Chapter 4

-Brice's POV-

I was waiting outside the cafeteria for Seto. I leaned against the wall, just watching the mobs of students rush by, drifting off into my own thoughts.

I felt a tap against my shoulder. I jumped and turned around to see Seto, giggling at my shocked face. I grinned and laughed as I pulled him by the hand towards the lunch queue.

I crossed my arms as we waited in line, tapping my foot. I t was slightly awkward not being able to have a conversation with Seto, but I still loved the company.

I'd shoot him reassuring glances every once in a while and he would nod back at me. When we got our food, we found an empty table in the corner and sat down. After a few moments of silence and eating, I had a thought.

"Um, Seto? Could I um give you my number? I mean, that way we could, you know, talk to each other..." I mumbled.

He stopped chewing and tensed for a moment. Finally, he put down his sandwich and slowly took out his phone. I did the same and we exchanged devices.

After punching in each other's numbers we took back our phones. Immediately Seto started texting. My phone vibrated and I read the message.

'Why did you help me?'

I glanced back at Seto confused. His dark eyes were looking down, refusing to make contact with mine. Frowning, I looked at him quizzically.

"Why wouldn't I help you Seto? You were in trouble and looked like you needed a friend - heck, I needed a friend! Why do you ask?" I answered, a little sad that he felt like that.

A small smile crept on his face when I said we were friends, but he still wouldn't look up.

'I'm a freak. Why would anyone want to be friends with a mute loser like me?' he texted. I sighed.

"Seto. Look at me." I muttered, firmly but sternly. He lifted his head and I finally met his gaze.

"You're a great person. I could tell that and I've only just met you. So what if you don't talk? It's what make you you. Don't ever think differently." I said sincerely.

He thought for a minute then nodded and went back to eating, a small smile on his face. I did the same. I could swear that his eyes were... glowing? But that was probably just my imagination.

When we had finished, we packed up and headed out of the bustling canteen, dodging elbows and trays and walked quickly through the double doors into the halls.

After we reached our lockers, which just so happened to be right next to one another, I asked to see his schedule. He handed me the piece of paper gingerly. I examined it carefully and smiled.

"Looks like we have almost everything together, except when you have geography, I have social studies." I looked at him and grinned. He grinned back shyly and I chuckled.

"Wanna sit with me in music, seeing as we have that next?" I asked, still grinning.

Seto shuffled on his feet nervously, fiddling with one of the straps on his backpack. I sighed internally.

Whatever happen to this boy to make him so nervous and distrustful I'll never know. I put my hand on his shoulder and felt him flinch.

He shot his head up and looked at me, fear radiating from his eyes. It made my heart ache to see such a scared look in his eyes.

"It's ok, you don't have to if you don't want..." I said softly, not wanting to sound too upset. I can't push him, especially since he's so painfully shy.

He must have noticed anyway because he hung his head guiltily. He grabbed his phone out of his pocket and texted furiously.

'I do want to sit with you Brice, I was just in shock sorry. Nobody's ever wanted to sit next to me before.' it read.

He continued to hang his head until I nudged him slightly. He looked up at me, tears pricking the corners of his eyes. My heart cried out to him.

"Oh Seto... It's ok, come on. Let's get to music early so we can get the good seats." I whispered, my voice cracking a little.

I patted his arm and walked off in the direction of the music room, waiting for him to follow. I heard his footsteps echo and get louder as he go nearer, running to catch up.

When he reached me, I slowed to a normal pace. He walked next to me, slightly flustered. I giggled to myself as we both headed to our lesson.

-Seto's POV-

It's weird. Brice genuinely wants to be my friend. When he asked to sit next to me during music, it all felt too good to be true.

I've always found it difficult to trust people, especially new people, but with Brice it felt different, like I could be totally safe with him. It was a new feeling. I liked it.

I must have been thinking too long because he put his hand on my arm and nudged me and I panicked slightly.

Had I made him mad? Did he still want to hang out with me? Did he hate me?

I felt tears well up in my eyes with these thoughts and he must have noticed too, because he started gently patting my arm, making the tears stop immediately.

I looked up to see his kind face smile. I felt guilty, and he started talking. I could hear the disappointment in his voice, so I quickly texted him once he stopped to clear up any misunderstandings.

He let go of my arm saying something to me and I stood there, wrapped up in my own thoughts.

I snapped back to see him halfway down the corridor. My shoes squeaked on the polished floors as I ran to catch him up. When I reached him he smirked and kept to my pace.

We walked in silence as we reached the music room. We stopped outside and I leaned on the doorframe, as Brice knocked on the door and walked in.

"Wait here, I'll just find Miss Beaufort." he said, halfway in the classroom. I nodded and he smiled, shutting the door to.

I sighed and closed my eyes, resting my head against the wall. Suddenly, I felt myself being pushed to the ground, my back smacking onto the hard floor.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the faggot from this morning."

My mouth went dry as I heard the sickeningly familiar voice.

I opened my eyes and gulped. Slick-hair and his goons towered over me, smirking madly.

Slick-hair leaned forward, until he was inches away from my face. I stared, blank, frozen.

Still smirking, he grabbed the back of my head and slammed me into the lockers with a loud bang.

Instinctively, just as I did with my dad, I made no sound, didn't bother fighting back. I just stood there, pressed limply against the locker like a rag doll.

"What's the matter fag, cat got your tongue?" he sneered, flecks of spit falling from every word. I didn't react, just waited for it to end. One of his henchmen suddenly chortled.

"What you gonna do to him Chase?" Chase grinned darkly, and directed his gaze once again at me.

"Let see, shall we?"

With that, he landed a punch right in my stomach, knocking the wind out of me. He pulled back his fist and punched me again, this time in my side.

I heard a faint crack and a surge of pain washed over my side where he hit me. I knew from experience that my rib was cracked.

Chase drew back for another punch. I closed my eyes, waiting for the next blow. A few seconds went by and it never came. I cracked open my eyes and gasped slightly in shock.

There was Brice, Chase's fist in his hand in front of my face. The two goons stood in awe, jaws hung open gormless. Chase was staring back at Brice, shock and anger on his face.

I looked over at Brice wide eyed. His eyes had darkened, hellish fire dancing behind them as they burned into Chase's.

"Put. Him. Down." Brice whispered through gritted teeth.

"Or what?" Chase sneered. I could see the anger grow on Brice's face, and it honestly scared me a little. I had never seen anyone like this over me before, and it honestly scared me.

His eyes flashed and I suddenly heard Chase gasp in pain. Brice's hand was still gripping his fist, crushing it. Chase dropped me and I crawled back into the lockers, gapping at Brice. Chase continued to twist and cry out in pain.

Growling, Brice let go of Chase's fist. His back-up long gone, Chase grasped his crushed hand, glaring at Brice. Brice took a step forward.

"If I ever see you harassing him again I'll rip out your goddamn throat, got it?" he snarled, eyes still ablaze with anger.

Chase stood, still glaring, then looked down at me and scowled. Clutching his hand to his chest, he turned and walked away.

I watched as he sauntered off down the corridor, mumbling under his breath. I looked back at Brice. He was staring in the direction Chase went. His hands eye balled up into tight fists at his sides.

He turned to face me. The anger on his face was soon replaced with concern, but the fire still lingered in his eyes. He crouched down and reached out towards me.

I flinched and curled up, unsure how to react. Would he hurt me? At the back of my mind I knew he wouldn't, but my instinct still told me to run.

His hand stayed in the air for a moment before gently brushing my arm. I whimpered and squeezed my eyes shut.

I felt Brice pull me into a deep, yet gentle hug. We pulled apart and I opened my eyes to see Brice's face in front of mine.

"Seto... are you ok?" he whispered, his voice cracking. After the initial shock of what happened, only now was I really back with reality.

I nodded quickly, gulping. I looked back at Brice's face. The fire in his eyes had gone, now their usual ocean blue. He smiled weakly and helped me up.

My side still aching, I groaned and Brice took me by the shoulders, leading me carefully into the classroom. We sat down at the back of the room. He looked at me again, muttering quietly

"I'm so sorry Seto. Miss Beaufort wasn't in and when I walked out the room to find you, Chase had you up against the wall. At first I just stood there but then he hit you and -"

I cut him off by elbowing him. I smiled and scribbled the words 'Thank you' on the desk in pencil.

He read it and grinned back at me. As we then pulled out our things for music, the bell rang, and other students started filling up the tables in front.

The noise that had grown in the classroom was suddenly interrupted by a shrill female voice from the front.

"Ok, settle down class. We have a new student with us today," she glanced at me.

"Stand up and introduce yourself young man!" Miss Beaufort's voice rang out.

Oh no... oh God no...

-Brice's POV-

Seto suddenly shrank back in his chair. The whole class was turned around to face us, staring at him.

I could hear his breathing become rapid and he looked down at the desk, eyes darting side to side in panic. Just as I thought he was about to pass out, I spoke up.

"Er, his name is Seto. He... doesn't talk..." I explained, my hand on Seto's back. I could feel his breathing becoming normal again, but he was still so tense.

The rest of the class started whispering to one another. I heard the occasional snicker and I glared at them.

"Oh, ok then. Thank you Brice and... Seto was it?"

I nodded and she once again addressed the class, calling for registration. I glanced back to Seto. He had relaxed now. I sighed with relief and gently nudged him.

"Seto it's ok. Now you need your notes, we're starting a big project today." I said gently, pushing out of his stupor.

Slightly dazed, he nodded and pulled out his equipment. I did the same and we both settled, ready to start.

"Ok class, today we're going to be starting a term-long project in pairs. Each pair will get a 2m by 2m sheet of plasterboard. I want you each to decorate the board as a pair with things that you feel represent you and each other. Then, individually, you must find and print out on A4 a song which you think sum up yourself. Your partner will then find a song which they think bests sums you up. Both will be placed on your board. Optionally, you can also write a brief summary about why you chose the song for either yourself or your partner. This will conclude the first two thirds of your term project."

The class then buzzed with excitement, giggles and pairs dotting the room, ready to begin. Admittedly, I was also getting excited.

This would be my chance to get to know Seto better and for him to open up to me a bit more, get more relaxed and confident.

I was roused from my thoughts by Miss Beaufort laying a large slab of wood down in front of Seto and I.

"Now boys, there are magazines and articles behind you. If you want to look through them for things to add to your board you can, but I want most of the them to come from home." she beamed at us.

We both nodded in unison and she walked to the next group, dragging the boards as she went. I couldn't help but grin.

Seto poked me and I turned to see him grinning back. The mutual giddiness we both felt was infectious. Yes, this was going to be a great year.

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