The Loser Squad

"You are one of the most stupidest, dumb headed- and stupidest person i've ever met," Xavier said while dragging Ray to where he sits.

"I'm the stupid one?" Ray said with a scoff, "He tripped you!"

Xavier only shook his head. Ray couldn't understand why everyone in this school felt of Andrew so highly. He wasn't a king or something.

"How long has he done this?"

Andrew raised his eyebrows over his ruffled up hair.
"What do you mean"

They turned around and walked down a set of stairs that spiralled forwards and backwards. As Ray walked down he saw an opening of the big oval in front of them. There was tables on the side were students sat, and their was other buildings far off.

"I'm saying, how long has he tormented you?"
They reached the end of the stairs and Xavier had to recollect himself.

"Torment isn't the right word..." he fumbled with his hands, his mind tracing, "H-he just picks on me, that's all."

He then walked in front of him and showed him around, trying to ignore the conversation they just had. Ray knew that he only just met him, he hasn't trusted him fully yet.

"...this is where I sit," he said and points to a miniature group of people sitting to the far side of the oval, near a cobblestone wall. Ray walked across the oval with Xavier, while half-sprinting through a soccer game currently being played.

When Ray looked at the people, there was about 4 of them. Some of them exchanged looks with Ray, while others stared picking at the leaves or talked. Xavier sat down near the grass and gestured for him to sit down. Ray seemed rather nervous and awkwardly sat beside him.

"Um, this is Ray, he's new."

Ray then looked up and was meet with pondering eyes. One girl at the end stood up and sat beside him. She immediately spoke.

"Hi, i'm Amanda! Nice to meet you," she said bubbly.

Ray felt him breathe a sign of relief. At least some were friendly. Amanda wore colourful butterfly pins in her black hair, that was held in piggy tails. Her face was full of freckles and her eyes were light blue.

"Hi yeah i'm-" Ray stopped when he realised that they already knew his name, he laughed nervously.

Amanda peered closely, "What you did was amazing!" Ray couldn't tell if she was naturally this loud or not, "No one stands up to him, not like... since forever."

Ray just smiled, not knowing how to respond.
"What he did to Xavier was unforgettable, isn't their a principal around here?"

Ray turned to Xavier and beside him sat another girl but she looked at the ground. Her books directly in her lap. Her hair was brown and cut short. she could almost look like a boy if she didn't wear a dress.

"Yeah, there is but he never does anything," said a voice beside Amanda, and he turned to find a boy with blonde hair and a sharp nose.

"Whatever you do, he won't listen to you. Especially if it's about Andrew."

Ray seemed confused, "Why?".

"He has some sort of connection- I don't know," he pointed his finger, "what you did was stupid, we thought he was going to leave us alone. But now that you've poked the bear, he will have us on his radar now because you're with us."

Ray seemed taken aback by his comment. He thought what he'd done was a good thing.

"Lachlan don't be rude," Xavier said softly and he was now picking at the grass. Ray grabbed his banana form his pocket and ate it slowly, trying to disguise his emotions.

"Oh i'm sorry, maybe you should of stood up against him. Instead of being the weak one in the group."

Xavier seemed to be upset by his choice of words, and took little bites from his sandwich. He was quiet and didn't respond. Even the short-haired girl looked up in surprise.
Amanda peered over at Xavier and hopped over to him like a rabbit, and hugged him playfully to cheer him up.

Ray didn't say anything, because he didn't want to start another fight with someone. He already disliked Lachlan, his moodiness spread over him like a blanket.

In the background sat another girl far alone with her back against the wall. She was still apart of the group but was hidden beneath the shadows. Her face was pretty and her uniform was more revealing and stylish then Amanda's and the short-haired girl. Her hair was dyed a light brown, with it darker at the top. Everything about her didn't seem to belong here, but then why was she hanging out with us?

In the distance, Ray could hear shouts from the soccer game. He looked over and the ball was rolling over in their direction. He looked towards the players and saw Andrew heading his way.

His eyes were on the ball, but as he grew closer, he spotted Ray and glared provokingly. When the ball rolled next to Ray, everyone stopped and stared.

When Andrew was close his eyes rested on us, with judgement smeared on his face. Then he looked to me.

"It's not much of a surprise to find you here."

Ray looked away from his intimidating stare. His friends were waiting for him on the boundary line.

"Could you pass the ball?" Andrew said and Ray instinctively was about to grab it, but then all of a sudden, the ball collided with his face and bounced away.

Ray held onto his nose and thought it was broken.

In the background Andrews friends clapped and laughed. Then when Ray looked up, he saw Andrew cast a worried glance and then it disappeared

Ray was about to shout when he felt Lachlan covering his mouth. He told him not to say a word and he followed.

"Hey Lila!" Andrew said calling out to the girl near the wall, and she hid her face. Ray still didn't understand why she was sitting here, but he had other things to worry about.

"My nose," Ray said in pain.

The bell then suddenly rang and Amalia went up to him.

"You need to go to the nurse! You're bleeding," she then pointed to his bloody nose and she gave him tissues from her pocket but it wasn't enough. Xavier looked at him and asked if he was okay, Lachlan and the others already had taken off, but Amalia insisted on taking him to the nurse.

"Don't worry, he'll be okay!" she said and guided him while pushing his arm, "Ciao Xavier."

Ray was then left alone with Amalia, and in the corner of his eye, he could spot Andrew glaring at him as he walked up the stairs.