Love & Other Curses, 1985 | bxb | ONC 2024

CHAPTER 19: Never To Forget

I may die, but first you, my tyrant and tormentor, shall curse the sun that gazes on your misery. Beware, for I am fearless and therefore powerful. I will watch with the wiliness of a snake, that I may sting with its venom. Man, you shall repent of the injuries you inflict.

~ Mary Shelley, Frankenstein.

"Debbie, I'm sorry," Thomas said, distancing himself from Adam despite the chalk dust covering the back of his shirt, proving his betrayal. "I wanted to tell—"

"I asked you," she shouted, shaking her head in disbelief. "I asked you if you were gay. God—you're such an asshole."

"No, no, no—wait," Thomas pleaded, but the devastated girl ran away.

Thomas held his head, pacing. "What have I done? What have I done?"

Adam stepped toward him. "Thomas—"

"No," he yelled. "Don't touch me." And then he screamed, falling to his knees, not from a repentant heart but as the damned without hope. Looking up at the pretty boy in tears, he said, "Everyone will know."

Adam crouched beside the doomed boy. "I'm sorry, Thomas. I really am. But you can't stay here. It's not safe." Then he added more forcefully, "Thomas, you have to go."

He sank to the floor. "My life's ruined."

Adam checked the hallway to ensure a clear exit before returning and picking Thomas off the floor, steadying him on his feet as Summer of 69 blasted from the Fall Fling. "Let's go—we're getting out of here."

"What am I supposed to do?" he asked in a daze.

Adam grabbed his hand and pulled him forward. "Follow me. We can figure that out later." But by the time they returned to the door, half the football team had filled the hallway coming from both directions, Demos and Randy leading the charge.

"Shit," Adam said, pushing Thomas back into the classroom and shutting the door.

Thomas walked to the teacher's desk and flatly said, "They're going to kill me."

"No, they're not," Adam snapped, fighting the adrenaline flooding his veins.

"I was going to take AP History," Thomas continued, resigned to his fate. He picked up a coffee mug off the desk and laughed at the saying: HISTORY DEPARTMENT: You'd be more interesting if you were dead. "Oh, that's good." He held the mug up for Adam to see. "Mr. Levine is such an awesome teacher."

Adam grabbed the mug from his hand and smashed it against the wall. "Get behind the damn desk," he demanded.

The shocking crack of ceramic shards ricocheting off the wall snapped Thomas out of his funk, reminding him of their first encounter in this room. "What about you?" he asked.

"Just do it," Adam yelled, waiting for him to obey. "And don't say anything. Wait until everyone's in the room and let me do the talking. If they want a fight, get under that desk and don't come out until it's over."

"No—I won't do that." He ran to Adam and hugged him. "I'm sorry I freaked out, but this isn't your fault. It's you and me."

Adam smiled at the green-eyed boy. "Running up that hill."

"Always."

"And I love you for that, Mud Boy. I do. But you can't fight. You have too much to lose." He kissed Thomas with urgency. "Now, promise me."

"Ok, I promise."

The door opened, and Adam stepped in front of Thomas.

"I always knew you were bad news," Demos said, walking into the room. "But I never expected you to be a fucking fag."