Damon's pov:
As I walked home from Keith, I sighed. Something about him intrigued me, I dont even know why. He wasn't quite a talker, but that could have been because he was beaten up, the poor boy.

Sadly, I know how he felt. I had been bullied enough to know. It wasn't long until I got home my parents, brothers and sister had already started eating.

"Finally you're home, Damon. Where have you been so long. We were about to get worried." My mother said when I came in.

"Sorry mom, but a boy was being beaten upin the park, so I sent the cops and helped him get home." I quickly explained.

"Oh my, is he gonna be okay?" My mother asked worried. I nodded. "His name is Keith Rich and he's also going to Hardwood High."

"Maybe you could become friends then?" My father suggested. I shrugged eating my food and letting the subject rest.

"Is Anna still coming over to discuss your plan?" My mother asked and I nodded again.

"So you haven't changed your mind about that ridiculous plan and just being yourself?" My father asked with a frown. I shook my head no.

I didn't want to get myself and my family in the same shit we were before we moved.

"I'll be okay one day, dad. But for now, I guess it's best for all of us to keep quiet." Both my parents looked at their plate and I quickly finished eating before going to my room.

I would tell everyone we had moved here because of my father's job. That I had a girlfriend I had left behind and most of all I was going to be as manly as I could.

The truth however was that we moved here because I've been bullied and beaten up by people who didn't like 'my kind of people'. I liked boys. I found out when I fell for my best friend, but when I told him, he turned against me and that's when the bullying started.

It got worse through time and in the end I just wouldn't go outdoors anymore, so they started terrorising my home and family. I ended up having panic attacks and anxiety. That's when my parents decided to move.

So here I am, trying to start over. Trying not to be gay. Trying to be someone who fits in.

Anna would pretend to be my girlfriend, while she was actually a childhood friend who moved away quite a few years ago, but we never lost contact and she was more than happy to help.

She had a week extra before school started again so it was perfect to make it look like she was actually my girlfriend.

I looked at my bag fully packed with school stuff. It wouldn't be long until Anna arrived, so I started getting my room ready.

I began with getting rid of any trash and put clothes into the laundry. As soon as I finished I heard a knock on my door.

"Come in!" I said, looking af the door. It was Anna, as expected. She smiled at me as I opened my arms for her. We hugged each other tight.

"I'm so happy you're helping me out Anna, thank you." I said grateful. She kept smiling and shrugged.

"It was a good excuse to leave my house." She laughed. "That bad?" She nodded.

"So, what's the plan pretty boy?" I sighed and explained evey little detail to her. She would be my girlfriend and every day after school this week she would meet me. We practiced the story we would tell people who asked.

"Is that everything?" She asked tired. "Yes, I think you've got it." She yawned and headed over to her bed and I got in mine.

"Damon?" I rolled over so I could look at her. "Yeah?"

"You're not gonna hide forever, right?" I thought about it.

"I am, unless someone makes me wanna come out." I said and turned off the light.

Keith's pov:
Getting up was a hell, as usual. Most of the time I just wanted to stay in bed, hidden between the blankets where the daylight wouldn't find me.

But today was the first day of school and my mom woke me up with the smell of eggs and bacon chasing her into my room. "Goodmorning sweetie, have you slept well?" I nodded and stretched my arms yawning.

In fact I had woken up in the middle of the night, finding myself laying on my bed with my clothes still on. When I was in bed it took me long before falling asleep again.

My mother opened the curtains and went downstairs again, waiting for me to get ready.

So I got up, showered and put my clothes on. Jeans and a shirt. With my bag hanging over one shoulder I ran down the stairs.

"Let me look at your bruises." My mom said and I let her examine me.

"How are you feeling?" She asked sipping from her coffee. "A bit sore, but it's not that bad." I shrugged.

"Hm, well I gotta go soon, work starts early today, but I'll be home before dinner." She said. I nodded with my mouth full of egg.

I didn't like ging to school. To me it was a waste of time anyways. My grades were just about average and I had no friends to hang out with at or after school.

But like every other schoolday, eventually it was time to go. So I kissed my mother goodbye and left the house.

On my way to school my thoughts wandered off, and at a sudden point I had to think about Damon.

He would be at school too, maybe even in my class. Would he want to sit next to me? I shook my head, not a chance. And with a grumpy face I continued my walk.

I entered the schoolyard and saw a few people standing around a boy and a girl, my curiosity won and I decided to have a quick look before getting the keys for my locker.

"You two are so cute together!" Monica said with her annoyingly high voice. "Thanks." I recognized that voice. And when I finally had a clear shot, I saw him, Damon.

I sighed. Of course he would be popular, of course he would have a girlfriend. My hope to become friends died as soon as it came and I turned around before he could see me, cursing myself for being so foolish.

Soon my first class started, it was the same teacher as last year and I sighed deeply. Spanish would be a pain in the ass for sure.

After ten minutes de door opened and everyone looked over. Damon stood in the opening, smiling awkwardly.

"Is this Spanish class from mister Fletcher?" He asked uncertain. "Si, you must be Damon. Welcome to my class, looks like there's a place next to siñor Keith. Have a seat." He nodded and walked over.

Oh god.

All eyes followed Damon while he sat down next to me. And then they saw me, or actually my bruises. Whispers were now everywhere to be heard.

I wish I could just vanish, or become part or the chair or something.

"Hey Keith, how are you doing?" Damon said with a smirk on his face. "Fine." Damnit, why couldn't I be a bit nicer.

"I mean, i'm doing fine. The bruises are not as bad as they look like." I said quickly. "I'm happy to hear that." He responded with a kind smile.

"What is your class shedule?" I asked trying to sound nonchalant. He showed it to me and I saw we had a few more classes together.
"So, could you show me around a bit?" He asked. I nodded. And with that class ended and we moved on to the next one together.

We were actually chatting a bit during that class and it suprised me I felt at ease talking to him.

"I've been invited to sit with a few people during lunch, would you care to join?" He asked me. I could guess he meant guys like Luke, Jason, Bruce, Linda, Kathy, Monica and all the other kids who were popular enough.

But I wasn't like them and I didn't want to.

So I declined and ended the coversation before our ways separated.

Lunch break, I was sitting by myself, eating the sandwiches my mom made me and reading a book.

Though, I couldn't help glancing over at the table where Damon was sitting, wondering why he would have invited me.

I mean, not that those guys would actually let me sit with them. But he didn't know that. He was probably just acting nice because of yesterday.

He would forget about me soon, maybe a few days until the bruises faded. That thought actually made me sad and I sighed deeply.

~^~

Two weeks passed, but everything stayed the same. With that I mean he kept talking to me, and I kept talking back. It was small talk, mostly about school.

Yet, for me it was a big deal. Everyday he would greet me, he sat next to me when we shared a class and he even wanted to do a project with me.

Of course he talked to other people too, he woukd still sit with the popular kids, which I couldn't blame him. His girlfriend left after the first week of school, but she seemed nice to me.

Also I had been feeling better and my mom had noticed.

"You look different." She said when we were having dinner. "What do you mean, mom?" I asked confused. "Well, you seem to be more chatty and less... Oh, I don't know"

I smiled at her. "It's nothing mom." She looked at me suspiciously but left it that.

It felt weird telling her I had been feeling better because a boy talked to me. Well not necessarily a boy, just someone.

He did not make me be a superextravert guy, and my numbness was still there, like it had been ever since my dad passed.

But still, it was a wonder I had been able to make some sort of friend.