reading between the lines

18

Louis' POV
11:17. Just 4 little digits, 4 little digits that where causing me concern, Matty was 17 minutes late and none of his friends knew where he was. If this was any other lesson I wouldn't be bothered, I'd just think he was skiving as he so often does, sometimes I think he gets high of mf being in trouble. But he's never late to music, he's rarely even in trouble and he respects me and Harry purely because respect him, so where is he? I went over and asked Amy, Alfie and Sophie once again if they knew where he was, the answer being the same as before "no"
That's when I saw Ryan looking over, a look that was a mix of worry and guilt plastered on his face, as soon as he caught my gaze he turned his head at a speed that probably wasn't healthy.
"Ryan" I said, in a way that forced Ryan to make eye contact with me once again, the same look still on his face "can you come outside with me a minute please mate" I said walking out into the corridor, holding the classroom door open for when he followed me, which he did, pressing his back against the wall of the corridor, eyes focused on his feet and only looking up at me slightly when the door closed. "Do you know where Matty is" I asked, my voice firm but casual, a mix that I have mastered and is quite persuasive towards students.
"I...I d don't know" he stuttered, taking a breath before continuing "but if I had to take a guess, I'd say the quietest boys toilets"
The look of guilt and worry on Ryan's face mixer with the words "quietest boys toilets" caused me an instant feel of anxiety as I dismissed Ryan back into the classroom and started to walk quickly to the bottom floor boys toilets, famous throughout the school for never being used, making then the quietest.
"Matty you in here??" I asked, pushing the door open and taking a few steps inside slowly, looking around the empty space, inside the small gaps between the cubicle door and the wall, then over by the sink Matty was on the floor, huddled in a still but floppy position, his eyes closed.
"Matty!" My mouth shouted louder than my brain had told it to, I crouched down on the floor next to him and gently shook his shoulder with one hand, getting my phone out my pocket with the other.
One of Matty's eyes looked at me, a sense of intense fear at first but after realising it was me he relaxed a little, I have no idea who he was so scared of, it couldn't be Ryan could it, he had known where Matty was, but he was such a sweet lad. But that's not what I needed to worry about right now.
"Matty are you okay? Shall I call an ambulance? What the fuck happened?" I said, probably getting more worked up than I needed to.
"Ambulance" Matty smirked loosely "don't be a wimp Tommo, I'm ok, I got hit in the stomach with a ball in pe, I guess it just had a little more of an impact than I thought"
"Okay don't call me Tommo in school you twat, and fine no ambulance but I'm ringing Liam to come and pick you up, you need to go home and rest" I said, finding Liam's contact and pressing the call button, holding it to my ear.

Once Liam had picked Matty up I made my way back to music and told Amy and Alfie where Matty had gone. I wanted to keep Ryan behind at the end of the lesson to question him but I knew I had no real right to do that and had to leave it. But could I just leave it, I'd lived with Matty for so long he was kinda like my little bro and something just isn't right and Ryan may know what it is. I think it's safe to say my head is a fully scrambled mess.

Matty's POV
I felt safer at home in bed, although I could still vividly feel AJ's knee in my stomach and my shoulder ached like mad, I knew I couldn't go into school tomorrow, AJ would for sure find me for round two. Hopefully getting sent home will give me a few sick days now tho, my aim is to stay off until Monday, it's Tuesday today so maybe that is a tad ambitious but it's worth a shot and even if they do force me to go, I can just bunk off. Getting in trouble is for sure better than being beaten to a pulp by the school bully who now knows you like to wear makeup. My school life is officially over, if I thought AJ was bad before he's going to be so much worse now and I don't think I'm ready for it, I've learnt what happens when I answer back to him and there's only so many excuses I can give to people for being injured before they begin to suspect, I think Louis is already doubting what I told him today.

Finally the painkillers are kicking in, it's about bloody time, now my stomach doesn't feel like a tied knot with two people either end having a tug of war. As the pain eased more and more, my eyes began to shut, my head feeling heavier and heavier, staying up late the night before mixed with getting beaten up in the school toilets made sleep seem so appealing, I had to let it take over me, so there I was, snoring away, like nothing in the world could hurt me, but it could. AJ could.

When I woke up it was the next morning, the sun shining intensely through the gap in my curtains, causing me to give a tired, deflated groan and I rolled over and looked at my phone the numbers 9:37 giving me a sense of relaxation as I remembered I had the day off school after yesterday's shenanigans. I eased myself up out of bed slowly as my stomach reminded me of the pain it had been put through and pulled on some joggers and a lose fitting top and hoodie before making my way downstairs, finding Louis sat on the sofa in nothing but a pair of boxers.
"Um, shouldn't you be at school" I asked, looking around for Liam and Niall who where nowhere in sight "and where's niam?"
"I'm not in school cos I pulled a sickie and niam are helping Adam at his offices, it's paperwork day apparently" Louis said casually, as if 'pulling a sickie' was actually allowed in the teaching profession. Suddenly swear words of all different nature's started screaming out of the TV and I decided that was my time to leave the room, sighing as I made my way to the kitchen. I could've been home alone all day but no fucking Louis Tomlinson had to 'pull a sickie' and he hasn't even asked me how I'm feeling, that's what I call rudeness but I guess if I had to choose someone to spend the day with Louis would be near the top of my list, he's pretty cool.
I grabbed a bowl of cereal and joined Louis in the sofa, directing my gaze to the TV where grease was playing, Louis singing along to all the songs and mining the words of which he knew each and everyone off by heart.
I smiled to myself, Louis was funny and he wasn't even trying, i thought as I took my bowl into the kitchen, wondering why Louis had pulled a sickie. Does he want to spend the day with me? Surely not, I mean who would?