Page 3 of Still Bruised
It was almost always Jude.
Rick and Jude had had numerous altercations over the years and multiple that year alone. Jude was an easy target for Rick. He wasn’t like them. Dressed weird. Acted weird. He was full of teenage rage with a hairpin trigger. Rick loved to tickle his finger over that trigger as often as possible.
Rick extended his leg toward Jude’s chair.
‘Don’t’Foster mouthed to Rick when he peeked over.
As always, Rick did whatever the fuck Rick wanted to do. He kicked the chair and sat back, crossing his big arms over his big chest.
And so it begins.
Jude tensed. He froze. He never looked over his shoulder or said a word, likely hoping Rick would give up.
But Rick wasn’t known for giving up easily.
Rick kicked the chair again…
And again…
And again.
Foster glared at Rick but was ignored.
Jude finally had enough. He spun and glared at Rick. “I’m not in the mood for your shit today!”
“Aww, poor baby. Are you having a bad day,fag?”
“You’re the one who spends most of his afternoons tackling big, sweaty boys,” Jude snapped, earning a few giggles and snorts around them. Jude’s one eye not covered by hair jumped to Foster. “Sounds pretty gay to me.”
Rick jumped from his chair and launched himself at Jude. Jude followed suit but was soon pinned to the wall.
“Stop!”a roar came from the front of the classroom.
Foster leapt to his feet and forced himself between the two, keeping them from killing one another.
Mr. Lattimer rushed closer and shoved Rick to the side.
“I amsickand tired of this constant nonsense with you young men,” Mr. Lattimer yelled, his face blotted with red. “Sit down right now or I’m giving all three of you a week’s worth of detention!”
“I was just trying to stop it,” Foster argued.
“I was just trying to stop it,”Jude muttered under his breath.
“That’s it,” Lattimer yelled before Foster could say anything back. “Both of you. Detention for a week.”
“Great,”Foster said before sliding into his seat and glaring at Jude. Then he glared at Rick, who wore an innocent smile.
“If you’d just let me move, this would stop,” Jude snapped at Latimer.
“Running from your problems doesn’t solve them,” Latimer barked. “You boys need to learn how to deal with difficult people and coexist. It’s a vital skill for the real world.”
“I’m not the one who needs to learn that lesson,” Jude said, eyeing Rick before they sat down.
As soon as the announcements were over, Lattimer started their lesson for the day. Foster tried to focus, but his gaze kept drifting.
To Jude.
Whatdidhe look like with his hair brushed back and that gunk off his eyes?
