Clay was nervous. He was always jittery before games.

George was next to him, that fact eased his anxiety quite a bit, but it didn't erase it.

They were at lunch, on Friday. Game day. Halloween.

"Clay?" George waved a hand in front of his face. He blinked.

"Huh?"

George nudged him, "a6d asked if you're ok." He looked concerned.

"Yeah I'm good. Just the game, you know." He looked over George. He seemed a little beaten up.

"Are you ok?"

George's eyes widened a little like he was surprised he noticed.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

Clay didn't quite believe him but he got distracted by a6d trying to get his attention.

"Finally," the Frenchman gave a dramatized sigh, "you've been zoning out a lot today."

"Sorry, what's up." It was slightly awkward to talk with George between them.

"Don't worry about the game today, you'll do great. I was wondering what time you are arriving at the house of Techno, I mean, Techno's house. For the Halloween party."

Clay noticed George was listening. Bad and Skeppy were talking to each other on the other side of the table. He answered Vincent,

"I think the game'll end by six and then I'm going home and stuff so I'll probably get there at maybe 7:30?"

"Cool cool." Vin nodded.

"Hey Clay-" Bad interrupted them- "what are we doing for your birthday?"

"You want to do something?"

"Duh." Skeppy rolled his eyes. "I figured we'd just go over to his house and give him presents." He leaned forward and tilted his head. "And then eat cake."

"AOSHJSH SKEPPY-" Bad practically shook Zak's arm off after his huge gasp- "wHaT iF WE MadE ThE CAKE?!" His eyes lit up.

"Are you kidding Bad? We can't bake." Skeppy made a face.

"BUT WE MADE THOSE MUFFINS that one time SKEPPY!

You just follow the recipe it's not that hard."

At least he's enthusiastic.

"No," said Skeppy, "his mom is going to do it anyway, right?"

Uhhhh...

George spoke, "Probably not, actually."

"What? Why wouldn't she?" Bad asked.

George glanced at Clay. "Well... she doesn't like baking."

"Oh, well if that's all then SKEPPY." Bad gave him a very pleading expression. "Pwease?"

Skeppy stared at his puppy dog eyes.

"Fiiiiiiiiiiiine."

"YAAAAAYYY! Then if she makes one we can have two cakes!"

Bad threw his hands in the air in celebration.

"I don't know if I want to eat a cake you guys make," a6d said.

"HEY" Bad and Zak said at the same time.

"Don't assume it'll be bad just because I'm helping him bake it." Skeppy said.

"Yeah that's not fair." Bad crossed his arms.

"U LITERALLY JUST SAID U CAN'T BAKE!" A6d screamed.

"I CAN BAKE IF I WANT TO! I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO BEFORE NOW!" Skeppy yelled back.

A6d put his head in his arms, "You hurt my brain."

George was just watching.

These guys.

Oh, shit-

"Hey guys sorry I gotta go." Clay picked up his tray and stood up.

"Already?" George asked.

Vin's brows furrowed, "It's a home game right?"

Clay shook his head. "Nope, away."

He left with a quick 'bye.'

>>>

George watched Clay walk away and heard Bad asking,

"Wait- how will we know where to go to get the other school?"

Skeppy shrugged. "I'm sure we can figure it out, ask someone or something."

"Speaking of asking something," Bad turned back to Skeppy as Vin slid a little closer to George to fill Clay's gap. "I heard something happened at soccer practice yesterday, do you know what that was about?"

Neither George nor a6d knew anything about this but Skeppy looked like he did. And also like he didn't want to tell them.

"Geppy?"

After a moment's hesitation, Skep gave in.

"Yeah I heard something, but I didn't think Clay would really want to talk about it."

"What was it?" Bad asked. He was so innocent.

I hope not-

"Did it have to do with the thing that happened last year?" A6d asked.

Skeppy nodded slowly. "Yeeeeah."

Bad looked confused. "You never told me about that. I wasn't there for it."

"I didn't really want to tell you."

"Will you tell me now?" Bad was solemn.

I don't want to relive this.

Skeppy was still hesitant but he said, "I guess, it's been awhile now, so yeah."

He paused again. "Well you know how Clay was involved in an accident last year?"

"Yeah he went to the hospital."

"Yeah well it wasn't an accident. He was targeted." Skeppy's dark brown eyes avoided the grass green ones of the boy sitting next to him.

"What do you mean?"

"They came after him on purpose."

"Why would someone do that?" He sounded distressed.

Zak shook his head. "I don't know. Nobody knows."

"Is he okay now?"

"He seems ok; it was pretty traumatizing, though."

"Of course he's not ok!" George clenched his fists.

"He's different now. He's quieter and he tries to go through everything alone."

Bad, Skeppy, and a6d just looked at him, surprised he was suddenly upset.

"You guys are supposed to be his friends," he said.

A6d put a hand on his shoulder.

"We are, George. We care about him too."

"I know it's just-" George inhaled, exhaled. "He's definitely still hurting. I can tell."

It's not fair to lash out at them.

He turned to Skeppy.

"You can't assume he's over it just because time has passed."

"How do you know how he feels?" Skeppy asked roughly.

"I've known him longer. I know him."

"So you think you know him better? Why are you leaving him then? You're the one hurting him."

"Skeppy stop." Bad tugged on his arm.

George flinched at the accusation.

"That's different-"

"How?" Skeppy demanded.

I can't tell them. He won't accept it.

A6d saved him. "Lay off him, Skeppy."

"Fine." Skeppy slammed his hands on the table and stood up to leave.

"Skeppy-" Bad looked up at him.

"See ya later guys." Skeppy left the table.

"I better go after him." Bad got up.

Good riddance.

"It's ok, George. He'll cool off," a6d said.

George didn't feel like answering.

Vincent looked like he wanted to say something, but closed his mouth.

He decided to leave George alone.

"It's not your fault, you know. I'll see you at the game."

He left.

(1k words)