Boys Like You by Jaye Pratt

The light sound of my phone vibrating wakes me. I stretch out, enjoying the feeling; I haven’t been able to stretch with my ribs being so bruised and sore. Throwing off the blankets, I sit up and switch off my alarm. Mercer set it last night so I would be up and ready in time. The drive to school from here is about forty minutes with no traffic. He told me they would all be here to pick me up, even though I insisted I only needed one of them. First days are a big deal, apparently.

Swinging my legs around to the steps, I freeze. There are bodies sleeping on my floor that hadn’t been here when I fell asleep.

Maximus stirs, flipping to face me, his glasses off. He starts to whimper, and the sound he makes after that has me running towards him, my heart aching for him.

I squat down and place my hand out to move a curl from his face. A scream from deep inside him causes me to fall back. Levi goes from deep sleep to wide awake. He instantly jumps up out of his sleeping bag. “Don’t ever touch him when he is like this,” he snaps, but I can see the instant remorse in his eyes. He gets Maximus’s sleeping bag open and wraps one arm and his leg over him, pulling him close. He whispers softly in his ear. Maximus is crying, eyes closed, tears running down his face.

I cross my legs over and watch everything unfold as Rory paces the room. Rocky comes to sit next to me, pulling me into his arms. “He will be okay.”

Maximus slowly gets up with Levi’s help; Rory hands him his glasses. When he puts them on, his eyes cut straight to mine, his face red. He opens his mouth like he wants to say something. I close the gap between us and stand an inch from him. I wait for him to adjust to me being so close, and when he relaxes slightly, I wrap my arms around his waist softly. He goes rigid and places his hands on my hips and kisses the top of my head. I feel his heart beating rapidly against my cheek. I guess he wasn’t expecting me to hold him like this. I can hear the guys whispering to each other before leaving the room.

“Don’t ever be embarrassed around me, I will never judge you. You being you is enough.” His hands on my hips move to pull me into a tight hug before he lets me go. I follow suit and release him.

“You’re all sweaty, go have the first shower.” He nods, and I watch as he grabs his uniform and heads into my bathroom. Leaving him to it, I make my way into the dining room. Everyone stops talking as soon as they see me.

“Is he okay?” Beth asks.

“He’s gone for a shower.” I join them at the table. Rocky slides a glass of juice towards me.

“What happened in there was a huge deal for him,” Levi says, shifting uncomfortably in his chair.

“What do you mean?” I don’t want to pry. “If you can’t tell me it’s fine, I understand you have all been through things.”

“Maximus has trouble with anyone touching him. He’s never even hugged his mother, but he just let you. We don’t know how it will affect him.”

“Levi, I didn’t think. I can’t explain it but when it comes to Maximus, I can sense his body language, I give him time to adjust. It sounds stupid saying it out loud.”

“Oh, dear, don’t feel bad. Levi wasn’t saying it was a bad thing, just possibly confusing for Maximus. Levi’s usually the only one who can touch him in a comforting way, and he may struggle with this too.”

“I’ll be fine,” Levi snaps, pushing his chair out and storming into the kitchen. I excuse myself and follow him. His hands are pressed to the bench, his head down. I approach him with caution.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t consider how it would make you feel.” I place my hand on his back, I can feel him taking rapid breaths, indicating anger. He turns around abruptly, making me back up against the adjoining counter as he stalks towards me. He slaps his hands down, one each side of me, his green eyes looking down on me.

“Don’t ever be scared of me. I would never hurt you,” he whispers. “You’re changing all of us more than you know.” His head drops down and rests on my shoulder. I run my fingers through his hair.

“I’m not scared of you Levi, I…” His head lifts and our eyes lock again. “I need you.” I was going to say I need you all as much as you need each other, but the look in his eyes as he leans in stops me. I don’t have time to process what is happening, and he must see the confusion in my eyes because instead of kissing me, he rests his forehead on mine.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to turn this into something it’s not, it’s just the only way I know how to deal with things. All of us, except Maximus, turn to girls for comfort in the wrong ways. I would never use you that way.”

I can’t say I wouldn’t have kissed him back in the moment, though I may have regretted it later. I need to see my therapist and ask how to deal with having male friends with all these hormones and moments we keep having. Not to mention the awful feeling of jealousy. I have no reason to be jealous of them with other girls, yet it feels like a knife to the heart.

Being a teenager sucks. I wonder if it gets any easier?

For a brief moment, it occurs to me I could have a boyfriend somewhere out there, but even if I did, I doubt he could live up to the amazingness of these five guys who’ve taken hold of my life in the best way.

“What are you thinking about? You went all quiet.”

“Hormones, how we deal with them and the possibility I could have a boyfriend,” I say honestly, leaving out the fact he would never compare to them.

He laughs, a deep throaty laugh. “Hormones are always fun, and I feel sorry for this boyfriend.”

“And why is that?”

“Because he now gets us by default. I don’t know any guy that would be cool with his girl having five guy friends who would protect her as fiercely as we would.”

“He would have to get used to it because none of you are going anywhere, you’re stuck with me.”

***

Once we are all showered and dressed for school, we say our goodbyes to Beth. I’m nervous about my first day. The uniform seems so formal; the guys are wearing black slacks and white collared shirts with the Edgewater emblem on the front pocket. Mine is a green pleated skirt with stockings, also a white blouse, and a blazer. Each of the guys is wearing a lace-up pair of leather shoes, each one looking incredibly handsome.

The nerves are full force when Mercer pulls into the student car park at the back entrance of Edgewater. When Levi and Rory park beside us, we all get out. There are many other students pulling in, some go about their business and head in the big black metal gates, others stop and stare.

The further we walk, it seems they start forming a barrier around me. Mercer leads the pack, Rocky and Rory stand each side of me, and Maximus and Levi fall behind.

Since this morning was hectic, the warning bell goes almost instantly, which suits me fine.

When people see Mercer coming, they step aside, even girls. I was expecting the opposite reaction; I was worried I would have to watch girls hang off them constantly.

When we get to form class there are four rows of six seats. Mercer leads us straight to the back row. A tall kid with really tanned skin has taken one of the seats.

“Find a different seat,” Mercer demands. The kid looks at him but doesn’t respond. “I wouldn’t test me today, Saul, I haven’t had a fight in a few days.” He keeps talking and I tune out. What does he mean he hasn’t had a fight in a few days? When was his last fight?

Not wanting to cause a scene on my first day, I grab Maximus’ hand, the only one of them now not arguing with this Saul kid and sit in the completely empty second to last row.

“What are you two doing?” Rory asks. I look back and they are all staring at me.

“I’m not arguing with an idiot who clearly is just sitting there to get a rise out of you. And I’m pissed at Mercer right now, so will you all just sit down?” I snap. I don’t mean to snap but I’m anxious as hell and the fighting isn’t making it any easier.

Mercer sulks and takes the empty seat beside me.

“Why are you pissed at me?” he whispers in my ear.

“You fight.” I don’t give any further explanation.

“And you don’t want me to?” He eyes me curiously.

“I would never stop you doing anything you wanted, you just never invited me to watch.” His husky laugh fills the room.

“Mr Cole, something you wish to share with the class?” the teacher asks, putting a pile of paperwork on his desk. He must be mid-thirties at best. He’s somewhat decent looking. He isn’t buff but he definitely takes care of himself.

“Sure, if you want to listen. Our girl JD here was pissed at me, you know, because I fight.”

The teacher interrupts Mercer. “So she didn’t want you fighting, sounds reasonable.”

“It is reasonable, but that isn’t why she’s pissed.”

“No?” the teacher replies, his voice full of sarcasm.

“Nope. She’s pissed because I didn’t take her to watch. It was a good show, Mr Doyle, you should come watch me sometime.”

“As fun as two teenagers punching each other’s teeth out sounds, I can actually do fun, legal activities.” He takes a seat at his desk. “Okay, now we have story time out of the way, we have a new girl, JD. Everybody make her feel welcome.”

“I can make you feel really welcome,” Saul says, leaning forward in his chair to whisper in my ear.

“Touch her and you die,” Mercer snaps, standing from his chair. I grab his arm and pull him back into his seat.

“Don’t entertain him, he’s baiting you.” I keep a hold of his arm, until the end of roll call when we’re dismissed.

The guys all head off to their classes. I have English first with Mercer. He links our arms and we chat about when his next fight is. I don’t want to see him hurt, but I’m excited to see him fight.

English goes by fast. I’m glad they are starting a new block of work; no need for me to be lost.

Chemistry has been fun; Maximus has a crush on a girl in the class but refuses to show me which one. I know I’ll figure it out though, I’m good at reading people.

There’s been a lot of staring from the others, maybe because Maximus is sitting next to me, or because he is interacting with me. I’m not sure which.

The lunch bell goes, we pack up our textbooks and get ready to leave when a short girl with a pixie cut walks past, her face beet red. She stops at the front of our table.

“Hey, Max.” I look up at her, but Maximus just ignores her, continuing to pack his stuff in his backpack. I thought I was cool with him hooking up, but now that she’s standing in front of me, I feel weird.

“Hi, I’m JD.” I hold my hand in her direction. She seems standoffish.

“Cece,” she finally says. “Are you and Max friends?” She avoids eye contact with me. Maximus squeezes my leg hard from under the table.

“Yes, Maximus and I are good friends.” Luckily the science lab has bench tables. Knowing he’s uncomfortable, I place my hand on his. “Well it was nice meeting you.”

“Um yeah, you too.” She takes one last look at Maximus realising he isn’t looking up at her and leaves.

“She is gone.” He exhales. “Do you not like being called Max?” He shakes his head no. “I can tell her that.” He shakes his head no again. “Okay,” I say, not pushing him any further. “Let’s go to lunch, I’m starved. I’ve been thinking about all the food Mr Cole packed.” I grab my bag and swing it over my shoulder. “Also, I hope you’re a good tutor, because I had absolutely no idea what we had to do today.”

As we make our way to lunch, Cindy and her friends block our way. I remember her from the bowling alley.

“Look, it’s the mute, and he has a friend.” Her words make me snap. She is a lot taller than me but I don’t care.

“What did you just say?” I demand, squaring up to her.

“And he has a guard dog, isn’t that cute?” Her friends laugh.

“Leave him alone. What has he ever done to you? If you want a punching bag, I’m right here.”

“Don’t get your knickers in a twist; Maxy knows I’m just playing around.” Her perfectly manicured fingers reach out and touch Maximus’s arm. I look at her and then to him. He’s gone pale. I don’t think, I just step forward and push Cindy with everything I have. She stumbles backwards, her friends rushing to her side.

Maximus is sitting on the ground, rocking back and forth. I grab his headphones from his backpack and place them on his head. His rocking slows slightly.

I try something, not knowing if it will make him worse. I walk slowly behind him and place my hand on his shoulder. I tell him it’s just me, he is okay and safe with me. He doesn’t freak out, so I slide myself down beside him, pulling him close, copying the way Levi had this morning. Being so short, I wrap my arms around his waist and my legs either side of him, my head resting on his back.

“Just breathe, in through your nose and out through your mouth,” I say, remembering Mercer’s words.

I feel a crowd gathering around, but I block them out and focus on Maximus. I manage to get my phone from my bra.

“Hey Google, call Levi.” I’d thought it was silly when Rory set it up for me, but I’m glad he did. I still have issues using it but luck is on my side, Levi’s name pops up on the screen.

“You need to help; Maximus is having a moment. I don’t know where we are but look for the massive crowd of nosey parkers not being helpful.” I end the call when I notice the crowd parting. The guys and what looks to be a teacher come closer, telling the crowd to move on. The rocking has stopped. Levi bends down in front of Maximus while I’m still attached to his back.

“You’re safe, we are all here now, keep breathing.” I feel him nod, his breathing evening out.

“What happened?” Levi snaps. I know he’s worried, so I don’t take it personally.

“I think it started in Chemistry when Cece shortened his name, and then he was a bit off walking here, but it was when we ran into that bitch Cindy. She called him a mute and also shortened his name, but when she touched him, he just went down.” Rory’s face drops and he storms away.

“Miss, you need to come with me,” a balding man says, looking down on me.

“No.” I keep myself wrapped around Maximus.

“I wasn’t asking. You assaulted a student,” he states.

“And said student is a bitch who was bullying my friend, so when she took it too far, I stopped her. If you don’t mind, I’m busy.”

Rocky snorts and tries to cover it with a cough.

The teacher bends down towards me, and I see it as if in slow motion; his arm reaching for mine. Before I have a chance to move, Maximus grabs his arm. Rocky, Mercer and Levi step beside Maximus. Clearly confused at Maximus grabbing a teacher when he doesn’t touch anyone and also having his back in case the teacher does anything.

“Do not put your hands on her or we will have a problem,” Mercer states, coming to join the guys in their stance to show this teacher they mean business. The teacher visibly swallows, realizing his mistake.

“Well it seems Maximus is fine now, so we can go have that chat,” I say with a smile, but he doesn’t find it amusing.

“All five of you to the office, now.” He pulls his arm from Maximus’s grip. He turns and walks towards the main building, Mercer walks directly behind him along with Rocky. Levi walks just ahead of Maximus and me.

Maximus takes a hold of my hand as we walk. Once we get to Mr Turner’s office, baldy tells us to take a seat.

My leg bounces up and down. Anxiety plagues me, the ramifications of my actions now sinking in. What if I get kicked out my first day? Bile rises in my throat as a voice sounds in my head. You’re good for nothing, useless. Why does he even keep you around?

What the hell was that? I push the thought right back to wherever it was hiding, along with all the other flashbacks. I don’t want to remember. I can’t. I haven’t told the guys about the gut feeling I get after my nightmares; a feeling that someone is coming for me, and when they do, it isn’t going to end well…for me.