The Bully And The Nerd.

Chapter Fourteen

Daisy's P. O. V.

Vannah had been so engrossed in her painting that when I had checked the time with my mobile phone we had only about thirty minutes till the end of the day.

Miss pa_painter you have to pack up I told her.

I'm sorry when I paint I tend to lose track of time she quickly apologized by now she was done with the first painting and only applying finishing touches.

We were supposed to stay till the end of the day here but I remembered our promise to Noah. We had to go check how he was daring she packed up all her equipments back to the wooden table.

I'm done she said and I stood up on my feet then I noticed the streaks of dried paints on her fingers and pointed at them.

Ooh this?? She realized now.

She soaked a napkin with water and dabbed it on her stained fingers cleaning quickly while she was done we both came out and she practically had to look left and right to see if there was no one around.

When I asked her why she did that she said she didn't want it our hidden spot to be discovered.

True this place is a safe haven.

You look Better now. Vannah suddenly said studying me carefully.

Two hours without bullying is enough to glow and look well.

True she nodded before bursting into laughter.

Thanks for all you do. I appreciated looking up at her with grateful eyes.

Let's go see Mister Noah. Vannah spoke in an horrible southern accent that made me throw back my head in laughter.

Thankfully we were able to avoid the students and most importantly Alec and his crew till we got to the clinic.

I pushed open the clinic door and Noah was positioned more comfortably on the Bed. Noah? Are you awake? I asked moving closer.

He sat up rubbing his eyes which were swollen from sleep. Barely, I think I just slept for an hour.

The same person the nurse literally forced to sleep now enjoyed his sleep. Really. Vannah spoke sarcastically.

You know afternoon nap aren't my thing and when the nurse was trying to make me sleep forcefully I was reluctant but somehow I ended up enjoying my nap. He stretched his arm sideways and straight up again

How are you faring now?? I asked placing my hands on his head trying to check for temperature but it wasn't hot anymore.

I'm feeling he yawned weak, tired and strong at the same time. He faked cried.

Dramatic Mister Noah. Vannah scoffed.

Seriously I'm weak and I'm tired but it feels like I'm getting better although not completely now.

You still look dizzy. Vannah pointed out.

Yeah I think she injected me with sleeping injections so I most probably look dizzy. He explained.

Your face looks paler than a Black canvas.

Was that a painting joke?? Noah asked in disbelief.

Everything is a painting joke I mean if you try hard enough.

I just sat back finding amusement in their bickering and battering.

Fruits, I asked Noah bringing up a tray I had found on the table.

The nurse brought it earlier but I had no appetite now I think am ready to eat.

I dropped the tray in front of him and sat back down as he used a fork to help himself with the slices.

So, what did I miss in class? Noah asked.

I was about telling him we both didn't attend classes but one look from Vannah was enough to shut me up.

A pop quiz. Vannah announced.

She really did want to tease him.

You're joking, Sav Noah exclaimed glancing over to me probably to say something.

Nope. She isn't I lied and Vannah discreetly gave me a thumbs up.

Thank God I was here Maybe staying in the clinic isn't so bad after all. He said popping a apple slice into his mouth.

Vannah grinned Nice try. The teacher already said you'll take it tomorrow.

This day just keeps getting worse. Noah complained scrunching up his nose.

I tried to cheer him up Look on the bright side. You're okay.

Yeah. His tone suddenly became appreciative, Thanks for checking on me, guys. He held both our hands.

Anytime. Vannah nodded.

Just promise us you'll take better care of yourself. I will.

I promise. And I'm fine now honestly speaking you guys are energy boosters.

Savannah smirked I take that as a compliment.

I only smiled.

Suddenly, I'm feeling healthy already. Nurse Noah called I'm good to go already.

She approached her walks careful and tone professional If you say so but you have to stop by after school tomorrow for a checkup.

Alright. Noah nodded and the nurse left with a smile on her lips.

______________________

Noah and Vannah had already left and I was standing alone by the school gate waiting for Josh while wondering if he hadn't forgotten me here.

A black SUV pulled up in front of the school gate the windows rolled down and Josh waved.

I proceeded quickly and he unlocked the car while I took my seat beside him.

Seatbelt he said to me.

Okay I nodded while helping myself to the seatbelt.

Josh you were Ten min_minuutes late. I frowned.

Sorry princess I was at lunch with a few friends.

You alre_already have fri_friends?? I asked surprised.

Yeah with some dudes I met at a cafe and surprisingly they are cool so we met up today.

Alright. I nodded staring outside the window.

How was school?? He asked.

Good.

Just good. He pressed further.

I nodded in affirmation.

So any new friends. He inquired.

I told him about Vannah and Noah how they had been nice to me excluding the Alec and his crew bullying part.

By the time I was done he had a smile playing on his lips am glad you are finally socializing. You could invite your friends to dinner sometime.

I'll in_inform them tom_tomorrow and if they are up for it I'll tell you th_then we can inf_inform Mom and Dad.

Sounds like a good plan. He nodded and for a while the ride was silent and comfortable before Josh pointed out your neck what's that.

Shoot I totally forgot I thought my hair his it now Josh is going to play detective.

Ins_Insect bite it c_crawled up on me and it sting me.

Insect it doesn't look like it. Princess are you lying to me.

Josh am not I lied already frustrated by his actions.

I know it's more than that but since you won't open up I don't want to pressure you. Just know you can tell me anything and I'll be ready to listen whenever you are ready to talk.

I felt my eyes water and before I could hide it Josh already noticed and he passed me tissues.

If it's nothing then why are you in tears?? His hand was positioned on the steering wheel as he kept on driving.

Josh I don't want to talk about it ple_ase. I pleaded He looked at me longer than necessary but then He respected my feelings and didn't ask me any more questions and I was glad.

The fact that I've lied countless times than I want to admit pissed me off.

Josh's P. O. V

I knew something was wrong with my little sister Daisy but I couldn't fathom what exactly it was as a child She had always been weak and It had both Dad and Mom always worried they feared she won't be able to navigate her life herself.

Growing up Daisy had we all worried countlessly she developed Autism. It affected her development as a kid Her communication, Behavior, And her social interaction even at that time I was still a kid though I was few years older and I never knew what was truly wrong.

All I knew was that She always had Doctors Appointments, I saw medical results, medicines organized neatly in her drawer. Vividly I remembered when I was seven I was caught mom crying gently in the kitchen it was as if she wanted no one to see her or even notice.

Slowly I crept up behind her and tapped her gently she was shocked when she saw me and her eyes were as wide as saucers, innocently, I asked her why she was crying instead she lied told me it wasn't just some allergy that made her eyes red and puffy although I was a kid I was no fool.

I saw it all observed Dad checking on her many times, Mom feeding her medicines and Daisy's Whines and complaint. I once remembered an incident fresh in my memory as if it occured yesterday, We all went to the park to celebrate my academic win a couple of children were playing swinging their arms in the air But Daisy she lacked enthusiasm she sat down staring at her feet it felt like she was in a whole different world.

When I tried to make I join the playing children and i gently touched her she screamed so loudly as I jolted back in fear my hands hanging mid air it was as if my touch had burned her. she cried so loudly that the park assistants had no option than to send us home and the onlookers they gossipped behind pointing accusing fingers at we all. Mom looked Sad, Dad looked Tired and me I didn't understand any of it I just stared blankly while Mom tried to soothe her.

My hand was positioned on the steering wheel although I was driving I kept on watching her through my peripheral vision she was curled up on the seat, fingers tapping on her palm repeatedly and that bright glow wasn't on her face if anything she looked withdrawn and sad.

Instantly I felt it knew something was wrong.

Again.

He knew that look.

People who barely knew Daisy would say she was just quiet. Reserved. Shy. But Josh knew better. He had spent his entire life learning the tiny changes in her expression the way people memorized favorite songs.

Growing up, Daisy had always been... different.

Not wrong. Never wrong.

Just different.

When she was little, loud noises used to make her cover her ears and cry while other kids laughed and continued playing. Family parties overwhelmed her. Too many voices, too many people, too much happening at once. She'd hide behind our mother's legs snuggle into my arms or dad as if seeking warmth, Love, Protection or maybe all three of them or at times she would disappear into empty rooms where I'd later find her.

She struggled making friends too. She was always quiet which made people snicker at the back and cast her suspicious glances. She was always isolated, Kids avoided her like a plague and she....... She just stayed staring blankly.

Once I overhead my parents while I was Ten and Daisy was Six Mom was crying asking Dad if she would be fine if she would be normal by then I was smart enough to know that my sister wasn't being shy or reserved it was far more deeper and then I saw her medical documents laying on my parents bed while I was snooping around as I read through tears dropped from my eyes.

I cried because of everything, Cried for my sister, for her situation, for a world who didn't understand her pain and only cared about themselves it also began to affect me because associating with peers became difficult Parents asked their children to stay away Peers murmured but I heard them all Things like he is the "Brother Of That Weird Girl"

It all hurt but I didn't say a word not to mom, Neither to dad nor my homeroom teachers instead I endured it all all because I didn't want to bother my parents Daisy was enough responsibility mom noticed but each time I insisted I was fine she never pestered just looked at me with eyes full of warmth and care told me to always take care but I made a silent vow I would always put my sister "First".

Not because she wasn't sweet—because Daisy had the gentlest , Softest and the Kindest heart I had ever known—but because other children didn't understand her.

They didn't understand why she repeated certain routines every day or why she hated sudden changes. They didn't understand why she'd become so focused on drawing or reading that she'd forget the rest of the world existed.

Some kids had called her weird. Others called her Loner.

Josh remembered every single one of them.

He remembered sitting beside a younger Daisy after she'd come home from school with tears in her eyes, asking in a small voice why other children looked at her like she was strange.

And Josh had hated himself because he never knew how to answer.

But then slowly things improved for the better although not completely As she got older, things improved. Daisy learned to smile more, talk more, blend in more.

But Josh knew she was trying.

Trying too hard.

And now she was doing it again.

Her shoulders looked smaller somehow, carrying a weight she refused to share.

He glanced at her for a brief moment held her hand and she looked up at him slowly.

"Daisy," I called softly. Maybe this time she would tell me what was wrong.

She simply only looked up. Her pair of Eyes looking at me nervously.

"Hm?"

I frowned.

There it was.

That smile.

That fake little smile she used whenever she wanted people to stop asking questions

Fear settled heavily in his chest.

Because every time Daisy started folding into herself like this, every time she went quiet and distant...

Someone had hurt her.

And Josh had a Disturbing Feeling to never rest until he found out Who.