After waking up the next day Eric was eager to go to school in order to play football with the kids. He prepaired himself and went to school.
After the 1st period class he went to recess in order to find the kids on the schoolyard concrete pitch, who were almost starting the game.
Eric came up to them and joined a random team, they told him to stay low and focus on defending, but he wanted to shine too.
The game started, and after a few minutes Eric saw an opportunity to advance to the ball and shoot it, in an attempt to score, to which he failed.
In order to redeem himself, he apologized to every teammate he could find near him. Most didnt say anything but one comforted him, saying it was no problem.
Eric's eyes lit up at the small validation he'd never recieved, and quickly became attacthed to that specific kid in the game, always attempting to pass him the ball and starting to communicate with him.
After the game was over and all the kids had to go to 2nd period Eric asked the kid, if he wanted to lunch with him after school. To which the kid responded:
"Yeah, sure! My name's Nicholas by the way, you can call me Nick."
Eric never felt so completed before, finally making a remarkable friend at the age of 11.
As Eric went to class he couldn't focus on the class because of how eager he was to lunch with his new friend Nick.
The teacher called Eric up to the board to answer a question, to which he didn't react to because of him daydreaming about luching with his new friend. The teacher then got mad at Eric and after class threatened him to call his parents. To which Eric, somewhat calm-mindedly responded:
"Sorry teacher, i just happen to make my first friend and i couldn't focus on your class because of how enthusiastic i am"
The teacher smiled and let him go
Eric went running to the canteen to find the new friend he had made, who was already looking for him inside the canteen. Nick signed for Eric to sit next to him, Eric saw Nick, went to grab his food first and then sat down at the table with him.
The conversation started with Eric asking Nick if he has been playing football for a long time, to which Nick said:
"No... i've started to get interested in it a couple week ago"
Eric praised him for how good he was and said he wished he was as good as him.
After they started to eat their food a group of tall teenagers started walking on Eric and Nick's direction.
Nick signed Eric and asked if he knew who they were, Eric turned around and stumbled upon the same group of adolescents who had bullied him, Eric didn't even answer Nick, he just shut up and stared down at the table, trying to go unnoticed.
But one of the adolescents grabbed his head and forced it against the food, Then asking:
You didn't tell anyone right? you better have not or else..."
And the group walked away
Nick quickly asked Eric what the hell just happened, Eric brushed it off and said they were just some bullies he met a couple days ago. Nick asked him if he ever told a teacher about this, Eric said he never did because he was scared the adolescents might do something else to him.
Nick, angrily said:
"If you won't tell a teacher, I will!"
Eric, scared at the thought of Nick telling the teacher quickly told him not to, and that it was all right. Nick said that he'll tell the teacher if Eric didn't do anything about it.
Eric scrambled through his mind, thinking about what was there to do besided telling a teacher. Eric decided to take justice into his own hands and order nick to help him by saying:
"If you're so eager to tell a teacher you might aswell be eager to help me with this plan i've got"
Nick asked what was it that he needed help with, Eric said he knew where one of the adolescents lived, and that they could mess with his house by throwing trash on it from a smelly dumpster next to his house.
Nick hesitated, saying Eric was taking it too far and that telling a teacher would just be a safer option. Eric said that if nick wouldn't act with him, he'd just act alone, saying that Nick was right. Justice had to be served, but he would be the one deciding their fate.
Nick decided to play along and after school they both brought some plastic gloves and bags to pick up small parts of the trash and throw it inside the Adolescent's house as quick as possible before he got there.
After emptying about half of the dumpster they decided to make a run for it, as the adolescent was already visible from far away making his way into the house.
Both Eric and Nick knew that the adolescent spotted them and that he would soon tell the others, so Eric decided to hang around with Nick always next to a teacher until it was all good.
After that, Eric went home, happy about having sweet revenge taken, and went to sleep. the next day he never leaved a teacher's back, in order to stay safe with Nick. Football was put apart for now, but for a better cause, Eric's happiness.
As the group laid eyes on Eric and Nick, Eric started making gestures to mock them, as they were in a "safe zone". Nick told Eric to quit it, asking him what's the reason, to which Eric did not respond and instead, lowered his head and stayed quiet, somewhat sad and disappointed at the lack of approval from his friend.
After repeating the process for a few more days Eric's 12th birthday was coming up. He told Nick about it and invited him to his house in order to celebrate.
Nick agreed and after a couple of days, the day had come. Eric's birthday party, to which the party members consided of: A small number of Eric's family members, Some of his mom's friends, Nick's parents and Nick.
Eric spent the whole birthday party with Nick, playing games, while his mom's friends spent time chatting alongside his family.
After the party Eric went to sleep, wondering about the thought of finding a new real friend after being bamboozled by the group of adolescents. Eric was glad he met Nick.
Although Nick was uneasy about Eric's methods...