Necessary Evil Chapter 3

CW: Very strong language, verbal abuse/threats, brief transphobia

February 22nd, 20XX

y r ppl so scary? i feel like i cant talk to anyone, idk y but talking to ppl always makes me feel like i cant breathe, and i feel like im gonna cry. y cant everyone just be nice?

“Chaser! He’s- making me- wear- a dress!” Stalker sobbed.

“It’s okay! Stalker, don’t worry, I brought extra clothes with me.” Chaser said, holding Stalker’s hand as the trio rushed up to the second floor bathrooms. Stalker’s cheeks were tear-stained as they went into the boys’ bathroom with Chaser, changing into the clothes Chaser had brought.

“I can’t fuckin’ believe he made you wear that. Why does he care so much what yer’ wearin’?” Rager complained as she sat patiently outside the boys’ bathroom.

What a way to start the morning.

Stalker and Chaser soon left the bathroom, Stalker now wearing a large hoodie and baggy pants, feeling much more comfortable now.

“Did anyone see?” He asked, wiping his puffy eyes.

“I don’t think so. We’re here early so there’s barely anyone here.” Chaser reassured him.

“How come ya’ had spare clothes today, Chase?” Rager asked,

“Oh, I always bring spare clothes. Between Stalker’s dad, and my sports practises, never know when I might need them.” Chaser replied with a short laugh and an awkward smile.

“Ah, makes sense.”

“Thanks again.” Stalker said, his voice timid and soft. Between Rager’s outbursts and Chaser’s social butterfly personality, Stalker always was the quietest of the trio.

The three returned to the ground floor of the school, going to their usual spot close to the lockers. Unfortunately for them, two of the Narrow Minded stood close by. A familiar blonde, Mr Hall, Thomas Hall, and his girlfriend. Why she was popular at all was truly a good question. Her red hair was tied up today, Stalker noticed, usually she had it down. Either way, it didn’t look the best. Her red dye was patchy and uneven, with thick, black roots showing at the top of her head.

“Ew, Claire and Thomas are suckin’ faces again.” Rager commented with a disgusted scowl.

“When aren’t they?” Chaser replied, shooting a small glare in their direction. Unfortunately, the trio were noticed. The popular clique’s own aggressive redhead approached.

“Do you have a fucking staring problem?” she asked, raising her voice and looking around to see if she was getting the attention of the other students in the hallway before continuing, “Why the fuck do you keep watching us? Are you fucking weirdos or some shit?”

“Do you think cursing makes you cool?” Stalker asked, though it was intended to be a rhetorical thought, rather than a spoken query. They noticed their mistake when Claire turned to them, and Stalker felt his heart stop.

“Who the fuck do you think you are?” she shrieked, backing the cowering Stalker up against the lockers. “Why don’t you go fucking kill yourself, tr-”

“Claire!”

Everyone turned, following the voice that belonged to a short blonde, eyes full of concern and confusion. “Claire, what’s happening? Ghost? Is everything okay?” Cassy asked, now standing beside the other two. Rager and Chaser both took a step back, Rager, confused as to why Cassy spoke so casually to Stalker, while Chaser’s eye twitched over that fact.

“This little freak made some smart-ass comment, asking me if I think I’m cool ‘cause of my language.” Claire spat, a smug expression twisting her face,

‘Cassy’s gonna fucking end this weirdo.’ she thought to herself, but oh how wrong she could be.

A small snigger escaped Cassy’s lips, before it turned into a small laugh.

“I mean.. you can’t lie, your language isn’t very appropriate, Claire. Remember the other day when you got detention for calling Mr Waithe a bald bastard?” she asked, covering her hand to hide her giggles. Claire scoffed.

“Whatever..”

“Don’t listen to her, Ghost. She just knew you were right.” Cassy said, teasingly nudging her friend, who scoffed again, returning to her boyfriend.

Stalker looked up at Cassy, his hands shaking and his eyes wide, looking like a deer in headlights.

“Um.. thank you.” Stalker said, their voice coming out weak, and forced.

“I actually wanted to talk to you about something! The gang and I are going up to Narrow Peak on Friday night, we’re gonna take some speakers and snacks..” Cassy leaned in and whispered with a sneaky smirk and a giggle, “And some drinks. I was wondering if you wanted to come with?”

Stalker was stunned. And so were Rager and Chaser, though their stunned silence was a rather infuriated silence, while Stalker’s was a confused, possibly excited silence.

Stalker looked over at Rager and Chaser. What should he say? He was internally panicking amidst the excitement. Chaser shook his head, his expression full of worry. Rager then whispered something to Chaser that had him chewing his lip with concern and contemplation, before sighing, nodding to Rager. After that, the two of them gave Stalker an uncertain thumbs up. Stalker nodded eagerly.

“Okay! Yeah! Sounds good!” Ghost exclaimed, a little too loud due to his excitement.

A boy approached the two,

“Cassy- so did you talk to-”

“KEV! Okay, so Ghost! This is Kevin, he was sitting at our table yesterday, remember?” Cassy introduced the glasses-clad guy who had just walked over. Kevin’s eyes widened at the sudden chaos of being pulled to Cassy’s hip and introduced so loudly.

“Cassy. My hand.” he said. The blonde looked down, to see her still squeezing her friend’s hand.

“Oh! Sorry!” she said with an embarrassed laugh.

Kevin got his phone from his pocket, showing something to Cassy, who gasped and covered her mouth to stifle her laughter.

“Oh, Kev, you’re awful!” she said, though he couldn’t be that awful considering the way she was giggling.

Stalker’s curiosity must’ve been quite obvious, as Cassy pushed Kevin’s phone against his chest.

“No, we can’t be responsible for ruining your innocence.” Cassy joked.

“I’m.. I’m not innocent!” Stalker insisted, only to receive looks of disbelief from Kevin and Cassy,

“Trust me, you’re innocent.” Cassy said, waving goodbye to Kevin who was heading to his class, “Sure are!” he agreed as he walked away, “Totally oblivious.”

Cassy then gave Stalker a pat on the head, then left with a wave goodbye.

“What the fuck was that about?” came the voice of Rager.

Rager and Chaser returned to their spots beside Stalker.

“I… have no idea.” Stalker said, taking deep breaths. Chaser put a hand on his friend’s shoulder.

“Hey. You got panicky again, didn’t you? Come on, deep breaths.” He instructed, helping Stalker calm his breathing. Stalker took a few moments to calm down, a hand on his chest to steady his breaths. Chaser helped guide Stalker’s breaths until he had managed to relax. Stalker thanked Chaser with a soft red shade of embarrassment decorating his face.

The trio then headed to their class, this time quite pleased to all be in the same class for this subject, art.

“How are you guys findin’ that little diary app I showed ya’?” Rager asked.

“It’s cute, I like the little stickers.” Stalker replied, and Chaser nodded in agreement,

“Yeah, it’s kind of like a mood tracker.” He said. “I saw a little publish thing on it though, what’s that mean?” Chaser added.

“It’s somethin’ that lets you share entries with other people who have the app. I share mine with my dad, but I think you can make other groups to share with as well.” Rager said.

“How is he, by the way?” Chaser asked,

“He's… okay, I think. Don’t get to see him much anymore though. He’s pretty much workin’ all the time.” Rager replied, a slight sadness in her voice. “He’s workin’ too hard, ‘n he won’t let me help him anymore.” She complained. Stalker placed a gentle hand on Rager’s back.

“He just wants you to have fun and not worry or overwork yourself. We know you wanna help him, but I think the best way to do that would just be to support him and make things easier for when he is at home, like helping clean up or make dinner.” Stalker explained in an attempt to comfort his friend, without encouraging her habits of overworking herself.

“Yeah, guess so.” Rager agreed.

The remainder of their art class was spent working on little personal projects. Chaser was sewing patterns into some clothes, Rager was moulding little things out of clay, and Stalker was drawing funny little characters.

The day passed, and the trio returned home. As they had the days prior, they reunited through their screens for a few games of Dead By Daylight.

“Who’s your favourite hunter to play as?” Chaser asked, making light conversation. The three saw the game as relatively easy, working as a team to outsmart any hunter who challenged them. They couldn’t say the same for the randomised fourth teammate who played, but as long as those three survived, did it matter?

“I like the Trickster, he’s kind of hot.” Chaser started, chuckling to himself.

“I main the Legion, the other hunters move too slow.” Rager said.

“I like Ghost Face.” Stalker muttered almost silently.

“We can’t hear you, Stalks.” Chaser said, “Oh, wait, your dad home?” he asked, receiving a small ‘mhm’ in response from Stalker. “Oh, no worries, then. Ghost Face?” Chaser guessed, getting another small hum of confirmation. “Suits you.” Chaser joked.

The group’s method for victory was simple. Chaser was the brains of the operation. Stalker was good as a distraction for the hunter, while Rager would go and sabotage all of the hooks. Chaser advised the two on where to go and which actions to perform, which always resulted in the group’s victory. They were unstoppable.

“On that fucking phone again? It’s time to fucking wise up and do something other than sit in bed like a fucking slob.” Came a voice through Rager and Chaser’s headsets. “For starters, you can clean this room, it’s like a disgusting pit in here.” the voice said, before there was a slam, and Stalker’s weak voice now came through the headset.

“Sorry, I have to go now. I’ll see you in school tomorrow.”

The other two gave small goodbye’s and see you’s before a small tone signalled that Stalker had left the group call.

“Fuckin’ hate his dad.” Ceres muttered.

“Me too.” Theo agreed.