I spent the rest of the evening talking with my mom, doing homework and by morning I tried to get myself ready for school. I looked at my hand, seeing a bruise, and I wasn't too sure if I wanted to go at the thought that I’ll run into David. Maybe I should go walking as well. I was about to text Elliot when he suddenly messaged me first saying that he left early to pick me up. I sighed as I walked to the kitchen grabbing something small like a banana to put it in my bag and slowly started making my way outside to wait for him. I wasn't too sure if I wanted to see Elliot just yet because I was curious about how it went yesterday between him and Jennifer. I also couldn't bring myself to tell Elliot about David because I was also mad that he approached him without telling me and that led me to hurt myself.

“Hey!”

I looked up to see Elliot parked in front of me and I walked over to his car. “Hi,” I replied as I got inside.

“You okay?" He asked, pointing at my hand.

“Yeah, I fell yesterday,” I said, covering my hand.

“Doing what?” he asked as he started driving.

I paused for a second trying to think of something before shrugging my shoulder. "I just fell,” I said, simply.

“Alright,” he said.

It got quiet between us, and I looked outside the window. “How did it go yesterday?” I asked. “With Jennifer?”

“Jennifer? Um, I guess okay. It kind of was quiet, but then again I've never really had a conversation with her before... I know her brother because of the volleyball team.” he said.

“I know; she's told me,” I said and I thought about it before turning to him. “She likes you.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah,” I said. “She wants you to ask her to the dance.”

He smiled as he parked the car then turned to me. “She told you that?” he asked.

I nod.

Elliot didn't say anything as he got out of the car and I got off as well trying to see what he'll say. “So...?” I asked as I followed beside him after he locked the car.

He smiled again. “So? I heard you and I'll keep that in mind,” he said.

“Okay…”

Elliot turned to me, “Just because you tell me that she has a crush on me doesn't mean that I'm going to run after her. I hardly know her and even if I were interested in her I probably wouldn't ask her to the dance.” he said.

“Why not?” I asked, confused.

“I was never planning on going,” he answered me.

“Why not?"

He paused as he shrugged his shoulders. “I don't have any interest in dances. I might not seem like it, but I don't like things like formal dances or homecoming and I don't dance,” he explained.

I blushed as I nodded as I looked down at the ground, “I see.”

He pats my shoulder. “It's okay. Besides, I think you shouldn't be worrying about my well-being when it comes to dating. I'm not too interested in dating since I'm a little busy with volleyball." he said as we both started walking. “So, you think you'll be coming for the game this Friday?”

I turned to him, “Yeah, I can try and sit it through the whole game. I’ve been wanting to watch you play.”

“It won't be packed so you don't have to worry about the crowd and if you want you can ask your mom to come. It's the first home game so my family is coming too,” he said.

I turn to him, “You mean, sit with your family?” I asked.

“You don't have to if you don't want to. I was only suggesting that since you're new in town we can have dinner afterward and it wouldn't be so bad for our parents to meet. It’s already been a month since you started school here it can also be a celebration.” he said as we paused at the front door to our classroom.

I looked down thinking about this then turned to the door and nodded my head, “Alright. I'll ask my mom.” I answered.

“Okay,” he said as we made our way inside now and I took my seat.

Jennifer smiled once she saw me. “Thanks for yesterday. I never thought I'll ever go home with Elliot or get inside his car," she said quietly. “I owe you. No, I have to buy you lunch.”

I smiled, “It's fine. You don't owe me anything.” I said as I thought about what Elliot said and now I wasn't too sure how to feel.

Was I happy that he wasn't going to the dance or should I feel hurt that I might have gotten Jennifer's hopes up? I’m also a bit confused and nervous that Elliot wants to introduce me to his parents. I mean, there's nothing going on between us so I shouldn't be overreacting about it all, but I didn’t see why he had to go so far to make introductions. I kept to myself during class as I only made small conversations with Jennifer and now my thoughts were if I should tell her about Elliot not wanting to go to the dance. Maybe I shouldn't if she'll end up unfriending me after she finds out, but Jennifer doesn’t seem like the type of girl who would do that.

I went through my second class alone and during lunch, I went to the library just hoping I could spend some time alone. I rubbed my wrist where I had my bruise and I still wasn't sure how I could bring this up to Elliot without making a scene of the whole situation. I'm mad that he approached David without telling me or even consoling me and he'll be mad because David slightly injured me after being warned to leave me alone. I sighed as I saw Elliot walking over to my table and he put his bag on the floor while taking a seat in front of me.

“Hey, what are you doing here?” I asked.

“Nothing. Just bored,” he said. “I was wondering where you went.”

I was working on my math homework and I looked down at the paper before turning to him, finally tired of letting my mind wander.

“Why did you tell him?” I asked.

“Tell who?”

“David. Why did you do that without telling me?” I asked him as I tried to keep myself calm.

“Is that why your hand is injured?” he said instead.

“It's nothing serious. I only have a bruise.” I answered, running my hand over the top of my head and noticed that he didn’t deny my question. “You should have told me.”

“I'm sorry,” he said, as he looked down and was being quiet for a second. “I was just mad when you told me that he's been bothering you so I thought I could just tell him to back off.”

“You didn't have to do that. He wasn't that big of a bother. I've dealt with worse and I just wanted to avoid him as much as possible.” I said as I started putting my things away. “I never asked you to do that or to act as my protector. I don't know if I'm actually pissed off or disappointed.”

“Hey, come on. I'm sorry, okay?”

“Okay, and I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have told you if I had known you would go to him. Like, what did you expect by doing that?” I asked as I grabbed my backpack.

Elliot reached over to grab my arm and I was about to pull back away from him, but he let go of me first. “Don't be mad... please.”

I stared at him and I know that I'm still mad, but it feels like it’s more at myself now because I can only see his sad expression and I'm slowly giving in.

I sighed, “I think maybe we need a break from each other.” I said and realized how stupid it sounds. Like a couple breaking up.

“What do you mean?”

“You should hang out with your friends and I need to make more friends. I know you have other friends aside from me and I need the chance to talk to other people as well.” I said, simply.

“I know I have other friends, but it's not like I'm ignoring them,” he said, actually looking both confused and surprised. “I said I'm sorry.”

“Okay and I forgive you if that's what you want to hear, but that doesn't change my mind. I'll still come to the game, but for now, I don't want a ride to school or home. Don't come by tutoring and you should still consider asking Jennifer out on a date.” I said as I started walking out. “I'm sure she'll like a date to the beach a whole lot more.”

Elliot didn't say anything as he followed me out of the building so I took that chance to walk away from him and started making my way to my classroom before the lunch bell rings. Why did that hurt me then it wasn’t supposed to? It wasn't a breakup, but it felt like it since I just told him that I wanted time apart. I told my only friend to leave me alone only because I was upset at him and maybe I was scared of getting too close to him as well. I can’t just fall so easily to his words and be happy whenever he comes to get me or when he smiles at me. It’ll only make me want to have him to myself because maybe he was the only thing that’s been comforting me these days. The only person that’s been able to help me whenever I have those bad days; when he was just there when I just wanted to quit.

I went to my next class after the bell rang to end lunch and I was able to sit down in my seat before David entered the room. I avoided making eye contact with him and made sure I kept my distance from him. I guess I wasn’t completely in the right mindset because I forgot almost half the lecture and I just remembered that there's a project due in a few days that I haven’t finished. I sighed as I started making my way to my next class and that meant that I’ll be seeing Elliot soon. I made sure I was quick to change and walked straight to the basketball court where our class is meeting for a row call.

Jennifer was already there so I walked over to her and she smiled at me when she saw me. “Hey,” she said.

I gave her a small smile. “You're here early,” I said.

“I wanted to talk to my friends before they had to go to the football field for the row call. I heard that they want us to play here today instead of baseball,” she said.

“Eh, I don’t do well in sports,” I said.

“I’m sure we can sit out. I don't want to play as well,” she said as she moved to sit down on the court while the teacher started calling out names for the row call.

After a few minutes of basic exercises, some of the guys started pairing up to teams to start playing and I made sure I followed Jennifer to the side of the court. We found a spot to sit and this time two more girls were joining us who I never met before. I soon realized that one of them is in our English class, Karen, and the other is in my science class, Alex. I felt shy as they had their conversation until Jennifer brought up the event of Elliot giving her a ride. Of course, the girls gasped demanding details and were excited about the whole event. Now I can’t ever tell her that Elliot is not planning to go to the dance or wanting to date as well.

“Michael, you’re so lucky to have Elliot to yourself,” Alex said with a soft expression.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Well, it's been a while since we’ve seen him hung around other people besides his classmates. He’s on the volleyball team, but since we’ve known him, he doesn’t talk to a lot of people.” Karen said.

“I thought Elliot has a lot of friends,” I said.

“Hmm, no, I don’t think he was close with anyone. He would go sit with everyone in his team during lunch or field trips, but he keeps to himself as well.” Jennifer said as she watched the guys play. “Elliot was always nice to everyone, but he also comes off as intimidating to approach. That’s why I was so happy that he agreed to give me that ride.”

I thought about this before turning to them, “The side of him sounds different compared to the Elliot that I hang out with. Like, it’s a bit hard to imagine him being close off and I thought he was social with everyone.”

“Yeah, we thought that as well, but he’s quieter than we thought. He’s been more open now that he’s been hanging out with you which is different.” Jennifer mumbled as she stared at me then slowly looked away.

I didn’t know what to say as I decided to look around the field and saw Elliot playing flag football. I watched him as I pondered on what they said before I turned back, “I don’t know what to do. I got mad at him and I told him that he needs to hang out with his friends because I thought we were spending too much time together, but now I’m wondering if he was close with me because he didn’t have any other one else...”

The girls got quiet before Jennifer sighed, “That seems so complicated... So you're not going to be seeing him for a while?” she asked.

I shook my head, “Maybe you can take this chance to talk to him more?” I said. “He might get bored.”

Jennifer smiled softly as she thought about it before turning to look at him, “Maybe... But what if he's not interested in me?” she asked.

“Then be his friend. If what you said is true then wouldn't it be nice for him to have another friend as well?” I said.

“Yeah, you're right,” she answered.

The girls stayed quiet for a couple of minutes until they found a new topic to talk about and I wasn't too interested in the conversation now that it’s changed. I glanced over at Elliot as he was playing before I turned away and slowly got up. I excused myself deciding that maybe I should go talk to him and maybe it was wrong of me to have pushed him away like that. I was making my way over when David moved to block my path and I couldn’t help stepping back away from him. I almost hesitated as I tried to move around him when he put his arm around my shoulder like he did yesterday and it made me feel small next to him.

“What do you want?” I asked him, my voice coming out small.

“Nothing. I just wanted to see how my new friend is doing.” David said as he led me in a different direction from where I was going.

“I haven't done anything to you,” I said trying not to follow him but he was pulling me alone.

“Does it matter?” he said as we walked closer to the restroom and I can tell he was trying to get me out of everyone's view.

“It does,” I said as I stopped walking and tried to push him off me. “Just because I'm different from everyone doesn't mean it's okay to pick on me.”

David grabbed me and pushed me to the wall this time, “Do you think I’m interested in you just because you're different? It's not just because you're different, but because you look like a pussy and I think you come off as a little faggot.”

I stared up at him as I heard his words and I couldn’t help but shove him as hard as I could. “And if I am?”

“Then maybe someone should help toughen you up,” he said as he raised his fist.

I stared at him unsure of what to do. I don't know where that confidence comes from, but now it's slipping, and I didn't know what to do next. I was just about to accept the pain of his first hit me when someone reached out to grab his arm and I turned to see Elliot.

“I thought you’ve had enough?” Elliot said as he pushed David away from me.

“I haven’t.” He said as Elliot moved in front of me.