Chapter 7

It's that time of the week again.

Let's keep the theme of relationships again this week. This week, it's pretending you are in a relationship. This person hasn't exclusively been telling people he's in a relationship, but if asked, he would tell you he was. Who is this, you ask. Well, he seems quite quiet, and he is, which is why you wouldn't suspect a thing.

Pj Liguori is a nice person, but that doesn't mean he should be left out of this. When asked, Pj has said that he has a boyfriend, but is that really true? If you asked his best friend, Chris, he would say the same thing, because Pj would even lie to him. But is he doing it just because he can? Or is it because he is hiding something else?

We all know that Chris and Pj are close, but just how close are they? By paying close attention, you could probably see that one, if not both, of the want something more than the friendship they have. But which one is easier to spot? Pj, of course. While Chris may not see it, I can, and I bet a load of you do too. No secret is safe, and Pj is the sixth to be exposed.

Dan POV

I almost pulled a sickie today because I didn't want to see anyone's reactions, but I decided that it might look suspicious if I don't go in. so here I was, walking through the corridor, listening to all the whispers, picking out a few words. As always, I get to my locker and was greeted by Charlie and Alex.

"Alright mate." Charlie greeted.

"Hey." I said, opening my locker. I went to grab my books, but stopped, turning to look at Alex who hadn't said anything. I gave Charlie a confused look.

"He's trying to see if he can notice that Pj likes Chris." Charlie told me. I nodded, then turned back to my locker, trying to hide my face in it.

"Now that it's been pointed out, I can see it. But maybe Pj is showing it more because Chris knows now." Alex said after a few moments.

"Are you done now?" Charlie asked.

"For now, yes. But we have English first." Alex told him. Just as he said that, the bell rang. "Let's go." Alex said, walking on ahead.

"I swear, he lives for the gossip." Charlie said. I only nodded, giving him a small smile. "You alright?" He asked me.

"Fine. I just didn't sleep that well last night, and I feel a bit sick." I lied.

"Well we have English now, so that should distract you." He said.

"Yeah, it will." I said, knowing full well it wouldn't.

We walked down the corridor to our classroom. When I walked in, I immediately noticed that Chris was already in his seat. Usually he came in right before the bell went. I also noticed that Pj hadn't come into the room yet. I walked past Phil's table, seeing the small smirk on his face out the corner of my eye. I chose not to look at him, and instead carried on to my seat. Just as I sat down, Pj came into the room. Everyone went silent, which caused him to stop in his tracks before slowly walking to his seat. I saw Chris look over at him, then look back to the front.

"So…" Jack trailed off. "How was everyone's weekend?" He asked.

"Seriously?" Chris asked.

"What? I'm asking a question." Jack said.

"Cant you just get the interrogation over with?" Pj said.

"Alright, fine. Is it true?" Dean asked.

"What bit?" Pj questioned.

"That you don't have a boyfriend."

"No, I don't have a boyfriend." Pj told us.

"And what about liki–" It was at that moment that Miss Grainger decided to walk in.

"Books out, we have a lot to do today." She said. There was a groan throughout the classroom, but everyone did as she said. For the rest of the lesson, we were all left wondering what the answer to that question would be.

When the bell rang for the end of the lesson, Miss said that she had to get somewhere quickly, and left the classroom a couple of minutes early, telling everyone they could go as well. Everyone stood up and got ready to leave, however, Alex had other ideas.

"Hey Peej, you never answered the question." Alex said.

"What question?" Pj asked.

"If you like Chris or not." Alex told him. Pj looked over to Chris, who was staring intently at him.

"I…um…" Pj stuttered.

"Leave him alone. He doesn't have to answer if he doesn't want to." Chris interrupted.

"Do you want to answer?" Alex asked Pj.

"Not really." He said after a short pause.

"Nah, that's not fair. We were all interrogated, mainly by you, so why shouldn't he answer?" Alfie countered.

"Yeah, exactly." Finn pitched in.

"Alright, know what? Fine, I do like Chris. Are you happy now?" Pj asked. His voice wavered, and I could see tears forming in his eyes. He quickly left the room.

"Peej!" Chris shouted after him. "Well done." Chris said to Alfie, Finn and Alex, before getting his stuff and running after him. After that, everyone silently packed their stuff up and left the room. I hung around, packing my stuff up slower.

"Hurry up mate." Charlie said from the door.

"Go on ahead, I'll catch you up." I said, pretending that I was looking for something. I saw Charlie shrug before walked up the corridor. When I was sure everyone was out of earshot, I slammed my bag down, causing the one person in the room to turn to me.

"Do you see what you've done?" I almost shouted.

"Hey, now it's all out in the open." Phil said to me. He must've known that I wanted to talk to him after.

"That's not the point. You practically made him cry." I told him.

"That's not my problem. Plus, Chris doesn't seem creeped out by it, so it should all be okay. I'm not really ruining anyone's lives if you think about it. I'm just telling everyone what they didn't have the courage to say." He told me.

"What if it doesn't work out with them and you've ruined their friendship? Do you know how long they've been friends?" I asked him.

"Yes, I do, because I used to be friends with them, remember? But then they slowly stopped talking to me. It's not my fault they did that, so it's only fair that I do something to them." He said. I do remember them being friends in primary school. But over the summer between year 3 and 4, they had slowly stopped talking to Phil, and then eventually, they stopped altogether. I think that was the start of him not having any friends. After that, nobody really spoke to him, and by the time we reached year 7, everyone was either ignoring him or shouting abuse at him.

"You know what? Maybe it was your fault. Maybe if you weren't such a dick people might actually like you. How do you expect to have friends when you're spreading shit about people?" I shouted at him.

"It's too late for that now. Everyone hated me anyway, so what was the point of trying anymore? I thought things might have changed by the time we got to year 7, but everyone carried on, and even started hurting me. Why should I try and be nice to them when they aren't to me? And why shouldn't I spread shit about them when that is all I've had for the last 4 years? Tell me that, Dan!" He finished. I stood there, shocked that he had shouted at me, but more shocked about what he had said. I didn't know that people had physically hurt him in year 7. I thought that didn't start until a couple of years ago.

"I'm sorry that that happened to you, really, I am. But that doesn't mean you should do it back. An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind." I told him, more quietly now.

"You didn't stop it from happening." He said. "You just did what everyone else did and turned a blind eye to it. Why?" Phil asked, also in a much lower voice. He sat down on the table.

"I think you know why." I said, sitting down next to him.

"What, because you didn't want it to happen to you?" He asked, already knowing the answer. I looked away from him.

"I'm sorry." I said.

"Whatever. Everyone else does it, so why should you be any different?" He asked.

"I am though. I'm talking to you now, aren't I?" I asked.

"Yeah, but you wouldn't do it in public." He said. I didn't say anything. "See? I just don't get it." He said.

"Don't get what?" I asked.

"Why no one likes me. What did I ever do to anyone?" He asked.

"I don't know. We never really talked in primary school, and I don't know why Chris and Pj stopped talking to you." I said.

"That's all I want to know." He said. I saw a tear fall down his face, so I put my arm around him. It must have startled him because he jumped, tensing up. I rubbed my hand up and down his arm and he slowly relaxed, leaning into me and resting his head on my shoulder.

"How about I find out for you?" I questioned.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"I'll ask Chris and Pj why they stopped talking to you." I said.

"Really?" He asked, lifting his head off my shoulder to look at me.

"Yeah." I nodded.

"Thank you." He said, putting his arms around my waist, hugging me. I was shocked at first, but soon returned the hug. The moment was interrupted by my phone ringing. I pulled away from him and took my phone out, seeing Alex's name flash on the screen.

"Sorry." I said, answering the phone. "Hello?" I said down the phone.

"They're together." Was all Alex said.

"Who?" I asked stupidly.

"Chris and Pj. They're holding hands and shit." He said.

"Good for them." I said, suddenly not feeling as bad for what we had done.

"Yeah. Where are you?" He asked.

"Just coming now. I needed to pee." I lied.

"Alright, see you in a minute." He said.

"See ya." I said then hung up the phone. "Chris and Pj are together." I told Phil.

"See, I told you it would be fine." He said.

"I just hope they don't break up." I said, getting up and grabbing my stuff. "I have to go now, but I will talk to Chris and Pj and let you know what they say." I said.

"Okay, thanks again." He smiled.

"No problem." I smiled back. I walked to the door, before turning back to Phil and giving him a hug I think I must have shocked him because it took him a second to respond. I let go and smiled at him again before walking out.

I walked to the canteen and to my usual table. I could see Chris and Pj sitting with their friends, holding hands, just like Alex had said. I sat there talking to Charlie and Alex for the rest for break before going off to my next lesson. I had History next, and I sat next to Pj, so I would ask him about Phil there.

When I got to the door of the class, Chris and Pj were there being all couple-y, but the bell rang, interrupting them.

"I'll see you at lunch." Chris said.

"Yeah, bye." Pj said. Chris kissed him on the cheek and then walked off to whatever class he had next. Pj smiled after him. I walked over to him.

"I'm happy for you two." I told him.

"Thanks. It wasn't the best way to tell him, but I'm kind of happy it's out in the open now. I just want to know who found out I liked him." Pj said. I shuffled awkwardly, but Pj didn't notice.

"Hey, I wanted to ask you a question." I said as we walked in and to our seats.

"Sure, what is it?" He asked.

"Well, you know Phil?" I asked. He nodded, giving me a confused look.

"You and Chris used to be friends with him. What happened?" I asked.

"I don't really know. When we got to year 3, was it?" He looked at me for confirmation.

"Probably." I said, knowing full well that it was around then.

"Well around then, we just started hanging out with him less. Over the summer, he went to Florida for a couple of weeks and we didn't talk to him because we couldn't. When he got back, we just didn't see each other. When we went back to school, Chris and I had done loads over the summer without Phil that every time we talked about something that we did, he sort of got moody with us and we didn't like it. So eventually we just stopped talking altogether." He told me. I thought about it for a second.

"That was it?" I asked.

"Yeah, pretty much. He just became a bit annoying." Pj said.

"Did you never think to give him another chance?" I asked.

"Not really. We always thought he would still be the same, so we didn't bother. When we started high school and found out he was coming here as well, we did talk to him a couple of times, but he had become quiet and almost anti-social, so we just gave up with him." He said.

"I see." I said to myself.

"Why?" He asked.

"Why what?" I questioned.

"Why did you want to know?"

"I just see him sitting by himself all the time and I wanted to know why everyone hates him. Nobody really has a good reason to. He hasn't done anything to anyone." I said, even though he has now.

"I don't know why everyone else stopped talking to him, but I do feel sorry for him." Pj told me.

"Maybe you should try talking to him at some point." I suggested.

"I know this sounds mean, but I don't think so. He is hated by everyone now." Pj said.

"And he always will be if someone doesn't talk to him." I said.

"But he's a loner." Pj said.

"So, you won't talk to him because he's a loner, but he's a loner because no one will talk to him." I said. Pj didn't say anything. "That's a bit stupid, isn't it?" I asked rhetorically. At that moment, our teacher walked in.

"Everyone settle down." He said. He started the lesson, setting us our work for the next hour and 40 minutes. For the rest of that time, Pj and I didn't say anything, unless we needed the others help on the work.

When the bell rang for the end of the lesson, everyone packed up and left the room. I saw Chris waiting for Pj outside, and Pj hurried off before I could say anything to him. I walked out the classroom, heading straight for the library where I thought Phil would be. Just as I got there, I saw Phil walking down the corridor. When he got to me, I pulled him inside the library quickly and to the corner where he usually sits.

"I found out why they stopped talking to you." I told him.

"Really?" He asked excitedly.

"Yeah, but I wouldn't get too happy about it." I said.

"Just tell me." He said.

"I asked Pj last lesson and he said that over the summer that you drifted apart, you went to Florida and they spent a lot of time together. When you went back to school, every time something about the summer was mentioned between them you got moody about it and that annoyed them. Eventually they got fed up with you getting moody all the time and stopped talking to you." I told him.

"So that's the reason? It's not my fault if they left me out the whole summer." He said.

"Pj did say that at the beginning of year 7 they did try talking to you, but you were quiet and anti-social so they gave up with trying." I said.

"That was because nobody bothered speaking to me anymore, so I didn't see the point in trying to talk to anyone." Phil said.

"Well if you ever need to speak to me, just text me and I will come and find you." I said.

"I don't have your number." He said.

"Give me your phone." I said, holding my hand out for it. He took it out and gave it to me. I quickly put my number in, then called my phone from his so I had his number.

"There. Now feel free to text me whenever." I smiled.

"Thank you, for all of this." He said sincerely.

"Don't worry about it." I said.

"Can I hug you?" He asked.

"Sure." I smiled. He put his arms around my neck and I put mine around his waist. We stood there for a couple of minutes just hugging.

"He won't be in here." I heard a voice that sounded like Charlie say.

"Well we can always check." That was definitely Alex.

"I need to hide." I said to Phil.

"Hide round there." He said, pointing to a bookcase that was against a wall. "They won't see you behind that."

"Thank you." I said, running over and hiding.

"Hey Lester." I heard Alex say. "You seen Dan?" He asked.

"No." I heard Phil say quietly.

"He probably just went to the toilet." Charlie said.

"I need his homework." Alex said. I rolled my eyes. Their voices got quieter until eventually they disappeared completely.

"Thank you." I said as I came out from my hiding place.

"Anytime. You better get going then. They're looking for you." He said.

"Right." I said. I walked over to Phil and hugged him again. "Remember, you can text or call me whenever." I said in his ear.

"I will." He said. I let go and headed to the door.

"Bye." I said as I left.

"Bye." He said. I felt closer to him now. I wish I didn't have to hide our friendship, but that was just the way it was.


Thanks for reading :) This secret isn't that good, but hopefully the next one will be better :) There is also a bit of backstory in this one :)

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Also,congratulations to GeorgieDanosaur for correctly guessing (with a bit of help) who the next person was :)
Anyone else want to guess for the next chapter? You only get one guess. It's getting easier now :)

Thank you to DoodleDooo, Secretlynotaninja, GeorgieDanosaur, uhnonniemiss, Tmnt 2012 rocks, NeverlandNat, ElzyPhangirl, Moonfruit Infusion, oddikins, TheAdelaide9, Midnight4568, TheRandomOne, Guest (who ever you are :D), and Pigeon for reviwing the last chapter :)

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Multifandomer :) xxx