Fragile Bones

Chapter Four

For the first time I actually feared the kids at my school more than I pitied them. I used to just feel sorry for their shit personalities, but never necessarily feared them. Were they going to resort to actually pushing me around now? I hope not, I don't think I would be able to handle it. It's not like I necessarily have a high pain tolerance.

I daintily rolled up the sleeve covering my right arm to see bruises already forming in the shape of fingers, and to be more specific, Spencer's fingers. They weren't well formed yet, still red turning barely purple, but give it a few hours and it'll be pretty bad. The push into the lockers didn't really do damage, my shoulder just hurt for a couple seconds after the impact. It could definitely be worse, I suppose I should consider myself lucky.

The warning bell rang and I quickly made my way to my English class. It was empty for the most part, most students would want their remaining few minutes of freedom to talk to their friends. I sat down in my seat in the back corner and patiently waited for class to start. Mr. Henderson was sitting in his chair flipping through a file of some sort with a disappointed look on his face. As more students began shuffling in I rose up from my seat, realizing that I needed to sharpen my pencil. I was near the sharpener when Asher walked through the door. Mr. Henderson hastily called him over to his desk and Asher complied, sauntering up to the desk with his hands in his pockets.

"Asher, I was just looking through your English grades from your old school. You barely passed each semester, in fact, you even failed one," Mr. Henderson whispered to Asher, making the conversation secret to all those who weren't stealthily creeping by the pencil sharpener. I'm talking about me. I'm the creeper. "Is this something I can expect from you here?"

Asher shrugged, and looked pretty unhappy to be caught in this situation with the teacher. "I can't really say Sir. Unfortunately, I can't read the fucking future," Asher hissed at him. I gaped at the fact that he had the audacity to swear like that in front of a teacher. I though for sure Mr. Henderson would give him a detention, but all he did was sigh.

"I would like to pass you, see you excel even. But that's all up to you, I can't force you to do the work," he spoke truthfully. Asher just scoffed and shook his head, staring right at him as if challenging him.

"If this is all you called me over for, it's been a colossal waste of time. Can I go sit down now, or are you going to hound me about my math grades too?" Asher didn't wait for an answer and shoved himself off of the teacher's desk that he had been leaning on and walked back to drop into the seat next to me again. I returned to my desk as well, completely forgetting about the pencil I had to sharpen.

Asher was sitting with one hand curled up into a fist on top of his desk and his eyes closed, like he was trying to get ahold of himself. Maybe he had anger problems. Either way, I couldn't stop myself from staring at his profile. As if sensing my stare, his eyes snapped open and shot over to me faster than lightning. I was so startled by the sudden movement I accidentally knocked my binder onto the floor with a bang. Everyone turned their heads around to me in unison and I flushed bright red, bending over to pick it up. I heard Asher start chuckling beside me, watching me as I placed on the desk carefully, so as to not make any sudden noises.

"Nice one clumsy," he muttered. I turned my head to stare at him. Did he just call me what I think he called me?

"I'm not clumsy, don't call me that," I whispered back to him, impressed that I had even the courage to say that to him. He looked surprised as well and looked at me with raised eyebrows.

"I think that's the most I've ever heard you speak." He stared at me as if waiting for a response, but I didn't give him any. "But fine, if you don't like clumsy I guess I'll have to call you something else-" I mentally sighed in relief, I did not want that nickname following me around for the rest of my life. "Sweetheart," he finished.

I guess I spoke too soon. That was probably the worst thing he could've said to me, and he clearly knew it. I don't know why he was getting on my nerves so much when he barely knows me. And what happened to me never interacting with him again? Clearly, I had already broken that promise to myself.

He didn't say anything more to me that whole period and I wondered what he was playing at. Would he turn out to be just like Spencer, cruel and horrible? He already seemed to be associated with their group, so I guess the answer to that would be yes. If he was going to turn into a bully too, I might as well start avoiding him now to save myself from further hurt later.

The rest of the day passed by rather smoothly which surprised me. My dad even showed up after school to drive me home. I thought for sure I would see Spencer again before the end of the day, but I guess he had other things to do. He did mention a football game earlier, one I would certainly never attend. I never went to any of the games, they were practically a guaranteed way to get bullied. I wouldn't even want to root for out school's team, I didn't even have any school spirit. There was just no point to going.

I pulled my knees up to my chest as I sat in the passenger seat of my dad's car which I was now currently in. I laid my head on my knees and stared out the window, watching all the trees flash by in a blur of yellow, red, and brown. Fall colors.

•••
Weird way to end the chapter, I realize. It's also an even shorter chapter than the last one, but I digress. I have some serious plans for the next chapter, and it won't be a filler, I promise. Asher will not be in the next chapter though-

*boos sound all around me*

Hey! He's been in the last chapters all the freaking time, we need a break!

*someone throws a banana at me* "Boo, you whore."

I SWEAR TO GOD I WON'T UPDATE AT ALL.

*everything quiets down*

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Emma x