off the boy.

"That's enough!" Mike yelled.

The boy sat on the ground, giving Sean and Jerry dirty looks, as he wiped a drop of blood from his mouth.

"What do you think you're doing?" Sean asked, giving Mike a shove.

"I'm not letting you go any further. That's enough."

"You're just going to betray us like that? For a guy you don't even know?" Jerry asked.

"Mike..." Layne whispered, very shocked that Mike had stood up for the boy.

"I guess I am," Mike said, "Go on, get out of here."

Sean raised his fist back, but Jerry grabbed it, "It's not worth it, Sean. He'll snap out of it. Come on, let's go."

"But-"

"Let's go." Jerry said. Sean sighed, but led the way out of the gym.

"Are you okay?" Mike asked. The boy nodded his head.

"Yeah, I'm alright. My lip is busted I think, but I'm alright."

"Do you want to go to the nurse?" Mike asked. The boy chuckled.

"Well, I don't think I need to. But I might get an ice pack, before the swelling gets worse. Thanks for that."

Mike smiled, his cheeks turning a deep shade of red. "N-no problem."

"You're Mike, huh? I'm Stone."

Mike giggled. "Cool name. Come on, I'll help you to the nurse."

"Hey, are you alright?" Layne asked, giving Mike a little shake.

Mike finally opened his eyes, seeing that the boys were gone except Jerry and Layne. Mike wasn't sure what got them off him, but Jerry didn't look too pleased.

"I'm okay."

"I thought you had fainted or something." Layne said.

Mike shook his head, and began to pull himself off the floor. "I have to get to class. Get away from me."

Layne gave him an odd look, "Hey, I just saved you, and you're treating me like dirt?"

"I-"

"What's going on here?" A voice, coming from behind the three of them, spoke. Mike could recognize that voice from anywhere.

He was relieved to see Stone standing there, even though he had a cast over his leg, and was holding a pair of crutches.

"Y-you're back!" Mike cried.

"Yeah, my stay at home was over, so I'm back." Stone said, beaming with a smile at Mike.

Layne took Jerry's hand, dragging him away. Jerry finally put a smile on his face, and followed behind his love, who began to nag at him.

"I'm glad you're okay now." Mike said, smiling as he looked down at his feet. He couldn't help the shyness that took him over.

"Me too. Those guys weren't bothering you, were they?"

Mike shook his head. "No, they weren't. I-if you want... I could, uh... help you to class."

Stone chuckled. "That's alright, I've learned how to use these. You better get to class yourself, don't wanna be late, huh?"

Mike shook his head, signaling a 'no.' The two looked at each other for a moment, until the tardy bell had rang, making Mike jump in his spot.

"I-I better get to class, I'm already late."

"I'll see you sometime after class!" Stone called, since Mike was already rushing up the hallway. He quickly gave Stone a wave as he continued his way to class.