Something Beautiful.

"I hope me sitting here isn't a problem," Madison says softly, quietly in hopes that the other boys at the table can't hear her.

I smile gently, poking my macaroni 'n cheese with my fork. I honestly like Madison a lot more than I originally thought I would. She is a lot like me in certain ways. Like the fact that she doesn't talk a lot to strangers. Granted she seemed to love chatting my hear off, but other people she didn't speak much to. She appeared to distrust people as well. She had no friends and I could hear people making fun of her and whispering in the halls. It makes me feel a little bad for her but at the same time I'm glad she's like this. What if I got stuck with a guide like Jules?

"It's not," I say back softly, shifting. My elbow hits Nick's but he's to busy speaking to notice. I'm so jealous that he can make friends so easily with Shane and Jules and I can't even look at them without hiding my face from view. I look at Madison who is staring at her plate. Biting my lip I decide to be bold and continue talking. "I don't think Jules minds at all."

Madison grimaces and shakes her head, mumbling something along the lines of horny teenager and that makes me giggle quietly.

Bad decision.

"What's so funny?" Nick asks, only now diverting his attention away from his fellow classmates and looking right at me. I can feel Jules and Shane look at me as well and my face instantly heats up.

I lift one of my hands and cover my nose, along with it my top lip and some of my cheek bones. Jules is looking at me in a weird way while Shane's lips slowly form that smile that makes me weak in the knees. He is just so cute I don't think he even realizes it. Though I miss the curls around his ears; why would he straighten it when those are so adorable? I wish my hair was curly.

"Nothing," Madison says quickly, coming to my rescue as she stares at her food with red cheeks. I nod my confirmation and look down shyly.

"Whatever," Nick grumbles, nudging me with his elbow. "You guys just keep telling jokes and don't tell us any."

"That's not fair," Jules pouts childishly, and I notice Shane roll his eyes at his behavior. Before he can catch me staring I look away. "I want to laugh too, Rain Man."

"Rain Man?" Shane says before I can even get anything out. He looks at Jules as if he is crazy, which I'm beginning to think he is. Jules only widdens his eyes in faux innocence and shrugs his shoulders.

"I like Rain Man," he says in his defense.

"I think you're a fucking idiot!" Shane groans, but there is sign of endearment in his hazel eyes. He doesn't really believe Jules is an idiot, he just thinks he is showing idiot-like qualities. I think. I don't really know what it's like to have a best friend, anymore.

"I second that," Madison mumbles, and everyone looks at her with wide eyes.

Suddenly, Nick 'ooohs' loudly, holding a hand over his mouth dramatically as he points at Jules. Shane laughs like a hyena, showing off his perfect teeth while Jules's face gets as red as his hair. Madison just smiles down at her food while I giggle quietly, shaking my head.

"Burn," Nick says simply after he settles down, Shane still laughing so hard that his face is bright red and his eyes are watering. I give him a weird look while Jules seethes at no one in particular, clentching his fists.

"She just- And you- She said- But you like-" Shane gasps between breaths, people beginning to look over at our table. Luckily for me they're staring at these two crazy boys and not myself. I might die had they been looking at me.

"Shut the fuck up," Jules snarls, hitting Shane in the arm as he continues to laugh. Nick splutters a little bit as Jules hits Shane again but this time he slumps sideways into the chair beside him, feet kicking up against the bottom of the table.

I stare with wide eyes as he continues laughing, though I'm unable to see his face, and Madison starts fidgeting in her seat while Jules remains embarrassed. I almost feel bad for him but at the same time I sort of don't. I have a feeling he'd make a big deal if the same thing happened to Shane.

"I'm gonna go," Madison whispers, standing up. I watch with wide eyes as she throws her trash away and then leaves the cafeteria, head down as some people turn to whisper behind their hands. High school students make me sick sometimes. What did she ever do to them?

I'm used to it though. Those weird looks because they think I'm weird. I can't imagine why they'd find Madison to be weird, though, unless it's her crazy hair, wild clothes, and gentle personality. That makes no sense to me, though. I mean, I understand when it's myself. I hide my face, wear giant hoodies, and refuse to make eye contact. It sort of breaks my heart to think Madison is secluded as well and she doesn't even have ugly scares marring her body.

"That was," Shane pants as he finally sits back up. My attention diverts back to him as he holds up a hand, Jules glaring at him as if daring him to continue speaking while Nick smiles, amused. "That was hilarious."

"I hate you," Jules says simply, turning a cold shoulder on his best friend who rolls his eyes.

He looks over at me and momentarily I'm awestruck by his hazel eyes, so I don't look away. He shakes his head and chuckles, as if we're having a silent conversation, and as soon as I've gathered my senses I look down, no apetite.

"You love me really," Shane says, knocking Jules shoulder with his fist. "Admit it."

"Like I said before," Nick says simply, shrugging his shoulders. "Rejection hurts."

"I'm not getting rejected, I have no putain de what you are talking about. Con." Jules says, and Nick looks at him bemusedly. Shane snickers, like he knows what he's said, but I'm just as lost as my brother.

Which verifies the fact that I'm going to fail French this year, considering I have no clue what this French man just said.

"No need to get defensive," Nick says simply. He smirks crookedly before saying simply, "It's only the beginning, anyway. If she sits here more and more she'll fall for your undenyable charm."

Jules narrows his eyes. "You don't even know me, Con."

"I feel like you're calling me a bad name," Nick says thoughtfully and when Jules just smirks, I figure he's right about that. "And whatever," he shrugs, popping a french fry in his mouth. "So Choir was terrible today," he tries to start another conversation.

Jules cracks a smile finally and Shane laughs, but I zone out. No way am I about to listen about Nick's day in Choir. If it was that terrible, then he'd try to guilt-trip me into joining it again and there is no way I'm going to do that. He made a quick decision, a stupid one at that, and he's going to have to suffer the consequences. When was the last time he heard me sing, anyway? December. Yeah, so why would I join Choir when we moved here? He's an idiot, I'll tell you that much.

"Noah? Noah!"

I snap back into reality, not having realized that I'd zoned out. One of my hands are resting on my right side, where a slight burn is itching. I took my medication this morning, but for some reason I'm a little sore. It happens more than I'd like, really.

I blink and look up to realize Shane is standing beside me, Nick and Jules having walked towards the cafeteria entrance to wait for us. I blush and notice his gaze, which is looking oddly at my stroaking hand on my right side, and quickly stop my movements. I stand up hastely and grab my tray, throwing it away and following Shane towards our friends.

Friends. How weird.

Nick grins at me, throwing an arm around my shoulder. I wince a little and he gives me a sympathetic look, probably understanding that my meds aren't working that great and the burn is starting to turn into a throb.

We separate, and my big brother leaves me alone with Jules and Shane, who stand on either side of me. Why am I being forced into the middle, again? Do they expect me to speak or something? That's a load of bull. They either need to let me walk on my own or leave me as a third-wheel. This isn't going to settle with me.

Suddenly Jules throws an arm over my shoulder and I tense up, a hand resting over my mouth as I look up through my fringe. He's smiling thoughtfully as we walk towards French, not even looking at me. I realize this kid is like a bean pole. I only come up to his Adam's apple and he's like a bunch of gangly limbs.

"So, Flood Master," he says, grinning lightly. I internally groan; can he seriously not just call me Noah? These Noah's Ark references are starting to kill me. "You finished that French paper, right?"

"Dude," Shane says, knocking his arm off my shoulders. I am very fortunate and almost hug him because he's saving me from having to face Jules wrath. I refrain though, as you can imagine why. He probably thinks I'm a big enough freak already. "Did you catch up on your Children's Bible Stories or something? Enough with the nicknames!"

"I happen to think Noah likes them, thank you very much!" Jules defends, looking at me pleadingly, asking me to agree but all I do is lift a hand and cover my face. Maybe if I can't see them, they can't see me.

I can't even speed up my walk, they'd catch up in no time considering they're both giants compared to me. Damn it, why'd I have to inherit my mother's genes? Why couldn't I be like my dad and Nick?!

"Salop." Shane says with a playful roll of his eyes.

I really wish I knew what they were saying. Life would be so much easier. Apparently it's bad though, and if I remember correctly that was the word Jules got in trouble for yesterday, so the ginger gasps dramatically and holds a hand over his heart.

"How dare you use the language of my people against me!"

Shane laughs and suddenly, we're walking into the classroom and I'm momentairly free. Jules is almost to much to handle. I walk quickly to my seat and sit down with ease, reading on the board that we're supposed to take out our homework assignments. I begin taking mine out as Shane and Jules continue speaking, something about how Jules is actually from Canada, not France, and then Jules claiming that's unvalid.

Madame Delacour smiles as the bell rings, demanding everyone's attention. She takes roll, in French, and I easily gather that actuel either means here, or present, so I easily say it loud enough that she can hear it once she gets to the end of the names. I'm the last on the list, imagine that.

Jules looks back at me while she speaks, and everyone begins reciting their ABCs. She gave me a piece of paper but I have no clue how to pronounce any of the letters so I pretend to follow along, ignoring Jules's insistent stare. What's his problem? He's as bad as Shane was yesterday.

When they get through the months of the year, Madame Delacour asks everyone to get out a pen to grade the homework from last night. I watch as Shane shuffles in front of me, staring at the back of his neck as I bite my lip. I guess he can feel my stare because he glances over his shoulder, but in hopes that I wasn't caught, I look down quickly, blushing brightly.

They grade the worksheet, and I get a hundred. It doesn't surprise me in all honesty, Google translate is pretty accurate. Shane pouts and shows Jules his eighty, and Jules just chuckles and murmers something about tutoring which I don't entirely understand.

As the teacher goes around to everyones' desks and picks up their papers, she stops at mine. I blush and press a hand to my forehead as she reads through the paper, nodding and looking at me in surprise. Her blue eyes are wide and I really want the ground to swallow me whole as people turn to look at us. Dear Lord, this is torture.

"Well, Monsieur White, I am pleasantly surprised with this grade. Typically Jules is the only one to make hundreds. I hope this is only a snippet of what I'll see plenty of in the future," she winks as she walks past my desk finally, people continuing to stare for a little longer than neccesary before looking away.

I hide my face in my hands and physically have to fight the urge to whine. I'm a cheater and now she thinks I'm some sort of French genius. This plan definitely back-fired. Wait until I had to tell her about my learning disability!

"How'd you manage a hundred?" Jules asks me, glancing back as Madame Delacour busies herself with writing something on the overhead. I look between the cracks of my fingers at the ginger who appears truly curious, though something tells me it's fake. "No one ever does that on their first day!"

Shane turns a little to look at me as well and my shame only grows deeper. He looks at me thoughtfully, though really all he is seeing are my eyes from between my fingers and my the back of my hands. He probably thinks I'm a freak like this, but I don't blame him. I just don't want everyone to see how bright my cheeks are and how embarrassed I am. Believe me, life is better this way.

"Google translate?" He says, voice lowering as the teacher flips off the lights and begins to write down notes. I should be taking them but for some insane reason that I can't really justify, I think that talking to Shane is better.

"No," I whisper, dropping my hands some so he can read my lips along with my low voice.

Shane chuckles, shaking his head as Jules looks at him with wide eyes. I bite my lip. "Noah you can't even say the alphabet. I've used it too, don't worry. I'm just saying that using it on the entire work sheet isn't wise."

"How'd you know?" I drop my voice lower as a few students gaze at us, ducking my head down and hunching my shoulders, leaning closer to Shane. His eyes flicker to me for a moment before he looks away, a slow smile working its way on his face.

"Like I said, I just did. Y'know, I can tutor you if you're having trouble. Or at least get you caught up to where we are now."

My insides instantly freeze over as he says this, my hands clenching. I look down, trying to hide my anger, though I'm positive Jules saw it. The two boys look at me for a few moments before I say, voice lower and more dangerous than before, "Nick told you to do this, didn't he?"

Shane looks back at me in surprise and I know I'm right. My fists instantly clench tighter and I lift one to shield my eyes, incase they can read my emotions. I bet it's part of his plan to get me to make friends. Oh, yeah, I'll just ask the super cute senior to tutor my shy, ugly brother so that he can get friendly with him! I know what's best! Blah blah blah. What an asshole. I can't believe I said I loved him too this morning.

"Seriously. You're gonna get caught and get in trouble if you make amazing homework grades but not-so-good test grades. I can help."

"Maybe I should offer," Jules says teasingly, causing Shane to glare and reach over to hit his friend.

"Boys!" Madame Delacour says loudly, causing both Jules and Shane to sit ramrod straight and face the front of the class. "Please behave yourselves."

"Sorry, Madame Delacour," Shane says polietly, Jules clearing his throat in agreement.

I stare at the back of Shane's head for a few moments before he slowly relaxes, looking over his shoulder at me. He moves but I can't tell what he's doing, so I decide to get out a piece of paper and write down the different ways to tell time, even though I can't really read the French writing. It's like I'm learning how to control my disability all over again, ugh!

Suddenly, a piece of paper hits me in the forehead and lands in front of me. Blinking, I look up but no one is looking in my direction, so I slowly open the note. In it is nice, bubbly hand-writing that looks like a girls, but I know it's not because of the name signed at the bottom. My heart skips a beat and I scold myself for being such an idiot. It's just a note.

So, what do you say? We can meet in the library after school and you can copy some of my notes. It'll be helpful, trust me, and if you still have trouble or whatever after that, then I can tutor you again. What's the worst that could happen? You learn a little French?
-Shane.

Against my better judgment, I begin writing him back one simple word. I sort of want to write no and that I never want him to talk to me again. I need my peace and quiet and I need to not have friends because I'm safer that way, but there's just something about Shane. Maybe it's the teenager and secret gay-boy inside me, who knows. All I do know is that Shane is so cute I couldn't possibly pass up this opportunity.

So I write back, Fine.
~

"Well I'm glad you're going," Nick says as we walk towards the library.

I scowl at him but don't say anything. I hadn't mentioned how I knew he talked to Shane. I'm sure he wanted to keep it a secret so I wasn't going to embarrass him and hear a lecture about how he only cares about me and wants what's best for me and only wants me to pass and blah blah. I just keep it a secret that I can read Nick like an open book. Who knows what he'd do if he found that out.

My Animal Science class went a lot better today than yesterday. This time, literally no one sat beside me. They were all on the other side of the room, leaving me alone with my iPod while the teacher read a book at his desk. I'm perfectly content with that, though. It means no more whiny bitches would be telling me the truths that everyone else thinks.

I could seriously use a class period where I don't feel like I'm going to cry.

Although my side has been killing me all day and I'm probably going to cry from that pretty soon. I'd have to tell Mom to bring up a perscription to keep here incase this happens. It doesn't happen a lot, but my scars are like any man's. Kind of like bad joints in a way; somedays, they're okay, and other days, they're sore and hurt and I feel like I can barely move.

It's sad to think I'm only sixteen and have days where I'm like an old-man.

This is why I hate people. Why I don't trust them.

Damn Nick for making me agree to this whole 'friend' thing.

I didn't tell my brother about my pains. He'd only worry and insist we go home to get my medication, and call me crazy, but I'm a little bit looking forward to 'tutoring' with Shane. It gave me an excuse to look at his gorgeous face, although ten bucks says I'll spend half the session with my hands over my face. Or struggling to even understand the letter A. Yep sounds about right.

The library is a small room, with about ten book shelves and an older woman sitting inside an office, barely paying attention to the outside world. There's about four round tables, each with five chairs around them, and then five computers all along one side along with chairs as well. It's a lot smaller than the library back in New York, but I kind of like it. Call me a nerd but I've always loved the smell of a library. It's like new books along with ink; comforting.

Jules is sitting at one of the computers playing some sort of game, while Shane has a few books spread out in front of him. He looks up when we enter and smiles widely, showing off his white teeth and he has this one dimple on his right cheek and I squeal internally. Externally, I smile back timidly and hide behind my hands.

Funny how much different we are in our minds compared to our bodies.

"Hey," Shane says as I sit down beside him, tossing my backpack onto the table and heaving a sigh. I try not to wince at the pain in my side and lay my head in my arms. Shane laughs gently. "You tired?" I nod, chosing not to answer. "Well we've got work to do, b-bud." Why did he just stutter?

I look up at him and glare lightlly causing him to chuckle, his cheeks a light pink that make me smile.

"I'm Noah's ride so I'll just get on the computers or something," Nick says, scratching the back of his neck. He looks at Jules with his head tilted to the side for a few moments when Shane says nothing. "Why is Fries here?"

"Shane's my ride, Con." Jules says simply, not even looking away from the game.

Nick groans as he walks towards the ginger. "I seriously need to figure out what you keep calling me."

"Vous ne serez jamais le comprendre, vous estes trop bete, trou du cul." Jules says and I'm a little overwhelmed with his speech.

Nick grumbles something like, "Non lo so... Uh... Che cosa... Um... Parlare... Oh whatever." And Jules just laughs at him while I smile. Nick barely remembers what he learned in Italian back in the city, he's a hopeless case there.

"Noah," Shane says, almost sternly. I focus in on his face, blushing as I realize I'd been ignoring him, paying attention to my brother and Jules instead. I raise a hand to cover my cheeks and Shane smiles at me, looking straight into my eyes and I find myself trapped in their gaze. It's like I can't look away. "Are you going to be able to concentrate with them here?"

I nod, even though it's unconvincing, and finally manage to look away. Shane chuckles lightly before turning towards the computers.

"Hey, I can give Noah a ride home, if you give Jules a ride. We can't really focus with you guys here."

Oh shit, he did not just offer to give me a ride home. I look frantically at Nick, who's eyes are narrowed as he looks at the dark-haired brunette. His eyes flicker to mine and take in my frantic look as I subtley shake my head, but then a slow smile works it's way onto his face and I realize instantly that my brother really is a dick.

He probably thinks this will be 'good' for me.

"Okay, sure," Nick says, standing up. Jules is still focused on his game. "We're not wanted Fries, let's go."

"Putain, putain," he mumbles before quickly logging off and standing up. He follows my brother who says to drive safely and that he'll see me in a little bit.

Then I'm left alone with Shane.