4. Dolan

                                    

                                          
The following weeks after moving to New York went by in a breeze. I had tried out for the soccer team and was shocked when the coach asked me to be the new captain which was a shock to the rest of the team, especially the current captain. The school wasn't as bad as I had expected it to be as I made friends quickly. Girls and guys practically threw themselves at me wanting to be friends or to date. I'd turn them down on the date part but agreed to be their friend. I wasn't looking for romance when I would eventually graduate high school and move out of state. 
Anywho, I was currently on my way to practice when I came upon a scene that had my blood boiling. A group of five guys—all part of the soccer team—were laughing and kicking at a figure that was balled up on the ground whimpering. 
"HEY!" I shouted at them and they merely looked over their shoulders and grinned.
"Here to join?" One of them asked, his name was Jerry, as the others chuckled and continued their assault on the defenseless male on the ground.
"Are you fucking serious? Get the fuck off of him," I snarled before pulling them back and I looked down at the whining kid who had his head covered as he lay in a fetal position on the floor. I could already see bruises starting to form on his exposed arms.
"What the hell is your deal, Dolan?" Jack asked, his brown eyes dark as he clenched his jaw.
"You tell me what your deal is, why the fuck were you beating him?" I asked as I glared up at them and they just stood there. "I fucking asked you a question."
"Don't get too cocky, Dolan," Jack said, "don't forget you're still the new kid here." 
"Is that supposed to scare me?" I challenged and they glared, "Stay the fuck away from him before I tell the coach about what I just saw and get your asses kicked off of the team." 
They clenched their jaws before sneering down at the big who was shaking behind me. "I'd watch your back from now on, fag." Jack sneered before he walked away with the others trailing behind him like the ever-faithful dogs they were. 
I rubbed my face and sighed before looking down at the boy, "hey," I softly called for his attention and he whimpered, "Come on, let me help you to the nurse's office."
****
Two days later I learned who the mystery boy was when he walked into my history class and faced Professor Reed with a quiet apology for being late even though the bell hadn't rung yet meaning he was on time. He walked down the aisle and I saw Jack stick his foot out to trip him but Jonah kicked his leg and Jack hissed putting his foot back under his desk and the boy sat behind me. 
"Alright settle down!" Professor Reed called from the front of the class, "I'm going to start roll call."
As he called the name the person would reply with a here or present. 
"Dolan Pearson?"
"Here," I called and he nodded before looking down at the clipboard and calling a name again.
"Carson Walker?"
"Present, professor," a timid voice behind me replied and I looked behind me to see the boy from two days ago.
"Speak up Mr. Walker," Professor Reed said making the rest of the class laugh while Carson's cheeks flushed pink.
"He said present, Professor," Jonah replied and the teacher nodded. Carson looked at Jonah and gave him a timid smile that made my friend grin.
I turned around not wanting to be caught looking but I couldn't deny he was beautiful. 
Class dragged on before the teacher was saying that we would be pairing up for a project. 
"I'll be choosing your partners," he said making half the class groan as most of them most likely had planned on partnering with their friends. 
"So stand up and lean against the wall, once I call your name and your partner's name, you are to sit down. Those seats will be your seats for the remainder of the semester." He stated before calling a name and that of their partner.
There were only six left to be partnered and when I heard my name I looked up at the older male and waited for my partner's name to be called, "Carson and Dolan will be partners." 
A collective of whispers filled the room before the teacher silenced them. Carson walked up to me and gave my hoody a soft pull making me look down and smile. "Come on partner, let's go sit and discuss what to research." He smiled and nodded. There was a dark blue and purple bruise from the assault he received from Jack and his lap dogs. 
"Alright, now you and your partners are to discuss what historical event to research and are to make a PowerPoint with evidence and facts about that event." The old male said as we sat with our partners.
Carson and I talked and decided to research the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. It has always intrigued me especially after my parents told me that before we moved to California, we had previously lived here and that Dad had worked in one of the towers and had been stuck under the debris for hours before an officer had found him and brought him to safety before going back to save more lives. He told me that a few days later he learned that he was among the hundreds of law enforcement that had perished that day. 
"When do you want to start the project?" I asked Carson once class ended and we gathered our belongings as if the bell would ring any second. He looked down and bit his lip before looking back up.
"Wh-whenever yo-you wan-want," he stuttered and I nodded. I could hear Jack and his lap dogs snicker and I looked at them with a warning glare while Jonah kicked his chair as he sat behind him before leaning over and whispering into his ear. 
"How about tomorrow? I don't have practice." I replied and as we walked out he nodded his head. "What class do you have now?"
"Umm," he whispered before pulling out a wrinkled paper and looking down at it, "ho-home economics." I nodded and led him down the hall towards Miss Lee's class. "You-you don't have to walk me to class."
"I know," I replied as I looked down and he, and he played with his sweatshirt, "but I want to, we're partners so partners walk each other to class."
"O-oh okay."
God, he's freaking adorable.
"And here we are," I said as I stopped in front of the Home Economics class and Carson nodded before looking up and giving me small smile that I returned.
"Th-thank you," he whispered and I nodded with a smile. He blushed before scurrying inside and I smiled shaking my head.
I've never seen him until two days ago and yet I have a feeling that this timid and beautiful boy will be an important part of my high school life and for some reason I was excited.