(Jack's P.O.V.)

The first semester went by in the blink of an eye. The whole thing was pretty much the same. School, beatings, homework, and Mark. That's pretty much it. Christmas was nice though. We spent Christmas and New Years with my family, inviting Mark's brother Tom over as well so he wasn't left out. He almost immediately started talking to family of mine about common interests. 

So the holidays were nice, and the first semester was...Interesting. Now it's the second semester, one month in. It's the beginning of February, and I haven't been doing the best. My grades have dropped down from A's to C's and D's. I'm late to class a lot again, and you almost never see me anymore without bruises or cuts. 

Cause of course, me being me, I end up talking and teasing Chase causing him to use his pocket knife a hell of a lot more. Mark is still concerned, but after that one beating he hasn't really voiced his concerns anymore. I guess he just doesn't wanna risk hurting me anymore, which I'm grateful for. It's annoying trying to hide all the bruises and stuff from him, and at school I don't bother as much. 

Which I'm starting to think is a mistake, cause Mrs. Walter has started watching me a bit more than usual. Speaking of Mrs. Walter, math class just ended and I'm trying my very hardest to get out of the classroom as quick as possible. However, as soon as I start heading towards the door... 

"Mr. McLoughlin, can you stay behind please? I'd like to speak with you." I groan softly, rolling my eyes. God damn it. I look over at Mark, who's at the door. He just nods, smiles, and walks away, closing the door behind him seeing as he's the last one out. I huff quietly, going and sitting down at the desk in front of Mrs. Walter's desk. She sighs, putting her hands on the desk in front of her and looking at me with worry. 

"Seán-" 

"Jack." She sighs again, nodding. 

"Jack. I'm worried about you." She admits. I furrow my eyebrows, looking at her in a confused manner. "I would have expected this from you last year, but last semester you were so good. Always on time, getting good grades. But now you're grades have dropped, your late, and don't think I haven't noticed all those bruises and cuts." 

Instinctively I pull my sleeve down a bit more. But she isn't wrong. Especially with all the school work. It's just really hard to balance my time between school, Mark, Chase, and taking care of myself. 

"Jack, are you being bullied?" My eyes widen and I snap my head up. Immediately I start shaking my head. 

"No! No! I'm just... I..." But I know it's no use. She knows. She nods slowly. 

"Alright. Well you don't have to tell me, but at least tell Mark." That just makes me shake my head more. 

"No! If I tell him he'll want to help and he'll just get hurt." I explain and she shakes her head. 

"I know that's what it feels like, but that's not what's necessarily going to happen. But please tell him. He loves you Jack, anyone can see that." She says. I sigh, looking at the ground. 

"That's the problem." I say softly. It's silent for a second, but I don't move. I know not to leave until I'm dismissed. 

"I'm going to tell you a story." Mrs. Walter says suddenly. I look up and I watch as she tells her story, looking at her desk the entire time. 

"Years ago, there was a girl. She was around your age, and a good student. She was happy, and kind, and people liked her. But then she got a girlfriend, and was very open about it. Suddenly... People didn't like her as much. Boys teased her, girls would pick on her and sometimes even beat her. She hurt, a lot. But she was determined not to tell her beloved, for she was to scared of what could happen. So she sucked it up, and let them do it."... 

..."She didn't want to be a tattletale, so she told no teacher. She told no adult. Eventually her girlfriend found out, and scolded her for not saying. But then, after countless apologies and kisses, her girlfriend said she's stick up for the girl no matter what. This frightened the girl greatly, but her girlfriend paid no mind to it."... 

..."The next day, they stuck side by side. And when those mean girls came to bully her, her girlfriend told them off, sticking up for her like she said she would. And yes, they both got a little hurt, but the mean girls got hurt more. And eventually, it stopped. The bullying stopped. They found no more fun in it, knowing that the target was not as easy to beat. But if that girl had stayed quiet, who knows where she'd be today..." It's silent after Mrs. Walter finishes, both of us sitting, staring at the floor. 

"The girl was you, wasn't it?" I ask quietly, looking up at her. And she smiles, nodding and chuckling softly. 

"Yes." She whispers, and she turns, getting something from her desk drawer. In only a moment she puts a piece of paper on the desk. I look at it. It's a photo, of two young girls. They stand, hand in hand, smiling. One looks very much like Mrs. Walter, and the other a very pretty girl with pure adoration in her eyes. 

"Her name was Kim. She was a lovely girl, and I loved her with all my heart. She loved me as well, very much. After college we lost touch for a few years, but then we found each other again and eventually we got married." She says, staring now at the wedding ring on her finger. I nod slowly, tears coming to my eyes though they don't spill. 

"Where is she now?" I ask softly. She chuckles, shaking her head slowly. 

"There was an accident. And she couldn't shake it." She says it sadly, and it breaks my heart in two. She sighs shakily, and when she looks up I can see the tears in her eyes. "What I'm saying Jack, is that even though it may be scary, who knows what will happen if you don't tell someone? So please, tell Mark. Or me. Or Nurse Melanie. Or someone you trust. Because if you don't... You may not get your happily ever after." She says and I nod. With that I stand up, knowing our conversation is over, and I walk out of the room with tears spilling down my cheeks.