Love Lost

pte

he boy asked him,

as he stared at the boy who stood before him. The boy look

expectantly, calmly standing the

playful manner. 'What's w

l gasp, eyes wid

then of his mother, many year

him when Haru was afraid, or when times we

ry, a single breath, a heartbe

up, forcing the wo

. 'I've just transferred here, my.... f

ck at him, blinking. After a few seconds passed, it

he fought back his nervous tears. 'I don't...know anyone

utely, his expression passiv

my friend...I mean...if that's ok' Haru

and Haru's nerv

whispered, turn

ey

grabbed his sleeve. Haru glanced around t

to be your fri

H

is you

nked bac

sleeve, and Haru tur

an it?' Ha

paused. 'Why a

ru said wiping at his

he replied jovially. 'My nam

aned to

teasing smile, tilting his

it's..

ervous, aren't yo

t mean

t cry' Aubr

've just...got som

ur

ay, caught up in their conversation they didn't seem to notice anythi

me' Haru said to Aubrey

scared of?' Aubrey

I get picked on a lot' Haru said shyly. 'I'm weak, I g

ww

n, feeling a li

se don't fee

y that's been left out in

ted, blushi

you making

Aubrey said sou

his face i

mbled, before turnin

a second!' Aubrey

was alrea

ely pace down the corridor as he headed to class. It was supposed to b

ou jerk! Where th

oice down' Aubrey t

exams if you keep missing these r

Aubrey snapped, 'I

iend Amelia began to g

always so funn

ng them, they talked outside the classroo

en held in his hand, but it was clear th

rong?' Be

d his mouth,

alked to

vague?' Sasha asked glo

ed, turning away and ignoring Sasha'

g where he had been speaking to Aubrey, he was concealed by bushes now, out of sight of anyone j

hearing moveme

, 'at last. I should have known you'd be cr

wasn't

rey told him seriously, moving around t

H

holding out his hand, 'I want t

ing at his chest as if

ou to my friends, then they will be your friends too, then you won't hav

till teary eyed, 'what if

then I will fight them'

rey, he couldn't help

funny thin

hat?' Aubrey asked, still holding i

umbled, reaching

hand tightly, pulli

h a smile, 'and don't look so frighten

murmured, quick

of Aubre

id aren't you?' Aub

ru mumbled, head bowing lower. '

ey touched him beneath the c

e eye when you tal

edges of his lips

r weakness and go in for the k

smile f

away, sticking his hands in his pockets calmly and ca

I found

busy at work. Ben, Sasha and Amelia all stared silently up at H

breath, opening he

ted in before she had a

beamed, as beside her Sasha gasped

balling his fists nervou

the last eight months with his dad in space trying to build a facility so th

Amelia gas

' Aubrey answ

dly, and Aubrey began to ar

asha spoke to Haru asking

d awkwardly, hugging h

' Sasha asked,

.' Haru hunched his shoulders

ignoring Aubrey and Amelia who continued to argue

pologetically to Haru, 'I know how hard it is changing schools. M

schools like tha

t him. 'We can be f

Haru flush

d, bowing

ping his hand over Haru's eyes. 'It's ok' Aubrey laughed awkw

a protested. 'Get off him

then, gasping and drawing back at s

whispered, brushing

ut then, grabbing H

him wide eyed. 'If you run away...' Aubrey hisses dramaticall

with her book as Amelia moved over to Haru to comfort him, shield