One day, during lunch, Nathan was slipping through the lunch line, hoping to remain undetected, as he often did at this hour.
The sun is shining, the temperature is alright and luck seemed to be with him that particular afternoon, which is one rare thing, indeed. Most of the football players had already gotten their lunch and were gathered at their usual table, and so it should be easy sailing from the line to the bench outside where he usually ate.
Some people might say that this is a miserable experience, living everyday hoping to remain undetected, as in to avoid, almost to futility, to be tormented systematically and mercilessly. Others, those with more of a reasonable mind and less of a vested interest into trick overclocked teenagers, would argue that this is high school and it is terrible for just about everyone.
Knowing how much of a universal hatred the experience elicited did not serve as much of a consolation as the councillor he was mandated to attend seemed to think it did. He hates it, he wishes that he could be spared of it, he wishes to disappear, regardless of what other people felt about it.
Lunch is the perfect consubstantiation of everything that he despised about the educational system. Terrible food, fruit of successive budget cuts; a barbaric social system that would seem misplaced even amongst animals; the unwavering noise that run through the too-cramped space; so, so many teens sitting around, doing nothing; the self-serving teachers hanging around, saying too much and acting too little; and, most important of it all, the bullying.
For someone so fucked up as he is, with so many big and unsolvable problems, it seems petty to be concerned with something so juvenile such as bullies. He takes that point to heart, but he cannot ignore the fact that his life would be that much easier if they just let him go and live his life in peace those impossibly long eight hours of the day.
He does not want to be popular or widely loved by the school student body, but he would appreciate being able to eat the food that he bought most days. It is annoying enough having to ask for the money to have this crap they call nutrition, but it is even worse knowing it will most likely be for naught.
He had just gotten his lunch when a meaty hand clapped him on the shoulder.
Oh, come on! So close! This is a brand-new shirt, and I was hoping it would not be covered in my lunch for at least one full day.
"Hey, Nathan. Can I talk to you for a moment?" Sam asked.
It is...Sam? But he has not done anything to me for quite some time.
Hesitantly, and a bit bitterly, Nathan nodded.
The blond young man looked agonizing, as if what he is about to say is literally causing him pain.
"Nathan, I..." He tried to articulate his words. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for the way I bullied you. I apologize for any harm or suffering that I may have caused."
Nathan blinked. What the ever-loving fuck?
Before the brunet teen had been able to fully process what is actually happening, the other stands up on a chair.
"Attention, people! I, Sam Gordon, officially and publicly apologize to Nathan Prior for bullying him." He spoke up, shouting to be heard in the crowded cafeteria. "It was wrong, and I should not have done that. I would also like to extend it to any and all whom I might have caused harm in the past. I'm sorry!"
The crowd around them looked up, shrugged, and went back to their food and conversation. Sam nodded his head at Nathan, and went off to the football players' table, where he talked to them for a couple minutes.
Nathan found a spot to eat, and, as usual, quickly devoured his lunch so he could escape from the cafeteria as quickly as possible. It is best if he does not dawdle there for much longer if it so turns out to be some sort of humiliating plan. The one good thing about going to such a terrible school is that the bathroom is horribly maintained, and so no-one ever goes there. It is always a nice place to hide.
That was bizarre. I wonder what caused that. Sally thought, as she gave a slight smile to Sam.
On the day that she asks him to apologise to Nathan, he does this whole scene and renounces bullying. It was jarring, to be completely honest, but if it had anything to do with her, then she is happy with it, and she is happy with Sam.
As he notices her pleased expression, he hushes over to her from the football players' table.
"Okay. One down, two to go." He said, full of himself. "And I asked the guys over there to lay off Nathan from now on."
Her blue eyes widened. It had not been part of their deal.
"And will they?" Sally asks, surprised.
"They said they'd think about it, but I think yeah. I think that they're getting tired of bullying. It's too much work." The blond responded, unfazed.
"I'm sure." The auburn-haired teen responded, sneering. "Anyways, thank you for saying that, and thank you for trying to help. Nathan has too much to deal with already, and you don't have any idea how much this is going to be a relief already."
Sam beamed. "Anything for you, Sal! On another note, any plans for the next thing I need to do? Wrestle a grizzly bear? Walk ten miles on my hands and knees? Climb the Empire State Building?"
She chuckled, shaking her head slightly.
"None of those, though I don't know if that's good news for you." Sally responded, eery. "Meet me at the school gym Saturday morning at 9am. Plan to be there until about noon. Wear workout clothes, and a cup. You'll need it."