I’m updating this because I really want to continue it and also it actually seems to have had a good response, not a lot of reviews, but the alerts, C2 adds and favourites mean a lot as well, so thanks for reading everyone :)

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It was Monday morning, quarter past eight, he lived only ten minutes from school but he still never left this late – he was going to be late. Ethan was never late. Twenty past, he was still in the hallway, he had put his shoes on, slung his school bag onto his shoulders and had his hand hovering over the doorknob, as though afraid touching it would electrocute him. He sighed, he just really didn’t want to go to school today. There were lots of days like this; foreboding was circling around him like a hawk circled prey, but there was always some reason that made him go into school. He refused to let the idiots that also go there ruin his education. So at twenty-two minutes past, he slipped out of his front door and walked to school even though he really, really didn’t want too.

Over the weekend where his bruises had faded, his fear had not.

He wasn’t stupid. He knew damn well that Jamie would be pissed to high hell for getting beaten up over him and he knew damned well that he was going to feel the price of his revenge today. Only the suspense of not knowing just how far it would go was killing him.

It was actually a normal day, he went to his lessons, sat there quietly and did all that was required of him to ensure that he was on track to four As in the summer exams. To ensure he had a one-way ticket out of this place. He smiled at the few people that smiled at him, he spoke to Ella – a quiet girl whom returned the pen to him that he accidentally left in the library in his second period free, and he received various dirty looks from Jamie’s mates. Overall it was the most personal activity he usually had over a couple of days.

He didn’t see Jamie until lunchtime – that was when it all went to shit.

The bully looked absolutely furious – his eyes lit up as he saw Ethan and he scowled whilst picking his way through the crowds towards him, he backed Ethan up against the wall, though did nothing else forceful as he was aware how crowded the area they were in was. “As soon as school ends. Main entrance. Be there, or else.” The ‘or else’ was implied anyway had he spoken it aloud or not, it was also as corny as hell though Ethan knew it was not hard talk for show, it was actually a legitimate threat that would be taken very seriously. He could just go home, run out of school right now – it was lunchtime, he didn’t even have to sign out because of afternoon registration. But he didn’t. Because he knew that he couldn’t – he wasn’t stupid – he knew that if he didn’t listen things would just be worse for him when Jamie did catch up to him. He stayed in school. Jamie smirked again at the sight of a withdrawn, shaken and frightened Ethan and left him wondering what would happen to him for the next three hours. It was a suspense given to him was to undoubtedly prolong his agony. It was a very effective technique.

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“Ethan, are you okay?” His biology teacher was looking at him in concern – he was sat at his desk with his head on the cool surface, his hands gripping his hair. It was last lesson, only half an hour to go…for his teacher to notice, he much have looked rough. He lifted his head up slowly and looked at her, feeling his face going red when he realised others were looking at him too. He hated being spoken too in class – the attention just embarrassed him. He didn’t need to answer every question asked because his actual work proved he knew the subject matter so he would sit there quietly every lesson unless asked to speak, and even then his voice would waver slightly as he did so. He was doing his A-levels for Christ’s sake – the classes were only small!

“I’m fine thanks.”

“If you need to go out, just get up and go.”

He nodded his thanks. In ten minutes time he did just that. He got out of his seat and keeping his head bowed, let himself out of the classroom. He felt rude for doing so, but his teacher had told him too and he honestly thought he was going to puke. He reached the toilets and was relieved to find he was alone. He went into the last stall and locked the door, falling to his knees he gripped the toilet seat and hovered over it breathing shallowly. After a couple of minutes in that position he realised he actually wasn’t going to be sick – he just felt ill with nerves. How he actually made it through the day without being sick he would never know.

Pull yourself together Ethan. He thought scathingly to himself. This is what they want – it probably wont even be any worse from normal. Its time like this he especially agreed with Jamie – he was pathetic.

He blinked his tears away – he refused to cry. And just as he opened the stall door, the bathroom door opened. It was Jay, a boy from his biology class. He was one of the quieter ones, had a small group of close knit friends and kept to them, he was decent to everyone though, him and Ethan exchanged words here and there – which was all anyone ever got out of Ethan anyway.

“Hey Ethan, Miss sent me to check on you, you don’t look too good, are you okay?”

He nodded, and washed his hands whilst avoiding the mirror – he never looked good, he didn’t need a verbal and visual reminder. “Thanks. I’m coming back now.”

Jay held the door open for Ethan who thanked him again, and fell into step with him until they reached their classroom, Jay offered Ethan a comforting touch on his arm before sitting with his friend, leaving Ethan to walk past everyone to his own seat behind everyone, alone. He didn’t like sitting at the front, because that meant everyone could see you there. Its not like he sat at the back to piss around like most would.

All too soon, the lesson was over and Ethan found himself wanting to be sick again. He found himself in the main entrance, anxiously waiting, he desperately wanted nothing else but to turn and run away but he couldn’t, he brain was screaming to escape, but his feet were cemented. They would only catch him up and make things worse if he protested. He was pathetic like that, but there was nothing he could do about it – he felt utterly powerless.

So when he was instructed to follow Stuart, Jamie’s best friend, to wherever the fuck they where leading him, he didn’t even struggle. Not that he could, Jamie was tailing behind him to make sure he didn’t stray. No one watching normally would know anything was wrong – it wasn’t as though they were dragging him along kicking and screaming. Ethan was too busy looking around him for any others that would be accompanying them that he didn’t see someone in a red car that was watching him.

After not even a minute of walking he realised where they were going, his entire body screamed with protest – this was not fucking good.

They were at the field close to school. Smart move. Private place. No interruptions. No repeats of Friday. No one to save him.

He was almost going to try and make a break for it. As though reading his thoughts, a hand clamped down onto his wrist and four well built lads surrounded him. Four. In the time it took for him to process that piece of horrifying information they had somehow dragged him to the far corner of the field, they were in amongst the trees and overall, were very well hidden. Fucking brilliant.

“Say it. No fucking around fag, we have a lot to get through today.”

Ethan was shoved to the floor and they closed in around him. He wanted this over with so he could go home and recover, he said what they wanted to hear, “I’m a useless waste of space and deserve everything I have coming to me,” and he let their laughter drown out his own self-loathing voices.

“Ouch! Fuck! St-stop!” Ethan bit the words out as he sat up higher on his knees and arched his back in an attempt to alleviate some of the pain that was now shooting through his arm – one of the idiots had latched onto his left wrist and was tugging it up and around where it wasn’t meant to go. He was going to sprain it! Someone else kicked him in the back, he wanted to move and writhe with pain but he couldn’t because of his wrist being held in such a cruel position. He wasn’t sure who was doing what but after a few well placed knocks, he was sure they were only just getting started – Jamie could have beat him into this condition by himself. Mocking laughter and harsh insults filled his ears whilst they took it in turns to strike him. His wrist especially was in agony, he thought he was going to pass out. Only suddenly they all stopped.

“I believe I told you I would smash your face up if you touched him again! That does not mean gang up on him four to one! You bunch of shitting cowards! Does it look like he called me for help? It wasn’t his fault I was there to give you your comeuppance on Friday and its not his fault now either.” Ethan looked up in utter shock – Avery was standing there with a tight hold on Jamie, looking utterly livid.

Stuart advanced on Avery obviously figuring that four on two…well one still, Ethan would hardly be any help…was still in their advantage, “fuck off dude. There’s more of us.”

“That will make it all the more embarrassing for you all when you lose then wont it? I’ve been doing self defence since I was nine.”

“Prove it.”

“I will.” For the second time in four days he beat the shit out of Jamie. And not only did he do that, but he also managed to beat the shit out of the others as well. He managed to get it down to three on one, and then keep those in check until eventually all the four bullies were furious and smarting bruises of their own. Stuart made his way to Ethan who was cradling his wrist and kicked him in the side sharply.

“This is all your fault! You’re fucking worthless!”

He pulled Ethan’s hair and tugged him to his feet whilst Avery was preoccupied with the others still and glared at him. He looked mental.

“I’m sorry!”

“You had better be!”

Finally Avery emerged at Ethan’s side, “don’t fucking apologise to him!” He roughly hit Stuarts jaw and warned them all that the same would happen again if they so much as looked in Ethan’s direction, after getting agreeing nods from them all, he and Ethan left the field.

Today’s damage: a bloody lip, bruised jaw, headache, bruise covered stomach, legs and ribs and a sprained wrist.

Lovely.

He found himself in Avery’s car and cursed himself for wincing as fastened his seatbelt, he stared out the window wondering what state he would have been in had it not been for his twice saviour and tried not to let the tears welling in his eyes from the pain and humiliation fall.

He jerked in surprise when his door opened and he saw that he had completely spaced out and they had ended up outside Avery’s apartment again, “come on.”

“Thanks.”

“Here, sit down,” Ethan sat on the settee and minutes later had two painkillers and a glass of water pressed into his good hand which he swallowed gratefully. “I’ve shoved some ice in a bag and wrapped it round this tea towel, it’s gonna hurt but you need to keep it held on your wrist yeah? I have a bandage we’ll wrap it up in after.” Ethan nodded and then swore under his breath as the bag was placed onto his wrist, why the fuck did ice have to be so fucking cold!

Avery was sat on the floor directly in front of Ethan, “told you I’d see you again.”

“Yeah…” Ethan was confused, he never actually thought the dude had been serious.

“I figured that that dickface wouldn’t let me beating him up and behalf of you slide, so I thought I’d swing by and wait for you after school.”

“Thanks…”

“Do you think they’ll try it again?”

“Not straight away…”

“Fuck. Why don’t you tell anyone?”

“They’re good at hiding things, no-one in school has ever seen anything. I don’t want the trouble. It’s not worth it.”

“Its worth your fucking health kid!” Ethan flinched and Avery apologetically lowered his voice, “sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.” He let it drop, “You’re not left handed are you?”

“No thank fuck.”

“Good.”

“Thank you.” Ethan raised his eyes and let them study the guy in front of him. Avery was tall, skinny, but well built and had dark blond hair that was mixed with brown strands, his eyes were hazel, but seemed to reflect light off of them really well and he wore fitted but not tight trousers with a deep purple T-shirt showing off his very nice body. Ethan didn’t doubt for a second that Avery was excellent at his self-defence he had the body, never mind the skill, to prove it. He was fit.

That just made Ethan all the more self conscious; he had messy black hair that he liked to leave long so he could hide behind it when it fell in front of his face, his eyes were a deep green, and his body was scrawny, never in his life had he ever worked out, and nor had he ever had any urge too either, he didn’t care what he wore – why should he? He didn’t like tight fitting things, if you wore noticeable clothes like that people looked at you and Ethan didn’t want that kind of attention. He wore plain jeans and a dark blue T-shirt that was at least a size too big, he didn’t even own that many clothes.

Overall, his looks weren’t top on his priorities list, he wasn’t happy but he also didn’t care. He couldn’t change how he looked, and didn’t want too. If it was his looks that made people dislike him he didn’t want to be friends with people who were that superficial either. He wouldn’t fight for the acceptance of people who were shallower than an ice cube tray.

“You are welcome.” Avery reached up and stared into Ethan’s eyes, his fingers gently grazed over the horrible bruise drowning his jaw and he whispered, “you’re not used to people treating you well are you? You don’t trust me do you?” Ethan shook his head, “that’s okay. You will soon. Because I wont let anything else happen to you. You have me as a friend now and that’s all you will ever need.”

For the first time in a long time, Ethan allowed himself to show someone his real smile. Something in those deep chocolate eyes made Ethan believe every word he said. He made Ethan feel relaxed and comfortable, something he never was around anybody.

They sat and talked for three hours straight until they each realised how hungry they were. They learned a lot about each other, and Ethan found out that they got on extremely well.

Avery had just turned twenty last week, making him a couple of years older than Ethan who would turn eighteen soon. He worked at the garage about twenty minutes away and left school when he was sixteen. He lived in this apartment, and to say it was only an all in one kitchen, dining room and living space with a bedroom and an en-suite, it was quite roomy. He was doing well for himself. He went to his self-defence lessons twice a week and helped coach the people there because he was a black-belt. A good one at that. He was funny, straight to the point and it seems, a loyal friend.

He hoped that Avery would stay true to his word. He was such a straight talking and no nonsense character that Ethan would be surprised if he found out he was being led on, not because he didn’t think someone would do that to him for whatever reasons, but simply because he believed Avery was that honest. And after experiencing friendship for the first real time in his life, he hoped that he wouldn’t lose it. You can’t forget these things, and he defiantly didn’t want too.