Hello everyone still busy with work but writers block is gone so I'm a little ahead.

Beta read by Sabrina06

Phineas POV

I sat watching the clock waiting for the bell to sound signaling the end of fourth period.

Ah lunch time; second most important meal of the day, I thought to myself as I packed up my things and headed towards the Cafeteria. As I was walking I thought about introducing Ryan to the rest of the gang. Ferb and Isabella had already arrived.

"Hi Phineas, Whatcha doin," she said while Ferb just blinked.

"Hi Isabella, Hi Ferb, where's everyone else" I asked.

"They'll be here soon, we're the ones with classes closest to the Cafeteria. Come on let's get some food and grab a table," Ferb said.

As we walked into the serving area Isabella asked us, "Are you two going to build anything this weekend?"

"Um, we have several ideas but it also depends on homework," I replied as I picked up a meal.

She rolled her eyes and said "With the things that you two build on a daily basis, homework should be no challenge for you two at all."

Ferb and I shrugged in response.

We grabbed our trays of food and paid for them. As we walked out we saw Ryan, but something looked off, he seemed sad. As we watched him he sat at a table and began to eat by himself.

"What's wrong with Ryan," Isabella asked.

"I'm not sure, let's go sit with him and see" I replied.

As we approached him I said, "Hi Ryan, how's the day going?"

He looked up and glared at us, he said "Go away," in a quiet but harsh tone then looked back down.

"Ryan, you okay," I worriedly asked.

"Peachy," he replied but with annoyance and anger.

"Ryan, what's wrong," Isabella asked as we sat down.

"Leave me alone," Their was no mistaking the anger in his voice.

"Ryan please tell us what's wrong, were your frie-" Isabella encouraged before Ryan interrupted.

Angrily, he repeated himself "Leave me alone, none of you are my friends, so just leave me alone." He grabbed his tray and sat down at another table away from us.

I worriedly raised my eyebrows as I looked towards Isabella and Ferb who just shrugged. What did he mean by, we're not his friends, I thought to myself. "I'm going to go see what's wrong," I said as I tried to follow.

"Phineas it might be best to leave him alone and give him some space, it appears as though he may hit something or someone soon," Ferb warned.

"Ferb we should at least try to talk to him to see what's wrong," I replied.

Just then Katie and Adyson showed up.

"Have you guys seen Ryan," Katie quickly asked.

"Ah, yeah, we were going to sit with him and introduce him to everyone else, but when we sat with him he shouted 'leave me alone' and left. He's sitting over there now." I replied and pointed.

They looked towards him and both sighed, "He's been like that since before 4th period," Katie said.

"Why," Isabella asked

"Alex did something to him, by the time we got there Ryan was kneeling on the ground with his things scattered around, Alex and a group of kids dispersed and walked away," Adyson replied

We were all worried. Alex had been known to push kids to extremes when he bullied them. Teachers won't do anything unless they see what happened or are told. Even if teachers are told he just gets sent to the principal's office. Then all he gets is just a talking to or put in detention but it doesn't do anything he just continues to bully.

"What did Alex say to him," Ferb asked

"We don't know; we were on our way to History class when we saw Alex and a group of kids dispersing leaving Ryan kneeling on the floor starting to cry. When we went to help him he just closed off and wouldn't talk to us. All he said was 'You don't care about me, none of you cared'," Katie sadly recounted then looked down in shame.

"He said the same thing to us when we sat down with him," Isabella replied

"He's been bullied so much that he assumes that everyone hates him. Alex used the knowledge of him not having any friends against him. I've done the same thing," Buford said as he approached with Baljeet. Both appeared saddened as they sat down.

Normal POV

"Buford?" Phineas questioned.

"Look Dinnerbell," he began, "I've done things that I have come to regret. I have also seen the consequences that my actions have had on other people… I've seen this before," He then looked down in shame.

Everyone looked at Buford with concern. Buford had stopped bullying people in 6th grade. Even though he mostly bullied Baljeet he bullied other kids as well. It wasn't until one of the kids he bullied had attempted suicide that he changed his ways.

He has since then stopped bullying people, apologized for his actions and started to better himself and others. He now tries to talk problems out but if it comes to confrontation he will fight as a last resort. Though he still picks on Baljeet it's more like brotherly love than bullying. Phineas and the gang don't mind his nicknames for them as they have gotten used to them.

"Buford you've changed since then, you can't let your past control your future." Isabella stated.

"I know Isabella it's just… I can't help but think about what I could have done differently." He replied

"Buford, he has forgiven you since then and you have made up with him. I know it still weighs heavily on your mind but it is in the past and you have changed for the better. You are a good man." Baljeet stated.

"I know but I can't help but think about it." He replied

Baljeet then sighed and said, "From my experiences at psychology camp, and with research and experience on what bullied victims have done in the past. Ryan has been bullied so much that he has lost his ability to trust and befriend anyone; he thinks that everyone will make fun of him. He is also showing signs that he is still recovering from a traumatic experience in his life." Baljeet then looked away towards Ryan who was looking at his locket, "I am afraid with Alex adding to the stress and Ryan being autistic, he is slowly being destroyed on the inside. It is only a matter of time before he does something…drastic."

"What do you mean by drastic," Katie worriedly asked.

Baljeet looked at her concerned and said, "I do not want to imagine."

Everyone was worried. Adyson the spoke up angrily "Well I say we confront Alex and tell him to stop."

"I don't think that's a good idea, the last thing we need is confrontation," Phineas said.

"No, she's right Dinnerbell, but we don't need to fight him. We only need to stick up for Ryan and get Alex to stop bullying him," Buford stated.

Phineas sighed rubbed his forehead and said "Okay we'll get together and confront him after school, but nobody confronts him alone. Wait for everyone else to show up."

Everyone nodded and ate in silence; Katie then looked towards Ryan who was throwing away his trash then walking towards his next class, hanging his head in shame. She thought to herself, Ryan you're not alone, you do have friends that care about you. You're not alone in your struggle.

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