Part 4/4
TRIPLE UPDATE FOR THE SECOND DAY IN A ROW!
Did the last part seriously suck that bad? Geez sorry 😬
...
Requested by:
@StaceyStonier
*WARNINGS*
Mentions of:
• Homophobia (kinda)
• Bullying
...
Michael:
Ah school, one of the most wonderfully awful creations that humanity ever came up with. The idea that you could shove a bunch of children and adolescents together and expect them to learn everything they needed to know to choose a career didn't make a whole lot of sense to you. In your mind, a kid had one of maybe three choices, try to learn and be a social outcast, be socially accepted and learn nothing, or the worst option; be rejected from both your peers and teachers effectively leaving you completely alone. It often felt like you were the third option.
Well mostly, you had two things in this world, your best friend, and your brother Michael. Everyone else (except your parents and Michael's friends), were pretty much horrible in your opinion. They would tease and torment you, never allowing you a moment of peace, just a second to feel like you were a normal person who belonged.
The only person in your school who you could interact with freely was your best friend. He was in pretty much the same boat, so you could rely on each other. In some ways he knew you more than Michael, because he knew what the did to you.
Michael just knew the very basics of your school experience. He knew that you didn't have a ton of friends, and that you generally didn't like high school. But you didn't tell him that you had to constantly hide in the library with Y/BFF/N because otherwise they would find you. He didn't know that all of your teachers either constantly humiliated you in front of the class or ignored your existence. He didn't know that you had to walk home because you were worried of what they would do to you on the bus. The only person who did was your best friend, and likewise, you were the only one who knew his dirty secret.
Why? Because you both had expectations on your shoulders. Big, ugly, ideas that your family expected you to live up to. Expectations that neither of you were willing to disappoint. Y/BFF/N was supposed to be straight, and you were supposed to be talented. So you kept up appearances as much as you could. Nobody really questioned either of you enough to see through the facade. So it continued and the both of you continued to suffer in silence.
The only consolation you got in your day to day life was that you and Y/BFF/N shared the same schedule. So when it came to partners projects or even just surviving your classes, you had a crutch to lean on. You supported each other, you had to.
Until the worst possible situation reared its ugly headed. Group projects. Not two person projects where you and Y/BFF/N could quietly pair up and work together. No, projects with four or more people. You knew that the time was coming, but you didn't know how you would deal with it.
It happened in English class, your grumpy old man teacher Mr. Y/T/N, never remembered you existed, which was good all the time except for when he was taking attendance. Let's just say Michael thought you skipped class a lot.
That day he explained a new project, "I WANT YOU ALL TO WORK IN GROUPS TO ANALYZE SPECIFIC PIECES OF SYMBOLISM IN "THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH" BY EDGAR ALLAN POE!" He always screamed, since it was the only way he could hear what he was saying. It could get annoying at times, but its not like anyone could do anything to fix it. He was just old, and so deaf his hearing aids couldn't even help him. "I'VE TAKEN THE LIBERTY TO SPLIT YOU INTO GROUPS OF FOUR! I'LL READ THEM OFF NOW SO YOU CAN STOP WORKING!" This was the point of panic. You glanced over to Y/BFF/N who looked just as pale as you, you both knew that this would not end well, even if you were placed in the same group you would have to deal with two hostiles.
Only old grumpy dude never read off your name, or your best friends name, which was almost worse.
"DID I MISS ANYONE? THESE GROUPS FEEL UNEVEN!" He screamed, squinting out at the class. Everyone started laughing and giggling, glancing at you and Y/BFF/N. You tried to ignore them as you raised your hand.
"I- I didn't get a group Mr. Y/T/N," you said shyly.
Y/BFF/N raised his hand as well, "neither did I."
"OH RIGHT! YOU TWO CAN JOIN CHAD JR. AND BRYCE!" He announced and then hobbled back over to your desk while you sat in shock.
The two boys you were just assigned to were quite possibly the worst. They were some of your main tormentors and now you would have to do a group project with them.
"UGH! WE GOT STUCK WITH THE FREAKSHOW!" Bryce complained.
"I KNOW MAN THIS SUCKS!" Chad jr. added. They complained loudly and obnoxiously the entire time you and your best friend took to approach the table.
You gulped and circled around, you didn't know if they expected you to sit with them or not, but you didn't want to make the wrong move.
"Sit," Bryce snapped his fingers and pointed to the seat across from him, "sit down Clifford."
"You too Y/BFF/L/N," junior pointed to the seat across from him.
"Look, we don't want to be paired with either of you, but we're stuck and so are you, so here's the plan," Bryce leaned forward, staring you straight in the eye. You leaned back, trying to stay as far away from him as possible. "We're not doing any work, that'll be our compensation for having to deal with you freaks."
You nodded feverishly, that sounded like a great deal to you.
"She looks too happy about it," junior mused, "I think we should check up on them this weekend to make sure they're doing the work that they should be." He grinned, leaning back in his chair.
You paled and your face dropped, you sneaked a glance at Y/BFF/N, and he looked to be in the same frame of mind. You didn't want you didn't want them to know where you lived. These two were known for egging, TPing, tagging, and just generally vandalizing homes. Their dads always got them out of serious trouble, so they were free to wreak havoc on the lives of their victims. But nobody knew where you lived except Y/BFF/N.
A malicious grin spread across Bryce's face, "yeah? I think I like that idea. Where do you live Clifford?"
"I- I- I uh..." you swallowed thickly and tried to think of a way out. You can't let them know, you can't let them get into your home life as well.
"Well? We're waiting," junior snapped his fingers in your face.
"I don't-" you tried to talk them out of it again, but they ran out of patience.
"Fine," junior grumbled, getting up from his chair. The rest of the class stopped their work as well to watch what was about to happen. You cowered back as the hulking boy approached you. He stopped right in front of your chair, and then leaned down so that his face was even with yours. You were absolutely terrified as his rank breath washed across your skin, "are you going to tell me? Or am I going to have to get it out of you?" He stared at you coldly.
"Y/Address," you whimpered out, breaking eye contact with the boy in front of you.
"Hmph," he spit in your face before slowly turning and sitting back down in his chair. You let out a breath, on the verge of tears, and used your sleeve to wipe the saliva from your cheek.
Luckily before anything else could happen the bell rang. You grabbed your stuff and tried to hurry out with Y/BFF/N.
You weren't that lucky, "FREAKSHOW!" Bryce yelled, "we'll be there Saturday at noon, don't try and ditch us. It'll make it worse for you." The two of you nodded, and then Y/BFF/N dragged you out of the room and into the next class.
"What are we going to do?" He asked quietly.
"I don't know," you trembled, sniffling a little.
...
The rest of the week passed incredibly slowly. Every time they got the chance Bryce and Junior reminded you of your "weekend plans" and every time you felt like passing out.
On Saturday at 11:55 you and Y/BFF/N sat in front of your mostly-completed project, working furiously until Michael sauntered in.
"What are you two working so hard on?" He raised an eyebrow, examining the near poster board on the ground.
"English project," you mumbled, trying not to break your focus.
"Ew," he crinkled his nose, "have fun with that."
He sauntered off, glad he wasn't still in high school.
Five minutes later the bell rang.
At least they were punctual. You grimaced as you and Y/BFF/N got up to answer the door. You held onto each other tightly as you trembled, walking down the impossibly down hallway to where the front door was located.
What you didn't notice was Michael watching you, "for goodness sake," he rolled his eyes, "I'll open the door, you guys look ready to pass out."
Before you could tell him not to, he took a swig of coke and opened the door. You watched his face scrunch up in confusion, "and who are you two?" He asked sassily.
"We're Y/N's friends," you heard Bryce reply.
"We're here to work on the project," junior added.
You desperately hoped that that would be it and that Michael wouldn't do anything to make your life any worse.
You of course weren't that lucky, "well her and Y/BFF/N are nearly done with it, and I've never heard of either of you before so I find it hard to believe your friends," he raised his eyes brows and looked back at the two of you. When he saw the amount of raw terror in your expressions he got some idea of what was really going on.
"We probably just slipped her mind, you know how she can be," you could hear the smirk in Juniors voice as he talked to Michael.
"Just let us through, we need to help them finish the project," Bryce added, smearing the charm on thick.
Luckily Michael knew better, "I don't think so, I don't get the impression they like you too much, and they don't seem to need your help," he shrugged and went to slam the door in their faces.
A foot stopped it from closing all the way, and it swung back open, allowing the two boys inside the foyer.
"Nice digs freakshow, didn't think you had it in you," Junior sniggered.
"Excuse me?" Michael approached him, "who are you calling freakshow?"
"Those two," Bryce approached Michael, popping his gum, "whatcha gonna do about it?"
The thing to understand was that even though Michael was older, and slightly taller than the two boys in front of him, they were both athletes. What they didn't have in height they made up for in muscle mass, fighting wouldn't end well for Michael.
"This," he took a swing at Bryce anyway, pulling a perfect right hook out of nowhere and socking him straight in the jaw. The boy went down right away, he was out cold.
Grinning, he looked up at junior, "who's next?"
You never saw him run so fast. When he was out of sight you approached your brother.
"Michael that was... AWESOME!" You gushed.
"Where'd you learn to hit like that?" Y/BFF/N asked excitedly.
"I didn't know I could actually," he shrugged, "and judging by the amount of pain in my hand I didn't do it right either." With that admission he leaned forward, cupping his right hand to his body.
"Are you okay?" You asked nervously.
"Yeah yeah, better than you I think. Do they treat you like that at school?" Michael sighed and looked you in the eyes.
When you didn't respond he turned his attention to Y/BFF/N. He hung his head shamefully and nodded, "they all do, he admitted."
Your brother didn't look very happy, "Y/N! Why didn't you tell me?"
"Didn't want you to be disappointed," you grunted, staring down at your scuffed converse.
"I wouldn't be disappointed in you for being bullied, that isn't your fault," he sighed again, and you felt his good hand pull you into a hug. "You can tell me anything any time," he glanced over to Y/BFF/N and beckoned him over, "you too, don't hide this stuff I can help."
So the three of you had a very touching group hug until Bryce started groaning on the floor.
"Okay, new plan you two drag him outside while I call the school," Michael nodded at the two of you, and pulled out his phone.
You and Y/BFF/N shrugged and each took an arm, you had a feeling he wouldn't bother either of you after this anyway.
Thank you all for reading, commenting, and voting!
Sorry if your name is Chad jr. or Bryce, I just googled "douchey white boy names" and clicked the first link. 😂😂😂