That following morning Bruce woke up to his alarm. If it weren't for his stupid in-school suspension he'd just stay home.
After getting ready, he went downstairs where he ate a bowl of cereal. He then walked to his front door to put on his shoes. Bruce didn't have to leave for another five minutes, but he walked outside anyways.
It was just as cold as it was last night, this time he wore a sweater so he felt fine. Bruce swung his backpack over his shoulder and started walking his bike down the driveway. He had Vance's jacket and cassette tape in his backpack.
"Wait!" Bruce heard someone shouting. He turned his head towards his house to see Amy running outside. She was fully dressed and had her backpack, even though her school started an hour later than Bruce's.
"Why're you leaving right now?" Bruce asked her once she reached him.
"Because i'm meeting up with my friends and we were going to hang out a bit before school," Amy said, walking next to Bruce. "Why'd you leave the house at two in morning?" She asked.
"What? I didn't," Bruce lied.
"I literally watched you leave. I was downstairs taking a book from dads office and when I left the room I watched you leaving. I got a little worried, but not enough to really care where you going so I read downstairs and you came back inside at like four thirty and you just went straight upstairs," Amy said.
"Oh. I'm very aware what I did when I got back. You should've been sleeping, it was late," Bruce said instead of telling her what happened.
"Shut up, you should've been too. I looked in your room to ask you about it and you just looked very freaked out so I went to my room. What happened?" Amy said.
"None of your business," Was all Bruce said to her.
"Whatever. Bye rat," Amy said and turned the opposite way Bruce was going. He sighed and kept walking.
Arriving at school, he had five minutes to spare. Usually he'd have more time but he was walking slower than he normally would. He'd probably have been quicker if he rode his bike instead of walking next to it.
He waited out three minutes talking to a friend before they both had to leave or they'd be late.
Bruce entered the class a minute before the bell, thankful to see Vance already sitting. Bruce unzipped his backpack and took out what was Vances.
As Bruce walked past Vances desk, he put down the jacket and the tape. He then walked to the second row of desks where he sat.
He was hoping that Vance wouldn't be too mad. Bruce didn't look at his face so he had no clue how angry he must've looked.
Vance, however, wasn't mad at all. In fact, he was amused by how Bruce was acting. Vance figured Bruce thought he'd want to fight him after that. Vance didn't, in fact, he wouldn't mind doing it again.
Throughout the day, Bruce didn't once look at Vance. When they were allowed to leave, Bruce tried to be quick to get outside, but Vance was right behind him.
Bruce unlocked his bike from the rack. He fumbled to get the lock undone, so when he did and turned around, he saw Vance standing behind his bike.
Bruce looks down at his bike, "I'm really sorry. I don't know why I did that," Bruce said. He didn't want to say he didn't mean it, because that wasn't true.
He pulled his bike out and started walking down towards the sidewalk, not once daring to look at Vance.
"Hold on," Vance said. Bruce glanced up, seeing Vance standing next to him. Bruce wanted to get on his bike and leave as quickly as he could because he was undoubtedly petrified. But, he didn't.
"Just so you know, I don't care," Vance spoke. Bruce hesitated before responding, "You don't?" Vance shook his head.
"Why?" Bruce said, which he quickly regret. He didn't lift his stare from the sidewalk he was walking on. "I just meant like, because you beat up that kid who called you gay and stuff. I didn't think that or nothin' I just.. I seriously don't know."
"Yes, but, he meant that in a rude way," Vance shrugged. "Oh, right. So, we're still okay then?" Bruce asked.
Vance paused. He's a little surprised Bruce hasn't put two and two together and realized Vance likes him. "Yeah.. We're good. I'm headed this way, going to go get my brother from his school," Vance spoke.
"Okay. I'll see you tomorrow then," Bruce nodded. Vance then went right, where he would try and remember the route to Griffins school. He just wanted to make sure he was safe when going home.
Bruce hopped on his bike and rode to his house. He debated turning around to walk with Vance. He could pick Amy up from that school too. Bruce pushed the brakes and came to stop. Putting a foot down, he looked over his shoulder. He could probably catch up to Vance in time if he left now.
Yes, he was still a little scared of Vance. Yes, he did make everything awkward, and yes, he still turned around and began pedalling in the direction Vance went.
Ahead, Vance was walking without a clue Bruce was nearing him. He got off his bike and jogged a little until he was next to Vance again.
"Back so soon?" Vance joked. "My sister goes to that school too. I was just going to walk her home I guess," Bruce told him.
(they are suddenly at the school and its over !!)
Both boys were watching out for their younger siblings to walk out of the school. Bruce spotted Amy first, so he quickly ran up to her, even though she was with her friends.
"Amy!" Bruce said. She turned around and glared at him. "What the hell are doing at my school? Also I saw you standing with Vance what's that all about?" She said.
"Shut up i'll tell you later, let's go," Bruce said, motioning for her to start walking.
"I was going to walk with my friends though," Amy said.
"I don't care," Bruce said. Amy let out a sigh and rolled her eyes. "Fine. See you all tomorrow then," Amy said and waved to her friends.
"You better be explaining this to me when we get home," Amy said. "Be quiet," Bruce told.
He walked to where Vance just was, only to find he was gone.
"Why are you hanging around him anyways? Doesn't he like punch kids for fun?" Amy asked.
"What? No. I told you, i'm telling you later."
When Bruce left to get his sister, Vance spotted Griffin walking outside. He was also being followed by two boys who were a lot bigger than him.
Vance walked in that direction, getting spotted by Griffin. He immediately started walking to Vance. When the boys following him noticed Vance, they stopped moving.
"I'm not above beating on elementary kids," Vance told them after getting closer to them.
"We wasn't gonna do nothin'.. We was just playing around is all," one of the boys said to Vance.
"I don't care. Don't-" "Vance.. Can we just go," Vance stopped talking and looked down to Griffin.
"Yeah," Vance nodded. He gave the boys one last death stare before he turned around and began walking off with Griffin.
He noticed Bruce standing with his sister, having a conversation.
"Hush!" Bruce spoke to his sister before he turned to look at Vance. "Hey."
"Griffin's your brother? He's in my class," Amy said and waved to Griffin.
"Yeah. Cool," Vance nodded once. The four started walking.
"Bruce, you want me to hold your bike?" Amy offered. "Sure," Bruce shrugged. When Amy took ahold of it, she ran ahead a little before jumping on it and pedalling away.
"Hey! What the hell?!" Bruce shouted out after her. "Thanks!" Amy yelled back to him and continued pedalling as fast as she could.
"Alright then," Bruce frowned. Griffin moved to be standing in the middle of Vance and Bruce. "You're on that one baseball team, right? The one sponsered by the optometrist thing or whatever?" Griffin said to Bruce.
"Yeah, I am!" Bruce nodded with a smile. "Cool! I've never seen you play but Vance says you're good," Griffin says.
"Oh, he did?" Bruce said, then laughed. "I've watched Finney's team play against yours. You aren't that special," Vance quickly responded, meaning the last part as a joke.
"I see how it is," Bruce said, keeping his smile. "I've got to turn here now, see you tomorrow. For real this time," Bruce waved.
"Alright. See you," Vance said. Him and Griffin continued on their route home after that.