Warnings ⚠: Child Abuse, Rape, Violence, Religion, Drug Use, Alcohol Use, Use of Slurs, Homophobia, Bullying, Mention of Suicide, Suicidal Thoughts, Suicidal Actions, Gun Use
Josiah's P.O.V.
-Thursday, August 26th-
"Hey, Walker!"
Fucking Logan Haas. Again.
What the hell is it with everyone and calling people by their last names here?
"Not right now, Logan." I mutter.
"Yeah, like you have a choice." He grabs my arm and turns me to face him.
"Make it quick."
"Shut up," He scoffs, "What the fuck is going on with you and Cohen?! He said you were his, or whatever the fuck, but he left you alone all day yesterday and today. So, what the hell?!"
"I don't know. He told me that he only said that to fuck with you, because he hates you. Or something." I shrug.
He shoves me against the nearest wall and I wince upon impact.
"He's a dumb-ass anyway..." He mumbles.
"I know," I cut in, "He's just as stupid as you and all the other assholes in this school."
I like to pretend that I don't go around picking fights. A teacher asked me why I let myself get beat up so much and I told them that I'm just too weak to do anything.
Truth is I can't go five fucking seconds without fighting.
"Seriously, shut the fuck up." He warns.
"Or what? What are you going to do to make me stop? I can take a hit, and you know it."
"I know I can make you cry." He argues, moving closer.
"Right, but so can an A-."
He shoves me back again, pinning me to the wall. I look up at him with wide eyes.
He's too close.
Too fucking close...
"I think you owe me an apology." He says.
"I think you should fuck off." I retort.
He lands a punch on my jaw, before dragging me onto the ground and started repeatedly kicking me.
I just cover my head with my arms and wait for him to be done.
As always.
Just wait for it to stop...
He stops after just a minute.
What the hell?
"Look who showed up." He mutters.
"Maybe I didn't make myself clear last time, asshole. I thought I told you to leave him the fuck alone."
Oh.
Damien Cohen... What the fuck is wrong with him? Why is he doing this?
I push myself up a bit, trying to watch them.
"Funny. You don't seem to give a shit about him until I get my hands on him. Is he your boyfriend?" Logan mocks.
That's dumb. I already told him that Damien is just messing with him.
I back off a bit, unsure about what is going to happen here. Maybe I should leave.
Damien immediately approaches him and punches him in the face.
"WHAT THE FUCK, MAN?! You're such an ass!" Logan hisses.
"Know your place, asshole. Be glad it's just me this time. Next time you try to go against what I say, it will be me, Hunter, and Ethan beating the shit out of you! Get the fuck out of here!"
"Whatever! Fuck..." Logan retreats, leaving us alone.
I sit upright and look up at Damien. "Still trying to fuck with him?" I ask.
"Yeah. Actually... I knew I helped you for a reason. I'm assuming you're smart as fuck, right?"
"Depends on what you mean by smart as fuck...?" I question.
Am I smarter than him? Yes. Are most people? Also yes.
I don't think that makes me a genius or anything.
He leans against the wall, like the tough guy he is. He's probably crossing his arms, too. Y'know. To look cool.
"Well. I'm sure you're not surprised that I'm failing, like...everything. Except history. And I need...a tutor. So you're going to tutor me."
"Yep. I know you're a dumb-ass." I confirm.
I scratch at my arms a bit before pulling the white sweater sleeves over my hands.
Yeah. It's too hot for sweaters. Whatever. I don't care.
"Wait. You want me to tutor you? That's the dumbest shit I've ever heard. You just assumed that I'm smart? Why? Because I have glasses?" I stare up at him.
Joke's on him. I'm blind because of brain injuries. Not from whatever the hell makes other nerds blind.
"No. You're in one of my classes. I know you're smart. You've got a lot of balls for someone I could fucking throw across the room. Just because I didn't let Logan beat your ass doesn't mean I can't do it. Now. Are you going to help me, or what?"
"First of all, I don't care if you try to beat my ass. You're not scarier than anyone else. Secondly... What classes are you taking?"
If he needs help in any science stuff, then...maybe.
If he's expecting me to help in memory based classes, like the history that he's apparently passing... Then he's out of luck with me.
I don't like learning stuff like dates and the shit people used to do. Unless those people invented something.
"I just need help in science and math...maybe Spanish. I'm not good at those. But I'm not fucking repeating high school. That's for sure."
"Okay," I force myself to stand, "I'll think about it."
"You'll think about it? I guess I didn't make myself clear. You're helping me, whether you want to or not."
"I don't have to do as you say. You're not my dad or anything, dumb-ass. I glare at him.
Who the hell does he think he is?
"I don't think you realize that I could make your life a living hell. You're like, fucking five feet tall, and you can't weigh more than 125. I could pound you into the ground. Don't make me."
Just the fact that he hasn't done anything yet tells me something. He's been all bark and no bite with me.
He isn't as...bad...as I thought he was.
"Try me. I have to go. I don't have time for this. Maybe... Meet me tomorrow. I'll give you the choice of us meeting either before or after school."
Let him think he has some freedom in this. Some options.
"After." He says instantly.
"Okay. We'll figure something out tomorrow after school, then," I tell him, "Goodbye, Damien."
Damien...
Damien Cohen...
One of the biggest bullies in the whole school.
He is comparable to the people who have hurt me the most in my life. He's brutal, and big, and scary...
He must be weaker than I thought. Considering he hasn't even touched me.
"Wait." He stops me.
"What?"
"I... I don't even know your name."
Oh, right.
I guess that is mildly important.
"Josiah Walker." I tell him.
"Right. See you tomorrow, Walker." He says.
Wait...
...I made a mistake.
He's going to call me by my last name.
Like everyone in this goddamn school does.
Fuck my life.
End