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School, the next day was horrific. I've been pushed into a locker twice and called a dork more times than I can remember, what was it, pick on Lucas day? I was starting to think that was every day. I tried to avoid them the best I can but it's proven to be harder than I thought. So when lunch time came around and I made my way to my locker, my day which had been awful thus far got a whole lot worse.

"Hey, Dork! Where do you wonder off to at lunch?"

"You notice my absence? Aww that's so sweet" The words came out of my mouth before I could stop them, bitter and strong. He heard each word clearly. Crap! I bit my tongue, instantly regretting my words.

You wish, so what is it? You think you're too good to be around us when you eat?" Actually, no. I just prefer to avoid confrontations like this and let's face it, you don't want me there and sitting alone at a table, silently eating, having to face the fact that no wants to talk to you is just depressing. But because I didn't have a death wish, I didn't say any of that and instead settled with a simply "No."

"Hey, look at me properly when I'm talking to you" All of a sudden I was yanked by my collar and pushed up against the lockers. I hate these jerks, just leave me alone and go eat your lunch already. Why must you harass me?

I made eye contact and saw nothing but anger in his eyes, somebody has some issues. His friends stood behind, snickering among themselves.

"Look, I really don't know what your problem with me is but I just want to eat my lunch in peace"

"My problem is you're a dork"

"Oh, I'm sorry. Would you like me to change my personality for you?" Why must I do this to myself?

"What did you say?" He was now fuming, maybe I shouldn't have opened my mouth but instead stayed quiet.

"I-uh what's so wrong about being a dork?" I was generally curios.

"Nobody likes a dork" He raised his fist and I sank back against the locker, oh no.

"B-but everybody has a dorky side, don't they?" What am I doing?

"Huh?"

"Like, I bet you play games, right? Or maybe you have a favourite superhero?"

"I play cool games"

"Call of Duty? Grand theft auto? Need for speed?" His fist lowered, making me calm down slightly but I wasn't free yet.

"Yeah, what of it?"

"See, we're not so different. I play games like that too" Well, sometimes, but he didn't need to know that.

"You do?"

"Yeah and as for superheroes, I bet you're a fan of Deadpool" I was honestly just winging it but it seemed to be working so I'll take it.

"Yeah, Deadpool is cool but he's not a superhero"

"N-no but he has his own film and his own comics, he's technically a superhero but he doesn't see himself as a hero, that's what makes him so great."

"Yeah..."

"See? We're not so different, after all"

"I'm NOT a dork" His fist raised again.

"Oh god, that's not what I meant. Please don't hurt me"

"You're weak and the weak need to be punished"

"Who taught you that?"

"Huh?" My question seemed to throw him of guard and he backed up a bit, I used this as my chance to try and get away. Big mistake. The next thing I know I'm being pushed back up against the locker and a fist is heading straight for my face. I don't remember much after that, just people screaming and pain. Lots of pain. I vaguely remember somebody pulling the jock off of me but that's about it.

I woke up in the nurses office and not going to lie, I kind of freaked out. I sat up quickly and just as quickly I regretted my decision, pain shot up my side causing me to cry out in pain. The school nurse was quickly by my side pushing me back down to the bed.

"You need to take it easy" She spoke, softly but firmly.

"What time is it?"

"1:30, I've been trying to contact your parents but neither answered their phones"

"They're at work" I explained, I really didn't want my parents to know about this but there was no way I could hide it from then, especially with how beaten up I feel.

"Is there anyone else that can pick you up?"

"I can drive"

"Not in the condition you're in you can't"

"I'll be fine, I don't live too far and I really don't want to be stuck here for hours"

I heard her sigh as she looked me over "Alright but I want you to stay here for a least 30 minutes longer, just so I can make sure you're alright"

"Okay"

The next 30 minutes dragged on like crazy, I just wanted to go home but instead I had to wait around, bored. I stood up from the bed and slowly made my way over to the mirror that hung on the wall not far from the door. I wanted to examine the damage, I think most of it was under my shirt but there was a nasty bruise that had formed on my left cheek. Yep, no way of hiding this.

"How are you feeling, Lucas?" The nurse asked as she entered the room.

"Better, still hurts though. Can I go home now?"

"Yes but please be careful, luckily nothing is broken but if you need to take a couple days off, please do. I don't want you pushing yourself"

"Will do, thanks"

I hobbled out of the nurses office and got into my car, making my way home. I didn't live too far, about a 5 minute drive maybe. I pulled up in the driveway in front of my house but didn't get out. My parents wouldn't be home for a few more hours and I really didn't feel like being alone. Sighing, I climbed out of the car but instead of heading inside of my house, I turned around and made my way up the hill, which was a lot harder to climb now and it took me longer to get to the top. Pain shot through me and I had to stop myself from crying out. I stumbled through the back yard to the back door, biting down on my lip as I did. Pushing my way inside, I let out a breathe I didn't know I was holding. The pain was excruciating and I just wanted to lie down and sleep but instead I made my way through the big house and up the stairs, pushing open the first door on the left of the corridor.

To my surprise the room was empty. I hobbled my way over to the bed and sat down, letting out another breathe and squeezing my eyes shut, willing the pain to go away. I lay down on the bed, which helped a considerable amount and cradled my chest, my eyes still screwed shut.

The relief as the pain faded was overwhelming and before I knew it, I was falling asleep.

*****

When I woke up, there was a blanket covering me and I no longer had my shoes on, being half asleep I assumed my mum had come home and came to check on me. Oh god, I don't want her to smoother me just because of a few bruises. I wasn't ready to open my eyes, my head hurt and I just wanted to sleep forever but I knew that wasn't possible so instead I forced my eyes open and when I did, I nearly screamed.

I forgot I didn't go home, I went straight to Jasper's. I was laying in his bed, wrapped up in his blankets while he sat at the bottom on the bed, legs cross, reading a book. So he put the blanket on me and took off my shoes? I sat up slowly, my head throbbing and my movements caused Jasper to look up from his book, rather quickly might I add.

"Are you okay?" He asked, looking concerned and placing his book down to the side of him.

"Yeah" My voice was hoarse and my body ached.

"W-what happened?" He was staring at the bruise on my face, which I'm sure looked even worse now than it did before.

"Just some jerk at school wanting to teach me a lesson" I responded, It came out more bitter than I intended and I watched at Jasper cringed.

He didn't say anything after that and instead just lent forward on his knees, coming closer to me. My heart started racing as he got closer and I closed my eyes willing it to stop. My mind was fuzzy and I felt tingles as Jasper placed his hand upon my face, running his thumb gently over the bruise. Please stop, do you have any idea what you're doing to me?

"Does it hurt?" He whispered as his thumb continued to brush over my now bruised cheek. I kept my eyes closed as a shiver ran though me, too scared of what I might do if I opened them with him in such a close proximity.

"Yes" I whispered back not sure if I was talking about the bruise or the beating of my heart anymore.

His hand pulled back from my face and I opened my eyes to see him sitting back in his original spot, his eyes still trained on mine.

Suddenly his eyes lit up and he jumped up from the bed, running over to his closet and pulling something out. I watched, confused until he ran back over and sat back on the bed.

"I found this" He said, handing over what appeared to be some kind of board game.

"Would you rather"

"Can we play?" The excitement in his voice caught me off guard, I've never seen him excited over anything.

"Sure, why not?"

"Okay, you go first" Jasper said and I picked up a card from the top of the pile.

"Would you rather have bright blue hair or bright blue feet?"

"What?"

"They're ridiculous questions but it makes it more fun, you have to choose which one you would rather do and you have to pick one."

"Oh, well then I guess bright blue hair would be pretty cool"

We played the game properly for the first few turns but then decided to ditch the board and just read the cards. So far it was pretty fun and I've managed to get quite a few laughs out of Jasper.

"Would you rather be chased by five zombies or be chased by one werewolf?"

"Five zombies, I'd have better chance at surviving. I'd be dead if I were chased by a werewolf, I'm really not that fast a runner." I didn't even need to think about this one, let's just hope the zombies are slow. I struggle enough getting up the hill to this house.

"Would you rather change gender every time you sneeze or not be able to tell the difference between a muffin and a baby?"

"What?" Jasper's laughter filled my ears and made me smile, he had such a nice laugh, I could listen to it all day.

"Which would you rather do?"

"Wouldn't changing gender every time you sneezed really hurt?" Jasper was really opening up around me and I cannot even begin to express how happy that made me, I finally had a friend.

"I don't know, maybe the sneeze distracts you from the pain" I laughed along, enjoying myself more and more as the minutes went by.

"I don't think a sneeze can do that. I guess I could go with the latter and stay away from both babies and muffins for the rest of my life"

"Aww, but muffins are amazing"

"So would the muffins look like babies or would babies look like muffins?"

"Hmm maybe muffins look like babies and babies look like muffins"

"I'd just see people cradling muffins" Laughter filled the room from both Jasper and I, this is without a doubt the most fun I've had in a long time. Unfortunately it was short lived as when I opened my mouth to start speaking again, the Star Wars theme song filmed the room.

Sighing, I pulled my phone out of my pocket, glancing at the time as I did.

"Crap" I whispered, it was already 4pm.

I hit the answer button, placing the phone up to my ear.

"Hello?"

"Lucas, sweetie. Where are you?"

"Sorry mum, I went straight to Jasper's after school"

"Jasper's?"

"Oh, uh, yeah. He's m-my new...friend" I looked up at Jasper who was watching me with a small smile on his face.

"Oh! Okay sweetie, I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I missed a call from your school, did something happen?"

"Just a run in with a bully, mother. I'm fine"

-gasp- oh no.... "He didn't hit you did he?"

"Mum, I'm fine"

"That's not what I asked, Lucas! Did he hit you?"

"Mum...."

"Lucas Brown! You get home right now so mummy can see you"

-sigh- "I said I'm fine"

"I know what you said, I want to see for myself"

"Fine, I'll be home in 5" I groaned, hanging up the phone before she could say anything else.

"Sorry Jas, my mum is freaking out. I have to go" When I looked at Jasper he was staring at me in shock, his eyes slightly wide.

"What?" I asked taking a step closer to him.

He shook his head "N-nothing" I noticed that his cheeks were tinged with the slightest pink.

"Okay...well I had fun and uh thanks for taking care of me"

"N-no problem" For some reason he wouldn't look me in the eyes any more, weird. Did I say something wrong?

I opened the door ready to leave but stopped and turned around, Jasper was still staring at the floor, his cheeks pink.

"Do you, uh, do you have a phone?"

"Huh?" He lifted his gaze from the floor and stared at me in shock.

"A phone?"

"Oh, uh, no" He looked slightly embarrassed at this.

"Really?"

"I have no use for one"

"I guess that makes sense, anyway I really have to go. See you around, Jas"

His gaze landed back on the floor as he stuttered out a bye. How strange.

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