The (my minds) Backstories of Alex, Luke, and Reggie

Alex, Part 3

January 11, 1994, 1 year, 6 months and 11 days before the 'hotdog'

So today Bobby got mad again. I noticed the tension when Luke answered the question about lakes in Geography, after Bobby had said it but the teacher didn't hear. So the entire 15 minute remainder of class, Bobby glared at Luke. After class, I went to my next period, but Bobby stopped Luke and dragged him into the bathroom. I heard him yelling from across the hall. I could feel tears welling up, but I wiped them with my sleeve so that nobody would see them fall. Suddenly, I felt a small shove and a "boo!" from behind me. My shoulders scrunched up and I jumped at least a foot in the air. Reggies grinning face appeared in front of my eyes. I sighed playfully and poked him in the eye. "You okay, buddy?" he asked. I felt a small smile form. Reggie was so caring. "I'm okay. It's just..." I trailed off, jerking my head in the direction of the bathroom. "Oh man. That sucks, ya know. They used to be such good buddies." I nodded in agreement. I walked off to the side of the hallway and watched the bathroom nervously. Finally, I saw Luke come out, shoved by Bobby. Bobby did something that finally hit my nerve. He whacked Luke hard on the side of his head,Luke stumbled, and I felt my blood boil. How dare he hit him. Reggie put one hand on my shoulder, then withdrew as I walked toward Bobby. I felt myself seething with anger, which rarely happens, but Luke didn't need this in his life. Bobby looked up in surprise at me, a blond sixteen year old with a pink jacket and a fanny pack, coming toward him. I stopped in front of the duo. Bobby's surprise turned to anger. He scowled. "Back off, gay-boy." he growled. He planted a hand on my chest and started to shove.

"Bobby?" I turned around in surprise. A fifteen year old with brownish blonde hair in 11th grade was looking at us. Bobby whirled around. "Oh, hey Ray," Ray, I guess, looked confused, and a little scared. "I was just showing Alex something." Ray looked annoyed, like when Reggie didn't understand sarcasm. "Sure you were, Bobby." I guess Ray knew Bobby, but he knew his nature of being an awful person sometimes. Bobby scowled slightly, but hid it before Ray noticed. The bell rang. One minute to get to class. I backed away from Bobby and Luke, and walked off to Language Arts. When I got there, Reggie was already sitting down and the news was playing on the boxy TV in the corner

"..in sadder news, Caleb Covington, renowned magician, died yesterday evening. Doing an impossible Houdini Stunt, in a straitjacket, covered with chains, with only a bobby pin, he was put into water to try to get out of the trap, and was under it for 17 minutes before people took him out." The TV switched to weather at the end of that. I saw Reggies shoulders slump. He crossed his arms on the desk and put his head on top, looking at the TV with sadness. The teacher walked in at the bell and switched off the TV. He looked around the class with a withering glare. He spoke in a disappointed voice with his lips pulled down in a scowl. "I got your class average back today, children."

Reggie caught Luke's eyes and made an annoyed face. We were teenagers, not children. I would turn 17 in a month. Mr. Romero saw Reggie looking at Luke and caught him by the shoulders. I saw Reggie wince. In an instant, my mind went from 'focused' to 'oh gosh is he okay'. I stood up, easily 6 inches taller than him. He looked up at me, and took his hands off of Reggie, earning Reggie another wince and me another pang of slight anger from me. Mr. Romero pointed to me and Reggie. "Office, now." I frowned. Reggie glared at the teacher. I pulled his arm and went out the door.