The Religious & The Damaged (UNDER EDITING)

4

Joseph

  I leave the principal's office with a huff, a yellow slip in my hand. I received two weeks of detention and my dad was called.

  I know what awaits me when I get home. I know what you're thinking: Just don't get into fights. If it were only that simple. Fighting is my only escape, a release of my pain and anger that I feel towards my father, my life.

  It's a coping mechanism I'm not proud of. I know my mom would be upset, and though she's gone, I hate to disappoint her.

  People watch me as I pass them by, but I only stare at the floor. I feel their eyes burn into my body and I want to throw up, but it doesn't come close to how awful it feels to be in the presence of my father. I don't think anything could ever come close to that.

  I walk to my first period and walk through the door, and of course all eyes are on me. My gaze focuses on the teacher.

  "Nice of you to finally join us." She remarks. I don't respond. I only reach my hand out to her, the slip in my hand—and she takes it. "Ah. Okay. Take your seat then."

  I keep my eyes glued to the floor as I walk down a row of desks until I'm in the middle row and I take a seat at my desk, my bag falls down my arm, to the floor. I sit back.

  "Alright, as I was saying, please take out your textbooks and turn to page 148 and we'll go over last night's homework assignment."

  I tense, dropping my textbook on my desk as my heart begins to sink, leaving me in a terrified state.

  I totally blanked. How could I forget to do my homework? I can't afford to anger my father any more than I already have.

  I watch as the other students around me take out their homework, while I just sit there.

  "Is something wrong, Mr. Olsson?" The teacher asks.

  I stammer, and a tap on my shoulder makes me look to my left. A boy smiles and gestures to my empty sheet of paper. I recognize him. He's the one I snapped at in the hall.

  "Mr. Olsson?" She speaks again.

  I look over. "No, ma'am." I answer.

  She nods and turns away. I watch her as I give the boy my homework. And my gaze turns to him as he quickly completes my homework. I find my eyes shift towards his face.

  His skin has a light tan to it, his short chestnut hair barely falls against his forehead, and this gentle aura radiates from his body and it brings this sense of calmness to me I don't quite understand.

  My eyes fall down his body. He wears a hoodie, a lock necklace peaks from the collar, and I notice something peaking from his sleeves as he hurriedly writes. I can't quite make out what it is because of how little it shows.

  I stare a moment longer before he breaks me from my trance, and I look at him. "Here." He whispers, his hand extended out to me.

I look down as I take my homework, a mumbled thanks escaping my lips as I turn in my seat.

  "I'm Elias." He says.