A short lil chapter, but the coming chapters will be longer.

Hercules POV

I watch as he storms out of the gym; I'm calling after him but there's no response. I'm not gonna chase after him- he probably wants to be alone right now. But what was he so upset about?

I looked down to his bag still here. He forgot it. He forgot his lunch too. 

I let out a deep sigh. What could possibly be troubling him? Well, let me take that back- he's probably traumatized from Friday, and he probably needs some time to heal. I can completely respect that. But it seems something... new is troubling him. What could it possibly be? Is it a new bully...? Because I swear I'll kill them!! 

What if... if it's me? What if my smothering was bothering him. 'Well, of course I was, he fucking stormed out, you idiot.', I think to myself and groaned audibly.  I checked my watch and sigh. Five minutes to get back to class. I get up and pick up both my bag and Lafayette's bag. He's gonna have to go through the next four periods without it, then. Well, we do have seventh-period P.E, but I doubt he'll look in my direction. He can be a bit stubborn sometimes.

As I exit the gym I spot none other than Charles Lee on his phone in the hall. He doesn't see me- too engrossed in whatever game he's playing or video he's watching. I sigh to myself.

"Charles!" I call and his head snaps in my direction, his brows raised. His gaze softens when he recognizes it's me. I walk up to him and he puts his phone back in his jean pocket. "Hey man."

"Hey. I just, uh, I wanted to thank you. For warning me about George. I owe you one."

He looked around for a moment before leaning in. "Yeah but, are the rumors true?" He asked in a quieter tone. I tilt my head and furrowed my brows. "Rumors? What rumors?" I ask. 

"Ya know... the rumor that you and Lafayette ambushed George and James in the C-hall bathroom?" 

My eyes widen and I gasp. What...? Is that why everyone was staring at Laf and I all morning?? Is this why people were staring at us all morning?

"W-What?? No! Who even said that!"

"George and James. Since they got bandages and more 'friends', people believed them. I mean, Lafayette's got a white patch on his cheek, but people could just assume it was George's self-defense." He said. I run a hand through my hair and groan. 

"No. That's not what happened at all. What happened was Lafayette went to go use the bathroom, George and James followed behind him and beat him up. My gut was telling me something wasn't right, so when I went to go check on him, I found both of them kicking him to a pulp. So... I returned the favor, then took Laf to nurse's office."

He nodded understandingly. "Man, I'm sorry all of this is happening to you guys. I can talk to George if you want me too- I can knock some sense into him." He offered, but I shook my head. "Thanks, but that's okay. I don't want you getting in trouble too. There's an investigation after school, so he'll bring himself down. You just focus on Sammy." I wink, and he turns pink. I laugh and so does he.

RING! RING!

"Shit! I gotta get to class, but we'll talk later." I say and he nods as we both run in our own separate directions.

~

I wrote a short chapter so I wouldn't leave y'all on a big cliffhanger, so yee

Bye

-Ronnie