#NoMoreBullying

... And during these whole years, Gary was just watching from behind-in the shadows.

BULLIED

By @GingerAndy

Ash felt as if everyone stared at him, everyone pointed at him-everyone's attention was drawn to him. He hated attention, he hated crowds, he hated being with people. He just wanted peace; he just wanted to be alone.

The raven haired made his way to his locker, his books brought to his chest. Some students he's seen before gave him weird looks; others looked at him and laughed. He hated it. He wanted school to be finished already.

FAT FAGGOT

SUCK MY DICK

SISSY

Ash's eyes widened. He rubbed his hand over the locket, trying to erase the words written largely in red, but it didn't. He tried again, his hand shivering, trying to contain himself. He felt like crying, but he didn't want to cry.

Vain, the writing wouldn't just go away. Ash quickly opened his locker, grabbed the books he'd need and closed it fast, not wanting to see what was written on it again. A hand grabbed his shoulder harshly from behind as he was about to walk his way to his classroom.

"What's that, faggot? Not saying good morning?"

A guy pushed him against the locker, making Ash's books fall to the ground. Ash didn't say a word. He didn't react either. He was used to it.

Ever since Ash came out as gay, most students started to bully him. Ash didn't even understand why. There was nothing wrong in being gay. God created him like that. What coming out as gay had to do with others? Why they did hate him so much? He did nothing wrong. He didn't hurt them. He never hurt anyone.

It's not like Ash wanted to be gay. Misty didn't talk to him anymore, nor did Dawn and May; this latter even got the guts to tell him to stay away from Drew. Iris was the only one who kept his company sometimes, but only when her boyfriend Cilan is not around. He held a grudge against Ash and this latter had no idea why.

Then there was Gary, who was staring at the scene from behind. He's always been in the shadows, even before Ash came out. He and Ash stopped being friends a long time ago, when they were still in elementary school. They grew up and the distance between them grew even more. They no longer talked.

Though, Gary was always watching him from behind-in the shadows. He didn't know why he cared. He had no idea why he was standing here watching this.

"People like you should not exist, you know that? You're a piece of shit. You're abnormal. You don't deserve to live."

Ash has heard worst. He was used to it. He tried to get off of the guy's grip but he was too strong.

"You're sick, seriously. You're sick. You're disgusting. You should just go die!"

Ash closed his eyes and moaned, as the guy tightened his grip around his wrist even more. He let go of it, glared at Ash and shoved him against the locker as he made his way through the hallway. Students kept staring for a little bit.

Collecting his books, Ash took a deep breath and made his way to his class, tears building up in his eyes.

Gary's gaze followed the raven haired.

Why did he care?

-

You should just go die.

Those words were ringing has been ringing is Gary's head since he came to school today. For some reason, he was nervous, he was stressed. He couldn't focus in class. He had no idea what was the teacher talking about.

Ash was nowhere to be found today. He didn't come to school.

You should just go die.

Gary bit his lip; he hated to admit that he was very concerned about Ash. Usually, he never missed school; he only did when he was sick. Ash was never the skipping school type. He knew him-of course he did. He knew Ash since childhood.

It was frustrating; Gary didn't even know why he was getting worried about Ash.

Though, the thought of Ash committing suicide haunted Gary since this morning.

But no, maybe he was just sick. Yes, he was sick, Gary tried to convince himself.

God, why I'm even thinking about him?

Gary gave a small sigh. In the inside, he was fighting back; he was trying to ignore the fact that he really got worried about Ash.

Ugh, why do I even care?

It was just as if Gary had wild fights going in inside him; his brain thought something, his body wanted to do something else, and his heart followed its own way.

Maybe he wasn't concerned about Ash because he cared-he just didn't want to keep witnessing the poor boy getting bullied-yes, that's it. Gary found it. That was it. Bullying is wrong. No one should be bullied.

And plus, they used to be friends, right? Friends were supposed to be worry about each other. He had the right to worry a little bit about Ash, right? It didn't mean he really cared about him.

Most importantly, it didn't mean he liked Ash.

Because Gary was not gay.

That's what his father's belt blows pushed him into believing anyway.

-

Gary had no idea how he ended up in front of the Ketchum's residence. His feet dragged him out of school and to this place-he could swear he did it without thinking. This place brought so much memories and it was hard forgetting about them.

His whole body trembled. Gary's steps were slow as he made his way to the main door. It suddenly opened. Gary gasped at the sight of Delia Ketchum, with her gardening gloves in her right hand.

"Gary?"

Gary feared the worst. The woman looked like a ghost-as if she's been crying day and night. Her eyes were red and slightly puffy.

There was no denying that he was really hoping nothing bad happened to Ash. "I-I..."

"Well, gardening helps old women like me take out the stress, you know?" Delia gave a weak smile. Gary didn't say anything, but he smiled back.

"Did you come to see Ash before he leaves?"

He leaves?

"Uh-oh, I-yes."

"He's not in a very good mood, but I guess he'll be happy to see you. You're his best friend after all," told him Delia as she placed her gloves inside a bucket in the garden.

This only meant that Ash kept everything to himself, and he didn't share his personal issues with anyone, including his family. Gary wasn't Ash's best friend-not anymore. He didn't care anymore-well maybe he cared-he wasn't sure.

Ash was probably alone; suffering. Everyone ditched him.

"Follow me, dear. Misty hasn't visited him in months."

The more she talked, the more Gary felt guilty. The brunette followed Ash's mother inside the house. He was curious about Ash's reaction after seeing him. Gary and Ash have not talked to each other in a very long time.

And during these whole years, Gary was just watching from behind-in the shadows.

"May I ask where is Ash going? You said he was leaving..." asked Gary as the two walked upstairs.

"Oh, yes, it came all of sudden..." Delia's voice lowered. She sounded a bit sad, "He's moving to Viridian. He'll be living with his dad from now on."

Gary stopped in his tracks. Delia turned around. "He didn't tell you?"

"N-no..."

"Well sweetie, he's leaving-..." Delia's voice shook. She mumbled "I'm sorry," and went quickly downstairs, her sobs getting harder. Gary could hear them from the top of the stairs.

He turned his attention to the door of the bedroom he hasn't visited in a very long time. He hesitated a lot about knocking.

And there he was, facing him.

Ash's eyes went wide open after he opened his bedroom's door to put the trash bin out. His grip loosened and he dropped it to the ground.

Gary didn't know what to do. He stood there, frozen, speechless.

"Gary?"

"Hey..."

Ash stood straight. He was frowning.

"Wh-what are you doing here?"

"I... you didn't come."

"You don't care if I come or I don't. You don't care anymore."

Gary knew he was right.

"What do you want from me?"

Gary didn't know what he wanted. He had no idea why he was here in the first place. He wasn't Ash's friend anymore. Why was he so confused?

"You're not different from the others!"

Gary tried to push the door open as Ash attempted to close it. He was feeling too weak to resist, so Gary opened it wide. He caught Ash as he was about to collapse to the floor. Gary pulled him up.

Ash couldn't hold it back any longer. He grabbed at Gary's shirt and cried onto his chest, hard.

"I'm sorry, Ash, I'm so sorry," Gary wrapped his arms around Ash.

"Do you hate me too because I'm gay?" Ash asked, his voice muffled. He buried his face onto Gary's chest.

Gary felt horribly sorry for Ash. He didn't hate Ash. He never did.

"But I can't help it if I'm gay. Do you hate me because of that?"

"No, I will never hate you because of that."

Ash pulled away. His eyes were red. He wiped off his tears with his hand.

"I-I was happy to see you in same school again-believe it or not... I still wanted to be your friend... and I thought you'd want to talk to me, but you didn't, and you ignored me... you'd walk across and shove me away."

Gary burned in the inside.

"Then everyone else just ditched me suddenly and I don't get why they hate me so much. I did nothing wrong."

"I don't hate you."

"But you don't like me either."

Gary was about to say something, but quickly regained himself.

"No one does."

Gary felt like crying.

"I thought Misty was my friend, that's why I came out to her. I didn't know she'd hate me for that."

Gary understood the redhead completely; she liked Ash after all. It was like a stab in her heart. He hasn't seen her in school for a little while and he's heard she wasn't exactly okay.

"She doesn't hate you, Ash. She just didn't take it too well. She-she likes you, okay? She's liked you since our freshman year."

Ash seemed utterly shocked.

"And... well, people aren't too nice and they kept making fun of her..."

"Because of me being-"

"It's fine, Ash. You shouldn't care."

"No, it's not fine."

"Yes, it is. There is nothing wrong with you-"

"I don't care because I'm leaving anyway and I don't have to deal with bull-"

"Don't leave."

Ash gasped when Gary pinned him to the wall and gripped at his wrists. He kicked the door with his foot and it closed.

"Gary-What are you doing?"

"Don't leave."

The brunette's behavior was scaring Ash a little bit. It startled him. Gary leaned forward.

"Have you lost your mind? Let me go!"

"Not before I do this."

"W-"

Gary cut him off as he kissed Ash on the lips. The raven haired tried to get off at first but then he let Gary take over. It was hard fighting back something you've always wanted to happen.

Gary pulled away. "Don't leave."

Ash licked his lips. He had so much running in his mind now. His lips quivered. Gary has just kissed him.

Gary... kissed him.

"What did you..."

"Don't leave," Gary repeated again as he made his way outside Ash's bedroom. Ash's gaze followed him until he was out of sight. Either Ash needed an eye checkup, or he has really seen Gary wink and smirk at him.

"Wait-does this means you like-hey wait! Gary!"

Ash gathered himself and got out of his bedroom quickly. He soon found himself smiling and laughing again.

THE END.