Homo Horrors: Education and Trauma

Part 2: The conflict..?

Oliver POV:

   Since we had lunch detention, we were all eating. Stratton decided she wanted to help Grey study, which went about as well as it could. "No. See, you divide this number to get 25, you don't do any fractions." Stratton sighed, sounding like a pissed-off parent. "No, I'm pretty damn sure I'm right. You get 25 by doing my method."

   "Guys.. I'm trying to enjoy my lunch without worrying about school. Having lunch detention is bad enough, I wanna check if Mattea texted me anything." Samantha said, eating a cookie. "Oh, shush. We're trying to do homework." Grey snapped. I couldn't tell if he was joking or not. "If you have to know, the answer is 30. You have to divide the 'x' since they put a key tells the x's value." Samantha gave them a smug look.

   "Oh..! My bad." Stratton erased her paper and Grey erased his. "Okay. Next problem!! 3.. 2.. 1.. Go!" Stratton shouted as they both started scribbling stuff down. The librarian walked over. "Please keep it down, you're here because you're in trouble, not to talk." She shushed us and then walked away back to her desk. "Prick.." Grey muttered.

   Their stupid homework game continued on for several minutes as I sat eating my sandwich. Where was Zoe? I hope she didn't get lost or something like that. After a couple of minutes, Zoe walked through the door and waved to us.

   "Over here, Zoe!!" I yelled as she came over and sat next to me. "So you get 3.14 by- Oh! Hey Zoe!" Stratton waved slightly, then went back to helping Grey. "I swear Stratton.. you're my 13th reason why. If I'm ever a serial killer, I'm getting you first.." Grey sighed. Everyone laughed, but it seemed like he wasn't joking.

   "Here, Zoe. I saved you some lunch like always." I handed her half of my sandwich and some goldfish, and she smiled. "Oh, thanks, Oliver." She began to eat. "What are they doing..?" She pointed to Grey and Stratton. "Long story. They're competing to see who can get the most homework answers right. They argue like a nuclear family." I said.

   I started to feel a weird nervousness in my stomach. Being around Zoe now made me nervous. I felt butterflies every time she spoke to me.. I felt happy when I saw her face.. and more. Maybe.. maybe it's time to tell her how I feel!

   "Hey uh.. Zoe.. can I talk to you at break?" I asked. She turned to me and nodded. "Oh yeah, sure. How long do we have detention anyways?" She asked. "Shouldn't you know this by now..? Well, we have lunch detention then after our 30 minute outside break." I said, a bit confused. "Oh right.. sorry I uhm.. hit my head.. on my locker." She said. "Oh..? Sorry to hear."

   We continued just eating till a bell rang.

   "Finally.. I felt my brain melting if I had to look at another math equation.." Grey sighed, grabbing his stuff. "Oh please. You're such a baby, you know that?" Stratton teased, which pissed Grey off. "Shut it. You're just a submissive prick. You know that?" Grey mocked her. "Guys, seriously? You both get annoying to hang out with when you act like a married couple." Samantha rolled her eyes while catching up to Zoe and me.

   "Oh wait. You guys are going on your own. Damnit, now that means I do have to hang out with them.." She grumbled. "It's not that bad! They're nice.. they just argue like my grandparents." I tried to reassure her. "Yeah, good luck with that." Zoe joked. Samantha walked away as I led Zoe outside. Our school was fairly nice and had a nice courtyard.

   It contained a lot of trees and bushes. The only problem was people could easily hide in them. I've caught some weirdos staring at me through them. Let's just hope that doesn't happen as much anymore..

   As we walked, the more nervous I became. I felt my anxieties build up more and more. I loved her so much, and I feel like I'd crumble if I got rejected. But I knew she wouldn't reject me. She has no choice.

The shrine in my room didn't mean nothing.

   We finally made it to the place I wanted to confess. "So.. why did you wanna meet me here?" Zoe asked me. I felt myself scream internally. Was this really it? I would finally confess my love.. after all these years.. she was bound to say yes!!

"I.. Well.. I wanted to tell you something." I muttered, twirling my hair. My heart was racing. "Oh? Well, what's up?" She asked me. "Well.. I've kept this a secret for years. You really make me happy everyday. I always get butterflies in my stomach when I talk to you.. and I think I really lik-"

I was cut off by feeling a sharp pain on my cheek as something hit me in the face.

"Ow! What the hell?" I felt a burning pain in my cheek as I watched a soccer ball bounce on the concrete and away from me.

"Oh shit.. you okay?" Zoe asked, examining my face. I felt flustered they were getting this close. "Ahaha.. yeah. I'm fine..!" I smiled.

"Who did that anyways?" Zoe looked around. I glanced from where it came from and saw Mattea standing there. She looked.. off. She had a suit on and looked like 20 years older! Or something..

I pointed to Mattea. "She did. Mattea is kinda creepy.." I muttered. Zoe turned her head and her eyes widened. "Wh.. Mattea?" She said. "What? It's just Mattea. She's here everyday. Are you okay?" I looked over and she just nodded. "Perfectly fine. I just.. I need to do something. What were you saying before you got hit?" She asked me. "Nothing. Nothing. It's not important." I said quickly.

"Okay.. uhm. I'll be right back." Zoe awkwardly smiled at me then quickly walked away.

TV Zoe POV:

Shit. That's Mattea from our timeline!! How the hell is she here?! This is supposed to be my time to shine! I think..

I walked over to Mattea. She was leaning against a concrete wall in front of a bush, looking off to the side. "Hey asshole. What the fuck are you doing here?!" I tapped her on the shoulder, as she turned to me. "Zoe? What's the matter with you?" She asked me. I could tell this wasn't really highschool Mattea.

"Oh please. Don't act so innocent." I rolled my eyes at her. "Seriously.. what's wrong? Did I do something?" She fully turned to me. "Cut the shit, The Scoot."

Her eyes widened as I said her true name.

"See? We all know your prison name! Now tell me what the fuck you're here for..."