Finally reaching his classroom, Flynn cursed the amount of steps it takes to reach the fourth floor under his breath.
Slightly opening the classroom door, Flynn exhaled a sigh of relief not seeing Mr Hay standing in front of the whiteboard where he was usually stationed.
Opening the door the rest of the way. As Flynn took a step in, seeing someone out of the corner of his eye, Flynn flinched slightly as the top of his head was hit with a ruler.
Clutching his head, Flynn slightly trembling from the hit, turned to smile to the man who was leaning against the wall ruler in hand. "Hey Mr Hay. Funny seeing you here." Flynn coyly smiled.
Looking at the watch on his wrist, frowning Mr Hay lightly shook his head. "You're late Mr Whitfield. What have I told you about making it to class on time." Just as Flynn is about to speak, Mr Hay held his hand up. "Don't answer that, you've wasted enough time as is. Take your seat and we can actually start the day."
Still clutching his head, Flynn scampered over to his desk fearing being hit with another ruler. Dropping his bag he sat down.
"Alright." Putting his ruler down, Mr Hay picked up a black pen. "Open your physics books to page thirty-two. We will be continuing with what we had started yesterday."
--
Three hours later classes had finished for lunch. Still feeling a slight sting from the ruler, Flynn would be sat alone on the school roof with his hood covering his eyes. Resting a hand on the concrete floor, he had the other resting on his stomach.
Since he had met Oriel two months ago, Flynn had been accompanied by her on the roof every day until today. Biting his lip, he turned his head. Looking through the chain-linked fence, Flynn looked down to the school entrance where he had come in three hours earlier.
"She never came into school." He thought to himself. "Who was that guy she went off to talk to. An old acquaintance? An ex?" Shaking his head Flynn was distracted from his thoughts hearing the door to the roof open. Turning to see who had come up, Flynn was hopeful that Oriel had finally come into school.
But his expectant smile dropped seeing that it wasn't Oriel.
Walking through the door and onto the roof, three boys a year older than Flynn walked up to him. Flynn rolled his eyes at the trio. He almost found it humorous with how much effort they were putting into their delinquent style. Loosely fitting tie, partially untucked shirts, hoodies under their blazers.
Flynn winced slightly remembering he was also wearing a hoodie under his blazer. "Wait a minute."
The lead boy continued walking towards Flynn as his lackeys stayed behind him.
"Where's your girlfriend, huh Flynn?" He aggressively asked as he crossed his arms, the boy looked down on Flynn.
"Oh hi Tom." Rolling his eyes, Flynn put a hand against the chain-link fence to help himself up. "If you want the roof you don't have to make such a big deal about it and she's not my girlfriend." He responded waving a hand to the side. "I'll be off."
"Yeah, nah." As Tom took a step forward, Flynn took a step back in response. His back hitting against the chain-link fence. "You really think we're going to just let you get off that easy after your girl disrespected us during lunch last week."
Hearing this Flynn chuckled. "Oh what's wrong." Looking behind him through the chain-link fence again, he hoped to see Oriel. Frowning he turned ack to finish his retort. "Is the lil baby sad he got called out in front of everyone by a girl-"
Flynn's comeback was cut short as Tom struck the side of Flynn's jaw with his fist.
Staggering backwards Flynn shut his eyes. The stinging coming from his jaw made him want to cry for a moment. Opening his eyes he clenched his teeth, knowing he couldn't show that kind of weakness in front of these bullies. Or else they would eat him alive.
Picking himself up, the boy flexed his jaw, a small smile creeping across his lips. "What's wrong Tom. That didn't hurt as badly as it usually did. Have you been eating too many burgers recently." He chuckled.
Grabbing Flynn's collar, Tom pulled him closer, shoving his fist into Flynn's face. "Don't try and play tough with me, you don't have the balls to back it up. Just give us your lunch money and I'll let you go with only a minor beating."
As Flynn stared down his high-school bully. He could feel something begin to burn within himself.
Grabbing the wrist holding his collar, Flynn grit his teeth tighter in response. "Get off of me Tom, I'm not in the mood to take your shit today."
Laughing in Flynn's face Tom brought him a little closer. "Or what are you going to do, kick my ass." At this, Tom's lackeys broke into a fit of laughter leaning on each other for support.
"Yeah." The determination and look in Flynn's eyes caused the trio to double back. Squeezing harder on Tom's wrist caused the boy to wince slightly from the pressure.
"Wh- What the hell are you going." Letting go off Flynn's collar, he dropped to one knee as Flynn's grip started to hurt his wrist. "Dude what the hell. Ahk- let go of me you freak."
Dismissing the boys pleas for him to let go Flynn only tightened his grip harder. "Or what. Are you going to kick my ass again?"
As one of the lackeys moved closer to the group he weakly held his hands up as a sign of surrender. "Flynn let go of him, please he's beat."
Looking at the boy, he would blink looking down at Tom. Seeing that he was on the verge of crying from the pain in his wrist. Flynn shook his head as he let go of Tom's wrist.
"Just get lost, leave me alone."
Taking a few steps back from Flynn. Tom quickly wiped his eyes to try and hide the fact he almost cried.
"I'm going to tell Mr Hay about this asshole." Turning to his friends he gestured that they were leaving.
Watching the trio leave. Flynn sat back down at the same spot on the roof as before. Reaching into his pocket, Flynn would sigh realising he left his phone at home.
Rubbing his jaw, Flynn realised that the slight pain that Tom inflicted upon him was already gone.
As he sat alone, he rubbed his right eye. Hearing the door open again, his brow twitched. Standing back up, he shouted at the door. "I thought I told you to piss off--." Flynn's eyes widened as he saw who was standing in the doorway. "Mr Hay..." He leant back against the wire fence. "I guess this means they came running to you huh."
Looking at Flynn, Mr Hay gave Flynn a strong glare. "My office. Now."
Rolling his eyes, Flynn huffed. Standing up he followed after My Hay who held the door open for him.
Passing the teacher, Flynn didn't look at him as he passed by and began to walk down the stairs.
Sitting down, Flynn took a moment to reminisce in the room. A room he had almost become very fond of the amount of times he had been called in here for fights.
'Fun times.' He thought as Mr Hey walked into the room leaning against his desk.
Looking at Mr Hay, he slightly smile before shaking his head. "I will never understand why a History professor would want to work here, surely you can get a better paying job closer to the centre."
"What can I say." Mr Hay gestured out the window of his third-floor office which over look the buildings showing the farmland beyond the city's boundary. "I love the view but, the closer to the core you get the busier it gets and well. I've never really been one for the rush of the inner-city. Now." Folding his arms, he shot Flynn a stern look. "What did you do this time?"
Looking out the window, Flynn fingered the necklace under his shirt. "They started it. They think because Oriel isn't here they can go back to picking on me."
"I know that, I was more talking about Tom's wrist. I sent him off to the nurse because It's bruising from how hard it was being pressed. Were you stomping on his wrist or something?" Leaning back in his chair, Mr Hay scratched the slight stubble on his chin. "Look Flynn, I'm not blaming you. But you know we can't do anything about him or his cronies."
"Yeah yeah yeah, because his parents are rich and pay the school a nice penny. That's nothing new…" He grumbled.
Trying to look Flynn in the eye, the boy would only look away.
Moving closer to his desk, Mr Hay intertwined his fingers as he laid his hands on the table. "Come on Flynn, work with me here. What did you do to his wrist?"
Looking on the ground, Flynn shrugged. "I just grabbed his wrist and squeezed it, he started it anyway he punched my jaw. I'm going to have a bruise for weeks now."
Furrowing his brow Mr Hay looked confused. "But Flynn, your jaw doesn't have a bruise. You don't even look scratched."
Hearing this, Flynn looked to Mr Hay. "I- wha? He punched me, admittedly it didn't hurt as much as it usually does but he still punched me, shouldn't he be in not me?"
Sighing Mr Hay walked around his desk sitting down. "Flynn… I'm going to have to send you home early."
"What!?" Hearing this Flynn stood up, hitting the table with his palms it caused the table to shake. "Why the hell am I being sent home I was just defending myself."
"Flynn." Mr Hay would calmly respond. "Please take your seat."
Clenching his fists, Flynn sat back down crossing his arms.
"I have to send you home because it doesn't look good. You almost broke Tom's arm without even taking a scratch. Just go home, come in tomorrow I'll try and cool the water with the principal and Tom's parents. Ok? Just let me handle this for you, you know I'm always on the side of the students. Even the ones who are rough around the edges like you."
Exhaling Flynn continued to rub his jaw. "Yeah… I know, thanks Mr Hay."
Nodding to Flynn, Mr Hay would slightly smile. "And tell your sister I said hi won't you?"
"Will do. See you tomorrow."
Exiting the room and shutting the door, Flynn closed his eyes. Turning his head up, he let out a frustrated sigh at the situation he found himself in.
--
Stepping out of the school gates. Flynn start his journey home.