pte
he boy asked him,
as he stared at the boy who stood before him. The boy look
expectantly, calmly standing the
playful manner. 'What's w
l gasp, eyes wid
then of his mother, many year
him when Haru was afraid, or when times we
very, a single breath, a hea
up, forcing the wo
. 'I've just transferred here, my.... f
ck at him, blinking. After a few seconds passed, it
he fought back his nervous tears. 'I don't…know anyo
utely, his expression passiv
my friend…I mean…if that's ok' Haru fi
and Haru's nerv
whispered, turn
ey
grabbed his sleeve. Haru glanced around t
to be your fri
H
is you
nked bac
sleeve, and Haru tur
an it?' Ha
paused. 'Why a
aru said wiping at h
he replied jovially. 'My nam
aned to
teasing smile, tilting his
t's…H
ervous, aren't yo
t mean
t cry' Aubr
I've just…got som
ur
ay, caught up in their conversation they didn't seem to notice anythi
me' Haru said to Aubrey
scared of?' Aubrey
I get picked on a lot' Haru said shyly. 'I'm weak, I g
ww
n, feeling a li
se don't fee
y that's been left out in
ted, blushi
you making
Aubrey said sou
his face i
mbled, before turnin
a second!' Aubrey
was alrea
ely pace down the corridor as he headed to class. It was supposed to b
ou jerk! Where th
oice down' Aubrey t
exams if you keep missing these r
Aubrey snapped, 'I
iend Amelia began to g
always so funn
ng them, they talked outside the classroo
en held in his hand, but it was clear th
rong?' Be
d his mouth,
ked to s
vague?' Sasha asked glo
ed, turning away and ignoring Sash
g where he had been speaking to Aubrey, he was concealed by bushes now, out of sight of anyone j
hearing moveme
, 'at last. I should have known you'd be cr
I wasn
rey told him seriously, moving around t
H
holding out his hand, 'I want t
ing at his chest as if
ou to my friends, then they will be your friends too, then you won't hav
till teary eyed, 'what
then I will fight them'
rey, he couldn't help
funny thin
hat?' Aubrey asked, still holding i
mbled, reaching
hand tightly, pulli
th a smile, 'and don't look so fright
murmured, quick
of Aubre
id aren't you?' Aub
mumbled, head bowing lower. '
ey touched him beneath the c
e eye when you tal
edges of his lips
r weakness and go in for the k
smile f
away, sticking his hands in his pockets calmly and ca
I found
busy at work. Ben, Sasha and Amelia all stared silently up at H
breath, opening he
ted in before she had a
beamed, as beside her Sasha gasped
balling his fists nervou
the last eight months with his dad in space trying to build a facility so th
Amelia gas
' Aubrey answ
dly, and Aubrey began to ar
asha spoke to Haru asking
awkwardly, hugging h
' Sasha asked,
aru hunched his shoulders,
ignoring Aubrey and Amelia who continued to argue
pologetically to Haru, 'I know how hard it is changing schools. M
schools like tha
t him. 'We can be f
Haru flush
d, bowing
ping his hand over Haru's eyes. 'It's ok' Aubrey laughed awkw
a protested. 'Get off him
then, gasping and drawing back at s
hispered, brushing
ut then, grabbing H
at him wide eyed. 'If you run away…' Aubrey hisses dramati
with her book as Amelia moved over to Haru to comfort him, shield