reading between the lines

2

Mattys POV

AJ Pritchard, how, how did he get my number? I would never give it to him, I hate him with every bone in my body. I'm so confused right now but I need to know how he got my number so I reply to his message 'how did you get my number AJ'.
AJ is the school bully, he's really popular and has a little gang that follows him round, they like his sheep, his shadow, wherever he goes, they go. And I'm his prime target, I always have been, every since primary school. I haven't done a single thing to him yet he insists on picking on me, calling me names, pushing me around, getting me in trouble. He's beat me up a couple of times too but I can't tell anyone about any of this because he will make my life hell and I know he will because he's not the type of person to make empty threats. He's taller than me, I mean I'm quite small so that's not hard but still, it's intimidating. He'll tower over me, smelling of nothing but cheap aftershave, ew, I'd rather smell louis' feet. He has a small scar on his cheek cos he's a bafoon and hit himself in the cheek with a kitchen cupboard door, but he tells everyone he got it in a fight and guess what, they just believe him and crowd round him thinking he's the greatest person in the world while I'm sat in the corner wishing my mum hadn't put me on this earth. I honestly don't see why I'm here to be honest, I hate my life and everyone hates me.
I sit in silence for a short while whilst thinking, my eyes growing wetter and wetter, but I'm not crying! When all of a sudden I'm interrupted by a ding from my phone... It's AJ.
I read the message.
'Alfie passed it on to Ryan and Ryan passed it on to me. never underestimate me Matthew, it doesn't end well'
Matthew!!! Matthew!!!! He has the cheek to call me by my full name that absolute pilock. But Alfie? Alfie gave my number to Ryan, why would he do that without my permission.
Alfie is my best friend in the whole world, I've known him since we were both new born babies, we've grown up together through life and never really had a proper argument but I can't believe he's give my number out without my permission, I need to talk to him now!

Matty: alfie did you give my number to Ryan?
Alfie: erm yeh lad, he said he wanted it to get to know you better
Matty: Alfie you absolute idiot!!! He's given it to AJ!!
Alfie: what's wrong with that, you don't talk to them much it'll be a good chance to get to know them better.
Matty: Alfie you can't go around giving people my number without my permission, it not fair and now I feel like I can't trust you. I want to be able to trust my mates and I can't trust you right now so please don't talk to me.

I can't tell Alfie about aj, he won't understand, so now I guess I'm a mate down and I don't really know what to do. what have I done? I have no one anymore, AJ can text me all he likes and I have no one to joke with and cheer myself up, I can't deal with this, I really really can't. I'm so alone.
I look at the time and it's 9 o'clock so I decide that's a fair time to go to sleep, I strip to my boxers, put my sleeping t-shirt on and then cuddle up under my duvet. I close my eyes tightly but somehow tears still seem to stream out and I can't stop them. I cry and I cry and I cry until I finally just completely tire myself out and drift off to sleep.

    ~the next day~

I wake up with the worst head ache in the whole world but it must just be from crying last night so I get dressed into my uniform and go downstairs.
"Morning Louis" I pause for a minute before continuing "I don't suppose you could give me a lift to school today with you and Harry.
"Yeh lad no probs, you good?"
"Yeh I'm fine thanks" I go in the kitchen and get a piece of toast, slowly smoothing butter over its crusty top before eating it in just a few bites.

Louis' POV

It's half 10 and me and Harry are teaching Matty's class, there's a wierd vibe between Matty and Alfie almost as if they've fallen out but surely they can't have, they're best mates. Anyway we've sent everyone in groups to music rooms and Matty is in the classroom on his own strumming a guitar so I go and perch next to him.
"Sounding good lad, you got any lyrics for that tune"
Matty shook his head but I felt like he was lying, I don't wanna dig too much tho, if anyone knows about having personal secrets it's me and I know what it's like when people stick their nose in.
"Matty obviously you don't have to tell me if you don't want to but something isn't right about you today, are you alright??"
"I'm fine thank you" he looked at me and I could see through his eyes that he was hurting but I don't know why, his eyes are normally brown and shiny and you can see his personality flow through them, but today, today all the shimmer and shine has gone.
"Matty I know you're not okay, please come and talk to me if you need to, I know I'm loud and cheeky but I can be serious too. I'm here if you need me" I gently rest my hand on his shoulder for a couple of seconds before getting to my feet and sitting at the desk, replying to some emails.