(Mark's P.O.V.)

I run through the apartment door, tears streaming down my face. Tom jumps off the couch. I forgot he was home now. 

"Mark? What the hell are you doing out of school?" He asks. I look up at him and he notices my tears. His parenting face falls and instead he looks at me with concern. I drop my bag on the ground as he walks over to me. He puts one arm around me, leading me to the couch. I just sit there crying quietly for a second. I still can't believe it. Jack is Booper. Booper is Jack. Why? Eventually I calm down and Tom decides it's a good time to start asking questions. 

"Mark what happened?" He asks. I inhale. 

"Tom I have something I need to confess." I say. I need to tell him. I need to tell him everything. 

"What is it?" He asks. I close my eyes. 

"You know how I said it was football when you had to pick me up before? And how I sometimes come home with bruises?" I ask. I open my eyes to see him nod. "It isn't P.E." I say. He looks at me with confusion. "I've been getting bullied for a while now." I say quietly. Tom's confusion disappears and instead he just looks at me with more concern and sadness. 

"Oh my god Mark... How long has it been?" He asks. I sigh. 

"Two years." I whisper. Tom's eyes go wide. 

"Mark. Why didn't you tell me?" He asks, sounding kind of hurt honestly. I shake my head. 

"I know it's the only school I can go to, and I didn't want you to feel guilty, or responsible." I say. He shakes his head. 

"I"m so sorry... But I don't get how that's relevant right now. You look fine." He says, once again focused on why I was crying. I sigh. 

"A month ago, the first day of school, I got a message from this kid from school. I didn't know who he actually was but he gave good evidence that he was from school." I say. Tom nods. I continue. "We talked, we joked, we learned more about each other. I... I developed a crush on him..." I say it quietly. I still can't believe it... I continue, though quieter then before. "He said he liked me too and we decided to meet today. And I found out who he is... He's Jack. Aka, the one who's been bullying me for the past two years." I say, tears welling up once more. 

"Mark..." Tom says quietly, shaking his head. I bite my tongue, trying to keep from crying more. "Mark if he's been bullying you then, he's a bully, that's that. Nothing to get worked up about." He says, not understanding. I shake my head wildly. 

"But it doesn't matter cause I still like him!" I say, finally admitting it to both Tom and myself. I still like him. I have a crush on Jack. Jack. I can't fricken believe it. 

"Oh." Tom says, now understanding. He continues after a moment of thought. "You want to know what you should do." He says. I nod, practically begging him for advice with my eyes. He nods as well, thinking once more. "You're worried he's tricking you, that he's just trying to hurt you more. Which he's obviously done. But what if that isn't his intent? What if he isn't a homophobe and he had some other reason for doing those bad things to you?" He asks. I shake my head. 

"You have no idea what he's done to me Tom." I say quietly. He nods. 

"You're right. I don't. I don't know Jack, I didn't even know he existed up until two minutes ago. But from how you're talking, you don't know him very well either." He says. I frown. 

"What do you mean?" I ask. He thinks for a second. 

"Can I see your conversations with him?" He asks. My frown deepens. Odd request... 

"Sure." I say, unlocking my phone and opening Kik. I stare at all the messages, all the conversations. That was all with Jack... I scroll to the top, handing my phone to Tom then. He reads for about two minutes before locking my phone and handing it back to me. 

"Mark all I needed to do was read those messages to know that he loves you. And he may have some problems, but he isn't trying to trick you or hurt you." He says. I look at Tom with another pleading look. 

"So what do I do?" I ask quietly. He chuckles. 

"Get to know him. Really get to know him. And if he hurts you, physically or mentally, but physically especially, we'll bust him for it. Okay?" He says. I smile a bit and nod. 

"Okay." I say. He nods. 

"You a little bit more okay?" He asks. I nod. "Good. I won't force you to go back to school today, but don't skip again. Okay?" He says. I nod and he nods back, smiling at me once more before getting up and doing whatever he wants/needs to do. I just sit there on the couch, looking at the messages. Those messages. I still can't believe it...

(Jack's P.O.V.)


I stare at the Kik messages shared between Mark and I. He looked so destroyed, so heartbroken when he saw me. It makes sense. I mean, I have done some pretty bad things to him. All of them which I regret... I regret them so much... I wish I could take it all back but I know I can't. The only thing I can do is talk to him and hope he listens. You know... I should talk to him. Really talk to him. Before I even think of what I'm doing I start typing quickly.

BooperDooper: Hey. I'm sorry about deceiving you and everything. I'd really like to talk to you, face to face, in person. Meet me in the astronomy classroom, at 7:30 tomorrow morning. If you want. It's up to you...

I don't expect an answer, I don't even expect to see him tomorrow. But I do need to talk to him. And somehow, I'll do that. Somehow I'll clarify what's going on in my brain and I'll apologize. I'll apologize and hope that this can all go well.

(Mark's P.O.V.)


I stare at the new message. He wants to meet me? In private? I don't know... It seems risky... How do I know he isn't gonna just beat me? Wait, no. Remember what Tom said. I have to give him a chance. I sigh. I'll go tomorrow, but I'm not gonna tell him that. I'll just go and hope that I don't come home with a broken arm or nose.