Harry my High School Crush

Chapter 4

Harry is away for the day. The basketball team are playing another school. It’s the end of fourth period and we are making our way to our last class of the day. I text back one of my friends as I walk to my next class.

 “YO DICKHEAD!”

 I look up as does everyone else and I notice Kenny and his gang walking down the stairs. He’s looking directly at me.

 “Put your phone away!” He says aggressively.

 “Go fuck Yourself Kenny.”

 “I said PUT – YOUR - PHONE - AWAY!” He says demeaningly. The entire corridor has stood still, awaiting the drama about to unfold.

 “OR WHAT?” I reply.

 Kenny walks up and squares up to me, my face goes red but I do the same preparing myself for a fight. But suddenly Kenny grabs my phone out of my hand and dashes it to the wall. It breaks into pieces. I am in shock but I react instantly, I grab Kenny and push him back and we both drop. “WHAT THE FUCK IS YOUR PROBLEM!!” I yell.

 Everyone surrounds us in a circle and chant “FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT…”

 I take a swing at Kenny but miss as he dodges and pushes me around, he is now on top of me. Kenny is much stronger than I am as he works out. *BANG* my cheek feels hot and my ear rings from the punch he threw at me. I’ve never been in a fight at all so I try my best to take control again whilst being in shock, I grab Kenny by his collar and drag him around and smash his head against the floor. Just then Mr Wilcox grabs and pulls me back and Kenny is held back by some boys.

In the Nurses office I sit there on my own, left with an icepack. The nurse walks in with my broken phone pieces in a small box. “You brought this upon yourself dear, this is why we have a no phones rule in school.” Annoyed by her remark I storm out of the office.

 “Jay come back here now!”

 I run into the toilets and go into a cubicle and lock myself inside, crying my emotions out.

 **

 Its 3pm and the coach (bus) Stops outside the school gates, The basketball team exit and Harry steps out too.

 “Yo Jamal, guess what happened, Kenny beat up this kid and broke his phone”

 Harry overhears the conversation as he swings his sports bag around his shoulder. “Who did Kenny fight?” Harry asks concerningly.

 “Some Kid, think he’s in your class. Joe, James or Jay?”

 Harry’s eyes open wide, he begins to run up looking through the crowds in panic.

 “D-d-d..Dexter Where’s Jay?”

 “I dunno, did you hear what happened?”

 “Where’s KENNY then!?”

 “I think he left a while ago, he went that way, are you ok?”

 Harry did not respond and began running down the pavement, pushing other students out of the way, he notices Kenny and his friends at the bus stop.

 “What the FUCK did you do!??”

 “Oh look who we have here, are you hear to protect your –“ *BANG* Harry punches Kenny right across his nose, Kenny pauses as he bleeds.

“You punched me!!” he says. “All for that little fag.”

 *BANG* Harry punches him again. He throws his bag across the ground and grabs Kenny and pushes him down to the ground. Harry punches and aims once more but Kenny punches Harry on his ribs. Nick and Josh begin kicking Harry off of Kenny and Harry retaliates by standing up and punches them both as well, Kenny gets up and kicks Harry’s back, he jumps onto Harry and Punches him once across the lip and once across his right eye. Harry is in pain and unbale to stand from getting kicked on his back. Kenny removes a knife and stands above Harry.

“Do it, I dare you.” Harry says.

 Kenny trembles for a moment not moving, knife shaking in his hand.

 “I thought so. Deep down you’re a PUSSY!!” Harry says. “Stay away from Jay.”

 “I thought we were friends!” Kenny Shouts.

“Who wants to be friends with a person like you.” Harry says in disgust.

 Kenny puts the knife away; now emotionally distraught he walks away with Josh and Nick.

 **

I leave the building at 3:20pm, mostly everyone has left now and I’m glad as I wanted to avoid them all - the questions and laughter. I walk slowly along the path saddened by what had happened today and that my phone is broken. I want to call Harry but I can’t. As I continue to walk up towards the bus stop, I notice Harry sitting there on his own. Now realising he is hurt.

 “HARRY!” I yell, distressed to see him hurt. “WHAT HAPPENED!?!?” I shriek now getting teary.

 Harry stands up, but hisses in pain. “Don’t stand up, sit down.” I say. He refuses to listen and reaches his arms out and brings me into him for a hug.

 “I’m okay. Don’t worry about me. are you okay?” He Whispers.

 “Harry what’s going on?? Is this Kenny’s doing?” I ask.

 “Can you help me home?” He asks, ignoring my question.

 “Of course!”

 I take Harry’s arm and put it around my shoulders, he leans in slightly as he limps on his rigth leg. His left leg is bruised badly, blood staining the gaping hole torn within his trousers. His right eye is swollen and tender and his bottom lip is split bleeding. The top four buttons of his school shirt are torn off. As I open the gate of Harry’s front garden, I lead him to the door. I remove the Keys from his bag and lead him through and into the living room.

 “Where’s your first aid supplies??” I say as I direct him onto the sofa and remove my bag and blazer.

 “Jay, you don’t have to –“

 “WHERE IS IT!?” I demand.

 “Under the kitchen sink.”

 I head to the kitchen and wash my hands. I grab a tea tray to place the supplies on. I find the supplies in the cupboard along with disinfectant soap and hydrogen peroxide. I fill up a clean bowl with warm soapy water, and take out an ice compress I find in his freezer (thank god his mum is organised). I carry this all through to the living room and place it on the table. I inspect Harry carefully.

 “If I’m to clean you up properly then I think we should remove your trousers.”

Unable to stand, Harry leans back to undo his belt but hisses in pain. “Stop.” I say.

 I get on my knees and unbuckle Harry’s belt. I unclasp his trousers and pull down the zip. I take my fingers and grab by his waist and pull down, he lifts his pelvis up as I do, gently removing his trousers around his nasty bruise on his shin. I give Harry the compress and direct him to put it on his eye. Taking a large cotton pad, I soak it into the water and begin by cleaning around the bruise, rubbing away torn skin.

 “Ssss Aahh!” He says. “Sorry” I say. 

I continue cleaning the area with soapy water until it is clear and dry it with dry tissue. I cover it with a sterile gauze pad and wrap around it with a bandage. I can see Harry watching me as I do. I now get up and sit next to Harry, dabbing hydrogen peroxide to a cotton pad.

 “This might hurt.” I say. I slowly and gently dab his lip.

 “Sssss fuck” he hisses.

 “I’m sorry.” I gently blow onto his lip in between each dab.

 “What happened, please tell me.” I ask.

 “I fought with Kenny.” He says. “He had it coming.”

 “I assume you heard what happened?”

 “A little bit, tell me what happened exactly.”

I began filling Harry in with the ordeal this afternoon, he leaned back as he heard, holding the compress on his eye and closing the other. I can see him getting annoyed hearing about it. He bolts himself up and drops the compress and inspects me properly.

 “Your cheek, he bruised your left cheek!! Does it hurt?”

 “I’m fine honesty, it’s not that bad.” I say.

 “I’m gonna Kill him!!”

 “No, you are not! I think you proved your point enough. Just drop it.”

 Harry looks at my bruise, upset to see it this way. “I’m sorry Jay, it’s all my fault.”

 “It’s not! Don’t blame yourself.”

 “But it is. Because I involved you in my life, I dragged you through all this. I’m cutting him out of my life, I don’t need friends like that.”

 Harry stokes my left cheek softly with the back of his fingers. He leans forward and gently kisses it.

 “Harry!” His mum calls. She’s standing there watching the two of us, wide eyed. We both flinch back.

 “Oh my god, WHAT HAS HAPPENED!??” she shrieks.

 “Mum its fine, stop panicking!!”

 I get up and move out of the way, she sits down and inspect Harry. “What’s going on, what happened??”

 “I got into a fight with Kenny!”

 “I knew that boy is nothing but trouble! But why?”

 “I was defending Jay.” She now looks up at me with piercing eyes. “Kenny doesn’t like the idea of me being friends with him and I think he’s jealous, he started a fight with him and I fought back.”

 “This is ridiculous! I’m calling that school right now and – “

 “Mum. Can you just leave it for now please.”

 She deflates as she puts down her mobile. The room is silent for a moment as she looks across from Harry and me. “Thank you, Jay, for helping Harry. I’m sorry to hear that you had troubles with Kenny. I did not like that boy one bit. But I’m glad Harry has you.” She says kindly. “Perhaps you should go home, otherwise your mother would worry.”

 “Of course.” I respond picking up my belongings.

 “I’ll see you tomorrow.” Harry says.

 “You certainly will not, you are not going in, you need to rest!”

 “Mum!!”

 “No Buts!” she says.

 “I think your mum is right Harry. Just take it easy.” I smile and wave bye.

 When Jay leaves, Harry’s mum begins to tidy up everything, she talks angrily about the school, Kenny and of his torn uniform which she will need to replace. Harry calls out for his mother several times as she does so, but she continues to mutter and tidy.

“Mum!” She now looks over and slowly comes to sit near him.

 “Why did you defend Jay?” She asks.

 “I told you why.” Harry responds.

 “The real reason.” She asks again.

 “He’s my friend mum.”

 “Is he a special friend?” She asks, smiling reassuringly. Harry is silent for a moment, unsure of what to say, surprised by his mother’s forward question.

 “Y-Yeah.” He says under his breath, Harry looks down, sad that he may have disappointed his mother. She takes his hand.

 “Oh Love, you don’t need to hide that from me. I’m happy for you no matter what. and I’m glad its Jay, he’s a lovely boy.”

 “Really?” he says in relief, with tears forming in his eyes.

 “Yes.”

 “I really like him Mum, I have for a long time.”

 “I know you do sweetheart!”

 Harry leans into his mother as she wraps her arms around his him, hugging him tightly.

 ***

 It is Monday. Harry and Jay walk to school together. As they walk through the school gates, Jay walks towards his friends. Harry sheepishly follows behind.  Luc, Adi and Callum stare at Harry.

 “Is it true that you defended Jay last week?” Callum asks.

“Yeah.” Harry responds.

 “Why?” Adi asks.

 “Jay’s my friends, and I’m glad I got to know him. He didn’t deserve what Kenny had done to him” He says.

 Luc scoffs. “So, you lost all your friends then?” He adds.

 “No, I have other friends besides Kenny, Josh and Nick. But I think it’s safe to say I am no longer their friend and don’t wish to be!”

 There is a long and awkward silence.

 Luc speaks - “Yeah, well, anyone who defends our friend is a friend of ours.” He says as he reaches his hand out for a handshake. Harry smiles and accepts the gesture.

 “We are going to go and grab breakfast, wanna join us?” Luc asks us both.

 “Ermm I’m okay, I’ll see you guys in there.” I say.

 *

 “My mum knows about us.”

 “Us?” I say in surprise. “What was her reaction”

 “She was cool with it and she’s happy that it’s you, she likes you.”

 I smile. “I’m glad!”

 “Harry, I don’t think I’m ready to tell my family or anyone.”

 “Oh no, don’t worry I don’t expect you too either. I totally understand.”

 “So, you don’t mind if we keep us quiet? I don’t know when or if I will be ready anytime soon.”

 “I prefer it that way, one day but not now. only when you are ready.”

 I smile, happy that he understands. “What do you mean by us?”

 “You know….Us.” He winks.  I laugh as we walk into the school building.

 The End