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= Chapter 2 =

(Picture is of Ryker)

Ryker's POV

I don't know what to do.

I've tried everything, but I can't get the image of his face out of my head. His fringe flopping over, his nose bleeding with bruises all over his face and a thick cut on his lip. I guess I'll just have to do what I always do, get it out of my head and onto a drawing pad.

I draw him the way I saw him from the corridoor, before he looked up at me. He was leaning his back against the lockers on the floor, his face held up to try and stop his nose bleed. His bruised face was clear with his fringe not in the way and there was a splotch of spit and blood on the tiled floor.

I sketched him in charcoals, but did the bruising with chalks and the blood with food colouring, but it messed from the drawing's nose and ran down across his hands and thighs to the end of the page.

"Damnit."

I tried to fix it but it dried too quickly, oh well.

I put it aside on my desk and drew him the way he had looked when he heard me, his eyes filled with shock, I just did this one in pencil. It turned out weirdly amazing for a quick sketch so I taped it up on my wall with the rest of my favorites, sketches of some bands I liked, a black rose reflected in the moonlight in charcoal, a few half finished watercolours that I thought looked better unfinished than complete, my sister with her piercing bright blue eyes... And a couple of others.

He fit right in.

Maybe I should find out how he's doing, my dad used to be friends with his in university, he might still have a number.

Casper's POV

I can't believe it's finally the weekend, after what happened on Friday with the new boy, Ryker, I don't think I ever want to go back. I can stand the bullying, I'm used to it, but I can't stand having to face the beautiful new boy who caught me when I... You know and I even almost started crying that time, I never ever cry in front of people... Not anymore.

"Casper?!"

My Dad. I race downstairs to see him holding the phone out to me.

"A kid named Ryker, he's the son of an old friend of mine... And your mom..."

He went silent, a numb glaze returning to his eyes. He handed me the phone, not even noticing the state my face was in, and walked away.

"Hello? Helloooo?"

"Um... Hi."

"Casper! How're you doing?"

"I'm okay..."

"Really?"

"I guess, I'm used to it."

"That's sad."

"Why?"

"You shouldn't have to be used to it."

"I don't really want to talk about this now," my voice choked on the last word, why am I so emotional all of a sudden?

"Casper..."

"I've um... I've got to go."

"Casper! WAIT!"

"What?"

"Can you come over sometime after school this week?"

"Why?"

"Just to... Hang out."

"That wouldn't be the best idea for you to do."

"Why?"

"Bye Ryker."

I hung up the phone, the best way to keep this boy safe was for me to stay as far away from him as possible.

And I vow to do this at all costs.

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