Ravi rubbed at his eyes tiredly until he saw spots in his vision. He tried to stifle a yawn-the third one in a row now. He'd woken up early, before anyone else so as he could have some peace and quiet as he worked on his homework. He needed a moment's rest from any noise; he needed to think. His classes were throwing piles of work at him and he could hardly keep up with everything. Once he finished one paper, it was time to do another. And another, and another...

It would have been less daunting if he could form a proper sentence and not have his thoughts horribly jumbled. Three hours later and he still had not yet written much besides his name at the top. Even without their interference, it didn't clear his mind. It didn't stop his thoughts from roaming rampant, stressing over due dates and how he was going to fail if he didn't get his act together.

But he wasn't sure how to get his act together.

Not even all the planners, high lighters or labels in the world could help him.

You're never going to college at this rate

Those dreams of attending an Ivy League school were dashed as soon as his grades started to slip. He should have felt angry, devastated. Ravi felt...nothing. No shame, no anger or anything. Not even when his parents sat him down, wondering what went wrong. They figured he was simply spending too much time doing other things when he should have been studying. He wasn't; there wasn't any energy left in him to do anything besides curl up in his bed.

Now that was near lunch time, the penthouse livened up some. Luke was still sleeping, he knew that much. He'd heard him yelling at his TV some video game. Ravi wasn't going to be joining the family for lunch; he wasn't hungry and he could probably get away with saying he had a lot of work to do, which wasn't technically a lie.

He chewed on the middle of his pencil, a habit he'd grown to have. It was only sometimes, of course in the privacy of his room so no one could grimace and laugh at how disgusting he was.

You are disgusting. And weird. And strange.

He reached over to the other side of the desk where he cell phone was, flipped over to the other side with the back facing up. Someone left a nasty message he'd seen after waking up to turn his alarm off.

'You're weird and don't know when to shut up'

Whoever it was, they weren't going to leave him alone anytime soon; even when he was in the middle of class. The sensible resolution would be to block the number but that would've led to more problems. Whoever was behind it would tell everyone what a wimp he was, how he couldn't handle it. Ravi just had to tolerate it.

His phone let out a soft ding and his stomach recoiled as if he was just punched. It was best not to look at all, not to engage. If he didn't, they might get bored and leave him alone. That was what the school counselor and psychologist said in at an assembly specifically made for bullying. They made it sound easy, as if it would all go away quickly; he just had to resist the temptation of trying to communicate with that person. But Ravi had been doing just that. He never responded but couldn't shake off the feeling that he needed to see what they wrote. He had to know what they were saying, what they were taunting him about. The sensible option would be to block that person entirely but he was too stupid to do such a thing.

His phone dinged a couple more times.

The sick feeling worsened.

With trembling hands, he picked up the phone, turning it on long enough to briefly read the multiple messages.

You're a waste of space

You don't belong here

I don't even know why Shelby wants to be around you

Ravi exhaled shakily. His jaw was clenched, so as not to burst into tears-again. He was supposed to be stronger than this; not so weak that some criticism would make him fall apart.

"Ravi?" The phone fell from his hands, falling to the desk with a loud clatter. His head snapped in Jessie's direction with a deer in the headlight look.

"Jessie?" He echoed.

"What are you doing?" Jessie was frowning. "I thought you were doing homework?"

"...I am," Ravi shifted under her stern gaze.

"By texting?" She didn't wait for an answer. "Ravi, you know better. No electronics until after your homework is done."

Ravi lowered his eyes. "I know," he mumbled. "I am sorry."

"Do I need to take it?" Jessie asked pointedly.

"Please," he hadn't thought that she heard-she did, and was a little taken aback.

"What?" She was surprised. "Uh, Ravi, is everything okay?"

He gave her best convincing smile. "Of course. Jessie. Everything is fine."

"You sure? Because it's been a few hours, you're not finished and you look like my Aunt Pearl after she's had a long day at the bar," Jessie examined his appearance, scrunching up her face. "Even Luke has his homework done."

As always, he had an answer. "I am just having some difficulty this morning. I was just researching. I assure you that unlike Luke, I wasn't goofing off."

It was a weak excuse. Him and his siblings had the best of the best computers that a grown man could be jealous of. It didn't make sense for him to search something on his phone, especially considering his laptop was within reach.

Jessie looked like she was going to say something then didn't. It was a blessing and a curse; and he was just about to find out what the curse was.

"And while you are here, I wanted to tell you that I will not be joining you for lunch," Ravi pretended to focus after he set his phone down. Grabbing his mechcanical pencil, he started to write meaningless words (just a ploy to get her to leave), only for Jessie to snatch his pencil away.

"Oh, yes you are," she said matter-of-factly. "That's what I came to tell you about. You kids are either in your rooms or you're with friends and pretty soon you guys will be out living your own lives and wishing you had the time to spend with each other."

Ravi didn't say anything, just waited to see where she was going with this.

"Change your clothes. We're going on a picnic for lunch."

"Oh, but I would much rather prefer-" he shut his mouth at her warning look. Never mind

"Don't even try to get out of it, Emma and Zuri tried. I'm going to go tell Luke. Go get ready."

"But Jessie," he finally found his voice. "I must finish this assignment so I can move on to my chemistry."

"You can move on to your chemestry after we get back. You'll have plenty of time later. You need to bond with your family. You'll regret it if you don't."

I regret going already

"Come on, it won't be that bad," she rolled her eyes. "And here I thought Luke would be the problem child."

That last sentence was said under her breath. He was, presumably, supposed to not have heard it. He did. He did, ignoring the figurative gut punch and plastered on a smile.

"Alright. I will be out in ten minutes."

"Five," she corrected.

He nodded.

"Five."

It was against everyone's wills. No one wanted to leave their penthouse and be forced outside. Emma was worried about her new romper she'd recently purchased getting a grass stain. Jessie tried to explain, keeping the impatience out of her voice (an impressive feat, considering how many times she had to re-explain it), that they would be sitting on a blanket.

Several threats later, they were coming out of the elevator and were greeted by Tony. Jessie, herself, had a wide smile and a hint of a blush. Ravi didn't know if they still had a "thing" or if this was just her pining.

"Hey kids, Jessie," Tony's voice became just a bit more cheerful when he recognized Jessie.

Could he be any more obvious?

"Hey, Tony," Jessie replied, smoothing down her dress.

"Where you and the Ross clan headed to?"

"Oh, just a picnic," Jessie held up the basket. She glanced at all of them with her nanny look. "It's too bad nobody wants to go."

'Why not?" Tony scratched his head.

Jessie maneuvered closer to Tony, out of the middle of the group. "They'd much rather stay cooped up. I swear, I used to stay outside until my dad made me come in."

"Me too," Tony nodded. "Hemp. Nowadays, you can barely get 'em out."

"Right?" Jessie nodded vigorously. After a second, she added, "Maybe if I had a joystick in my hand, they'd follow."

Tony laughed, louder and longer than necessary.

Emma shared a look with Zuri; a little weirded out but Ravi also knew they were inwardly cheering. They'd been crushed when Tony and Jessie broke up and secretly plotted on a way they could get them back together.

Luke was openly glaring at Tony. He still had it bad for Jessie and was upset at Tony for trying to steal "his" woman. Even more so right now because Jessie seemed enamored. She had a goofy grin on her face that Ravi was sure was making Luke's blood boil because he wasn't the one making it happen.

Luke feigned a cough, an obnoxious one at that. It brought the love-sick couple out of their fantasy land and caused his sisters to give him the glare of death for interrupting the moment.

"Uh, I should go. Not that I don't want to stay, of course! I would-but not like because I really you. I do but-"

Emma leaned in to whisper to Zuri, "I haven't seen anything this cringy since Michael Delphino tried asking me to prom."

"Is that the one that kept spitting?' Zuri whispered back.

Emma nodded.

"It's okay," Tony said quickly. "I get it. You guys go on ahead."

They moved on, after Jessie looked behind her to sneak in one last glance at Tony. They crossed the street to Central Park where Jessie found them a nice spot underneath a large tree. It gave them plenty of shade. Besides that, the temperature was fair, giving none of them any leeway to complain or a reason to leave.

"Isn't this nice, kids?" Jessie asked as she opened up the picnic basket. Ravi's stomach growled as he took in the sight of the various foods. There was an assortment of meats and cheeses for sandwiches as well as lemonade, potato salad and some freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. "Isn't it nice to get away from the house and all your electronics and be one with nature?"

"I was trying to film a vlog," Emma said with mild annoyance. "I have over five thousand followers waiting, Jessie. I always post between noon and three on Saturdays."

'Well now you can post after dinner."

"Ugh, this is so unfair," Emma crossed her arms, pouting.

"You think that's unfair? I was sleeping. I have to go to school and wake up early for five days and now instead of getting two days to sleep in, I'm only getting one!" Luke held up one finger for emphasis.

"Well at least you can count," Jessie shrugged. "Guys, stop whining. One afternoon away isn't going to kill you. Some kids wish they'd get to do this."

"Yeah, poor kids," Zuri mumbled.

Ravi put together his sandwich, plopping down a spoonful of potato salad onto his plate. He eyed the food warily; he didn't want to eat anything-maybe he could eat half and get away with it. Jessie was focusing on his siblings anyway with the scariest face she could muster. They were clearly testing her patience.

He'd used to do it, too...

"Daddy," Ravi crawled on top of the bed, after struggling. There was a mess of papers scattered around. His daddy looked stressed.

"Didn't I tell you to knock?" His daddy snapped.

Ravi shrunk back. "Yes," he said quietly. He didn't mean to upset him, it was an accident, honest. He forgot, that's all. Determined to make it better, Ravi thought his daddy could use a hug. Ravi liked hugs. They always made him feel better. But in the midst of that his chubby little hand came down right in the middle of one of the papers.

"Get off!" His daddy shrieked. Ravi was grasped by his forearm and thrown off the bed (His howls of pain were ignored). "What did I tell you about coming in here? You never listen!" Spittle was flying everywhere. "I should've left when your mother did. Now I'm stuck with you, you little retarded piece of-"

His skin was itchy, like it was crawling with bugs.

His chest tightened.

That piercing stare his father had given him, though years before, was still vivid.

He could almost hear the crunch of the paper.

Stop it, he had to act normal. They were in public and normal people didn't do weird things where others could watch. Breathe in. Breathe out. Repeat.

Breathe in. Breathe out. Repeat.

He did this as discreetly as possible. He didn't need Jessie to be concerned (or ask questions) or for anyone else to think he was more of a freak.

I'm okay. He's gone. He won't hurt me. I'm okay.

"Are we done yet?" Ravi jerked, startled by Zuri. She and everyone else was finished or close to it while he still had majority of his sandwich and his potato salad. "I'm bored."

"Yeah, me too," Luke chimed in.

"No," Jessie said firmly. "Go play or something."

"Aren't we a little too old to 'play'?" Zuri raised her eyebrows.

"No," Jessie said. "I brought a football and frisbee or you can go on the playground." His three siblings were less than thrilled with her response until she added, "Or we can go home and I can send you to your rooms, after I take everything out but your beds and dressers."

"On second thought, you're never too old," Zuri reluctantly got up and headed off toward the swing set. Jessie convinced Emma to throw the frisbee around (she also tried to ask Ravi if he wanted to join but he declined. She was only being nice. She knew he was terrible at catching things. With his hands.). Luke found a group of boys to play some football and soon everyone but Ravi was up and having fun. He was still seated on the picnic blanket, toying around with his food. It wasn't necessary for him to actually do something, he was perfectly fine with sitting and observing.

Who are you trying to kid?

I bet if Shelby came you'd be happy

Gods. He hadn't thought of that. What if today was the day she decided to explore and by coincidence, found him at this very park? There had to be other parks, closer to her residency. Not this one. Definitely not this one.

I don't want to see her. She is aggravating

You're just lying to yourself now

I am not. I do not want anything to do with her

Yet you have no problem with her sitting at the same table as you

She will not leave even if I tell you

You just don't want to hurt her feelings

Of course he didn't want to, he wasn't heartless. Ravi wouldn't wish for anyone to feel a fraction of the hurt he felt. She may get on his nerves but there was no reason to tear her down like that. Ravi had some respect, unlike certain other people.

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