Wish You'd Met Me First (boyxboy)

Chapter 39: Humiliated

A/N: Homophobic slur ahead, if you are sensitive, you are sensitive...

The halls are still buzzing with gossip, rumors flying around me like a crazy storm I can't dodge. I keep my head down, walking to my locker, trying to ignore all the whispers trailing me. But when I round the corner, there's a crowd gathered by my locker. They're snapping pics, voices low but hyped. My stomach knots.

As soon as they spot me, some of them hush and step aside. The way they're looking at me—part curious, part sorry—makes my heart race. Something's off. Really off.

I push through the crowd, breath catching. Then I see it. Someone's scrawled a nasty slur on my locker in thick black marker.

'SIDE FAG'

Everything around me starts to blur. My face heats up, and I feel like I just got hit. The word stings, each letter burning me up inside. Everyone's eyes are locked on me, waiting for me to freak out, but I'm stuck, frozen by the insult.

From the side, Lexi laughs—sharp and mean, just like always. She's hanging with Sarah, Jenna, and Megan, who looks uncomfortable, not joining in the smirks. Not far away, Jake and his crew are watching too, Jake smirking in a way that makes my skin crawl. They're all in on this, even if Jake wasn't the one with the marker.

My fists clench, and I want to punch whoever did this, but I can't move or talk. The embarrassment is crushing.

Before I can even get a grip, Brett bursts through the crowd. His face switches from confused to pissed the second he sees my locker. His eyes darken, body tensed like he's about to explode.

"What the hell is this?" Brett demands, his voice low and threatening, cutting through the hallway. Everyone goes quiet, the tension thick.

Brett scans the crowd, anger radiating off him.

"Who did this?" he yells, his voice rising.

"Who the hell thinks this is okay?"

The hallway feels like it's holding its breath. No one dares to move as Brett looks around, zeroing in on Jake, who's still smirking.

"Was it you?" Brett steps toward Jake, anger barely contained.

"Or you?" He turns his glare to Lexi and her friends, who are still chuckling, enjoying the drama.

"Don't look at us," Lexi snaps, fake innocent.

"We didn't do anything."

But Brett's not buying it. He's about to lose it, fists clenched, shaking with rage.

"Whoever did this, you're pathetic," he spits, loud enough for everyone to hear.

"You think this is funny? You think humiliating someone like this makes you better than them?"

The crowd shifts uncomfortably, but no one steps up. The silence is suffocating, the tension unbearable. Brett's eyes are still fired up, struggling to keep his cool.

Just then, Mr. Reynolds, the math teacher, shows up, pushing through the crowd.

"What's going on here?" he demands, eyes sweeping the scene. When he sees the slur on my locker, his face turns stern.

"Everyone, go to your classes, now!" Mr. Reynolds orders, no room for arguments.

"This is unacceptable behavior. Whoever is responsible for this will face serious consequences."

The crowd starts to disperse, students reluctantly heading to their next classes, though many keep staring back at me and Brett. Lexi and her friends walk away, still chuckling, but quieter now. Jake and his buddies slink off too, their earlier confidence fading.