Part 11

Josh's POV

When we got to the school, Justen wanted to get out of the truck by the fence where his bike normally was. I let him do so before going to my usual parking spot. I turned off my truck, opened the door and got out before I felt someone's arm around my neck. I looked up and saw Liam.

"Morning," Liam said.

"Mernin," I said.

"Hey, Joshie," Ryan said walking over to me and tossing his arm over my shoulders and around my neck.

"Guys, can you let me go?" I asked as their arms rubbed against my neck. "That hurts."

"Nah," Liam said. "Where's the fun in that?"

I rolled my eyes as their arms got tighter which cut off my airways.

"Guys, please let me go," I said as they dragged me into the school.

"Come on Joshie, we're just making you stronger," Ryan said.

"Guys, let him go," I heard Justen say.

Ryan let me go and walked over to Justen who was standing by a garbage can. Without a word, Ryan slammed Justen into the wall before he picked Justen up and pushed him into the garbage can. Justen glared at Ryan as Ryan returned to his spot next to me and put his arm around my neck.

Justen looked at me hurt and that made me break. I shoved Liam and Ryan's arms off of my shoulders.

"I do not like what you did to him," I said. "I can put up with what you do to me, but someone who was just telling you guys to let me go? Come on! You guys are jerks."

I walked over to where Justen was and helped him out of the garbage can.

"You wanna hang out with the trash, go ahead," Ryan said. "But that just means you've made things worse."

I rolled my eyes and watched Ryan and Liam walk away.

"I am so sorry," I said, turning to face Justen.

"It's okay, but you've made your friends really mad," Justen said.

"I was just trying to protect you," Justen and I said in unison.

"Wait, what?!" we asked each other in unison.

"I was trying to get your friends to let you go," Justen said.

"I was trying to protect you from Ryan beating you up," I said.

"Well, thanks," Justen said.

"Yeah, thanks," I said.

Suddenly, the bell for the first hour rang and Justen and I looked at each other before we ran to class.

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After school, Justen and I walked out of the school together and over to where my truck was parked. At first, I couldn't find my truck, that's when I realized that all the guys had parked around it, blocking me from getting out.

"Shit," I said. "How am I going to get Michael home now?"

"We could walk," Justen suggested.

"And leave my truck here?" I asked.

"Is it locked?" Justen asked.

"Yeah," I said.

"Then you don't have to worry about anything, all of your things are protected," Justen said.

"Good point," I said. "Let's walk."