Chapter Dedication
Skam_Evak

Miller's car is being pulled over near school parking lot with Nancy Miller in driver's seat and Jonathan in passenger seat. Jonathan stared out of the window at people who were rushing inside the school.

"Jon, sweetheart."

Jonathan diverted his attention to his mother, giving her narrowed eyes look. He hated it whenever someone calls him Jon. It only reminded him of his grandmother from his father's side who always criticised him for being not-so-perfect among her other grandchildren.

"What's wrong? You are so quiet." She observed her son.

Jonathan glanced back to the window, mumbling, "I have to get going. I'll be late for my class."

He opened the passenger door and almost stepped out of his mother's vehicle but stopped when a hand rested on his wrist.

"Jonathan, sweetheart. What's going on? You have been so quiet these days, never talk about your school or your new friends. Is everything alright?"

Jonathan wanted to laugh out loud, wanted to tell her how the kids are treating him and how he got bullied by few seniors. He wanted to tell her that no one wanted to be friends with an idiot like him. But he decided to stay shut. He doesn't want his mother to have a panic attack on hearing him being bullied.

"Nothing, mom. School is. . . school. Homework is keeping me busy and that didn't gave me chance to make friends with anyone." He lied to her smoothly.

Nancy gave him a small smile, brushing his hair slowly. "Oh, I knew you will be an obedient student. But please try to make some friends. At least one. I was so heartbroken when I came to know that you never had friends in middle school."

Jonathan sighed before nodding. He took her hand and gave a kiss on the back of her hand. "Love you, mom."

"Love you too, sweetheart."

Jonathan stepped out of the car and watched her mother driving out of the school, leaving him in misery.

A boy being bullied by almost everyone but manages to keep it a secret by lying to his caring parents.

That's Jonathan Miller for you.

* * *

It was lunch time and Jonathan's stomach has been grumbling for continuous half an hour. He quickly made his way to the bustling lunch room. He stood in the queue, waiting for his chance to take the food.

"Umm. . . excuse me." He heard someone calling him behind his back. He glanced at the person over his shoulder, noticing a girl staring at him with bright smile.

"Uh. . . hi? May I help you?"

The girl quickly shook her head, answering, "Oh, no. I just wanted wanted to talk to someone since-" she motioned the queue they were standing. "-the line is quite long. So I thought of chatting with you." She quickly surveyed the queue before continuing, "To be honest, you look like a decent guy to talk to instead of perverts who approached me."

Jonathan let out a soft laugh, truely impressed by the girl's humour.

"You must be Jonathan, right?" His eyes widened in shock when he heard the girl.

"Yeah, how do you know that?"

She gave him an apologetic smile, answering, "It's quite hard to forget you after seeing you in game room, yesterday."

Jonathan tightly shut his eyes, trying to block out everyone. He felt a hand on his shoulder which made me flinch. The girl also flinched, retrieving her hand back to her side. "I'm sorry. I didn't meant to scare or hurt you." She spoke softly.

"So, that's how you know my name." He spoke with embarrassment.

The girl waved her hand in dismissal. "We can forget that incident, like it never happened." She raised her hand in front of him, smiling. "I am Daniella Valentine."

Jonathan smiled back at her, accepting her hand. "Jonathan Miller."

"Daniella!" Someone called out her name, gaining her and Jonathan's attention. "Why are you standing in the queue? Just go ahead, take the food!"

Daniella shook her head, bit her lips, suppressing a smile. "There's a thing called manners."

"You and your manners." Daniella's friend mumbled. "Come back quickly. I am saving a seat for you." Daniella nodded and her friend walked away.

Noticing Jonathan's perplexed look, Daniella clarified, "That's Lizzy Campbell. She's my friend."

"She looks. . . energetic." He commented hesitantly.

"That's because she is."

Both of them took the food of their choice and walked ahead so that others could take the food.

Jonathan surveyed the room with a frown. There's not a single table left unoccupied. "How about you sit with us?" Daniella offered.

Jonathan quickly shook his head in rejection. "I don't want to interrupt you two."

"Nonsense." She dragged him to a table which Daniella's friend, Lizzy has been occupying. "Liz, you don't mind him sitting with us?"

Lizzy raised her perfect brow at him, scrutinizing him carefully before shaking her head. "Since he is not pervert for you, I have no problem."

"See, she has no problem with you. Come, sit with us."

Jonathan was surprised yet internally happy that there is someone who wanted him to sit with them. He placed his tray of food on the table, taking a seat in front of the girls. He was about to introduce himself to Daniella's friend but she beats him. "You must be Jonathan Miller. I saw you in the game room yesterday."

With embarrassment, he hung his head low, avoiding any eye contact. "Lizzy!" Daniella uttered a strangle.

Lizzy sighed heavily before apologising, "Look, I am sorry for being so blunt. It's kind of a bad habit." He was still silent.

"Okay, let's talk about movies or actors." Lizzy changed the topic.

"What's your favourite movie?" He asked while taking a sip from his juice packet.

Daniella and Lizzy glanced at each other with giddy smile before chirping unison, "The Notebook!"

"Of course." Jonathan chuckled.

"What's your favourite movie?" Daniella asked before taking a bite from her sandwich.

"Maze runner." He answered.

"Oh! I love Dylan O'Brien's character in the movie." Lizzy spoke enthusiastically.

All the three of them laughed softly before the girls suddenly stopped laughing. Jonathan was oblivious to what's happening behind his back. He felt a hand slapped on his shoulder and yanked him away from his seat, causing him to fall down on the floor.

He groaned in pain, squinted his eyes to look at the person who did this to him. Ashton Hamilton, fresh in piece, standing in front of him with smirk plastered on his face.

"Well, well, well. Look who is lying on the floor in front of us, our favourite dork." Few boys along with two seniors came in Jonathan's sight, laughing down at him.

Anger started seeping out through Jonathan as he could remember crystal clear that it was them who bullied them and forced his head down inside toilet seat and flushed his head. He couldn't forget that horrendous prank that they pulled on him. And why did they do that? Because they wanted to have some fun, they answered.

Ashton was mainly the person he wanted to leash out his anger, but he physically more stronger. Ashton could break his bones within few seconds, if he wanted to.

Ashton's big brother, Ian Hamilton is a senior year student. So Ashton has a upper hand. No one would dare to shout back at him or even reject his offers.

Ashton kneels in front of him, whispering, "So, tell me. Why are you sitting with them?" He pointed his finger at Daniella and Lizzy who were standing behind him. Both of them held worried face as they were scared what will Ashton do to him next.

"I thought of sitting with them. Is that a problem?"

Ashton's lips turned into a scowl. He narrowed his eyes at him before glancing at the girls over his shoulder, giving them a wink.

Lizzy, in disgust, turned her face while Daniella gave him a death glare. Both of them knew that if they speak anything against him, their whole high school years will go to drain.

"I see." Ashton shifted his gaze back on Jonathan. "Well, I advice you not to sit with anyone, especially with those two ladies."

Jonathan pushed him in anger, causing him to fall down backwards. "You think I will listen to you?" He backfired.

If only he knew, he took a wrong step.

Ashton snapped his fingers and instantly the two seniors held Jonathan in fixed spot. Ashton rose up on his feet and threw a punch right on his jaws.

"Jonathan!" Daniella shouted, was about to run towards him but was held back by one of Ashton's friend.

Ashton, on the other hand, continued throwing punches at his face, kicking at him on his stomach. Jonathan can feel hot red liquid flowing out through his nose. He looked around, trying to find someone who could help him but later realised that no one cares for his existence. He was a nobody for everyone. Everyone in the lunch room were cheering for Ashton. An outcry of 'fight fight' lingered in the atmosphere as people were crowding around them, trying to take a closer look at the view unfolding.

Jonathan stared at the girls. Lizzy was not looking at him. Her head turned in another direction while her eyes tightly shut, restraining herself from crying. While Daniella was continuously pushing the guy aside, trying to come closer to Jonathan but no avail.

Ashton grab hold of Jonathan's head and slammed it on the table. Along with cheers and applause from the crowd, there was Jonathan's whimpering. He was squirming out of his hold.

"Listen to me Miller and listen to me very carefully. You are not allowed to sit with anyone, talk with anyone or even look at anyone. You got it? If either my gang or I saw you disobeying it, remember. Next time, it will be your nightmare." With that he loosened his grip, allowing Jonathan to run out of the lunch room with his backpack over his shoulder.

Jonathan ran towards the football stadium, knowing that no one will be there. Unfortunately when he came to the stadium, he saw a guy sitting alone, finishing up his sandwich. Feeling his presence, the guy turned his head, facing him. Jonathan became stiff for a moment before he realised that the guy was harmless.

He merely glanced at Jonathan before diverting his attention back on his sandwich. Once finished, he wiped his mouth and straightened up. Jonathan watched him walking towards him. Luckily he didn't talked to him nor even peeked at him. The guy simply walked away from the football stadium.

Shocked yet astounded with what happened to him, Jonathan slumped on a bench, bringing his head on his hands.

Why? Why is it always happens to me?

He thought while he sobbed with his face covered up with salty tears and dried blood.

Suddenly he felt a soft hand on his shoulder but he flinched in fear that it might be Ashton again. On seeing Daniella, his body visibly relaxed.

"Oh, it's you." He exhaled.

"I saw that you didn't had lunch so I bought you this." She slided a packet towards him with a small note attached to it.

"Please, don't ignore us." He heard her whispering before leaving him.

He took the note, carefully opening it and reading it.

Dear Jonathan,

You are not alone, you have Lizzy and I.

And don't worry. One day, you will have some friends who would truely care about you.

Your new friend,
Daniella.

Anger was ripping through his vein when he completed reading the letter. Friends? He will have friends one day? Cause that day will never come.

He scoffed before shredding the note into pieces. He then stared at the packet. Carefully opening the foil, he saw two big pieces of chicken sandwiches were wrapped for him.

Staring at the food, he realised that he just got a friend. He wanted to run to her, thank her, give her a hug, anything to express his gratefulness but he knows that if he disobeyed Ashton's rule, his life will become miserable. Not only his, but also for Daniella.

He whispered thanks and took a huge bite from his chicken sandwich.