Chapter Text
Middle School Sucks.
The Only Thing that Sucked More was Middle School Assembly’s.
This was the conclusion Noah had come to as he waited for his peers to file into the auditorium. He sat hunched forward with his chin placed in his hand; eyes focused on nothing, as he watched with disinterest. Noah sat on the end of the bleachers, so that he was closest to the stairs for a quick and easy departure when this was finally done.
He let out a sigh as his patience wore thin. Noah looked around, bored, when his eyes landed on a particular classmate of his.
Adam was tall and stocky, his face covered in blemishes. He Wore glasses and had short black hair. He was in Band and a star member of the robotics team. He was a straight A Student, and Noah knew all of this because the kid Never Shut Up. Which was Extra annoying, because the sound of his voice grated on even the kindest ears.
Noah tried to stop himself from groaning as the boy sat next to him, only separated by the stairs. “Hi, Noah!” Adam smiled, revealing the gap in his teeth.
Noah ignored the greeting, deciding to stare at the different banners hung around the room.
“This is so Exciting,” Adam continued, though it didn’t seem anyone was listening, “The Drug Assembly is always The Best Assembly, Right?”
Noah disagreed on principle. Every Assembly Was Boring. They were a waste of time and meant stuff that could have gotten done today would have to wait. It Was Stupid.
Though, Noah had to admit last year's Drug Assembly was pretty neat, since they brought someone in from the K9 unit. Noah doubted they’d do it again, though, since they didn’t have them in 6th grade.
Noah didn’t engage with Adam; No One who cared about their Reputation engaged with Adam.
It Was Social Suicide.
The only people who talked to Adam were Dweebs on equal footing with him, and Dirt-Bags with nothing else better to do.
One such Dirt-Bag was making his way over.
Ryan had a curly mullet of Orange hair, and Green eyes that held little behind them. He wasn’t any bigger than Adam, but they both had quite a bit of height on Noah. Not that that mattered, since anytime Ryan tried to pick on him, Noah would shut him down with ease. A benefit to being the smartest person in the room.
Not that there was a lot of competition.
“Move it, Lame-o.” Ryan directed Adam, who frowned in response.
“Sorry to say it, but I was here first, so you’ll have to sit somewhere else.”
The kid stood his ground, Noah respected that.
“I wasn’t Askin’.” Ryan leant into Adams face as he cracked his knuckles.
“Oh, come off it, Ryan.” Noah rolled his eyes, before turning to the bully, “What are you gonna do if he doesn’t? Hit Him? In Front of Every Teacher?” Noah smirked, “I Knew You Were Stupid, But I Didn’t Think It Was That Bad.”
Ryan growled, “Shut Up! Ain’t Nobody Talkin’ To You!”
Noah raised a brow, “ ‘Ain’t Nobody Talkin To You’ ?” He rolled his eyes, “Wow, Ryan, What a Stellar Comeback! What Wit! Ah, man, You Really Shut Me Up.”
Ryan nodded, victorious, as he returned his attention back to Adam. He then flipped back around, glaring at Noah, “That Was Sarcasm!”
Noah elbowed the kid next to him, “Would You Look At That! He Does Have A Brain!” Noah’s smirk remained proudly on his face, “I Gotta Say, I’m Shocked.”
The kid next to Noah let out a snort, as Ryan's frustration grew more intense. Ryan searched his mind for some kind of retort, scanning Noah's body for something he could attack. “Whatever, Like I Care what Some Nerd in a Dorky Vest thinks!”
Noah glanced down at his argyle sweater vest and frowned, before turning back to his target, “I Guess that makes us even.”
Ryan's proud smile vanished as he glowered down at the boy, “What Was That ?”
“Oh it’s, Just,” Noah pointed down at Ryan's shoes, “I Don't Know How Anyone Can Take You Seriously in Those…”
Ryan huffed, “Yeah Right! Wheelys Are Rad!”
Noah raised his hands in defense as he spoke, “Sure, Sure, And I’m Sure We’d All Be SUPER Impressed by them….. IF You didn’t get the Wheels Confiscated on The First Day Of School.” Noah gave Ryan a pity filled look, “Now they’re just Shoes with holes in the heel. Kinda Pathetic.”
The kids that sat around them started whispering amongst themselves as they watched on, fueling Noah's ego. Ryan shuffled nervously as he tried to come up with a rebuttal, but Noah beat him to it, “Why Don’t You Just Use Those ‘Rad’ Shoes of Yours, and Ride Off Somewhere Else.” Noah brought a faux apologetic hand to his mouth before he corrected himself, “I Mean Walk.”
Ryan pushed aggressively into Noah’s face, through gritted crooked teeth he growled, “You Think You’re SOOOOOO Cool, Don’t You! Well-” Before he could finish Noah Cut him off.
“Correction,” He pointed at him, “ You THINK Those Second Rate Shoes of Your’s are ‘Cool’” Noah Smirked, gesturing to himself, “I, On the Other Hand, KNOW that I’m Cool.”
Ryan’s face screamed frustration as he continued to stare at Noah, “What? Was This Conversation Too Mentally Challenging For You? Did It Hurt Your Head? Maybe you Should Find Somewhere to sit and Rest… Oh! But Watch where you Step. Wouldn’t want to get something stuck in your Very Cool Shoe Hole.”
Noah's smirk shone proudly, as this all became too much for Ryan. The mixture of shame and rage poured out of his eyes.
“WOAH! RYAN’S TOTALLY CRYING!” The kid who sat in front of Noah exclaimed. It wasn’t long that the whole area burst into mocking laughter, causing Ryan to flee the auditorium just before the assembly began. Noah once again reigned victorious over the boy; his pride continued to radiate from his smirk as the others said their praises. This was pretty Great.
But of course Noah can't have Nice Things.
A teacher approached where they sat, “What Happened Over Here?”
Everyone's Laughter began to stifle as they all silently agreed to not snitch this day.
Everyone Except a Certain Dweeb Who Was Notorious For Never Being Silent.
“Noah Made Ryan Cry!” Adam Cheerfully explained, “It Was CRAZY! You Should have Seen It!”
Everyone groaned as the teacher moved her eyes onto Noah, disappointment covering every inch of her face. “Noah. Is That True.”
He Shrugged.
She reached into her pocket, pulling out a notebook, before scribbling into it and handing a torn slip to Noah.
Principal's Office.
Noah frowned at the slip, before looking up at the teacher, “So, do I go after the assembly, or-”
“The Vice Principal should be there to deal with any….” She searched for the polite words, “Student Born Problems”
“Lucky Me.” Noah muttered as he stood from his seat.
Just as he thought that his day had turned sour, he heard his peers mutter their praises. A few even offered their high-fives as he made his way down the stairs. Noah felt like he was on top of the world; he was used to this amount of unbreakable hubris, but never had his Ego matched. Walking with a new found confidence in his step, he passed the Principal as she spoke grumpily into her phone, “What do you mean he couldn’t make it? The Kids LOVED The K9-Unit Portion Last Year!”
Noah’s confident smile only grew wider with the confirmation that he wouldn’t miss anything cool, as he pushed past the auditorium doors.
This wasn’t so bad! He made a Jerk Cry; Everyone Loves Him; He got Out of The Assembly, and if He’s Lucky he’ll be able to sit around the Waiting Area and Work on some Homework! The only downside was his parents wouldn’t be thrilled about all of this, but all Noah would have to do to fix that is turn on the water works. With properly timed tears, He could probably get away with murder.
Noah smirked, pleased with these events, as he turned down the hallway with the intent to stop at his locker. Instead, he was stopped Against a locker.
Wincing from the shock of the impact, Noah found his bearings to look up at his assailant. It was a red faced, and puffy eyed Ryan, who was still sniffling back tears. “WHO DO THINK YOU ARE FOLLOWING ME?!?” His angry shouts echoed in the unhearing hall, “HADN’T YOU HAD ENOUGH?!”
Noah tried and failed to hold back a laugh, “Me? Last I checked You Were the One Who Ran Off Crying.” Noah tried shrugging Ryans hands off his shoulders, before quickly realizing just how much stronger he was compared to him. “Besides,” Noah continued, “I’m Not Following You. I’m getting my Binder from my Locker so I Can do Something Productive. A Forien Concept To You, I Know.” He smirked.
Ryan Slammed Noah against the hard metal of the Locker Covered Wall, before gripping the collar of his button up shirt and raising him off the ground. Noah instinctively grabbed hold of Ryan's arms in some reflexive yet feeble attempt at self defense, as the larger boy growled his threats, “One Of These Days Someone's Gonna Knock That No Good Smirk CLEAN Off Your Face!”
Noah laughed, a little surprised the situation has escalated like this, but still confident in his ability to escape unscathed. “And Let Me Guess,” His smirk remained unfaltered, “You’re Gonna Be The One To Do It?”
Ryan glared at Noah, fuming, as he tightened his grip on the smaller boy's collar.
“Is That What You’re Doing, Ryan? You’re Gonna ‘Knock My No Good Smirk Off My Face?’” Noah looked down at Ryan like he had just beaten him in the easiest game of chess, “Gonna Hit Me? Gonna Punch Me Right In The Middle Of School? Go On, Bone-Head, Hit Me! Get Expelled. It’ll Do The Rest Of Us a Favor - No More Looking At Your Ugly Mug.”
That last part probably wasn’t necessary, but He was on a roll. His smirk shined down on Ryan, like the Hot Summer Sun that somehow always got in your eyes. If the Sun could smirk, it would look like this; that is, if the Sun also thought it was better than you. That's what Noah’s Smirk was; him broadcasting to the world just how much Better he was than you.
That’s what Ryan figured at least, in reality it was more a sign of his assurance that he can arise from any situation, unharmed.
Well, He Was About To Be Proven Wrong.
The last thing Noah remembered was Ryan lifting up his fist.
The doctors think the pain knock him out