(OwO)
Tristan was a bit confused, but he turned, seeing that same guy with some papers in his hand. Lone and behold, those papers turned out to be the very thing he was dreading to loose, yearning to reunite with. “My bear drawings!” He tried not to say it too loud, but he kept his voice down as much as he could. Tristan took them from the guy, and he credited him for keeping the paper clean and pristene. However, he also barely and unnoticably could’ve brushed hands….
“You dropped them and I-I didn’t want you to lose them…” Chase trailed off, looking at the floor. I should go now, I’m just a nuisance… and a freak…
“Oh… I did drop them apparently….” Tristan exchanged glances between them and the guy. “…That usually doesn’t…. happen, but I’m glad someone I know picked them up, and returned them, unlike Kemp and Jacob….” His mouth got a bitter taste as he said those forbidden names. “Well, I have to go off to lunch, so…. I suppose I’ll see you later.”
(Should Chase have the same lunch as him?)
(I thought we discussed this! We said they should have two classes plus lunch together.)
(Oh right, I wasn’t sure if we nailed that down sorry)
“W-Wait, I- uh… You have to uh- deal with them too?” Chase asked with a hushed voice, keeping pace with Tristan. Shoot, it’s probably my fault that Kemp and Jacob pick on him too… I shouldn’t even be talking to him…
“Well, yeah,” He mumbled. “….They pick on anyone that has a reason for them to.” He found a nice high table with stool chairs and put all his stuff on the table before clambering up the chair to sit. And with me being as short as I am, I can’t just get rid of them….
“I… I’m sorry, I had to wrap you into all that, if I stay away I think they’ll probably stop,” Chase told him, still assuming the only reason Kemp and Jacob picked on the guy was because he sat with him during first hour today. “I-I should go…”
Tristan’s brow furrowed. “Only if you have to. But…. I think it’s their own will to bug me. To be honest, anyone around my height— which doesn’t really include anyone here— is bound to be picked on once in their life….” He opened up to a blank page and began more doodling.
“Huh? Oh…” Chase suddenly connected the dots, and a small selfish relief washed over him at the fact that Kemp and Jacob weren’t bullying the stranger just because of english class. “I’m- I’m uh, Chase, by the way…” Chase mumbled, but felt like a nuisance still so he made to turn away.
“Well… I’m Tristan. And…. it’s nice to meet your aquaintance…..” He took a minute from his sketching and stuff to really pay attention to Chase. He seems like he’s having a bad day… maybe it’s only gonna get worse from here. “Um…. Are you going to get lunch, or……?”
Chase took it as a dismissal, “I… yeah, I need to order lunch anyways, I’ll go, sorry for bothering you…” Chase started walking towards the lunch line, trying not to be too disappointed. It’s not like I’d have been treated any differently…
Tristan watched him leave. Sorry for bothering me….?? I’m not understanding this Chase’s mind….. yet, I don’t undertsnand anyone anyways… He glanced down at his stuff. …My guess is that he generally thinks everyone despises him….. that’s gotta be… bad…
He opened up his lunchbox and found the most generic food. Tristan sighed hopelessly. Mom never knows what I want….
Chase got his hot lunch, a group of jocks sniggering quietly amongst themselves as they bought all the cookies just before Chase could get there. He sighed, bought his food, then found a seat in the corner of the lunchroom, alone and lonely.
(:0 how could they buy all the cookies?)
At least twenty minutes went by, and Tristan glanced up and looked around. I…. I thought he was coming back….. He couldn’t find Chase, and he got a little worried. I fear for what he’s going through… He tried to think about when he said that he was pulling him into getting teased. ….Maybe I can do something to make his day a little better….
He turned to a new page in his book and began drawing a grizzly in the river, catching some salmon for its dinner. I’m unsure what kind of things he’s interested in, though, but it’s the least I can do….
(There weren’t many cookies and a lot of jocks lol)
Chase only poked and prodded at his food, only ending up taking a nibble of a french fry before standing up and throwing away his food, despite the hunger eating away at him. He just wasn’t in the mood to eat.
(Oooooo okay)
Tristan managed to drink some of his water before lunch was over— he was so absorbed in his drawing that he forgot to eat. Knowing that his mom was going to scold him, he shoved everything else down his throat before heading back to his locker. I wonder where he went… he just kinda…. disappeared.
Chase walked back to his class, a hollow feeling sinking to settle in his chest. He didn’t even realize he was walking by Tristan’s locker until he tripped and fell only too look up an day see the guy not a few feet away.
(Lol what’s that supposed to mean? Look up an day? Aaaaaaa)
Tristan flinched at the subtly of his fall. “Oh, man, that was some fall— are you alright??” With everything still in his hands he tried to help him up. Jeez, that looked awful….
(Auto correct, it was supposed to be ‘and’)
“Uh, y-yeah,” Chase stuttered, getting to his feet and staring at the ground. He doesn’t want me here, no one does, I should go… “Th-Thanks,” Chase said quietly, a feeling in his chest keeping him planted beside Tristan.
(Ooof sometimes I wonder what’s going on when that happens….)
“You’re welcome.” The feeling of being appreciated was so rare, he felt like he never said those words like that even once in his lifetime. He doesn’t deserve to be pushed around…
Tristan noticed his notebook was opened just a little, and he tried to keep the grizzly sketch hidden as he got the rest of his stuff out of his locker. “So… what class are you heading to next?”
Chase perked up slightly when Tristan asked him, “I’m going to math, what about you?” Is he… Is he trying to be my friend? No, that’s not possible… “Cool bear drawings by the way,” He added shyly, a tiny smile -such a rare expression- appearing on his face.
“Well….” Tristan was unsure what to say first. “I just had math last hour, unfortunately, so I’ll be heading to “foods and nutrition”……” A light redness appeared on his face. “And I’m glad you appreciate my bear drawings…. I love them so much, and it means something when someone else enjoys them too.”
“You’re- You’re just very good at drawing.” He replied shyly, then looked at the clock, “I gotta go, but I’ll see you around…” Chase mumbled, but smiled as he walked away to class.
Tristan watched him go until he was out of sight— which didn’t take long. “I’ll see you later…” He was left a bit flustered. He said he’d see me around…. He gathered up his stuff and headed down to his classroom, getting there a bit early.
He decided to open up his notebook and continue his grizzly picture. This one’s definitely to you, my only friend…