Chapter Twelve - Billy No Mates

Tyler stood at the worn gates that led to the school, Roxy by his side, waiting for his friends to arrive. Feeling tired and sore from the assessments and a long night of reading, Tyler could barely keep his eyes open for no longer than ten seconds.

"Are you okay?" Roxy asked, nudging his side jokingly. "I'm sure they're just running a bit late, is all. Let's wait a little longer." Deep down, Roxy tried to sound reassuring but knew that his friends wouldn't want anything to do with him.

The pair waited patiently, watching all the younger students and the rest of his classmates flow past them, but none were Tyler's friends.

The bell rang for the school day to begin, and still, there was no sign of Danni, Thomas, Robert or William. Tyler began to fear for the worst. Pulling out his phone, he searched for the first one of his friends to show in his contacts and tried calling. The dial tone lasted for an hour, but no one picked up the phone. He tried calling Robert, who always answered his phone, but the same again. Dial tone, but no answer. Roxy saw the dread on Tyler's face and pulled on his arm;

"Come on! I'm sure they're okay! We are going to be late if we don't get a move on." Roxy said, her usual bubbly voice starting to fade the more she felt Tyler's pain.

"Yeah, I suppose you're right." He replied, walking with her to their tutor room.

Tyler entered first, looking for an empty seat for them to sit in, but as he scanned the room, he noticed William and Robert sitting in the back row.

What? When did they sneak past us? Tyler thought to himself. He assured himself that he most likely drifted off and didn't see them in his tired daze. Unfortunately, there wasn't a space near them, so he and Roxy sat on the other end of the classroom.

'We couldn't be further away from them if we tried.' He thought to himself, trying to catch their gaze with his own. The teacher began chatting about the upcoming sports day event, which Tyler took no notice of, but he did however when the teacher mentioned Roxy's name:

"Miss Smith, I have your forms for the gymnastics club you asked to join. They are meeting in the hall during fourth period today, so meet them there with those filled in."

Roxy began scribbling down the things the form was asking for.

"I didn't know you joined the gymnastics club?" Tyler questioned.

"Mr Rain loved my performance yesterday and thought I'd be a great fit for the team!"

"Well, you did score the fastest time and highest jump!" Tyler mocked, teasing her, to which she tapped his leg with her own.

The school bell rang throughout the halls and classrooms, signalling the first period. A voice called on the tannoy shortly after the bell had finished ringing:

"Miss Smith, please report to the Head of Year's office urgently." It called out. Roxy felt the dread inside as she started to wonder what she had done wrong in the first week; then, it hit her. Jack.

"Miss Smith, please sit down." Head of Year, Mrs Dooley, politely told. Mrs Dooley was a middle-aged lady with curled blonde hair and blue eyes, wearing a floral dress. Roxy did as she was told and sat in the chair opposite the desk. "Now, I imagine you know exactly why you are here." Roxy started to die a little inside; "Is it because I hit Jack?" She sheepishly replied.

"Yes, Roxanne. Before I start pointing fingers, I know Jack can be a nuisance, so I wanted to get your side of the story. I will write it down here so I can look back later." Roxy nodded and proceeded to explain what happened that day.

"So, Tyler, Thomas and I were outside the DT classroom, just minding our business. I was telling Thomas about how Tyler started the gym with me, and Jack overheard and started being horrible to Tyler. Naturally, I stood up for him and fired back at Jack, leaving it there, but then, Jack tried to kiss me. I think I was fully in my right, so I smacked him."

"Honestly, we have had so many problems regarding Jack that I'm going to let you off with a warning this time, but if something like this ever happens again, there will be repercussions. So please attend your lesson, and we will pretend this never happened."

Roxy nodded and left Mrs Dooley's office, walking to her next lesson. 'Wow, I got off lucky there! Hopefully, that's put Jack back in his place cos god knows how many girls he's done that too!' She thought to herself, pride in every step.

The bell for lunch rang, sending every student rushing out of their classrooms and into the cafeteria. Tyler and Roxy made their way to his usual hangout, where he hoped his friends would be waiting, and he was right! Sat at the table was Robert, Danni, William and Thomas! None of them were happy to see him, though. Tyler and Roxy approached the table and were about to sit down with them when Danni spoke up:

"Umm, what do you think you're doing?"

"Oh, we were going to come to join you? Like I always do!" Tyler replied.

"Used to do. Remember I told you back at the club that we'd be done with you if you left. You both left, and we left too. Since you met Roxy, you've put us at arm's length! We were your best friends once upon a time! Now Miss Perfect here has taken your heart and brainwashed you. You've made your bed. Now sleep in it." Danni turned to Roxy, "Why don't you take your little boyfriend and find some new friends. I'm sure it won't be hard. You're smart, pretty and an amazing athlete! Maybe the popular kids would want to sit with you. I bet your life is so simple. Everything handed on a plate."

Roxy wasn't going to engage with this, as it was Tyler's own doing that he fell out with them, but Danni's attitude towards her made her blood boil. She oozed with anger until she reached a breaking point. She slammed her fist down on the table, letting out a thud that sent shock all around the cafeteria, causing all the students to look around.

"Perfect? You think I'm perfect?" Roxy began, fire in her lungs, "You have no idea what I've been through! No idea about the life I've lived nor the sacrifices I've had to make for everyone but myself. Nothing I have ever done has been for myself! Do you honestly think my life was handed to me? I've earned my way up to where I am, and the main thing that's kept me so driven is my parents dying. Doing them proud." She moved closer, now centimetres from Danni, "So, from now on, you stay away from my boyfriend and me; otherwise, shit will hit the fan. He's tried to fit you in with his new life, and it's difficult, but the least you could do is treat him with respect." She finally turned to Tyler and grabbed his arm. "Come on. We don't need them anyway. For all I care, it's us against the world."

Tyler didn't know what to do; he looked at Danni's horrified face as she realised maybe she had done wrong but felt no remorse for her. He followed after Roxy.

"I'm sorry about that." She started to say, "Danni crossed a line today, and I know she's your friend, but--" Tyler cut her off with a hug, comforting Roxy.

"She was my friend. She was out of line and took it out on you. I know it's my fault, and I'm sorry about the whole situation, but it's in the past now, Rox. We've got a gymnastics club to prepare you for!"