Chapter 2
After escaping the uncomfortable encounter with Diego in the bathroom, Shawn hurried back toward his classroom.
His nerves were still on edge, and his mind raced as he tried to push away the anxiety clinging to him like a shadow.
But as he neared the classroom, his heart sank. Standing by the door, waiting like predators ready to pounce, were Caleb, Dreg, and Adam.
They were smirking, exchanging glances when they saw him approach.
Greg leaned against the wall, arms folded, a cold smirk creeping onto his face. "Where's our lunch, Shawn?" he asked casually, though the threat in his voice was unmistakable.
Even before Shawn reached them, his body began trembling. His hands shook as he tried to gather the courage to respond, but his voice wavered.
"I... I couldn't get the money today," he stammered, barely able to finish before Greg stepped forward.
Without a word, Greg grabbed Shawn by the front of his shirt and yanked him forward, dragging him down the hallway.
Shawn's heart raced, and his feet stumbled to keep up as Greg's gang led him past the other classrooms.
They walked by Ian's class, and Shawn couldn't help but glance inside, hoping—praying—that maybe his stepbrother would notice him, maybe help him.
Tim, Ian's best friend, spotted the group dragging Shawn. "Hey, Ian, isn't that your brother?" Tim asked with a curious look.
Ian barely lifted his head from his notebook, not bothering to make eye contact. He gave a nonchalant shrug. "Nope," he said, dismissing the sight of Shawn being dragged away like it was nothing.
Tim blinked, surprised at the casual indifference, but didn't push further. "Oh... okay," he muttered, returning his focus to their conversation.
Meanwhile, Greg and the rest dragged Shawn into a small, dingy closet filled with cleaning supplies, far away from any prying eyes.
The door slammed shut, leaving the flickering light of the cramped space casting shadows over Shawn's terrified face.
Adam was the first to act. He threw a punch straight into Shawn's stomach, causing Shawn to double over instantly, clutching his abdomen in pain.
His body convulsed, and tears welled up in his eyes. The air left his lungs in a sharp gasp.
Greg wasn't done. He grabbed Shawn by the collar again and yanked him upright. "I asked you," Greg hissed, his voice low and menacing, "where is our lunch?"
Shawn's voice cracked as tears streamed down his cheeks. "I'm... I'm sorry... I didn't bring any money today. I couldn't... I couldn't get it."
His body shook violently now, the trembling worsening as his anxiety mixed with his fear.
Greg's expression darkened. "How is that my fucking business?" he growled. "Your father—no, your stepfather—is one of the richest men sponsoring the school. And you're telling me you don't have money? Are you lying to me?"
Caleb chimed in, smirking as he leaned in close to Shawn. "You're a real piece of work, Shawn," he said mockingly before delivering a swift punch to Shawn's stomach again, harder this time.
Shawn collapsed to the floor, coughing violently, gripping his sides as pain wracked his body.
His hands shook uncontrollably, his OCD taking over, sending him into a spiral of panic.
"Answer us, idiot!" Caleb shouted, standing over Shawn with a sneer.
Shawn's body heaved with sobs as he gripped his stomach, coughing and trembling, his mind desperately trying to calm itself down.
But the shaking wouldn't stop. His breaths came in ragged gasps, and his vision blurred from the tears.
"Let's leave him," Adam said, glancing at the clock. "Class starts soon."
Greg looked down at Shawn, disgust clear on his face. "You got lucky this time," he spat. "Tomorrow, this better not happen again. I expect my lunch, got it?"
As they were about to leave, there was a sudden knock on the door. The sound sent a wave of tension through the air. "What's going on in there?" a teacher's voice called from outside.
Greg and his group exchanged quick glances, the smirks never fully leaving their faces. "We were just messing around, sir. Normal boy stuff," Greg said coolly as he opened the door. He flashed the teacher a charming grin. "You know how it is."
The teacher frowned, eyeing Greg suspiciously before glancing at the cramped closet. He couldn't see Shawn huddled inside, but he had a sense something was off. "I'd better not hear about any trouble," the teacher warned, stepping closer.
Greg turned to look at the others. "Nah, no trouble here," he said smoothly. "Right, boys?"
Adam and Diego nodded in agreement, each giving the teacher a disarming smile. "Nothing at all," Diego said.
With a quick glance over his shoulder, Greg closed the door, leaving Shawn inside, still curled up, coughing and shaking. The teacher, though unconvinced, didn't press further. "Get to class," he muttered, walking off.
Greg lingered a moment longer, looking back at the door. "Tomorrow, Shawn," he whispered under his breath, a cruel smile forming. Then, with one last glance, he led his group down the hallway, leaving Shawn trembling in the closet, alone.
Meanwhile, Ian entered the classroom, having returned from reporting Greg and his gang to the teachers. Tim leaned toward him.
"I thought you weren't bothered," Tim whispered, glancing over at Ian with a raised eyebrow.
Ian shrugged, keeping his voice low but steady. "It's not that I'm bothered," he replied. "But as the head boy, it's my job to deal with all this bullying crap. Besides, I hate Greg and his stupid scar. I hate their guts, always causing trouble."
Tim nodded, understanding but still curious. "Oh, okay..." he began to say, but the bell rang sharply, cutting him off as the teacher entered the classroom, urging everyone to settle down.
Just before the teacher started speaking, Tim leaned closer again, whispering, "Don't forget, we're going to karaoke after school."
Ian gave a brief nod, but as he turned his attention to the board, something felt off.
The teacher's words became distant, just a background noise.
His mind was elsewhere, drifting back to Shawn. No matter how hard he tried to focus, thoughts of his stepbrother kept creeping in.
There was this uneasy feeling inside him, a weight he couldn't quite shake.
Something about Shawn's shaking voice, the fear that had been so visible, stirred something Ian couldn't fully explain.
He didn't know why it bothered him so much, but it did.
And the more he thought about it, the more he realized there was something deeper there, a feeling he wasn't ready to confront.
Suddenly, there was a loud bang from outside the classroom. Everyone turned their heads toward the noise, tension filling the air.
Ian's heart skipped for a minute as he realized the direction it came from. The closet where Shawn had been...