In which Hopper Abel lived a lie. That was until he met someone he could truely be himself with, Arvin Russell, his best friend.
But just when he thinks he could have some peace in his sad and lonely life, chaos erupts and now the person who was al...
Book: Sinner Like Me, The Devil All The Time Chapter 3: The Fight On School Grounds Word Count: 1228
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Hopper sat in the passenger side seat of Arvin's truck, a smoke hanging from his lips as he tapped his fingers against his thigh along with the beat of the music coming from the radio. "You shouldn' smoke so much." Arvin said.
Hopper let out a humorous snort and looked at Arvin with a slightly annoyed look. "This coming from you? You make me laugh." If there was one other person who smoked just as much as Hopper it was Arvin himself.
Arvin took one hand off the wheel and snatched the smoke from his best friends lips before bringing it to his own and taking a long drag. "I suppose you're right about that one."
"I'm always right." Hopper took the smoke back off him and they were left in a peaceful silence. There was no such thing as awkward silence between him and Arvin. He always felt at peace when it came to Arvin. It was a feeling that worried him and he pushed it down so far that it became a distant feeling. He glanced at Arvin out of the corner of his eye, he couldn't help himself.
The fingers that were on his thigh suddenly pinched himself bringing him back to reality. A deep frown set on his face and he angrily glared out the front of the window. He wished he wasn't such a freak. Arvin didn't deserve to have such a messed up best friend.
They were on their way to pick up Lenora from school and when they arrived the glare that was in Hopper's eyes turned more dark. Lenora was outside the school where she usually was when they picked her up but this time three boys surrounded her. Gene Dinwoodie, Tommy Matson, and Orville Buckman.
They had put a paper bag over her face and were taunting her. All she could do was stay on her knees and put her hands together, praying to the lord.
Arvin was out of the car in a split second, sprinting his way over to them and punching an off guard Tommy in the face.
"Shit!" Hopper exclaimed and jumped out as well.
"Come on, get him!" Gene and Orville grabbed Arvin off of Tommy and threw him to the ground roughly. Lenora was yelling at them, begging them to stop.
For a moment the sight of Arvin on the ground with the three boys surrounding him sent Hopper back in time to when he was the one having the shit beat out of him when he was younger. It made his blood run cold and he felt himself get short of breath. This was no time to be caught in his own head though. Arvin needed him.
"Sister fucker!" Multiple kicks were sent to Arvin's stomach and face before Hopper arrived and tackled on of the boys off of him. Gene.
"Get the fuck off of him!" He shouted and threw a hard punch to Gene's nose, blood spurting out and getting on his fist. He turned around just in time for the other two boys to attack him and he got a good punch in on each of them before they threw him to the ground next to Arvin and kicked him in the face.
"Come to protect your boyfriend, huh?! What are you a - "
Before Tommy could finish his sentence Hopper's eyes blazed with fire and he lifted his leg, kicking Tommy right in the groin. "Don't fucking call me that, you fucking sack of shit." Arvin had never heard him have so much rage in his voice before.
Tommy hunched over, holding his groin as a pained groan left his lips.
Hopper let his head rest against the ground as harsh breaths left his lips. The three boys after sending another kick to Hopper's face. "Are you okay?" Lenora asked quickly, helping Arvin sit up, her head whipping between the two boys who always protected her, even if it meant they got hurt in the process.
"I'm alright." Arvin said slowly, his head slightly spinning. He looked over at Hopper was was slowly bringing himself up to sit. There was blood dripping from his nose. "Crap." Arvin said and leaned over to wipe some of the blood away.
His fingers only touched Hopper's skin for a second before Hopper was snapping away from him and glaring at him. "Don't touch me!" He didn't mean to snap at him like that but the thought of them boys even suggesting that he was gay was enough to send a shot of fear through him. He hadn't forgotten the threat his father once said to him.
If this happens again I'll kill you myself.
Arvin brought his hand back to himself and looked at Hopper with furrowed eyebrows. "I was just trying to wipe away the blood."
"I don't need your help." Hopper grumbled, covering his hand with the sleeve of his jacket and wiping the blood away himself. It stained the cloth but he could care less. "I don't need you acting all gentle with me. It's weird."
His words seemed to just annoy Arvin and he shook his head. "Is this about what those dicks said? The boyfriend comment. Come on, Hopper. Who cares what they think? They are just a bunch of no good assholes."
"You might not care if people think you're a faggot but I do!" Hopper snapped through gritted teeth. His words made Arvin freeze and look at him with slight hurt. Hopper pursed his lips and looked away from him. He hated himself for even saying the words but he had to make sure no one figured out his secret. There was no doubt his father would actually kill him if he found out the truth.
He couldn't risk it.
"I never realised you cared about other peoples opinion so much." Arvin snapped back at him. "Never took you for a coward."
"The fuck did you just call me?" Hopper growled out, now standing up and facing Arvin who was also standing up.
"D - Don't fight. Please. You two are best friends. You never fight." Lenora begged. After what they just went through, the last thing she wanted was for the boys to turn on each other.
"I'm sorry." Arvin said. "I shouldn' have called you a coward."
Hopper nodded his head and took in a sharp breath. "Yeah, yeah, whatever." But Arvin was right. Hopper was a coward. Hopper just didn't want to admit it. He went silent as he stared at the ground.
Arvin could see he was battling something inside of him but wouldn't say it. All he wanted was to reach over and comfort him but Hopper had a thing about being touched like that and Arvin had to respect that. Hopper was Arvin's best friend but sometimes, Arvin felt like he didn't even know him at all.
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Authors Note: Poor Hopper, he is dealing with so much inside of him. Poor Arvin also because all he wants to do is help but he doesn't know how. I can't wait to write the rest of this story and how Hopper will finally accept himself and the love from one specific person. Ah! I'm so excited.
