Chapter Six: Stick Up For A Friend
The school bell echoes throughout the school facility as all the students rush to the platform while hanging amongst each other. Cara was the last one to exit, but she walked sadly as she walked carefully for fear of tripping over. She had a tiny frown upon her lips as her dark pair of glasses hid her teary and sad eyes. She didn't want anyone to notice, especially her bullies.
As she made her way without interacting with the crowd, she heard a cheerful whistle as she heard a familiar voice coming towards her and the students, "Here's James!"
Cara turned her head towards where the voice was coming as she knew who it was. All the students dashed towards the splendid red engine with beaming smiles and wide eyes as they were all eager to see him. Cara could hear the thundering footsteps from the students as she stood there, looking more miserable than a lonely puppy.
After the students greeted and admired his paintwork, they rushed to the coaches as Cara still stood there, conflicted about what to do. Should she tell James about her bullying, or should she have a brave face as she admitted to herself? Ever since she met James, she admired his confidence level as Cara was more of a humble and shy type. With that, she rubbed her shoulder as she looked left to right, if she could see as she sighed, "Might as well go home. I feel too upset to speak about it."
There, Cara strolled to the coaches. While she did that, James began to notice that Cara didn't show up. Where was she? He did see her today, and he did take her to school. Was she late, or did she go home early because she was sick? This made James frown in concern until he looked and spotted Cara approaching the coaches.
James was surprised to see her. When he saw her, his frown turned upside down as he gasped in joy, "Hello, Cara!", he chirped.
When Cara heard her name from James, she turned her head slowly to James as she was surprised to be acknowledged that quickly. James gave her a big smile, but in exchange, Cara gave him a sad smile as she showed the palm of her hand as a way of waving. James gasped in shock as Cara entered inside the coach, "Why did Cara do that? This is not like her! She gets excited when I'm around! What's wrong with her?"
Those thoughts began to stick around in James' head until he was signalled to depart his way to Knapford Station. James sighed sadly as he tooted his whistle and puffed away, "When Cara comes off, I'll check if she's okay.", he said to himself in the head as he made his journey from Dryaw to Knapford.
…
Cara sat on the chair miserably as she heard the wheels chugging and pistons pumping wildly. Those noises were somewhat satisfying, but she felt too upset to recognise anything that could soothe her. She could grab out her guitar, but she felt like she was in no mood to strum the strings and play a melody. She could read her Braille book about "Beauty and The Beast", but she didn't feel like reading.
As she sat there alone, she swore she heard some whispers nearby, "Do you think we should?"
"Yes, that would be hilarious!", chuckled another voice.
"I can't wait to see her face.", cackled another voice.
Cara knew who they belonged to, yet she wasn't hundred percent prepared for what was next to come. She rarely gets bullied before or after school, but when it happens, it's ten times worse and more humiliating. To block out their voices, she began to hum to a tune she made up to cope with herself.
She hoped she could get out of the coach and just run to her mother's arms for a hug and embrace. She felt afraid and alone. The only ones that comforted her were her mother and beloved canine friend, Stella. This made her wonder. Does James honestly care or not? She didn't want to think, and she just wanted to be at peace.
…
James parked at the platform he was assigned at Knapford Station, and Gordon was back with the afternoon express. Once James parked carefully and steadily, all the students came out with such enthusiasm as they either met up with their parents or their friends. Since it was Friday, all the young boys and girls were more excited as tomorrow was the weekend.
However, James waited for Cara to step out of the coach so he could ask her what was up with her. Just before he could, he witnessed Cara flying out of the coach as she landed on the ground hard, which resulted in her dark pair of glasses falling out of her face and her white cane lying beside her. James gasped in horror. Did she trip over? Was she okay? Does she need help?
Before checking upon the young girl, he heard five boys laughing in the background. James listened carefully, and he watched the whole ordeal, "I was only trying to help you get out quicker, Zero Eyes!", Darren mocked.
"We wanted to help!", Joseph smirked as he lied.
Cara only just lay there as she felt helpless and defeated. She was alone, "Here it goes again. Another big fall for me.", Cara sighed as a single tear escaped her eyes.
As Cara was lying on the ground, Trent grabbed out her white cane and laughed, "Hey, Cara! Want to be independent? You don't need this!"
With that, he tossed the white cane onto the track. James was horrified as some passengers and Gordon the Big Engine witnessed the event. Not long after, the five boys circled around her and began to kick her and mock her. All Cara could do was curl into a ball shape and shield her face. She wished it was all over.
Cara began to plead, "Stop! Please!"
However, the boys ignored her as they laughed and showed pleasure to make Cara's life miserable. They showed no care, and they didn't care what others thought. This was fun for them to make Cara suffer more. As they kicked and screamed out horrible nicknames, Trent stepped on her dark pair of glasses, and it broke into pieces, "You don't need that, Zero Eyes!"
With all the events occurring, James' face went red as his paintwork as he gritted his teeth. He narrowed his eyes as he wheeshed steam. He was fuming. How dare they bully and hurt Cara, who now sees her as a friend. James couldn't bear seeing Cara suffer and he was appalled that nobody stopped her, but even an adult. James growled as he couldn't take it anymore.
There, James peeped his whistle loudly as he shouted, "Enough!"
The five boys immediately stopped their actions as they faced James with a shocked look. It wasn't just them who looked at James. Cara gasped in surprise as she looked where James' voice was coming from the crowd, and Gordon himself watched James in shock. James, at this point, didn't care what the public thought of him. All he wanted to do was tell the boys off and help Cara.
"How dare you kick and hurt this innocent young girl! What is wrong with you? Have you got no shame?", James spat as he glared at the boys.
"Who do you think you are?", Trent growled as he was the only one with the gut to face the wrath of James, "You can't tell us what to do! You're not my Mum!"
James didn't like his attitude one bit as he found it disgusting, "I may not be your mother, but anyone would know that hurting someone for fun is wrong!", he growled back.
This made Trent quiet, yet he still maintained no fear of the red engine, "I hope you're pleased to ruin the girl's day!", James snarled, "You have no heart! I hope your mother will be ashamed of you!"
When Trent heard those words, he began to sweat as his eyes went wide. James made a hidden smirk as he was glad to serve justice for Cara, "I hope you tell your mother about your day and what you have done! No mothers want a child that's a bully! Am I wrong?"
With that, Trent began to tremble in fear as she slowly walked back as the four other boys hugged each other. As the events occurred, Cara's eyes glistened in awe and surprise as the remaining tears escaped her eyes. Nobody ever stood up for her, and nobody had the guts to tell Trent, Darren, and the other boys off. She didn't know how to feel.
All her emotions were mixed up at this point. She felt she was going to cry. She felt like she wanted to hug him. She felt like she wanted to thank him, and most importantly, she felt lucky to have someone stand up to her from being bullied. Her bad day seems to switch to a good day.
"If you want to be good, I suggest you end this bully thing right now! Understand?", James asked with an angry tone.
The five boys nodded as they backed away before running off, crying and screaming in fear, "Mummy! Help me!", called Trent as tears escaped his eyes.
Once the boys were out of sight, the crowd stood silent along with Gordon, who was actually impressed with James' brave action, as James smirked. He felt like he had reached his victory, "That would teach them!", James said to himself as he hoped the five boys would learn their lesson.
After that, the situation went back to normal as Cara slowly got up as she got covered with a few bruises that were covered by her clothes. Once James was done telling the bullies off, he looked at the struggling Cara and asked gently, "Are you okay?"
When Cara stood up, she gave him a nod as tears escaped her eyes again. She never felt so grateful to have a friend that stood up for her. With that, she walked toward James and thanked him, "T-thank you, James.", she choked her tears as she was now next to him.
James couldn't help but look at her with a sad smile as he was glad he could help her, but seeing her cry dimmed his firebox. As he was about to speak, Cara spoke more, "N-nobody has ever stood up to me… yet you did. Why would you do that?", she asked as she wiped her tears away.
This made James' mouth drop in surprise. Did nobody ever stand up to her at school? James got curious before he remembered what Cara asked. Why would he stand up for her and defend her from the bullies she, unfortunately, deals with?
There, James gave her a gentle smile and replied without thinking for a minute, "Because… you're my friend, Cara."
Cara gasped as she asked, "Am I your friend?"
James blinked as a nod, "Of course, Cara. I enjoyed your company, and you showed me how amazing you are. I never met anyone with a heart of gold which seemed to be happy for who she is. If anyone is special for just being Cara, that's definitely you.", he replied gently.
Cara wiped her remaining tears and smiled, "I'm glad you're my friend, James."
With that, she approached James, yet unfortunately, due to her white cane being thrown onto the track, she struggled to find her way. Luckily, James' Driver hopped off James' cab and collected her white stick. When he kindly gave her the white cane, she thanked him as she managed to feel James' running plate.
There, James' Driver understood what she wanted as he put her on the running plate. When she was on James' running plate, she approached James as the red engine watched her. She looked curious as she reached out her tiny hands. James gasped in surprise when Cara touched his left cheek and wrapped her arms for a hug.
James smiled as he embraced the hug. He was glad to call Cara his new friend, and now he could learn more about her and be there for her when she was alone or afraid. Cara continued to hug James as she felt lucky to have a friend that stood up to her and was honest with her. With that, their friendship was born, and they both knew they had each other, and they would always be together as best friends.
