Ethan pulled his headphones down. "What do you want, Marcus?"
Marcus turned back, already retreating.
"Yeah?"
It was a gray Tuesday afternoon when Derek "The Wall" Thompson decided to make my life hell again. He cornered me behind the gym, his knuckles cracking like twigs as he leaned in. "Lunch money, nerd. Or I break that anime keychain you love so much."
"With bells on."
She stepped closer, lowering her voice just enough that it felt like a secret, but loud enough to command the space.
Ethan looked down the street. Marcus was gone. For the first time in two years, the walk home felt quiet. Safe. the bully meets my mom (2022)
"Is he quiet in class, too? He’s a little shy, my boy. Takes after his father that way. But he’s got a heart of gold. So, Marcus... are you looking out for him?"