Chapter Five - Detention

"Do you understand what you've done wrong Peter?"
"Absolutely nothing, you're the one the one that's wrong," his cold glare struck her harder than a blow, he continued "I wasn't bullying her. You know that. You just want it to be me. I stay on my own. I don't talk to anyone. You know that."

The teacher was dumbstruck, she opened her mouth, only to shut it again. The boy observed her icily. Judging she had nothing left to say, he left.

Outside the classroom, three boys lay in wait. As Peter exited the room, they pounced.
"I was sure you was gonna get it this time." The leader whined
"I... would advise your silence. Do you wish for me to enlighten your friends as to your bedtime misadventures?"
They stared at him blankly. Peter leant over and whispered in the leader's ear. He went bright red.
His most intelligent friend backed him up. He was brimming with confidence "There's no way, that our boss, has something as, um... convenient as that to scare him off. Right boss?"
The leader blushed.

Peter rose from his sleep. He checked the time. Too early, he thought. He quickly returned to his slumber.

Peter headed for his private corner in the class. On his way he met the hostile looks from almost everyone in the class. It was his fault, he knew that, he was too scary in their eyes. That was only because of his. Though he acknowledged that it was his fault, he couldn't help but feel hurt by it, so he stayed in his corner during any free time he had.

As he reached it he noticed something amiss. He took a step in and looked precisely 52 degrees to the right. A small girl sat there. The new girl in his class. Transferred in only yesterday.

He crouched and spoke in a low voice "What are you doing here?"
"They weren't being nice to me. But they weren't being nice to you either. So I hid here. I not know this was your spot. Sowwy"
"It's fine Holly." She wasn't listening, she was looking into his eyes. "Don't look at my eyes, please. You won't be happy if you do."
"But I like them. So pwetty. Remind me of mommy's eyes. My mommy's eyes are dark and pwetty like yours." She smiled, the first smile Peter had ever received.
"You can stay for today. I might make you leave. But you can stay until I do."

He smiled in his sleep and turned over. His smile was soon distorted.

"I'm afraid, Mrs. Brooks, that your son is to be expelled. He bullied one Holly Williams and refused to comply with our teaching staff." the headmaster explained.

...

As Peter left the school the only people that paid him any recognition were the trio who hated him most. They merely taunted him and stuck their tongues out at him. The other was Holly, she had been shouting at her mother(the one who had lodged the complaint). As he neared the school gate Holly ran and embraced him, crying. He smiled and told her to go back to her mother.

As soon as he reached home he wept.