The end of the week came much slower than Eric would have liked. It was Friday morning and he was hanging out with his new group of friends just outside the library near some of the benches. 

They weren’t being rowdy or disrespectful like most would assume from a small gathering of seniors in high school. In fact, most of them had never been in trouble before.

Eric was the exception. He had gotten into his fair share of trouble throughout his childhood and adolescence. It was more than enough. He was ready to turn over a new leaf 🍁 with the chance Roth gave him.

“Are you up for it?” John asked Eric as he bounced up and down on the balls of his feet. 

Eric took in the slightly shorter boy and laughed at his enthusiasm. John was referring to the group’s plan to see a movie on Saturday.

“If my...family is okay with it, sure.” Eric still cringed at the idea of calling Roth’s family his own but he didn’t want to venture down that avenue with his new friends. He’d rather wait until they got to know each other better.

He almost let out a snort at that thought. He was starting to sound more like Mrs. Laje every day.

John seemed to bounce even faster. “Awesome! Just send us a message in the group chat if you can!”

“It’s supposed to be epic!” Abby volunteered as she grabbed onto John’s arm in excitement.

“The CGI is supposed to be really good, too.” Timmy added in as he stretched out like a cat. 

Eric smiled slightly as he felt their enthusiasm. He couldn’t really participate in the feeling though. Not with Coach Rick having watched his every move since Wednesday. It was driving him up a wall and he didn’t know what to do.

He was downright terrified. 

If he told the school what had happened, would they believe him? And if they did believe him, would he be laughed at by his peers? But what if the teachers didn’t believe him and everyone found out he had said something anyway? Would he be bullied like he was in middle school? 

Or worse?

“Earth to Eric!” Abby shouted, amusement filling her gentle eyes. 

Eric snapped back to reality, forcing an embarrassed smile on his face. “Sorry, I was spacing out again wasn’t I?” 

The lies were becoming easier. 

His panic lowered its ugly head.

“Yeah, but that’s okay. We all get lost in thought.” Abby gave him a kind smile before they parted ways once the bell for first period rang. 

Just as Eric turned to go to class, he met the chilling eyes of Coach Rick. They pinned him where he stood. 

A student rushing to class bumped into his shoulder and broke the spell Eric found himself under. He kept his eyes lowered as he hurried to his art class, feeling the heavy weight of those eyes on him. 

It only got worse as the day progressed. 

By lunch time, Eric thought he was going to explode from the stress. 

He was on his way to the cafeteria when Coach Henderson stopped him. “Eric, right?” 

“Yeah,” Eric replied back, a little uncertain at being singled out. 

Coach Henderson only gave him a kind smile which crinkled his eyes in a fatherly manner. “Timmy’s mentioned you to me a few times this week. Says you’re going to try out for the team?”

Eric rubbed a hand on the back of his neck. “Uh...I’m not entirely sure if I will.”

“That’s okay, Eric. Don’t stress too much about it.” The smile never left the coach’s face and that put Eric at ease. “I almost forgot but Coach Rick wants a word with you about your schedule. He’s in his office near the gym. Do you need help finding it?”

Eric’s blood turned to ice as he processed what Henderson said. “I, uh, wasn’t aware that there was a problem with my schedule.”

Henderson shrugged lightly. “It happens all the time during the first two weeks of school. There’s a chance one of your classes might be too full and was accidentally overlooked by academics.”

Eric nodded. “Could you show me where his office is?” If he had to go, he wasn’t going alone.

“Of course,” Henderson replied with another smile. 

The gym wasn’t too far away from them and, shortly after Henderson said Rick’s office was the door next to the locker room, another teacher found them and needed Henderson’s assistance with something.

Before he left, he said, “I hope you reconsider joining, Eric. I’m sure you’d make a fine teammate for everyone.” 

Eric smiled softly, trying to hide his growing panic. “Thank you, Coach.”

Once the teachers left, Eric realized the gym was empty. Trying to steady the shaking in his hands, Eric forced himself to knock on the office of the man he was truly beginning to fear. 

The door swung open almost instantly, revealing the penetrating gaze of Rick. “Eric, what are you doing here?”

Surprise flickered across Eric’s face. “Coach Henderson told me you needed to speak to me about my schedule...”

“Ah, that must have slipped my mind.” Rick replied in a smooth voice. “Come on in anyway. We can sort it out, I’m sure.”

Everything inside Eric was telling him to run. 

Rick must have spotted that because he suddenly grabbed Eric’s arm and pulled him roughly inside his office, the door closing with an audible click.

* * * 

Eric missed lunch and the last two periods of school. 

He was in so much pain. 

He limped his way to the main entrance of the school trying so hard to stifle the quiet moans of pain leaving his body.  

He eyed the stairway in distaste. Most of the student body had left by now so he figured he was free from judging eyes as he slowly made his way up the stairs and to his locker, unaware of piercing eyes following his every limp. 

When he finally gathered his things and made his way back to the main floor, he was so startled to see Kayden leaning against the wall with his arms crossed that he dropped his book bag. 

“Kayden!” Eric shouted in happiness. “You’re back!”

Kayden’s face was a stormy cloud of rage as he pushed off the wall and quickly came to Eric’s side. “What happened?” He growled.

Eric opened his mouth to speak but quickly shut it. “Nothing.”

Anger danced in Kayden’s eyes but he pushed it down. It wasn’t Eric he was angry at. “Please don’t lie to me, Eric. I’ve had a long week and I don’t like seeing you in pain.” 

Tears suddenly filled Eric’s eyes as he wrapped his arms around Kayden, sobs quickly finding their voice as his body shook in remembered fear. 

Kayden quickly embraced the young man and held him close. Taking a steadying breath, he asked again, “What happened? I can’t help you if you don’t tell me.” 

Shame washed over Eric but he forced out what happened to him through broken sobs and whispers. If he couldn’t trust Kayden, there was no meaning to his life. 

Despite how they met, Kayden had remained a symbol of hope for Eric. And he needed that now more than ever. 

It took most of Kayden’s willpower to control his emotions and settle Eric down on one of the benches before turning and entering the front office. He didn’t want to leave Eric alone but he had no choice at the moment.

A young woman was sitting behind the desk when he entered. “What can I do for you, sir?” 

Kayden offered her a winning smile. “Is Coach Rick in? I need to have a private word with him about my brother’s position on the track team. Is that okay?”

The woman nodded before calling out for Rick. “You should be able to use the staff room next door.” 

As if on cue, Rick rounded the corner looking perfectly at ease. He even eyed Kayden a few times, taking in his muscular body and tall build. The woman quickly explained what Kayden was there for and Rick willingly obliged. 

The two left the office, Kayden blocking Rick’s view from Eric and gesturing that Rick open the door to the staff room.

Rick opened the door and Kayden followed after; an audible click sounded throughout the silent entrance after the door was closed. 

Eric looked up from his place on the bench, a frown on his face. He feared for Kayden’s safety. 

About fifteen minutes later, the staff room door opened, revealing a very calm looking Kayden followed by what looked like a very frightened man. When that man met Eric’s eyes, he let out a whimper and quickly scrambled back inside the front office, getting ready to resign and perhaps move to a new town.

Eric watched the exchange with heavy eyes. “You didn’t—”

Kayden raised a calming hand. “Don’t worry, Eric. I didn’t harm him physically.”

Eric raised his eyebrows as Kayden helped him to his feet. “Then what did you do? He looked petrified.”

Kayden smirked down at Eric. “I have more than one business in this town. And I’m a very influential person when I mean to be.” 

Eric was hoping for more but decided to leave it at that. Whatever had happened behind those closed doors would most likely remain a mystery forever. He was just grateful Kayden had taken him seriously and didn’t automatically question his story. 

As Kayden wrapped a reassuring arm around Eric, he couldn’t help the disgust that washed through him. 

One thought rang louder than any he had ever heard before.

This wasn’t the first time Eric had been assaulted. 

But it sure as hell would be the last.