Smile.

Chapter 1: Just Smile.

Look at them... Just laughing. What is wrong with these people. Do they love seeing someone in pain? People hate being the target of harassment yet wouldn't mind giving their time cheering for someone to punch harder or even worse, just watching.

A boy begins to stand up from the bare gravel and slowly limping away from the crowd of people surrounding him. People felt uneasy by him for one reason, he was smiling. This small occurrence left everyone in his presence uncomfortable.

Why is everyone still watching?

People in the crowd begin to whisper among one another saying things such as. 

"What is wrong with him?", or "He is such a freak.",  "he should just kill himself."

After the boy heard their words, he stood still. A crying girl walks up to him and begins to opens her mouth screaming "Stay away from me and my friends, creep. Why are you still standing there William, just leave. Go home."

The boy turned around still smiling and said "Good friends huh. Well, I know..." 

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"I know? What does he know. He probably can't even talk to girls," a girl with short pink hair says as she turns to her friends. 

"Clover,  how were you friends with that thing?" a girl with a brown ponytail says.

"God, why do you girls keep bringing him up? That was like 5 years ago. we were both like, 11? He was only a freak who followed me around school. Just stop talking about it. It's a new school year and following it is a new me,"  Clover says to her group of friends.

"Alright Clover, but remember, don't associate yourself with him." One of the girls with the braided blond hair said.

"I know," Clover say in an annoyed tone.

The bell rings to indicate the start of period 5. The group of girls depart to their classes. Clover takes a deep breath before she heads to her class, Science 11.  As her eyes peek around the busy classroom, she felt a dull presence within. It was him, it was William. 

Clover rushes to find a seat and ends up sitting in front of William. 

God... I have to sit in front of William. Do I know anyone here?

As Clover desperately began to scan the classroom looking for a familiar face, her thoughts are soon interrupted by a girl next to her.

"Oh! Hi Clover, how are you doing? Are you doing well? I really hope so!" the girl next to Clover yelled.

Clover startled by the girl replied as politely as she could "I've been doing great, how about you?" 

"Oh yeah, we met before. We were lab partners in grade 9. It's great to see you again!" the girl said.

"Oh, yes, um my name. I can't believe I almost forget to tell you! My name is Abby, Abigail Richards" Abby stuttered out. she reached out her hand to shake Clover's. Clover reluctantly reached in and began having her had shook rapidly.

"This is gonna be a great year, I can already tell!" Abby yelled out loud.

"Woo." Clover replied in a quiet and unenthusiastic tone.

As the teacher was about to take attendance, a tall slim boy runs into the classroom, barely in time, yelling.

"I'M HERE, DON'T MARK ME LATE! ISSAC IS HERE ON TIME!!" 

"Phew, that was close one!  Ain't that right, teach?" 

The boy jokingly said to the teacher as he took a seat next to Clover. The teacher returned a blank face and rolled her eyes as she proceeded to take attendance.

"Hey, I'm Issac." He calmly reached his hand out.

Clover rolls her eyes and doesn't reach for his hand. After Issac grew tired of holding his hand so he raised them into the air and he let out a loud yawn and began to talk to his classmates around them. As soon as he started talking many students began to talk among each other.

Abby began to tell Clover about her favorite show. After all this talking started, Clover turned her head up at the ceiling to take a second to realize how chaotic this semester will be.

It felt like an eternity for Clover, until class was finally over. With all these annoying people in her class, she felt very drained. A good example is Issac, who kept on trying to make jokes. Then, Abby, who kept talking about My Little Pony, and lastly, William. Clover couldn't help but feel uncomfortable knowing William was sitting right behind her. 

As Clover began to pack up her textbook and binder, she noticed William being pushed out the door by two guys. Her curiosity led her to follow William and the two guys. As she watched from a distance she took a second to realize that they were behind the school. 

The two guys who pushed William to the ground began to yell at him.

What are they saying?

William still had not spoke despite the yelling. 

The larger guy yelled out at him "Are you autistic or what? Listen to me freak, DID YOU SEE THAT ISSAC KID TALKING TO MY GIRL?" 

William still hadn't replied. Out of anger the larger guy punched him in the face. 

Clover didn't know what to do except watch from a distance. A few other students noticed this happening but only kept walking away. 

William took his time getting up. 

The smaller guy asked him "What? You still looking for more?" 

William again didn't reply. He just smiled.

The 2 guys felt uncomfortable and began to walk away from William.

Clover kept watching as William slowly packed up his fallen papers. She didn't know what to do. She couldn't move, No matter how much she wanted to help him in that moment.

All she could do was stare at his emotionless eyes and his large smile. As she was about to leave she began to hear him mumbling to himself. With his head facing the floor he kept repeating to himself "Just smile."