Trigger warning: bullying, mentions of anorexia,  fighting, homophobic slurs, ptsd, and feels
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Eliza's POV

When Aspen told me Reynolds had hit her, I was furious. I very much so care for this girl. When I saw the bruise under her eye all I wanted to do was punch the asswhole in the jaw. I could see John scowling in the corner of the room when she told me, he probably wanted to kill Reynolds as much as I did if not more. She is his baby sister after all, but she begged us not to. She didn't want us to get hurt, she was scared it would make it worse.

Flashback

"Please I'm begging both of you, and tell Alex this too," her voice was shaking as she spoke. "Don't. Do. Anything. Stupid!"

"But Aspen, he hurt you, you have been through so much at least this time I can pay him back!" John said, he was obviously pissed, not at Aspen though.

"John, please!" She turned to me, "Eliza, I can't let something happen to either of you because of me so please don't do anything."

I look at John and he sighs, "fine, but don't think for a second we are leaving you alone!"

Flashback over

I wanted to beat Reynolds's face in so badly, but John, Alex, and I honered her wish and didn't touch Reynolds.

One day we were walking along campus when I see Jefferson and a younger girl, maybe my age, with him. They looked very similar so I assumed that she is the mysterious Natasha Jefferson everyone talked about. Being the nice person I am I walked right up to Thomas, ignoring his sister, and said, "you better watch your buddy, Reynolds, cause he touches Aspen again and I'll go after your whole group!"

He looks at me and says, "Hey it wasn't my idea to offer her a spot in the group, also, I don't hang out with them anymore. Reynolds crossed a serious line when he hit Aspen!" I didn't expect that, he left the group? That means Madison left the group because he always follows Thomas.

Then I feel a tug on my arm and turn to see Aspen with pleading eyes, "let's go, please," she said quietly. Thomas sees her and sees the bruise under her eye. He actually looks worried.

"My god," I hear Natasha whisper.

"Aspen's right, let's go," says John and we all walk away with our arms around Aspen.

Later that day

John's POV

We meet up with Alex, Herc, Laf, and Burr and all walk together. Then I feel my sister grab hold of my hand. I look at her and her face is pail and she looks terrified.

Eliza also notices this, "Aspen, what's wrong?" She asks gentally.

Alex then points ahead of us, "maybe it's them?" He says and sure enough Reynolds and his group are walking toward us. I can see a new person with them, he looks like Hemmings but with brown eyes.

"Aspen, get behind me," I hear Eliza say.

"Well hello faggots," says Reynolds smuggly.

"Back off, James!" That I never thought I would hear burr say. He is in good with us but he was also kind of friends with these guys too.

"Hey, Burr does have some backbone!" Exclaims Sally.

"Hello, Eliza," Pain says.

"Pain," she says angrily, she obviously still wants his head on a stick for hurting her sister.

"Ah, Aspen!" Reynolds says, "Good to see you, face healing well?" He smirks.

"You better walk away right now, Reynolds!" I growl. He just stands there.

"Or what?" Says the boy who looks like Sally.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Sally says. "This is my brother Andrew!"

I see Herc roll his eyes, "we don't care who he is we just want you guys to leave us alone before we beat your asses!"

"Why are you so skinny, Aspen?" Sally asks ignoring Herc, "do you need to be anorexic to try and be beautiful or something?"

Aspen says nothing.

"Your all faggots, who aren't worth a thing." Reynolds adds, "I even wonder why you hang out with that whore's son!"

He jesters to Alex and his face turns pail. He looks so upset. That's what sets me off, I punch James in the nose. Hard. He stumbles back as blood falls from his nose, and a lot of it. I may have broken his nose. We make a mad dash for my dorm and lock the door. I plop down on the couch and everyone except Aspen follows suit.

"John! I told you not to do anything!" She says as she faces me.

"I'm sorry!" I say to her,  "but I saw how scared you were and Alex's face when he said that and I couldn't help myself."

"Honestly I'm glad you did," Eliza mumbles.

"Not helping!"

"Ok, let's calm down and head back to our dorms, I'll walk Aspen to her's," Burr pipes in. We agree and everyone but Alex and I leave the dorm. That's when I notice him muttering something.

"How'd he know? How'd he know? Everyone will leave if this gets out!" I hear him say.

I decide to ask about what Reynolds said, "Alex what did he mean? When he called you a whore's son?"

His face turns pail, "Please, I don't want to talk about it." I nod in understanding. I have things that I don't wish to share either. The rest of the day we just tried to relax.
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Sorry about that feels trip. I hope you enjoyed, ily all!
- Your favorite weirdo💚