19 Chapter 19

Ray and Tony entered the classroom, they looked around to see Rome was not there, Ray asked,"Tony do you know where Rome is?" Tony shook his head,"No I don't. I was with you all the time."

Ray turned to one of his classmates,"Hey have you seen Rome?" The classmate shook his head. Tony looked at a girl then asked,"Do you know where Rome is?"

The girl thought for a second,"I don't know where he is now but few minutes earlier I saw him go with Lacy, christine and candice, they talked about eating lunch or something."

When Tony heard this, he froze on spot, he knew Lacy didn't like Rome no to be exact lacy hates Rome to guts, she could do anything to him, Tony looked at Ray,"I am going to search for Rome. You wait here, and if Rome comes call me. Okay?"

Ray didn't know why Tony was so worked up, the girl said he was with Lacy so no problem right? Though he did found it a bit weird because Rome and Lacy are not close at all, Ray said,"Okay I'll wait here."

Tony dashed out of the classroom, he was looking everywhere for Rome, then his eyes laid on Lacy, he ran towards her,"Where is Rome?"

Lacy played dumb,"What do you mean where? I don't know where he is. I am not his Mom." Tony gritted his teeth, he said,"If I find out you did something to him, I will not spare you." With this tony ran in the direction from where Lacy came.

Tony was mindlessly running around, he lost track of time, the whole corridor was empty as the lectures have started. He was going back to his classroom but then his eyes laid on a guy carrying another guy.

He ran towards them, and he recognized the two of them,"Drake!!"

Drake looked at Tony who asked,"What happened to Rome?"

Rome weakly opened his eyes,"Oh Tony...it's nothing.... But if you want me to be honest it's embarrasing to be carried around bridal style." Drake glared at Rome who has a nerve to joke even at this moment,"It's not nothing Rome and it's not embarassing, it would have been if you were limping around." Drake looked infront of him,"Tony, I found him in the storage room, all beaten into a pulp." Tony had a sad look in his eyes,"Let's go to the nurse's office first. "

Drake nodded and they both walked towards the nurse's office.

They both entered the office, the nurse looked at the boys, shock evident in her eyes,"What happened to him?"

Rome was going to say something but was interrupted by Drake,"We found him in the storage room in this condition. "

The nurse nodded and immediately started treating Rome's wounds,"Forutnately the wounds are not severe but they are not to be taken lightly. There are bruises all over. Kid who did this to you?"

Rome looked at his hands that was being bandaged by the nurse,"I-I....Ma'am can you keep this secret? Please Don't tell anyone about this."

The nurse asked,"Why? Whoever it was should be punished for this."

Rome replied,"I don't want my parents to worry. If this happens again, I will complain to the principal myself."

The nurse understood what the kid was saying, she has been working here for almost ten years and there were kids like Rome who were bullied and kept it a secret because they don't their parents to worry, she said,"Okay I will, but next time, I won't."

Rome just gave her a nod.

The nurse took care of Rome's all bruises and after that did she look at Drake and Tony,"So you guys are his friends?"

They both nodded, the nurse continued,"You are both allowed to stay, after all the office is empty."

Drake said,"Ma'am I will be going, he will stay here."

Tony looked at Drake and then said,"Ma'am can I bring one of my friend here? He is Rome's childhood friend and he will be very worried about him."

The nurse sighed,"Okay but tell me in who is your class teacher, I have to go inform them."

Tony said,"The person who is coming, his name is Ray. Me, Rome and Ray are all in Miss Manry's class."

The nurse picked her bag up,"Kids I have someplace else to go but before going I will tell your class teacher about Rome, I'll tell that he has stomach ache and since I have to go somewhere, you and Ray will be taking care of him. I'll ask her to call Ray so that he can get out of the classroom."

Tony said,"Thankyou Ma'am."

The nurse smiled and went away. Drake said,"I should get going too, Rome call me when you are home okay?" Rome smiled,"Okay brother."

Ray was sitting in his class, Lacy arrived quite a while ago but Tony and Rome were no where to be found, the lectures have started so he couldn't go out of the classroom.

Ray had asked Lacy if she has seen Rome and she denied, she told him that she haven't seen Rome since the break started, Ray didn't understand why Lacy was lieing, he was having a bad feeling, he was snapped out of his thought when his homeroom teacher called him.

Ray walked out of the classroom with her, Miss Manry said,"Rome has a bad stomach ache and you are needed in the nurse's office. Tony is there too." After she said this, she went away.

Ray was starting to get worried, he walked towards the nurse's office. He entered and saw Rome covered in bandages, he heart sank, his voice trembled,"What happened to him?"

Tony glanced at Ray,"Close the door first."

Ray did as he was told and walked towards Rome's bed,"Rome what happened? Who did this to you?"

Rome didn't say anything and just sat up, Ray sat down infront of him. Tony asked,"Do you want to tell him or should I?"

Rome didn't say anything once again, Tony took this as his cue,"Ray this was done by your girlfriend. In past whenever she would see you and Rome hugging, holding hands, she would abuse rome, though it was verbally, but now she started to abuse him physically. Ray she is overly obsessive over you and doesn't like anyone getting close to you."

Ray couldn't believe his ear, he asked,"I-Is that true rome?"

Rome nodded,"Yes Ray it's true. Do you re-remember when we were in first year, miss Doris punished us, we were in the library till late evening, I went to the washroom and someone poured water on me and had locked the door? It was also done by her. Ray she has done so many things to me, I-I can't..."

Tears poured down from Rome's eyes, Ray tried to gulp the lump in his throat, his heart ached,"Why didn't you tell me?"

Rome covered his face with his palm,"Because I-I didn't want to...ruin you relationship with her. I know you were happy with her and I didn't want to take your happiness away. But now Ray I can't handle this anymore, this hurts, I am hurt, I am scared of what she will do to me....."

Rome's whole body was shaking, Tony sighed, nomally he would comfort his friend but now he knew he should let Romelet out his pent up emotions. Ray's heart ached seeing Rome cry, he gently grabbed Rome's wrist and pulled it away from his face, he bent down and kissed Rome's lips. Rome was shocked. He can hear his thumping heart.

When Tony saw this he got angry, he pulled Ray by his collar, "What the hell are you doing?" Tony dragged Ray away from Rome and out of the office,"Ray have you gone crazy? Do you realise what you have done? You should comfort him but you are....do you remember what happend last time you kissed him?"

Ray said,"I know where you are coming from. But last time I didn't know but now I have realised something. When I kissed Rome everything got clear, I like Rome, love even. And I am going to break up with that girl!"

Tony moved away from Ray, his hands folded against his chest,"Don't joke around."

Ray said,"I am not joking, I am very serious, I love him. Tony can you do me a favor?"

Tony looked into Ray's eyes and realised that Ray was dead serious,"What do you want me to do?"

Ray said,"Please give me some time alone with Rome, I have something to talk to him about, stay here and look out for any teachers, if someone comes knock on the door three times."

Tony nodded,"Okay but mind you limit, he is injured."

Ray grinned and entered the office, Tony smiled, happy that his friend's love is not unrequited anymore.