Benny walked down the path to the bus stop, wishing that he still had Freddy with him. The bear was back at the house, alone with only the silence for company. The cold bit at his face and hands, and he could see his breath. His backpack was slung over his shoulder, and his shoes crunched the gravel beneath his feet.
The wind made it hard for him to breathe, and he struggled to take oxygen into his lungs. He wouldn't mind the cold so much if Freddy had been with him, then his warmth would help to keep the shivers away.
Benny did not like school. Everyone made fun of him because of the way he talked very fondly of his stuffed animals, especially Freddy. That first day he had spoken to the child and introduced himself was one of the greatest days of his entire life, and he had been so happy to have a friend to talk to about anything.
No one had believed him when he told them that Freddy was animate and alive, but they sure had made it out to seem like Benny was an outcast and a freak. Now most of the kids in his class refused to talk to him because they didn't want to be seen conversing with 'the crazy kid.'
"Do not listen to them," Freddy had said to him one day when Benny had told him about it, "they are not the kind of humans that will like you for who you are. They would only use you for their own selfish desires, and it is only for the best if you avoid them."
"No one at school likes me very much.' Benny had said with tears in his little eyes. "They all laugh at me."
Freddy placed a paw on his arm, a consoling gesture. "If they give you too much trouble, I suggest that you tell someone about it. Telling me is good, but I think that your teachers could also help to solve your issue. I am sad for you, and if I could do more for you, I would. All you can do now is to be tough. Don't let them deter you. I know you are better than they are, and I am confident that one day, you will do great things. You are very smart, and they are jealous because they see something in you that they fear, and for that reason they will try to tear you down. Don't let them win."
Benny arrived at the bus stop, the memory still playing in his mind. It made him feel a little better now, lifting his spirits, and he let it calm his fears. Freddy was right, he shouldn't let the others get to him. He was better than them, and he knew that he could be something one day. He would not give into their attempts to make him feel worthless and afraid.
He marched down to the bus stop, confidence in his every step, fire burning in his eyes. He would not break today. He would be strong now. He would show them that he was not what they thought he was. No, he was better. Better than all of them.
Then, he saw his toughest rival standing there laughing with his buddies, and Benny's confidence wavered and began to fade. The fire dimmed in his eyes, and he began to doubt himself. Could he really do it this time? Could he really be as strong as Freddy believed he was?
His enemy turned toward him, and they locked eyes. Benny's heart skipped a beat, and he drew in a breath, worried now. They were relentless, these bullies. They did not know how to leave him alone.
"Well, look who it is!" One of the kids strode up to him, hands in his coat pockets and a mischievous smile plastered onto his face. He turned toward the others, the group standing by the bus stop. "Look who it is, everybody! It's our favorite little runt!"
"Leave me alone, Todd. I'm not in the mood today." Benny said quietly, looking away from the kid in front of him to stare at the ground.
Todd made a pouting face, mocking him. "Aw, well that's just too bad, isn't it, Benny?" He smiled. "Hey, maybe your stuffed bear will tell us to stop bothering you! Wouldn't that be something! Where is it, anyway?"
Benny felt the beginnings of tears forming in his eyes. He knew he always broke too easily, and he raised a hand to angrily wipe at his eyes. He always hated this part the most.
"Show them that you can be strong," He heard Freddy say as another memory, from a few days ago, played in his mind. "Show them you are brave. If you stand up to them and let them know that you are not to be messed with, they will not bother you anymore. I believe you are strong. Try it and you will see."
Benny began to feel angry as the teasing persisted and escalated. He made his hands into fists, and his fingernails dug into his skin. His breathing grew rapid, and his mind clouded over with hate towards his tormentors.
"Your dumb, stupid toy can't save you!" Todd crowed as he laughed. "If you ever bring it with you here again, we'll be keeping it for ourselves! We're gonna have such fun with it, setting it on fire, ripping out its stuffing and using it as bedding for my hamster."
That was Benny's breaking point. He let out a yell, and when he regained his senses, he found that he had tackled Todd and had knocked him to the ground, punching him repeatedly with his little fists. "Don't you ever talk about him like that again!" He said, saying each word with every hit he scored to Todd's body.
The others pulled him off and separated them, Benny still attempting to take swings at his opponent.
He was almost free of their hold when the bus arrived to take them to school. Everyone immediately released Benny and acted like nothing had happened, while Benny glared at Todd with a burning hatred as he got on the bus and sat down.
He felt… strange now. Now that he had done what Freddy suggested that he do, to stand up for himself, Benny felt a mixture of pride and regret.
Pride that he had finally defended himself and Freddy's honor, but regretful that he had given in to his anger and had done what he thought he could never do. He wasn't a fighter, not even close, but he knew that everyone had their breaking point, and that had been his.
He thought about how Freddy would react when he told him what he had done. Maybe he would be relieved to know that Benny had taken his advice to heart, or maybe he would be angry with him because he had sunk to their level.
Either way, Benny knew that he had done the right thing this time around, and he hoped that Todd would not bother him anymore after this. He felt braver now, and he knew that if others did not get the message, there would probably be another time like this one now.
When he got home, he would be sure to ask Freddy for advice this topic, but for now he had to worry about school. He hoped that he would get a good grade on his homework that Freddy had helped him with.
The golden bear was clearly very intelligent even if he was a plush toy, but still, that thought helped to calm him slightly. He had looked over his work after he had finished his Science, and from what he could tell, the answers were correct. He could have missed a few, but even so, he knew he would at least get an above average grade on it overall.
He stared out the window, thinking about his home life. He usually rides the bus home everyday after school, but sometimes Aaron picks him up in his truck when he misses the bus or has to stay after school to study or if he wanted to play computer games in the library.
His brother scared him. The rides home were often not very pleasant, with Aaron ranting and yelling at him about one thing or another. Leaving food out, forgetting to turn off the light after leaving a room, that sort of thing. He dare not cry during these moments, however, even if he really wanted to, because if Aaron saw so much as a tear, then the beatings would start when they got home, being ridiculed and put down for being 'weak' and 'too sensitive.'
Long rants about how he never wanted a brother, that Benny was the worst thing to ever happen to him, how much of a disappointment he was in his eyes. How much he hated him.
And during these times, Benny would run to his room and turn out the lights, crying until the dawn broke the next morning, and he would fear for his life.
Other times, when things got really bad, Freddy would come to ease his pain if it lasted into the night, holding his hand and whispering soothing words to him while Aaron screamed at Benny and threw things at the walls and cracked the plaster.
Freddy had almost come to Benny's defense quite a few times, had almost stood between them to protect his precious child from his worst nightmare. But now was not the time to reveal himself, he thought. That would come later, and soon, but not now.
Not yet.
He had told Benny that he had wanted to attack Aaron, cut him deep to the bone. Scar him for life, for eternity. Sometimes, he would go to his room when everyone was asleep, and just watch the human rest, resisting the growing urge to sink his teeth into his body and really make him bleed.
But all the times he watched as Aaron slept, peacefully and without fear, his thoughts would go to Benny and the pain and fear he was suffering at Aaron's hands, and the urges would persist and become stronger.
One day, he had come so close. He had approached Aaron's bed, his growing rage almost overpowering him, and his body had reverted to his 'attack' mode, claws longer and razor-sharp, teeth the same. Eyes a deep blood red.
And he stood there like that, growling deep in his throat. He had gripped Aaron's arm in his paws, mouth hovering over it for several minutes as he fought his desires to harm this monster.
He won his mental struggle, though, and released his unaware prisoner, walking back to Benny's room to settle for cuddling into his chest and stroking his hair while keeping guard until light streamed through the windows, keeping him safe until morning.
Benny woke up early each morning for school, and everyday, both when the child woke up and before he left for school, Freddy made sure to let him know how much he loved him, that he would always love him no matter what he chose to do.
Sometimes, he would sing to him, humming gentle tunes and melodies on the nights when the pain became too much for Benny to take. The soft melodies would help him to sleep and Freddy would lay curled up in his arms, purring contently and happily.
Aaron said that Benny would never be loved by anyone, that he would die alone, forgotten and rejected by everyone he knew. That was not true. Benny had him, his guardian angel and his best friend, to protect him until death. He had Freddy. Forever. And the gold plush bear had assured him that was all he would ever need, forever and always.
The bus then arrived at his school, and Benny broke away from his thoughts when everyone began to get off. He picked up his things and followed suit, entering the school as the bus drove away to take the kids who were in middle school to their own separate building, as was the case for every other day of the week.
He pushed open the doors, and entered the school, hoping that this day would be better. He hoped Freddy was right.
He hoped, with all of his heart, that today would be a better day.