A/N: thank you so much hslgbtlove for helping me out with this chapter!

I walked out of the office with a sigh. Mr.Ajayi had helped me talk to the principal about what was happening with Max and Jackson. The principal assured me they'd do what they could to stop it and let me go so I won't miss algebra. It's so stupid. They claim to be a 'no tolerance for bullying' school but barely do anything about it. I know that when I tell my parents later, the school will get an angry phone call for sure.

I was about to walk to algebra when I got yanked away from the door.

Oh god.

Jackson and Max stand there, and they are angry. I couldn't deal with this anymore, and it was time that I tried to stand up for myself. If the school won't, then I will.

"Leave me alone." I finally snap at them. I stare them down and cross my arms.

Max laughed as Jackson stepped closer to me.

"you finally sticking up for yourself?" Jackson shoved me. I got back up and pushed him back.

"Yes, I am. Leave me alone." I said again, in more of a more stern tone.

They look at each other and burst out laughing. I stand there in annoyance and try to walk into algebra again.

Main word; try.

TW: bullying & violence (starts now)

He grabbed the back of my t-shirt, and I got slammed against the lockers. I lost my breath for a second from the impact.

I glared at Jackson and tried to get out of his grip. I threw a punch his way, but I missed, and he sent one right back. I yelped as his fist went right to my eye.

"There is no way you will get away with the fact you told on us." Max scowled.

Max walked up to me and punched my face and then my stomach. I gasped and fell to the floor as Jackson let go of me.

They laughed and began to beat me up, worse than when my ribs got broken. I still tried to fight back, but then the hits got harder. I began to cry as it continued and on. Nobody cared as they walked by. A few people did.

I blocked my face with my arms as they threw kicks and more punches.

Why did I even try to stand up for myself?

TW: bullying & violence (ends now)

Nick's pov:

I began to do my homework as I walked down the hallway toward Algebra class.

How do people have time to do these worksheets? I don't get home till 8 pm after rugby practice, and I'm exhausted by then.

My algebra teacher should be glad I'm trying to finish the worksheet now.

I rounded the corner on my way to class, and I froze as I began to hear shouts and cries. Is someone crying?

Not on my watch.

I shoved my worksheet into my bag, not caring if it got crumbled, and ran over to where I heard the cries.

I froze.

Charlie Spring was getting beaten up by Jackson and Max.

Anger took over as everyone who walked by let out a chuckle and let it happen. Who were these people raised by!?

I rushed over and shoved Max off of Charlie before they could throw another punch.

I swung at Jackson to show that I was not playing around.

They need to leave
Charlie alone.

"Jesus, what has gotten into you!?" Jackson shouted at me.

I stared at them. "What has gotten into me!? YOU are the ones beating Charlie up! For no reason!" I shouted.

"There is a reason. Because he is gay-" before Max could finish his sentence, I punched him. He stumbled to the ground, and Jackson tried to help Max up.

I shoved them both down and stood in front of Charlie protectively. They ran off. Thank god, I did not want to get suspended for a fight. That's not my main concern right now, though. Charlie is.

I turned to him, and my heart shattered. Charlie was curled up in a defensive ball against the lockers to block any hits. He was crying and shaking from the trauma he had just gone through. I'd do the same if I had just gotten beaten up.

"Hey." I bent down to his level, causing him to look up at me. Charlie had big scared teary eyes. His face was bloody and bruised after being hit a bunch of times.

My heart shattered at sight.

"They're gone now. Let's get you to the nurse." I said in a soft tone. I didn't want to freak Charlie out even more.

My face fell in confusion as Charlie didn't move. He sat there with a panicked expression, and his breathing got more intense.

I think Charlie's having a panic attack. God, what do I do!? I don't want to freak him out even more by hugging him if he's injured?!

Charlie didn't deserve this.

"Okay, Uh, stay here. I'm going to go get Mr.Ajayi." I ramble out and rush to the art classroom.

That was stupid of me. Of course, Charlie couldn't move. He's injured. He also has a panic attack, so he can't.

"Hi Nick." Mr.Ajayi greeted me as I rushed into his classroom.

Mr.Ajayi got confused as I stood there, trying to catch my breath. Don't be judging me, it was a long run down the hallway, and I'm freaked out.

"Charlie Spring just got beat up by Jackson and Max. I got it to stop. But now he's in the hallway having a panic attack. I don't know how to stop it." I explained the best I could.

"shit." Mr.Ajayi got up and grabbed his classroom phone. "Tao, come down to Mr.Ajayi's classroom." He announced into the hallway speakers.

"I'm getting him since Tao's been best friends with Charlie for a long time. He'll know how to calm him down," he explained. I nodded, "we should get back to Charlie." I remind him.

Mr.Ajayi nodded, and I brought him to the hallway where Charlie was. Charlie still sat on the floor, trying to breathe.

I sat beside Charlie and held his hand, trying to give the best comfort I could during this situation.

Tao soon rushed over, and he had big worried eyes as he saw the state his best friend was in. Tao is a good friend. I saw him stand up for Charlie multiple times.

"What happened?!" Tao demanded as he bent down to Charlie's level and made a breathing motion to remind Charlie to breathe. Charlie took a deep, shaky breath and wiped his eyes with his free hand since I was still holding the other.

"He got beat up by Jackson and Max again. Luckily Nick was there to stop it. Now Charlie has a panic attack." Mr.Ajayi explained.

"Okay." Tao nodded and went into protective mode. He focused all of his attention on Charlie for a few minutes.

I stepped back and stood with Mr.Ajayi to give them space.

I sighed in relief as Charlie's breathing seemed to be normal again. Thank God. That was a scary few minutes.

"I'm sorry." Charlie managed out after a moment of silence. He looked at us with sad eyes and tear-stained cheeks. I pouted and gave his hand a gentle squeeze to assure him it was okay.

"You don't have to apologize. We are glad to help." Mr.Ajayi said. Tao nodded in agreement.

"You say sorry a lot." I realized and looked at Charlie, who managed a smile,

"I kinda want to repeat it." Charlie giggled quietly and wiped his eyes. His giggle was so pretty-I did not just think that. Nope. I didn't!

"Don't!" I hummed, trying to make Charlie smile. And it worked. His smile was pretty too. Charlie was pretty in general.

"You guys should make a no-s word rule." Tao joked, causing Charlie and me to laugh in response.

Mr.Ajayi was smiling softly at us. "We should get Charlie to the nurse and call his mom to get him. Tao, do you have Charlie's mom's number?" He asked.

"On it." Tao nodded and pulled out his phone.

I helped Mr.Ajayi get Charlie off of the ground gently. Charlie winced in pain.

"Thank you." Charlie told me gratefully. I nodded with a smile. "Don't worry about it, I'm always glad to help."