*Henry’s POV*
It’s Friday, and Ollie is back at school after having missed yesterday completely or skipping every class we share. I never noticed how often people make emo jokes until now. Every single one feels like a finger pointed at me. Why does a gay kid cut himself? Homophobic people. What am I? Homophobic.
Ollie could have killed himself already. His skin, which I imagine used to be baby soft like his hands, is as ruggad as sandpaper, scars crossing each the rin every which direction. I should take him to a hospital. They could get infected if he doesn’t stop. And the pentagram…
I bite down on my tongue. Don’t throw up. I tell myself. But I feel sick. Ollie is basically a child, and it’s partially my fault that he’s filled with so much self-hatred. People like me are the disgusting ones, not people like him. I’m in third. Twenty minutes until photography.
“Henry?” Riley asks. I glance at him.
“What?” I still feel bad for snapping at him the other day. I’m stressed though.
“You haven’t heard a word I said” he glowers, like I’ve missed something important.
I doubt it. Riley and my definitions of important differ. School, football, family, God, and friends matter to me. Schools first on that list because its something I struggle with, but I need a good job, because I’m going to need to support my future family. Riley’s list goes a little differently.
Reputation, revenge, making Charlie’s life hell, and sports matter to Riley. I kno this wasn’t how he always was, or how he even really was. I wouldn’t be friends with the guy Riley pretends to be. He pretends he’s some sort of sadistic bastard. Really, he’s an insecure little kid. Like Ollie…
“Henry! Jesus, stop zoning out” he hisses. I ignore his tone.
“Sorry. What were you saying?”
“I was saying that I have big news. I know how to get Tyson back for making me look like an idiot!” he says gleefully. Gleefully…. Glee is a show with a gay kid on it right? Maybe I should watch it. Then I’d know what to say to Ollie. Or I could-
“Dear god Henry, do you have ADHD?” he complains.
“No” I defend “I heard you that time. But I thought you’d let it go. You seem happy lately”
“Let it go?” he echos, like I’m insane “I’d be a laughingstalk!”
I snort “Hardly Riley” he rolls his eye’s in reply “So what’s your revenge scheme?”
He pretends to zip his lips. “Nah uh. You‘ll find out later”
Now I’m curious. Dammit. “Fine. Hurry up then” I glance at the clock. Five minutes.
“Definetly” he agrees, smiling that horror movie smile of his.
“Fag!” someone coughs loudly. I glance automatically, looking for Ollie. Disappointed to see no one.
When I turn back, Riley looks completely pissed. He’s literally heaving in his anger.
“What’s wrong?” I’m completely confused. Riley wasn’t gay….
“Katy” he says through clenched teeth. The bell rings “We’ll talk later”
He gathers his things and is gone before I can protest. No one had ever dared to do something so bold directed at Riley. He knew a lot of tough people, me being one of them. So even though he wasn’t the buffest, he was something a lot more threatening. Popular.
