Chapter Text
“It’s him again,” Taylor said, an uncharacteristic scowl marring her face. She gripped her backpack straps, moving to step forward before Tyler put his arm up, stopping her in her tracks with an equal, if not more annoyed, scowl.
“Yeah, yeah,” He pushed up his sleeves. “I’m on it.” Tyler left the group, pushing through the crowd before them as people jeered.
Aiden’s neck prickled, as if sensing something else amiss behind him. Glancing to his right, he tensed up immediately at the look on his cousin’s face.
Yikes.
Ashlyn watched with furrowed brows,, her curiosity peeking at the absolute livid look on Ben’s face. His hands were clenched in tight, white fists. His veins looked near ready to burst as he seethed at the scene before them.
“Woah!” Aiden laughed nervously, sliding in front of Ben with placating hands. “Hey, man. Calm down. The half-wit is handling it.”
Ashlyn tore her eyes away from the two boys as she heard the crowd's cheers rocket higher, as if sensing further entertainment. She caught Tyler finally making his way to the small circle that had formed around Logan and Barron.
“What do you think you’re doing, Barron,” Tyler growled.
“Come on,” Ashlyn muttered to the boys and Taylor. As reluctant as she was to dive into the center of the crowd's attention, she didn’t think it was right to stand to the side. Tyler didn’t need them, but Logan did.
For all Logan was worth, he looked like a beaten down puppy, shaking and trembling. On his right cheek, a purple, ugly bruise was quickly blooming.
By the time they’d forced themselves through the crowd of teenagers and made their way through their rude comments about getting their own place to record– they were there first! They heard Barron mumble his excuse of, “I’m just talking to my science partner about our project.” His eyes refused to meet Tyler’s, telling them just how much truth there was in that sentence.
“Logan,” Taylor called, catching the poor boy's eye. Logan, looking from the distracted Barron to Tyler, scampered toward them and Taylor’s open hand. She tucked him into her side like a mother bear as she put her arm around him. After making sure he was alright beside his bruise, she turned her narrowed gaze to Barron.
Tyler glanced at Logan, as if sensing his sister’s hardened gaze. Tyler took in Logan’s trembling form, the far-off, distant look in his eyes. “Yeah. I’m sure you were,” He scoffed at Barron’s excuse with crossed arms. “Look. I’m not an idiot, Barron. I could hear you yelling from the end of the hallway– and just look at this crowd of idiots getting off of this scene!”
Everyone around them seemed to quiet down at the comment. It was no hard thing to tell that Tyler was popular, being a star player on the baseball team at their school. While they weren’t too happy about him interrupting their show, they seemed to look just a bit abashed and ashamed at being called out by someone they all wanted to notice them.
“You’re already skating on thin ice with coach,” Barron stiffened at being called out just as badly. Sweat began to break across his tanned face. He turned his face so that his chin length hair covered him from Tyler’s direct view. Tyler leaned in to follow his gaze prey like a predatory animal. His eyes darkened as he continued. “So fuck off before he finds out just how you’re treating your science ‘partner’.”
A few boys hissed, laughing at Barron’s expense, now.
“Geez, man. Fine.” Barron quickly turned away, forcing his way out of the thick crowd. Phone’s followed him, laughing as Tyler’s glares burned hot holes at the back of his head.
As Barron, and a few others, his friend’s, probably, left, the crowd turned to look at Tyler. “What are you idiots looking at? Show’s over, or whatever you sicko’s want to call it.” The crowd hesitated, then Tyler took a step forward and snapped, “Fuck off!”
Within the minute, Tyler, Logan, Taylor, Ashlyn, Ben and Aiden, were the only ones left in the hallway. Tyler turned toward the still trembling Logan, and his eyes hardened again. Ashlyn recognized the annoyance in his eyes that was so often turned toward her. “You’re seriously scared of that dipshit?”
Logan’s face contorted strangely, like he was trying not to cry as he looked down at his shoes. Taylor glared at her brother. “Ty–”
“No, Tay,” Tyler cut her off, stepping closer to Logan. “That guy’s nothing compared to those things we face every night. I know Logan’s, well, Logan, but after these past couple months? Come on, are we serious–?”
“Tyler!” Taylor gripped Logan’s shoulder reassuringly to keep him from leaving. “Stop it. Now.”
Tyler, not looking too happy about it, forced his mouth shut.
Taylor turned to Logan, her eyes softening. “What was that about, anyway? Can you tell us?”
Logan’s jaw clenched as he squeezed his leather straps. His eyes briefly looked up at Tyler before shooting back to the floor. He opened, then closed his mouth, as if he knew telling them might just set Tyler off again. After a moment, the words tumbled out quietly.
“I forgot to do his part of the project.”
Tyler groaned, and Logan flinched. Ashlyn was starting to get a little upset for Logan’s sake now, too. “How is he supposed to survive when he can’t even stand up for himself! Right now isn’t the time to be soft!”
“Tyler, seriously!”
“He’s right, Taylor,” Ashlyn spoke, glowering at her brother. “Though his way of saying it is uncalled for, Logan definitely needs some strength training.” She waited a second before turning to face the group. “We all do.”
Ashlyn almost didn’t say what she’s been thinking about for the past week, as if sensing the psychotic boy behind her might just explode from thrill at the news. Still, she forced herself to say it. “I’ve been thinking… What if I ask my parents to teach us self-defense? They taught me some when I was younger, but I don’t remember it enough to teach you guys on my own.”
Tyler wasted no time in picking out the flaw in her plan. “Weren’t you worried about us getting sent to an asylum or something? What are you gonna tell them when they ask why?”
Ashlyn grit her teeth, taking a breath before continuing. “That’s the reason I haven’t asked them yet. But after what just happened, I think we can use Logan being bullied as an excuse.” Ashlyn sent a slightly apologetic glance at the boy in question. “Something along the lines of him wanting to defend himself, and to be supportive, we’re all going to learn with him.”
After a moment, Taylor nodded. “I think that sounds pretty believable.” She looked at her brother, giving him a look along the lines of you-better-agree-with-me-or-so-help-you before he agreed begrudgingly.
“Anyway,” Tyler’s eyes went from Ashlyn’s to behind her. “Where’s the psycho and big guy?”
Ashlyn turned, blinking when she found that Aiden and Ben were indeed gone. No wonder she was able to get through her proposition without Aiden threatening Tyler to say yes.
“Huh.” Ashlyn said. “No idea.”
“I, uh, think they went to the vending machines,” Taylor said, frowning. “Ben was acting weird, too. Maybe they just needed some space?”
“Aiden and space don’t exactly mix,” Tyler said, but shrugged as the bell for class rang. Ashlyn couldn’t help but agree, but they silently began to walk to their homeroom together.
When the final bell rang, Aiden and Ben never showed up.
Ashlyn looked at the clock before picking up her phone to check her notifications. Class was nearly over, where were they? As if sensing her thoughts, a notification from Aiden popped up from their group chat, letting them know they’d see them at lunch with a smile-y face.
When the bell rang and Mr. Thomas asked them to turn in their assignments at his desk before leaving, Ashlyn frowned.
His hand was raised, ready to take her paper, thanking her, before he halted. His eyes were fixated on his desk. Ashlyn quirked an eyebrow. “Mr. Thomas?”
He didn’t answer.