After realizing that Nick had followed
us and seen us making out, Cameron left in a hurry. I went inside the house,
nervous as fuck. I couldn’t believe this was happening. Knowing Nick, he was
going to spread the word about this fast. There was no way out of this. I tried
calling Cameron but he wasn’t answering. I didn’t hear from him until after
midnight when I had finally forced myself to go to sleep. It was 1:15am when my
room phone rang. I picked it up quickly to not wake up my parents.
“Hello?”
I said with a groggy voice
“Hey,
babe.” Cameron’s soothing voice answered
“Hey.
Are you okay? I’ve been trying to reach you.” I said
“I
know. I’m sorry. I tried calling Nick, I went to his house, I even called up
some of our other mutual friends to see if they heard from him, and, nothing.”
He said with disappointment
“Do
you think he’ll tell people?” I asked
“I’m
not sure. He’s not one to really spread gossip. He’s more confrontational.” He
said
“Do
you think he’ll try to hurt us?” I asked with growing concern
“I
don’t know. But just to be sure, I want you to be careful at school. I can walk
you to your classes just to be sure that…”
“Walk
me to my classes? No. Cameron. I don’t need you to be my bodyguard.” I said
with frustration
“I’m
just trying to protect you.” He snapped
“I
know you are.” I said calmly, “I just need you to be my boyfriend.”
He
was silent.
“Hello?”
I said
“I’m
here.” He said calmly
“What
is it?” I asked
“I
just thought that this would set you back? I didn’t want us to go backwards.”
He confessed
“No.
We’re still good.” I said relaxed
“Good.”
I could tell he was smiling by the tone in his voice
“Just
be careful if you run into him.” I said
“You
too. I know he’s in your first period. Just ignore him. Walk with Natalie
between classes; she’ll put him in his place.”
“Okay.
Try to get some sleep.” I said
“I
will. Goodnight baby.” He said
“Goodnight.”
I said with a smile
The next day at school was very
tense. During my first period, Nick was extremely quiet. He didn’t look at me.
He didn’t bother Natalie. He didn’t have any smart ass remarks. Other than
first period, I really didn’t see him. I told Cameron during my mother’s Art
class that Nick was acting strange. Cameron assured me that this was just the
calm before the storm. He’s seen Nick’s temper.
For four week’s straight, things
were calm. Cameron hadn’t seen Nick around school. It was almost like he had
vanished, however, I still saw him; every morning for first period. He kept up
this silent statement. I actually didn’t mind it. I told Cameron that maybe he
was in shock and I didn’t think he was going to do anything, or he would have
done it already. During the three classes Cameron and I had, we would play
footsies and secretly touch each other’s hands as a subtle form of foreplay.
Natalie and I met for lunch, which wasn’t particularly good that day. Meat loaf
and mashed potatoes with some sort of disgusting canned gravy.
“One
more month until your birthday!” squealed Natalie as she sat next to me with
her tray of slop
“I
know…I’m excited.” I said, although I think I was excited for the other event
that was supposed to take place on my birthday
“What
are your plans for Prom? It’s the very next day after your birthday you know?”
she asked
“I’m
not sure. It’s not like I can really ask Cameron.” I said in a low voice
“Ask
me what?” Cameron said surprising me as he sat down next to me
“To
prom.” Natalie whispered
“Oh.”
Cameron said looking down at his tray
“Oh
come on. Are you guys seriously going to go with someone else besides each
other?” she asked
“Natalie,
it’s a little bit more complicated than you think.” I said
“Hmm.
Let’s see. Boy meets boy. Boy likes boy. Boy dates boy. Boy goes to prom with
boy. Not that complicated.” She said in a huff as she shoved a spoonful of the
gravy soaked mashed potatoes into her mouth
She
made a face of distaste spitting the food into her napkin.
“I
think…I just…ate shit.” She said sipping her water
Cameron
and I were laughing and then suddenly; WHACK! I’m not sure what it was. But
there was a shooting stinging sensation across my face. I fell backwards off
the chair and onto my back on the floor. I was staring straight up at the
ceiling. I couldn’t hear anything, just a commotion going on of muffled voices.
Suddenly I saw a blurry image of Natalie over me almost in tears. Her voice was
becoming more clear.
“Joey!
Joey! Are you okay! Oh, my God. Your nose is bleeding! Someone get the nurse!”
she screamed
I
turned my head to the right to see the rest of the commotion. Nick and Cameron
were fighting. Physically fighting. Nick was punching Cameron in the face but
it didn’t seem to faze Cameron. Cameron had dodged most of the blows as she
counterpunched Nick in the stomach and jaw. Cameron’s shirt was torn. They
ended up on the ground wrestling. That’s when Nick was able to get Cameron in a
choke hold. That scared me. No. It pissed me off. I got up as Natalie was
balling in tears watching her brother on the ground. I launched myself at Nick
tackling him to the ground, as we landed my knee hit his groin. I began punching
him repeatedly in the face. He pushed me off as I hit a chair with my head,
falling to the ground again. Cameron had gotten up and came to my aid.
“You
fucking asshole!” screamed Natalie
“You’re
dead!” Cameron shouted at Nick standing up to face him again
“Fuck
you fag! Why don’t you share with everyone why you deserve this! Why HE
deserves this!” he said pointing at me
Natalie
came to help me stand up. We stood a couple feet behind Cameron. My shirt was
covered in blood stains from my nose. Cameron had a busted lip.
“Why
don’t you get off my fucking back? Don’t worry about what I do.” Cameron said
The
rest of the cafeteria was staring looking in horror. Where the fuck were the
teachers and security at?
“What
you do? You mean who you do!” Nick shouted
“Nick…don’t
be an asshole.” Cameron pleaded
“Tell
everyone Cameron. Tell them!” he snapped
“It’s
nobody’s business.” He responded
“Oh
no?! I stood up for you! When you were called names or made fun of. I was there
to stick up for you…your reputation!” he said in anger
“And
I will always…
“Go
fuck yourself! No…go fuck your boyfriend!” he said pointing at me
There
were some gasps, some groans. But everyone looked straight at me. You could
hear a pin drop within that split second. My heart was beating so hard it was
echoing in my ear.
“We’re
done.” Cameron said turning towards me to help me stand up
“Go
help your boyfriend. I saw you guys kissing that night after the movies. What,
you going to go suck his dick now to make him feel better?!” Nick screamed
“Enough!”
Cameron stopped and shouted
“You
weren’t like this! He made you like this! It’s because of him!” Nick shouted
“No.
You’re wrong. This has always been me. And yeah. I’m gay! WHO GIVES A FUCK!?
Not me! Most of these people don’t.” Cameron said gesturing with both arms out,
“So why do you really give a fuck?”
he said shaking his head
Just
at that moment, security rushed in and broke up the scene. They told Nick that
he needed to leave. They took him out of the cafeteria. Another security
escorted us to the nurse’s office.
As I sat in the nurse’s office on
the examination table with a bag of ice on my face, Cameron and Natalie sat in
the chairs across from me.
“What
did I get hit with?” I asked
“A
lunch tray.” Cameron said
“That
wasn’t nice.” I said trying to lighten the mood
At
that moment my parents came in who it seems had been escorted out of their
class. They were followed by principle Hawkins and a couple security guards.
“Oh
my God. Hunny, are you okay?” my mother asked checking my battle wounds
“Yeah,
mom.” I said in pain
“Who
did this?” my dad asked in anger
“A
young man named, Nick Johnston. He’s being held at the security guards office.”
Said Principle Hawkins
“Why
would he attack you kids?” my father asked
“That’s
what I was hoping to find out myself.” Principle Hawkins said looking at
Cameron and me
“He’s
just a bully. There’s no real reason.” Cameron said
“I
thought you two were friends, Mr. Harris.” Said the principle
“We
were.” Cameron said in a low voice
“So
something must have triggered this confrontation.” She said
“Hunny.
What happened?” my mother asked
“Wait
minute. Why weren’t there any security guards or staff in the cafeteria? They
took way too long to get there to stop this.” Natalie interjected
“I’d
like to know that as well, Mrs. Hawkins.” My dad said with frustration
“Well…it
seems this was a planned attack. Mr. Johnston’s friends set up another
altercation on the other side of the school during the time of the attack on
your son and Mr. Harris. So the staff were tending to that matter.” Confessed
Principle Hawkins
“To
go through that much trouble to assault you guys like that. There better be a
good reason.” My dad said
“Why
would there be a good reason for this?” I snapped, “Dad…a kid attacked me…he
attacked Cameron. There is never a good enough reason for this.”
“Joey,
that’s not what I meant. It’s just; he must have felt some sort of reason to
attack you.” My dad pleaded for an answer
Cameron
and I locked eyes.
“Perhaps,
it’s as Mr. Harris said, he’s just a bully. Unfortunately for Mr. Johnston,
that was the last strike. He will be expelled from this school.” Principle
Hawkins said showing my parents and the security guards to the door
“I’ll
take it from here Joe and Marie.” She said to my parents, “Miss Harris. May I
please have a word with your brother and Mr. Ramirez in private?”
“Yes,
Principle Hawkins.” Said Natalie getting up from her seat and walking out
The
principle closed the door behind Natalie. She stood between Cameron and I.
“I
spoke with Nick before I came in here. He told me his side of the story.” She
said
Cameron
and I had a look of horror on our faces. We didn’t know what to say.
“To
be honest, boys. His story, regardless of it being true or not, is not grounds
for the assault he took on you two. There is no bullying tolerated in my
school. I’ve always believed in non-discrimination against race, gender, age,
disability or even sexual orientation.” She continued, “I expect you both to
carry on your school activities as well behaved students.”
“Thank
you Principle Hawkins.” We said
“In
any other case, you both would be getting suspension for counteracting in this
fight. But, as I see it...under these circumstances…it was self-defense.” She
added, “Prepare yourself for a tough world boys. There are many Nick Johnston’s
out there. But luckily this world is starting to evolve, which I fear Mr.
Johnston still has a lot of doing.”
Principle
Hawkins’s words of wisdom were powerful. She really opened up my mind of how
people can adapt and learn to be okay with someone different. She left the room
as Cameron and I sat in place staring at each other.
“What
now?” I asked
“I’m
not sure. The whole school knows.” Cameron said
“My
parents aren’t going to be okay with this.” I admitted
“I
don’t think mine will either.” He said
“So,
should we just keep this private still?” I asked
“No.”
he said
“What?”
“No.
I’m not going to pretend my feelings for you aren’t real.” He said
“What
happened in the cafeteria…that was practically the whole school. All those eyes
were on me. I’m not sure if I can handle all of that.” I said
“It
doesn’t matter. They’re going to look at you differently now anyways.” He said
in anger
“Maybe…but
it doesn’t mean we have to admit that Nick was right.” I said
“I can’t
continue to discuss hiding.” He said standing up in frustration, “I mean, what
about Prom? I was going to ask you.”
“You
were?” I asked
“Yes!”
he snapped
“Cameron.
The school isn’t ready for this! I was considering going with…” I paused
“With
who?!” he yelled
“Jasmine.”
I said
“Are
you fucking kidding me?” he shouted
“Well,
with both of us there we could still be together…”
“Ha!
Enjoy prom! I’m not going.” He said
He
stormed out of the nurse’s office, leaving me there. I jumped off the table and
chased him out of the nurse’s office down the empty hall of the main office. He
walked out as I finally grabbed him.
“What
are you saying?” I asked
“I’m
falling for you!” he confessed
I
let go of his shoulder. I was shocked.
“What?”
“Yeah.
I’m falling for you, Joey. And this confused teen stuff is getting old.” He
said
“Teen
stuff?” I said hurt by the words
“Yeah.
Just let me know when you are ready for something serious.” He said
Cameron
walked through the quad with students swarming around. Some were staring at
him, probably because his shirt was torn and his face was bloody…maybe because
they just found out that he was gay. Maybe because they saw his anger and
realized he just had a fight with his boyfriend…ex-boyfriend.
© 2015 Copyright J.M. Casas Jr. Royalty Novels / True Love Saga.
All Rights Reserved.
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