The last of them

The approaches didn't stop.

If anything, it got worse.

By lunch, Dev and Cole could barely walk through the halls without someone whispering, laughing, or shoving past them just a little too hard.

Cole ignored it. He kept his head down, hands in his pockets, walking as if he didn't hear the slurs being thrown in their direction.

Dev? He wasn't as good at pretending.

"Calloway, you and your boyfriend make such a cute couple."

"Do you hold hands when you sleep?"

"Bet you fight over who's the girl."

Laughter. Mockery.

And then came the shove.

Dev barely had time to brace himself before someone, Dan, Jack's right-hand man, slammed into his shoulder hard enough to knock his tray to the floor.

The cafeteria went silent.

Dev's hands curled into fists.

Don't. Don't give them what they want.

Cole was already pulling him back. "Leave it."

Dan smirked. "What's wrong? Not gonna fight me? Thought you'd be tougher for a…"

Cole stepped in. "Don't."

Dan's grin widened. "Or what? You'll kiss me?"

The cafeteria erupted in laughter.

Dev saw red.

And then he swung.

The Aftermath

Dan didn't remember much after his jaw connected with Dev's fist.

Just the chaos. The shouting. The weight of teachers pulling him back as he crumpled to the ground.

Then came the principal's office.

Dev sat in the stiff chair, arms crossed, jaw tight. Across from him, his father stood with his arms folded, expression blank. Too blank.

"Do you have any idea what you've done?" his father asked coldly.

Dev glared at the floor. "Yeah. I hit someone who deserved it."

His father let out a slow breath, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"You're suspended for three days." The principal said coldly.

Dev clenched his fists. He didn't care.

But then his father's voice lowered. "You are embarrassing me."

Dev looked up sharply.

Not 'I'm worried about you.' Not 'Are you okay?'

Just embarrassment.

Dev swallowed the lump in his throat. "I didn't start it."

"I don't care."

Silence.

Then his father turned to the principal. "Thank you for informing me. It won't happen again."

It will, Dev thought bitterly.

It always would.

Dev knew it wasn't over.

Punching Dan in the face was satisfying, but it also made things worse. Jack and his gang weren't the type to take a hit and let it go. They'd want revenge.

And they wouldn't wait long to get it.

After School

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the pavement as Dev and Cole walked home.

Cole was quiet, hands stuffed deep in his pockets. He hadn't said much since the cafeteria fight.

Dev glanced at him. "You mad?"

Cole shook his head. "No. Just tired."

Dev sighed. "I know it's bad now, but it'll pass. The school will get bored of the gossip soon."

Cole let out a humorless laugh. "You really believe that?"

Dev didn't answer.

Because honestly? He wasn't sure.

They turned a corner onto a narrow alleyway, one they always took to cut through the neighborhood.

And then they saw them.

Dan. Jack. Ian. Eli. Chou.

All of them standing in the alley, blocking the way.

Cole tensed. "Shit."

Dev's jaw clenched. He wanted to turn around, but footsteps behind them told him it was too late.

They were surrounded.

Jack stepped forward, smirking. "Look who it is. The lovebirds."

Ian laughed. "Thought you'd get away with that cheap shot, Calloway?"

Dan rubbed his jaw, still bruised from the punch. His eyes were filled with nothing but rage. "You fucking embarrassed me."

Dev swallowed hard. "Yeah? So what?"

Dan's smirk vanished. He lunged.

Dev tried to fight back. He really did.

But it was five against two.

A fist slammed into his stomach, knocking the wind out of him.

Another hit his face, sending him stumbling.

Someone grabbed his shirt and yanked him back before driving a knee into his ribs.

Cole shouted. He tried to pull them off Dev, only to be thrown to the ground.

A kick to the stomach. Another to the ribs.

Dev heard Cole cough then choke.

And then Jack's voice, calm and mocking. "Had enough?"

Dev groaned, spitting blood onto the pavement. "Screw you."

Jack crouched next to him, tilting his head. "You should know better than to mess with us."

Dev didn't respond. He was too busy gasping for air.

Jack patted his cheek mockingly. "This is just the beginning."

Then they were gone.

The laughter echoing in the alley as Dev and Cole lay there, beaten and broken.

Cole winced as he sat up, holding his ribs. "We're screwed."

Dev forced himself to sit up too. His body ached. His face was swollen. But the worst pain was the rage boiling inside him.

He wasn't going to let this go.

Not this time.

He clenched his fists, looking at Cole. "We can't stay here."

Cole frowned. "Where do we go?"

Dev exhaled, his decision already made.

"Anywhere but here."

" we'll know after my suspension, my dad probably going to ground me." Dev said as he slowly got up

Cole let out a sigh "let's just go home man"

Cole Started Skipping School.

Throughout his suspension, he hadn't heard a word from Cole. No calls. No texts. Returning to school, Cole's absence was palpable, and the relentless bullying from Jack and his gang only intensified.

By the time Dev's suspension ended, Cole was barely showing up.

Dev waited for him by the lockers.

Cole never came.

He texted. No response.

By the third day, Dev had enough.

He left school early and went straight to Cole's house.

Cole's front door was slightly ajar.

Something was wrong.

Dev pushed it open, stepping inside.

The smell hit him first. Alcohol. Smoke.

The living room was trashed with bottles, ashtrays, an overturned chair.

And then he saw Cole.

Curled up on the couch, his hoodie pulled over his head, barely moving.

Dev's stomach twisted. "Cole?"

No response.

He stepped closer, reaching out…

A groan.

Cole shifted, blinking up at him. His face was bruised. His lip was split.

Dev's heart stopped.

"Did he do this to you?" Dev whispered.

Cole didn't answer.

But he didn't have to.

Dev already knew.

"You're Staying With Me."

Cole shook his head. "I can't."

"You can."

"Dev…"

"I said you can. We'll leave the town tomorrow"

There was no argument after that.

Dev helped Cole up, guiding him out of the house. Away from this. Away from him.

They walked in silence.

Neither of them knew this was the last normal day they'd ever have.

Because tomorrow?

Cole would be dead.