"I can't throw a punch, I tried. It hurts a lot." Though it was good advise - he had a weak spot. Maybe next time he was making him drink toilet water, he could kick him there and pretend it was accidental. He would love to be able to kick their asses, he tried way back when in middle school but that made the ass kickings worse, not better. "I'm glad you did it, even if you didn't do it for me."

With a playful smile, he practically skipped along beside his bully crusher, feeling much safer now. It wouldn't last but while it did, it was nice. He just had to work out what he would tell his parents when they realised he cut school and how to survive tomorrow. "I can pay for lunch, I owe you."