Title: Bully
Author: thecolorgrey
Summary: Spencer doesn't understand.
Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds nor am I making a profit
Eleven year old Spencer Reid bolted around the corner and raced down the hallway as fast as his small body could take him, flying past lockers and doors to classrooms full of people who, he knew, wouldn't help him. He heard the distant sounds of his attackers, screaming threats and demeaning names. Blood roared in his ears and he rounded yet another corner. Had the school suddenly become twice as big? Suddenly, Spencer was staring up at the ceiling, the faint lines on the paneling fading together.
"Hey, whiz kid."
Spencer's blood ran cold. Johnny Wills cracked his knuckles and moved out from the spot he was crouched behind, waiting for Spencer to run by to stick his foot out, effectively sending to young genius to the dirty floor. The large blonde teenager shouted back down the hall to his friends, "I got him!" Spencer groaned and propped himself up on his skinny elbows, blinking his eyes in a vain attempt to clear his vision. His glasses had gotten knocked off when he fell.
Spencer heard the sound of heavy footfalls and then amused laughter. "Wow, J-Man! You already got the runt on the floor! Couldn't contain yourself, eh?" Spencer craned his neck to see a bunch of blurry figures standing behind him. It was close to impossible to say how many there were given his current sight.
"Shut up, Carlos!" Johnny scolded, jokingly, "You'll get your turn."
Johnny leaned in close to Spencer and Spencer fought hard not to gag at the stench at the smell of spinach in his breath. He really hated spinach. Johnny let out a breathy laugh, sending waves of his breath across Spencer's face and he involuntarily whimpered. "Aw, look! He's gonna cry!"
A fist closed around the front of his shirt and he was suddenly being lifted up into the air. Cold, hard fear raced through Spencer. "No! Johnny, please! I'll-I'll…" Spencer's back slammed against the row of lockers against the wall, a turn dial jamming into his spine. Obnoxious laughter floated to his ear and Spencer felt a wave of nausea when he realized they were laughing at his fear.
Johnny's face appeared again and he sneered, "Any last words, freak?"
Spencer sniffed, he didn't understand why they were being so mean to him.
It wasn't his fault.
"I said," Johnny brought him forward and then slammed him back against the lockers, "any last words, freak?"
"Why?" the young boy whimpered. That clearly wasn't what Johnny was expecting him to say. Through the blur, Spencer saw the teenager frown as his brain worked to come up with an answer. "C'mon, Johnny-boy! Are we gon' do this or not?" His friends were becoming impatient.
"What do you mean, geek?" Johnny's voice was softer this time but still menacing. Spencer took a shaky breath and racked his brain for something to say that wouldn't set off the jock. "Um… why are you… d-doing this?" he sputtered out.
Johnny's opened his mouth to say something but Carlos cut him off. "Yo! Teacher!" Johnny let go of Spencer's shirt and he fell to the cold, tile floor. He looked up just in time to see the blurry figures of his assailants disappear around a corner. Spencer sighed and turned his head, looking for the teacher who saved him only to see a custodian. Spencer smirked as the janitor pushed his cart of cleaning supplies into the bathroom just down the hall, sending a small thank you to whoever thought a custodian could be mistaken for a teacher.
He pushed himself up off the floor and quickly retrieved his glasses, surprisingly unbroken, and textbooks before scampering onto his next class. It was just another day in the life of Spencer Reid.