I don't know if this deserves a trigger warning per say but it does include a conversation about weight and I know that can be a touchy subject with some of you since it is with me. There will be bold text where it begins and ends. If you can't read it (which is totally okay) there will be a summary at the end of the chapter.

On the fateful day of May seventh, Mr. Way's first period English class was taking their poetry final. Josh was quietly filling in the bubbles on the Scantron, completely focused on his test.

It was silent in the classroom until Mr. Way's phone went off. He frowned but answered it in a low voice. "Hello?" pause. "Can it wait? He's in the middle of taking his final," pause. "Okay, I'll send him down," Mr. Way hung up and scanned the classroom for a second. "Josh?"

"Yes, sir?" he replied, setting his pencil down.

"Mr. Iero needs to see you in his office. I don't know how long you'll be down there so bring your test up and take your things with you."

Confused, Josh shakily closed the packet of test questions and put his pencil in his bag. He looked over to see Tyler and Dallon both looking at him with the same expression he was wearing. Shrugging as if to answer, he walked up to the classroom, handed Mr. Way his things, and slowly walked out.

When he entered the office, he was greeted by the kind, warm secretary who always had a bowl of candy on the desk in front of her. "Hello, Josh," she smiled at him.

"Hi, Ms. Nestor," he smiled back warily. "I was called down because Mr. Iero wanted to speak with me?"

"Yes he did," her smile quickly faltered. She pointed to the short hallway on the other side of the desk she sat at before picking her smile back up. "Down the hall, second door on your left."

Josh thanked her and walked towards the room she described, gripping tightly on to his backpack strap. He had only been called into the principal's office once before to discuss his foster home– and of course, he had lied and said it was wonderful and that he loved it.

Josh poked his head in and knocked lightly on the door. "Mr. Iero?" The principal looked up and smiled sadly. It was then that Josh noticed he was holding the phone.

This is where it begins. Please don't feel obligated to read if you can't handle it. It's not much but it's enough to trigger someone.

"Hey, Josh," he greeted. "You can take a seat."

Josh hesitantly sat down and leaned his backpack against the chair. "You called me in here?"

"Yeah," Mr Iero nodded. "You have a phone call, apparently he wouldn't let the school call your parents."

Josh felt like his heart had just dropped into his stomach. He took the phone from Mr. Iero's outstretched hand and put it up to his ear. "Hello?" he said nervously.

"Joshie?" Patrick sobbed. "I'm so sorry. I'm so so so sorry."

"Hey, you're alright," he tried soothing his brother. "What happened?"

"These kids–" he gasped in what Josh thought was pain. "They pushed me and they-they called me fat and obese and chubby and I'm so sorry."

"Are you alright?" Josh asked, swallowing a lump in his throat.

"They shoved me onto the basketball court– we were at morning recess –and my elbows are all scratched up and I hit my head," he cried. "Mrs. Williams saw and took me into the nurse. She said I needed to come home but I don't wanna," there was a choked sob. "Joshie, I don't like this. I really don't like this."

"I know," Josh felt a tear stream down his face. Mr. Iero noticed and offered him the box of tissues. He shook his head and wiped his eyes with his free hand instead. "I know buddy. Do you want me to see if Dallon could take you to his house?"

"Can T-Tyler come? He's kind of scary so that means no one will talk to me when I walk out, right?"

"Yeah," Josh smiled sadly. "I'll see what he can do."

"Okay, I'm sorry Josh. I'm really sorry."

"Hey, Patrick, listen to me."

"What?" There was a sniffle and then a whimper.

"It's not your fault. At all. You didn't ask to be pushed down. You didn't ask to be called names. Okay?" Mr. Iero's eyes widened.

"Josh I'm sorry. I'm not trying to be fat. I promise I'll do better."

"Patrick..."

"Mrs. Williams just walked in, I gotta go."

"Okay, one of us will come pick you up. Someone will be there soon."

"Bye, Joshie."

"I love you, Trick."

There wasn't a response and Josh heard silence. Shakily, he handed the phone back to his principal.

"Is your brother okay?" Josh shook his head. "What happened?"

"Some kids pushed him down and called him names," he sighed. "Can I be excused? Just to go get him? I don't have a car so I need a friend to come with and take him to one of their houses since our parents can't make it home from work and I don't want him to be alone."

Mr. Iero nodded. "Yeah, go get them and I'll write you a pass. Just check out with Ms. Nestor before you leave. Make sure you come back." 

"We will, sir. Thank you."

He smiled. "It's no problem, just make sure he's okay."

"Thank you again," he smiled back. The sound of the bell rang and Josh took that as his cue to leave. "I'm gonna go now."

"Remember to sign out," Josh gave a thumbs up and walked out, giving the a little wave.

When he opened the office door, he turned the corner and almost smacked into a figure. "Josh!" the dark haired boy was brought into a hug. "What happened, are you alright?"

He pulled away and saw Tyler looking at him concerned, standing next to Dallon who had been the one to embrace him. "I'm fine, but Patrick's not," they both gave him concerned looks. Josh sighed and ran a hand through his curly hair. "Some kids at school pushed him down and called him fat, he hit his head and the nurse said he needs picked up. He obviously doesn't want to be around my parents when they come home from lunch but I can't stay with him all day."

"My parents are at work," Dallon frowned. "And I have my history final next period."

"My mom has the day off and I just have physics," Tyler shrugged. "She can probably watch him."

"Oh my God you're a life savor," Josh pulled Tyler into a hug this time. "We gotta go though, Mr. Iero said he was excusing us but we have to sign out."

"Wait excused for-" Tyler began excited before Josh cut him off.

"The next period or so, don't get your hopes up troublemaker," Josh rolled his eyes as Tyler snickered.

"Let me know how he's doing, alright?" Dallon told Josh. He nodded and they exchanged goodbyes before the taller walked to his next class.

Josh re-entered the office but with Tyler behind him this time, he went back over to Ms. Nestor who smiled once again before frowning at Tyler. "One second, Tyler," she turned to Josh. "You can just sign out here," she gently handed him a pen and pointed to the pad of paper.

"Actually, I'm leaving with Josh."

She quirked an eyebrow at Josh. "You're leaving with Tyler?"

"Yes, ma'am. My other friend has his history final so he can't run me," he finished writing the time by his name before writing Tyler's underneath his.

"And you're making sure he comes back?"

Tyler laughed and Josh tried not smiling. "Yeah, I will."

"Okay..." she said hesitantly. "Good luck with your brother."

"Thanks, Ms. Nestor," Josh set the pen down. "I'm gonna need it."

Basically, Patrick called Josh at school because some kids pushed him down and called him names surrounding his weight. Josh and Tyler have to go pick him up from school because he hit his head. He's spending the rest of the day with Tyler's mom.