As the sound of crickets filled your ears, as well as the sound of a summer breeze blowing through the trees and the crunch of the graveled road under your feet, mingled with the ray of the hot sun hit your skin, you walked home after school had finally let out for the summer.

Though you weren’t excited like most kids might be, your cheeks were flushed from tears and embarrassment and your posture slumped as you one-shouldered your book bag. You had once again been tormented and embarrassed by Henry and his group of idiots. As you walked, something caught your eyes, a round red ballon drifted across the road.

Something so innocent was so disturbing. So out of place. So unsettling. Then all of a sudden in a loud crack! it popped abruptly. But before you could react..

The sound of wheels behind you made you nearly jump out of your own skin as your head whipped around, your eyes wide with fear and your lips parted the slightest in a soundless gasp of terror you took in sharply. But to your surprise it wasn’t Henry’s car.

It was some kids on bikes, six to be exact, looking at you curiously. One of them, a boy with black curls and thick glasses that made his eyes look funny spoke with an almost amused smirk. “The f-uck happened to you?”

You just stared at them as the slowed their peddling and you slowed your steps as you hesitated. You were silent, still unsettled by the balloon before you meekly answered. “Henry..”

A girl with beautiful autumn hair and clunky bracelets rolled her eyes and gave you a kind and understanding smile. “Ugh. We hate him. Do you wanna come with us?”

A boy who had previously been fiddling with an inhaler gave you a look as if he was trying to see if your “dirty” then gave you a somewhat kind look.