The next day at school, Jay was determined to protect Erin. He knew that the bullies were still a threat, but he wasn't going to let them hurt Erin again. He stayed close to Erin, walking him to class and making sure he was safe.
During lunch, Jay noticed Erin sitting alone at a table, looking downcast. He went over to sit with him, and he could see that Erin was still shaken by the previous day's events.
"Hey," Jay said, trying to sound cheerful. "You okay?"
Erin looked up at him, his eyes red and puffy. "I'm fine," he said, but his voice was weak and shaky.
"Come on, don't lie to me," Jay said, reaching out to take Erin's hand. "I know you're not okay. What's wrong?"
Erin hesitated for a moment, then he looked down at his feet. "I just... I don't want to go to class," he said. "I'm scared they're going to come after me again."
Jay's heart ached for Erin. He knew that he couldn't make the bullies disappear, but he could protect Erin from them.
"Don't worry," Jay said, squeezing Erin's hand. "I'm here with you. Nothing's going to happen to you."
He stood up and offered Erin his hand. "Come on," he said. "Let's go to class together."
Erin hesitated for a moment, then he took Jay's hand. He felt a surge of warmth and comfort as he stood up. He knew that he wasn't alone. He had Jay.
As they walked to class, Erin's legs started to tremble. He felt weak and dizzy, and he was afraid that he was going to faint.
"Hey, you okay?" Jay asked, noticing Erin's struggle. "Do you want me to carry you?"
Erin looked up at Jay, his eyes filled with gratitude. "I... I don't want to be a burden," he said.
"It's not a burden," Jay said, his voice firm. "I want to carry you. It's the least I can do after what happened yesterday."
He bent down, and Erin hesitantly leaned against him. Jay wrapped his arms around Erin, lifting him up with ease. He felt a surge of protectiveness towards Erin, and he knew that he would do anything to keep him safe.
- Scene: School cafeteria.
- Characters: Jay, Erin.
(Jay sees Erin sitting alone.)
Jay: Hey. You okay?
Erin: I'm fine.
Jay: Come on, don't lie to me. I know you're not okay. What's wrong?
Erin: I just... I don't want to go to class. I'm scared they're going to come after me again.
Jay: Don't worry. I'm here with you. Nothing's going to happen to you. Come on. Let's go to class together.
(Erin hesitates, then takes Jay's hand. His legs start to tremble.)
Jay: Hey, you okay? Do you want me to carry you?
Erin: I... I don't want to be a burden.
Jay: It's not a burden. I want to carry you. It's the least I can do after what happened yesterday.
(Jay lifts Erin up.)