"I can't do it Andy." I struggled to keep a grip of my bed frame with Andy tugging on my feet.

"Yes you can, now get dressed." He was persistent.

"Do you want to stay and watch?" I winked.

"Will it make you get dressed any faster?" He replied, letting go of my foot.

"No but.." I started.

"Goodbye Shaun, I'll meet you in the kitchen." Andy cut me off before I could finish.

I got changed and went into my bathroom. I stared at my scarred wrist and I knew I couldn't go to school today. I washed my face then looked at my reflection.

"You're still uncool. Just a fag boy. Nothing more." I said to myself.

"Shaun are you ready to go?" Andy called from my bedroom.

I jump to the door and held it closed. I did not need Andy to see this.

"Umm I'll be out in a minute." I stuttered.

"Okay I'll be in the lounge. Hurry!" He demanded and I heard him leave my room.

I rummaged through the cabinet under the sink to find a bandage. I'd used my nails to scratch away the skin on my arm. It was the biggest I've ever made. Probably about three centimeters by one centimeter. I cut a piece of gauze and placed that over the scratch followed by wrapping it with a bandage. I decided to wear a hoodie... For obvious reasons.

"I'm ready." I said rather unenthusiastically.

"Let's roll!" Andy shouted and grabbed his bag off the floor.

Once we got to school my arm was stinging. Lucky Andy is in my form. I had English first though. That meant Liam and Blake.

"You're going to stretch the sleeves on your jumper if you keep doing that..." Andy told me.

"Probably..." I replied and did it again just to annoy him.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

The bell went and it was time to die. I walked through the crowded corridor to my class. Went in and sat at any desk that was empty. Almost immediately after I sat down and put my music on, Blake and Liam came and sat behind me. I said nothing.

"So, It's true." Blake said a little louder then needed.

"What is?" Liam asked.

"Little Shaun here is actually a fag. I saw him and Clemmensen pashing at the park." He smiled.

"Ooo bromance going on aye Shauny?" Liam taunted.

I tried my best to block them out with my music but they kept going. For a whole hour they made fun of me. The next period I had science. They stilled picked on me then. They threw paper and pens at my with the words 'fag boy' and 'gay' written on them. I texted Andy.

'Help me. They won't stop. It hurts.'

'Tell the teacher you feel sick and go home.'

'Well it's recess now. We will discuss it when we meet up. K?'

'okay'

"Texting your boyfriend?" I heard Blake yell from behind me.

"Just leave me alone." I pleaded and walked on down the corridor at a slightly faster pace.

"Make me, faggot." Blake yelled and punched me in the ribs making me fall to the ground. He proceeded to yell names like emo and faggot while kicking me in the stomach and head until he got bored and left. I texted Andy and told him where I was but not what happened.

"Shaun?" Andy said slowly. I groaned. I was in so much pain. "You need to get to a hospital..." Andy suggested and helped me up to my feet.

He dragged me all the way back to my house which was about two blocks away. No one was home. We let ourselves in using my spare key. Andy gently placed me on my bed and kissed my forehead. He removed my shoes and hoodie. I had forgotten about my scratch that I made in the morning because the pain from my ribs was worse.

"What happened to your wrist?" Andy started to unwrap the bandage. I heard him gasp then nothing. I looked at him then all of a sudden he forced his lips on mine. This was the most passionate kiss we'd ever shared. I never wanted it to end but I knew eventually we'd need to breathe. The pain I was experiencing was temporarily numbed.

"why?" Andy whispered.

"I'll tell you later." I replied and gave a half smile.