Private Finished Not Exactly As It Seems

It wasn't the first time this group of bullies was harassing Charlie. They were few years older, probably on the 12th grade, and Charlie supposed her timidness was why they decided to make her and few other shy kids from her grade a target. Since it was common for people to show their dominance by bullying the weaker and smaller, it was simple biology and psychology most of the time. But even though Charlie could rationalize it it didn't make it any less scary or sad, when the bullies dragged her behind one of the tall hedges on the courtyard. Charlie was shivering, as she felt a big and rather strong hand on both her shoulders, and she was hugging her backpack against her chest, trying to keep her breathing steady.
"P-please c-could y-yo-"
"Shut the fuck up, it's really annoying to hear you speak with that pathetic stutter."
Charlie closed her mouth and her eyes as well, those words were said without these bullies knowing the real her, they shouldn't matter, but still they hurt a sensitive part inside Charlie, and she tried not to cry. Crying would only make these people feel better and Charlie worse.

Charlie was shoved against the hedge, sturdy enough so it didn't give away too much, and she opened her eyes and looked at the bullies with her eyes moist. What were they going to do? Why did the-
"So, you're actually a guy, Audron?"
Charlie's heart nearly stopped, and she stared at the bullies in disbelief and panic. How did they know? Where had they heard it? Charlie had hid it so well, she hadn't told about it to anyone! This was horrible, how could this happen?
Charlie was too shook to properly speak or even shake her head, and before she realized two of the bullies were holding her arms and the third one rolled up her sleeves, revealing a thin shiny metal bracelet on her upper arm. Now Charlie began crying, and she tried to break free, but these people were even stronger than her.
"Told you guys the charms are usually bracelets or something. Now let's see how you actually look like, bro."
The bully cackled and took the charm off Charlie's arm. She began begging, but the moment Charlie spoke her voice wasn't that of a girl anymore. It was deeper, and with a croak Charlie went quiet and brought her hands to her throat. Her body came next, Charlie grew taller and her hair became shorter, and her shoulders widened. Where there had been a small, petite girl just a moment ago was now a lanky, thin boy, about 5'9" tall. Charlie looked down on her body and became paralyzed. She was still in a girl uniform, and the skirt was much shorter now, and her blouse was too small. Charlie hugged herself tightly and fell to her knees, shaking and crying and refusing to look up. This wasn't her, it couldn't be her. She was a woman, a female, females didn't look like this...

"Look up Audron and let us see you, you pathetic loser!"
One of the bullies grabbed Charlie's blond hair and forced her head up, so she showed her face. Wet with tears and red all over, but it was a man's face. Charlie was mortified, when all the bullies began laughing, and one of them grabbed her face and stared at it really closely.
"Wow, how creepy and pathetic can you get, pretending to be a cute girl when you're actually a guy. You've got some hobbies Audron."
Charlie wanted to deny it, she wasn't a guy, she wasn't creepy. But Charlie was still in a panicked state, shocked and having trouble to breathe. So when one of the bullies proceeded to grab Charlie's skirt she couldn't resist.
"He still looks kinda girly, should we check what's under the hood and check?"
Their laughter would probably show up in Charlie's nightmares, and she tensed her whole body when two of the bullies yet again proceeded to hold Charlie in place as the third began lifting her skirt.

Oh no, he remembered her name. He knew her. Charlie's tears began flowing again, but more subtle now, as she felt more mortified than scared. Jazz had been so considerate and had never told anyone about Charlie, and same with the rest of her family. Or at least Charlie thought so, she would never be able to tell Angus what to do or not do. Maybe he had been the one to spread the word around and those bullies had heard about it...

Charlie, for a short moment, did lean on Eein's arm, but she flinched away and looked up at him with eyes more like those of a spooked deer than a bear. He said it was okay, to which Charlie just had to shake her head.
"N-no, i-it's no-not o-okay...not-nothing is o-okay..."
She said, her voice quiet and shivering. He had seen it all. He had seen Charlie's wrong body. Who knew what kinds of things were going through Eein's mind after seeing such a disgusting thing. Charlie held a certain amount of respect towards Eein, he had been nice to her sister, so the fact that this had been revealed to him specifically made Charlie feel that much more miserable.

Eein was kind, of course he was, and Charlie shook her head again, but this time to answer his question. Charlie wasn't hurt anywhere, and she quickly rolled her sleeves back down and straightened her blouse and skirt. Charlie would probably for a long time see nightmares about this, about that mean laughter and hands holding her in place. Charlie wasn't hurt yet, but as she tried gently pressing where the bullies had held her in place she felt dull pain. She would have bruises later.
"I-I'm so-sorry y-you h-had to s-see th-that..."
Charlie said, voice still shivering, and she dried her tears on her sleeves. Eein shouldn't see this pathetic side of her, not when her usual self was already pathetic enough.

Charlie didn't need to be explained that she wasn't truly at fault, she knew it. She thought she knew it. But Charlie always ended up blaming things on herself, it was a defense mechanism, something she did to avoid confrontation. Her logical mind understood none of this should be blamed on her, but...she still did.
Charlie did appreciate Eein trying to comfort her, it was nice of him despite what he had just witnessed. Maybe...maybe he really didn't think less of Charlie because of this...? Charlie wanted to hold onto that hope, but she couldn't dare. Not yet. Too many people had pretended to be fine, only to in truth be disgusted behind Charlie's back.

"U-um...n-not th-that mu-much..."
Charlie said, looking down. A small white lie, but it wouldn't hurt anyone but her. Charlie didn't want to mix Eein into this too deeply, he was already being nice to her and had saved her, he shouldn't have to become Charlie's bodyguard or anything. Not like Charlie could even suggest that, what would Jazz think?

Injuries were nothing new to Charlie, she knew how to treat most of them, but she still nodded a bit when Eein suggested icing the bruised places. It was a good suggestion, it made sense. It was what Charlie had thought of doing when she got home.
"Nu-nurse? I-I'm f-fine, i-it'll be fi-fine..."
Charlie said, trying to give Eein a small reassuring smile and failing miserably. Charlie tried taking a step, but her legs were still weak from the shock, and she took a hold of the hedge again. Charlie slowly slid back on the ground, her knees feeling weak, and she glanced at Eein with an apologetic expression.
"I-I c-can j-just sit he-here u-until my le-legs b-become more ste-steady."

"I-I wi-will...th-thank y-you ve-very m-much."
It was reassuring, when Eein wasn't overly pushy about taking Charlie to the nurse's office. Charlie didn't want to attract too much attention by being escorted there, and she had all the tools necessary back at home, there was no need to bother the nurse and waste the school's supplies. Charlie was surprised though when Eein sat down with her, and she looked at him with slight confusion. She felt a bit flustered when being treated nicely like this by him, Charlie felt self-conscious because this was her sister's ex. She could still remember them as a couple, and Charlie felt strangely even a bit guilty. She kept glancing at Eein, and fidgeted with her skirt, nervous and blushing just a bit.

The suggestion to tell the teacher was one that made sense, but it made a small panic arise in Charlie's chest again. She shook her head a bit, looking at Eein with slightly pleading and still moist eyes.
"Th-there re-really is no ne-need for th-that. I-I do-don't w-want to ca-cause a f-fuss or an-anything..."
Charlie didn't want to draw attention to herself, or cause unnecessary trouble for anyone. Charlie could take some bullying, and she had ways to avoid it. The bullies hadn't done anything too bad yet, and Charlie could recover from whatever they did to her. Well, most of it...