Night Wanderer

Chapter 4

Elijah Bivord's Aesthetic^

Bully

Celeste's POV:

"Stop!"

I looked around. Everyone was staring at me. Why...?

I then realize that it was me who shouted. But... Why?

I feel my neck get warm then my ears. Oh fuck. Benji nudges me making me look at Gavin.

"Got a problem, Bitch?", Gavin growls.

I flicker my eyes towards Stranger Boy. He's standing up, fists clenched as blood pours down his nose and onto the bench. He's looking into my eyes but I don't make eye contact.

"What?", Gavin bursts, getting impatient.

I jump, "Uh... Why?", I ask the same question I've been asking myself. I laugh weakly.

"Why, what?", Gavin spits.

"W-why punch someone who hasn't done anything to you?", My voice cracks, "Why be a bully?"

"Bully?", he scoffs, I'm not!", Gavin stalks towards me.

I stand up. I keep my arms to my side, ready to attack if he tries anything.

Benji and his friends cower away.

Oh, I'm using this against him when we get back home... If I actually survive.

"You are!", I exclaim.

"Listen, you-"

"No you listen Gavin. If you want to grow up and be a man, if you want to succeed in life, you have to do better. You don't look good when you're trying to make others look bad!", I shout, getting angry.

"That's right, Gavin!", someone calls from behind a group of people.

"Facts!", someone else shouts.

When I look back at stranger Boy, he's grinning, with his arms crossed and looking very tall.

I guess everyone's had enough of Gavin's bullshit. He looks back at his friends, the other torturers, but they shrug.

"See? Don't you see we've all had enough?", my voice is quieter but loud enough for Gavin to hear.

"Oh fuck this!" As he says this, he storms out the doors of the cafeteria.

My shoulders sink and I un-clench my fist.

Soon the loud sounds of the cafeteria go back to normal.

"What. The. Fuck. Celeste", Benji whisper-shouts.

I shake my head, laughing a little and sit down.

I linger my eyes back to Stranger Boy and find a boy in our year group, handing him a tissue.

I watch as he cleans his nose and nods at the boy. His eyes flicker to mine and this time I hold them.

He gives me a slight nod, maybe in thanks or appreciation but I don't break our gaze. I give him a small smile.

Soon the bell rings for the next lecture.

...

When we pull up to the Care Home driveway, we also find Davers' car coming to a halt.

The kids start filing out the car and Mandy opens the door.

"What up, old man?", Michael throws an arm over Davers' shoulder.

"Shut up Micky and get inside", Davers shakes his head but smiles.

"Benji! Guess what we did in school, today?", Mathew Freet, an 8 year old boy, latches onto Benji's arm.