In this chapter, our hero gets to know a pretty boy, is harassed by a major creep, and holds hands with someone who makes his heart flutter.

CAUTION: This chapter includes actual descriptions of bullying, including verbal assault and sexual harassment, rather than indirect references to bullying, as in previous chapters. If you feel that might cause any difficulty for you, please think very carefully before reading this chapter. While I love having my stories read, knowing people are taking care of their mental and emotional well being is a lot more important to me.

Copyright 2020 by Heather Rose Brown

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"Sorry for jumping to conclusions," Vic said as we headed out of the classroom. Once we'd merged with the heavy foot traffic in the hallway, he said, "I just saw how chummy you two looked, and ... well ... I guess I really stepped in it."

I ducked out of the way of a girl running past us, then smiled at Vic as I shook my head. "No need to apologize. I just ... kinda never thought of anybody being interested in me like that."

"So, you never had a girlfriend?" His brows wiggled. "Or a boyfriend?"

My cheeks warmed as I said, "Of course not. To both!"

"Sorry again," he said as he gave me a light shoulder bump. "It's a wonder I can talk, let alone walk, with both feet in my mouth."

Something about the image of him trying to walk with both feet in his mouth made me chuckle. Or maybe it was a giggle. It was hard to tell with the loud chatter of the other students.

Vic looked like he was going to ask me something, then gasped when he was slapped in the back.

"Yo, Brunfag," said a tall, chunky boy as he slapped Vic in the back again.

Vic hunched his shoulders. "Get outta my face, Griff."

"Dial down the hostility," Griff said as he held up his hands. "Just messin' with ya." He looked at me with a smile any shark would envy. "I know you're new here, so I better warn ya 'bout this one."

"Nobody wants to hear it," Vic said as he quickened his pace.

"What's his damage?" I asked as I ran to keep up.

Vic sighed, then said, "He's just some bloody plonker, who thinks a bit of eyeliner means you've got a thing for guys."

I studied his face as well as I could while running down the busy hallway. "You got makeup on?"

"Not since the first day of school," he said as he shook his head. "The powers that be decided girls are only allowed subtle makeup, and boys are allowed none."

"They made a rule, specifically saying boys can't wear makeup?"

Vic slowed as we reached a door near the end of the hall. "Eh, they can keep it," he said with a smirk. "I'm already pretty enough as I am."

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I saw Richie talking to a girl with puffy pigtails when we entered the classroom.

Vic walked towards them as he said, "Richie ... and Chrissy!"

Chrissy turned to Vic, and said, "Oh m'gosh. What happened to your hair?"

Vic let out a deep sigh, then said, "School messaged my parents, dad took me to a barber, and snip snap, my hair got chopped."

"Wait a minute," I said as I stepped up to the group. "This school can make ya cut your hair?"

Richie's mouth quirked to the side as she nodded. "If it don't meet school guidelines, then yeah."

I held a hand up to the side of my head. "But ... what if I don't wanna?"

"Don't worry," Richie said as she draped an arm across my shoulders. "They only make guys keep their hair short."

The warmth of her arm on my shoulders drove away the panic I'd been feeling, which made more room for my growing anger. "That's ... that's just ... so unfair!"

"You're telling me," Vic said.

Chrissy reached up, and parted the hair covering Vic's forehead down the middle. "Y'know, with a couple of barrettes, it could still look cute."

Vic shook his head, shaking loose the part in his hair. "Nah, they'd probably just ban that too."

Richie snorted. "This is ridiculous. First the makeup thing, and now this?"

"Definitely should be first order of business at our next meeting." Chrissy said as she put her hands on her hips.

"What meeting?" I asked.

The ringing of the second period bell drowned out Chrissy's answer, but it had looked like she'd said something about telling me later.

Richie let go of my shoulder as she said, "Guess we better tap in."

Richie, Chrissy, and Vic lined up behind a couple of other students already standing by the teacher's desk. I slipped off my backpack and pulled out my card as I hurried to get behind them.

"Hey," Griff whispered from behind me. Even though he'd only said one word, there was something in the tone of his voice that made my hair want to crawl off the back of my head.

"Hey," he whispered again after the line moved. I ignored the desire to bloody Griff's snout, and tried to remember another one of the visualization techniques my therapist had taught me.

"Where's your bra?"

I imagined myself being someplace far, far away as the line moved again.

"Ain't girls supposed to wear bras?"

I was at the edge of a quiet lake. A gentle wind rustled through the trees around me. I was not in some weird school with crazy rules. There definitely wasn't a creep standing behind me.

Griff's warm breath tickled the back of my ear. "It should be right here."

A finger pressed between my shoulder blades.

"What the hell ya think you're doing?!" I shouted as I spun around.

A tall, nearly bald man appeared beside us. "What's going on here?"

"Nothin', Mr Mason," Griff said as he leaned away from me.

"That wasn't nothin'," I said through gritted teeth.

Mr Mason turned to me, and asked, "Did he touch you in any way that made you uncomfortable?"

My stomach churned as I nodded.

Griff frowned and said, "All I did was tap her shoulder."

"Is that correct?" Mr Mason asked.

"I guess ... sorta ... yeah. But the way he did it was ... just ..." I gave up trying to finish the sentence.

"I see. And did he say anything inappropriate?"

"He asked me about ... " Something wet and hot slid down my cheek. "He said stuff 'bout me wearin' a ... a br-"

"I did not!" Griff shouted.

Mr Mason turned to him, and said, "That's something I think we can discuss with Mrs McCrudger."

Griff's brows shot up. "What? Can't you tell she, or he, or it's lying?"

Mr Mason's voice boomed through the classroom. "Mr Griffins! Office. NOW!"

Griff growled, glared at me, then stomped out of the room.

The stone cold expression Mr Mason had while he watched Griff leave melted when he looked at me. His voice was warm and mellow, like a cup of hot cocoa, when he said, "Would you like to speak to the school therapist?"

I wiped my cheek with the back of my hand as I thought. I still wanted to pummel Griff until there was nothing left of him to hit. Under that were a lot of other feelings; none of which I could name. "I dunno," I said as I shrugged.

Even though he didn't smile, there was a twinkle in his eye as he said, "I'll take that as a yes."

A hand slipped into mine. I turned and saw Richie smiling at me. She gave my hand a squeeze, then looked at Mr Mason as she asked, "Would it be okay if I took Tracy to see Dr Korvin?"

"That sounds like a good idea," he said as he nodded at Richie, then looked at me and asked, "Would you be okay with that?"

I did my best to smile as I nodded.

"Very good. I'll contact Dr Korvin, so she knows to expect you."

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The clap of our shoes against the wooden floorboards echoed down the empty hallway. I barely noticed the sound of classes being taught as we passed by closed doors. Richie brushed the back of my hand with her thumb as she said, "Don't worry, Dr Korvin's really nice."

I gave her hand a squeeze. "I'll be okay. This ain't gonna be my first therapist."

"Really?" Richie was quiet as we passed another door. "Would I be getting too nosy if I asked what kinda things you're seeing a therapist for?"

I grinned and said, "Maybe a little, but I don't mind telling ya."

Richie bit her bottom lip, then said, "Sorry 'bout that."

"It ain't really a big secret. Just got some anger management issues he's helping me with."

"Ahhh," she said, while giving me a curious look.

"You almost seem disappointed."

"No, not really. I was just expecting something ... different."

"You mean like split personalities, or stuff like that?"

Richie smiled and shook her head. "Nah, nothing like that. I just ... never mind."

"Okay, ya really got me curious. Whatcha think I was seeing a therapist for?"

"Maybe like ... gender stuff?"

"Huh?"

Richie stopped and gave me a look that was happy, sad, and hopeful; all at the same time. "I just thought maybe you were ... well," she let go of my hand as she said, "however you identify really ain't any of my business."

A lost, empty feeling opened up inside of me when she let go. "You mad at me?"

"Of course not," she said as one side of her mouth dimpled. "Why'd ya ask?"

"Well, when ya stopped, and then let go, I thought ... maybe ... I dunno."

"Ahhh, I see. Well, I stopped 'cause we're here," she said as she gestured towards a door. "And I let go," she added as she pulled the door open, "so I could do this."

"Oh," I said as some of the emptiness faded. Part of me wanted to reach out to her, but another part was terrified of the idea, so I wrung my hands instead. "Sorry for making assumptions 'bout how ya feel."

Richie grinned and said, "Está bien."

My heart beat faster as I said, "This is like, close as I ever got to being friends with someone in ... ever. Guess I was worried about messing that up by getting ya mad."

"I can't promise to never get mad," she said as she touched my cheek. Her lashes fluttered when she lowered her hand. "But as far as the friends part goes ..." Richie let go of the door, swallowed a couple of times, then said, "that's something I'd really like."

And then ... she hugged me.

I stood there a moment, not sure how to react, then leaned into the hug. "I'd like that too."