Her parents drove her there. It apparently wasn't too far from Timothy's house, however, and as such he walked there instead.
She was glad to see him arrive so soon. She wouldn't haves fared go inside the house alone, that would just be reckless.
When she saw Timothy, already some of the tension in her mind faded. Whatever was going to happen, at least he was there to accompany her.
"So, uh, what do you think so far?" Timothy asked, as they both stared at the house.
"It's big. And full of people." Answered Maria nervously.
Timothy chuckled, and pat her head. "Yeah. It's okay though, I'll stay around so you don't feel too scared alright?"
Maria looked down. "Y-you don't have to, y'know? I'm sure there's other people here you'd wanna talk to…"
Timothy leaned over, and grabbed her shoulders. "Hey… it's alright. I'm not leaving your side, okay?"
He then chuckled. "Well unless I'm going to the bathroom, or you are. That'd be awkward."
Maria laughed softly, and that made Timothy's expression soften.
"Okay, well, let's go!"
As they walked in, the stress quickly set back in Maria. She got a bit closer to Timothy, looking around at the crowds of people all around. There were people in and outside, talking, laughing, drinking and dancing. The place was almost packed with them. From the window of the backyard you could see people hang around a pool, swimming or simply sitting near it.
"Funny, I thought this type of party was just a movie cliche…" Maria said softly.
Timothy chuckled. "Well, it is, technically. Matthew is just, uh…"
But as he was about to finish his sentence, a group of people pulled him aside. Maria barely had any time to react as he yelped and awkwardly shouted out to her to stay where she was, and that he'd come back.
Staring helplessly as the growing crowd separated them, distancing where she stood from where he was being dragged off, seeing the people around him cling to him and laugh, made her heart ache. She sighed sadly, and turned away.
She might as well go get something to eat.
Not that she was hungry, but at least she could focus on something else.
As she was walking towards the kitchen, she bumped into the group of girls from earlier that day.
As if this couldn't get any worse…
"Aw, lost your bodyguard? He's not in there sweetie." One girl said snarkily.
Maria frowned, and sighed. And, with all the courage she could muster up, she pushed her way through, and walked off.
"Sorry. I have to go."
But, alas, that wasn't good enough.
She felt someone tug on her hair, and push her. People around them parted, staring.
"Oh, she talks back today!?"
"Thought the bitch was mute."
"Did that beat down give you a spine, you mutant?"
Maria walked back as the got closer, keeping eyes on the girls as she tried her best to get away. This was a bad idea, she should've stayed silent, she should've-
"P-please stop…" Maria muttered, terrified.
If only Timothy was here. Why did he have to leave now? Why did this always happen to her??
The girl at the front pushed her again, and Maria stumbled outside. There was a pool there. It was really large, and very deep. Very deep.
"No-no-no, please, please…" Maria breathed out, eyes wide. She had her eyes locked on the blue water. People were getting out of the pool and surrounding them.
"Oh, what, you're scared of pool, retard?"
She could hear the people around them cheer for a fight. But Maria wasn't in that mood, at all.
"Well let's see how you behave when we do THIS!!"
And suddenly, the girl pushed her into the pool. She screamed, as she felt the oxygen leave her lungs, gasping when she touched the surface, glasses falling off her face. The ice cold water hit her back, spread to her head and envelopped her. Instinctively, she tried swimming up, but she couldn't concentrate. She could faintly hear yelling from above. People were arguing and fighting now. But nobody was paying attention to her. She couldn't breathe. She was going to die. Nobody cared. Nobody cared if she died.
Then, she felt something grab her, and pull her up.
She stumbled onto the grass and coughed, water spilling out from her mouth and nose. It was cold.
She started crying loudly, shivering and sniffling, and felt arms wrap around her.
"What the fuck is your problem, Kate?? She's already traumatized, you heartless bitch!!"
Was that-
She looked up, only to see none other than Timothy. He smelled a bit like beer, that and his rather violent demeanor indicating he was probably a bit tipsy.
He was holding her in his arms tightly, one hand on her back and the other behind her head. He shot a quick look at her, but quickly looked back up as Kate, the girl who pushed Maria, scoffed.
"Oh, fuck off, Gallagher, she deserved it, a'ight?"
"Why?? Because she's different?? Fuck you!"
A few people went silent, some walking away or simply whispering to each other, but Kate growled. "Ugh!"
And with that, Timothy looked back down at Maria, and pulled her up.
"I'm taking you home, okay?"
Maria couldn't really think or answer right now. Other than the snippet of banter she just witnessed, along the faint cries of an angered Kate calling Timothy a pussy and a faggot, nothing else was registering. She couldn't think of anything. Except for the pool. The cold water. The oxygen, slowly leaving her body, and the cold water seeping in her nose and throat. She couldn't breathe. She couldn't move. She needed to get away, she needed to leave this place. It wasn't safe here. It wasn't safe anywhere.
She didn't react as Timothy stopped in front of his house, and placed her on the floor. She only did once he draped a towel around her, and gently rubbed her hair and clothes, which were all completely soaked.
After he was done, he shoved his hand in his pocket, and got out her glasses. "Sorry, they're a bit broken… again." And gently, he placed them over her eyes. But he still looked serious, and very concerned.
"These people, holy shit…"
When he said that, it finally made Maria react. She stared at him, and then started sobbing, uncontrollably. Large salty tears rolled down her already wet cheeks, and she buried her face in her hands, lifting her legs up to her chest.
"I-I'm s-sorry! I shouldn't have accompanied you, I sh-shouldn't have said yes, I should've just stayed home, b-but I wanted to be with you, a-and I was so scared and- I'm so sorry Timothy!"
Timothy looked down, and then gently took her hand. "It's okay Mari. It's okay. You're not at fault here, they're the ones who-"
He stopped, and frowned, gaze going blank, like he had just realized something.
"Maria?"
Maria sniffled, and hummed.
"What happened during lunchtime earlier today?"
Maria breathed in deeply, and sighed.
"Those girls… they… cornered me in the bathroom… a-and… they said I should get away from you, and-" she didn't finish. She just couldn't. But she knew he could guess what happened next, judging as how she felt him tense up, and saw his eyes widen a bit.
"Fuckin…" he snarled. "Maria, how long has this been going on?" He then asked, more softly.
She wiped her eyes, and let out a shaky sigh. "F-five years."
Then, she saw something in his eyes she'd never seen before. Anger. Rage. Fury. The kind of anger filled with injustice, pain and confusion.
Then, he pulled her in, and hugged her tightly. Maria squeaked, eyes wide.
"I'm... so... sorry…" he whispered, a painful sting to his voice.
Maria buried her face in the crook of his neck, and sniffled. She felt one of his hands reaching her hair and gently stroke it, and she let her own hands cling at his shirt. He smelled nice, and he was warm, and soft. It was... reassuring, oddly enough.
"I'll go talk to the principal tomorrow. They shouldn't be getting away with this… not for that long." Timothy then said softly.
Oh, he'd have to wait in line. He wasn't the first person to say that recently.
"They won't listen… they didn't when my parents tried to talk about it…"
Gently, he pulled back, and smiled. "It doesn't hurt to try again, though."
He lifted a hand to her cheek, and, tenderly, wiped away a tear with his thumb.
Compared to her face, he had really large hands. Scary, but… he'd been nothing but careful with her so far. He was just so nice.
"Why are you so nice to me..?" Maria mumbled confused and light-headed.
Timothy chuckled. "Well… because you deserve that, I'd say."
Maria laughed softly and blushed heavily, embarrassed by that sudden show of affection, and Timothy did too. He rubbed her head and let his hand stroke down her cheek, and then huffed.
"Well, uh, this was a weird way to show you my house, huh?"
Maria sniffled and rubbed her nose, then looked around.
"It looks nice."
Timothy chuckled, and smiled. "Thanks! Is there anything you wanna do?"
Maria looked down at her clothes, not soaked anymore, but still very damp.
"U-uhm… dry clothes?" she asked shyly, and blushed a bit.
"Oh! Yeah!" Timothy gasped, and quickly ran upstairs, probably to his room. He came back just as quickly, and threw some clothes on the floor. They were definitely his, judging by the size.
"That's all I have. Sorry, hope that's okay!"
She grabbed the clothes and stood up. "They're perfect. Thank you."
Timothy smiled, and accompanied her to the bathroom. When she got out, and he got in to put her damp clothes in the dryer, Maria realized the clothes smelled like Timothy.
That wasn't a creepy thing to think right?
When they got out, he let her walk around a bit. She noticed there was a pool in his backyard. She'd probably be better off not looking at it.
"Maybe… we could watch a movie?" Maria then proposed. Timothy happily complied, leading her to the basement, where a giant couch and a TV were both set.
They played a movie, but as it went on, Maria could feel herself get a bit sleepy.
She shouldn't fall asleep, that'd be impolite! Was what she first thought, but… what did it matter right now? It just felt so nice being next to him, didn't it?
When Timothy's parents came home, they found the two cuddled up on the couch, asleep and happy.
They turned off the TV and the lights, and let the two of them alone, lost in their slumbers.
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