Who Ever Knew?

-Andy's POV-

Before I knew it, summer had flown by, and I was now preparing myself for the first day of school. CC and Carly were now together, and I waved goodbye to Carly as CC drove by in his car to pick her up. Turns out, he lived close enough to go to our high school. Since I was held back a grade in kindergarten, Ashley and I were both seniors, despite the fact that I was 18 and one year older than him. It was my turn to pick him up today. There was something nagging at the back of my mind as I drove to Ashley's house. A warning, a memory, but I just couldn't pull it out into the light to remember it.
"Hey, baby," I greeted him when he climbed into the front seat.
"Hello my darling," he responded, kissing me quickly and softly.
"You ready for school?" I asked, and he shuddered.
"Ready as I'll ever be." I could tell he was worried, but there was nothing to be concerned about..
"Ashy, it's all going to be ok, I promise. I can tell something's wrong, but you shouldn't be afraid. I'm going to be right next to you the entire time, ok?" He swallowed nervously and nodded.
"Ok."
"Good. Now give me another kiss, this time for real. The last one didn't count." He grinned and did as he was told. He was laughing as we pulled out of the driveway, talking and joking. His smile faded as we exited the neighborhood. Now, parking in the school lot, his hands were clenched, shaking, and sweating.
"Ashley, honey, calm down, it's just school. Remember what I told you earlier. It's all going to be fine. I promise," I comforted him. I was beginning to grow worried at his fear. He shouldn't feel like this, it must have been horrible at his old school.
"A-Andy, I don't know if I can do this. I'm sorry, but you don't know how bad it was at my old school. Th-they would b-beat me u-up and steal th-things-" I cut him off the best way I knew how. With a deep, passionate, kiss. Despite his surprise, he kissed back fiercly, and we made out in the car for a few minutes.
"I love you, my Ashy. I will always love you and nothing can ever change that. I won't ever let anyone hurt you. Even if they kill me, my ghost will watch over you. Cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye," I swore.
"Thank you. I love you, Andy," he responded, hugging me when we got out. People ignored us as we walked up to the school building. Huh. Weird, I usually recieved a few stares and a couple insults. Whatever, I guess. This was an improvement, though I never cared in the first place.

-Ashley's POV-

I was really scared to go back to school after all that had happened here. Well, not at this particular building, but school in general. Andy swore that he wouldn't let anything happen to me, and god I love that boy so much. But still, I don't think he understands how bad it was before he came along.There was practically an after school club called "beat up the gay emo fag" dedicated to doing exactly that, so many people would gang up on me. CC would try to defend me, but only become caught in the fight. Sometimes, they would just hold him still and make him watch as they beat me up. There were so many, and they were so much stronger. Even Andy couldn't do anything in a situation like that. Anyway, so far, so good. No one really seemed to care about us, thank god. I had the first couple classes with Andy, which was fantastic. But as soon as I left his side for third period, someone tripped me in the halls. I caught myself and continued on my way, ignoring it in hopes that it was just an accident. I knew it wasn't when it happened three more times on my way to the class. Sitting at my desk and paying attention to what the teacher was writing on the board, I felt a wad of crinkled up paper hit the back of my head. I couldn't help but take the bait by picking it up and unfolding it. Written in sloppy handwriting were the words Where's your boyfriend now, fag? All my blood turned cold and drained from my cheeks when I saw this. How would they even know that Andy was my boyfriend? Sure, we made out in the car, but it's not like people go around staring through other people's car windows. Yeah, we hugged, but we could have been normal friends. Then I remembered something. At the start of summer, Andy and I went on a date. We saw a stupid movie, met up with CC and Carly, and then went out for an early dinner. At the burrito place, these kids were laughing at us and took a picture of us kissing. And posted it on instagram. And sent it around to the whole school. I sank down in my chair. So it begins.

-Andy's POV-

I was never bullied like Ashley was, but this was suspiciously calm. I hadn't recieved one weak glare, empty threat, or careless insult yet. Absolutely nothing. Normally, I would be thankful, but I was worried about my Ashy. Then, a paper airplane hit my head. Ah, there was that familiar feeling. I decided to unfold and read it, just for fun. Instead of the usual stuff, however, the words on the page gave me chills.
Look, you don't know me and I don't really know you, but I do know something you don't. There was a picture of you kissing your boyfriend-Ashley, I think it is-that was sent around Instagram. Practically the entire school knows about you two, and while some don't care, others have set up some pretty mean pranks. I don't have much space left, but meet me under the pine tree around the back of the school. NOT THE FRONT! The front is where they'll be waiting for you.
-Scout
P.S. Bring your boyfriend
That was what was bothering me this morning! The instagram photo! Ugh, I knew there was something, I just forgot about it. Oh, my poor Ashley baby. I wondered how he was doing. Hopefully not too tormented. I think I knew who this "Scout" person was. She was a quiet person, somewhat emo, but nice, though I didn't really know her well enough to confirm anything else. I turned around and mouthed a "thank you" to her, and she nodded. At lunch, Ashley and I sat by ourselves.
"Baby, I have something to tell you," he said to me when I sat down across from him.
"So do I. You can go first though." He shook his head.
"I don't know how to phrase it, you first." So I showed him the letter, and he told me what happened as soon as he was left alone. Apparently after third period, he was slammed into the lockers. After having insults fired at him from every direction. I felt guilty all of a sudden. Guilty that I hadn't been able to protect him. I was his boyfriend and promised to defend him, but where was I today?
"Ashy, I'm sorry," I whispered.
"What for, darling?"
"Not being there. Today, I promised you that I wouldn't let anybody hurt you, and look what happened. I already broke it. I'm a terrible boyfriend, I'm sorry, Ashy." Tears pooled in my eyes, but I fought them back. I refused to cry.
"Oh, Andy, it's not your fault. You didn't know, how could you help? Besides, we were at different ends of the building. It's not your fault." There he went again, melting my heart, this time with his forgiveness. His gentle, kind, innocent, soul never ceased to amaze me. I was so lucky to have someone like him to call mine. I leaned in to kiss him, and we did. When we pulled apart, people were staring at us.
"Got to be f***ing kidding me," I muttered, holding up both hands to give the finger to anyone still staring. Why couldn't today just end?

-Ashley's POV-

After school, Andy snuck me out the back way to meet the girl named Scout underneath the pine tree.
"Hello," she said when we reached her. "I know you're Andy, and you must be Ashley," she said to us. "My name's Scout." We shook her hand.
"Thanks for the warning, by the way," Andy told her.
"No problem. But that's not all there is. I can see all their comments and know all of their plans. Try to take a different way out of the school whenever you can so that they won't catch you. Stay together as much as possible. One of the plans they had for tomorrow was to have a girl kiss you, Andy, and then see how Ashley reacted. Just lots of stuff here and there. I'll update you when I can," she told us.
"That is sick, those pranks," I spat angrily. Having a girl kiss Andy when A, he didn't want to be kissed, and B, just to see how I reacted. "Thanks for the warnings."
"Again, no problem," she said before leaving. Thank god for people who aren't jerks.

Notes

Hello everyone! I know the story is kind of straying off the original plot with Ashley as the pizza delivery guy, but things will all be resolved in the end (as we fade into the night), I promise! I added Scout in here just for fun, she was Andy's old girlfriend before Juliet.