Breaking Point

Who Goes To Hell

                Kyle’s heart was ready to explode from his chest as the bell rang, sending him flying from his seat and out the door. He walked quickly, thinking that if he got to the gym quick enough they wouldn’t catch him. Maybe he just wouldn’t change… yeah, perfect. If he didn’t change, he wouldn’t have to go in the locker room. Then he could just stay where the teachers were, surrounded by his friends, where the guys wouldn’t dare to touch him.

                Somewhat relieved by his idea, he skipped the door to the locker room and went right down stairs to the gym.

                “Go change,” A deep, short voice met Kyle as he entered. His heart sank. It was Coach Pierce, the head of the JV football team. He was standing by the doorway, pointing the way back out as if Kyle hadn’t just come in that way.

                “I forgot clothes,” said Kyle, his voice sounding like a mouse in comparison.

                “Get some from the lost and found.”

                “But-“

                “Now.”

                “Can’t I just loose credit?”

                “Only if you loose all of it.”

                “For the day?”

                “For the cycle.” The gym teacher’s shiny black eyes were like fir and ice all at once. Kyle bit his tongue.

                “How much is that worth?”

                “A letter grade. And since you seem to like to half-ass your activities, you’ll probably fail the term.”

                Kyle tried to steady himself with a deep breath. “Will I fail for the year if I fail this one term?”

                “With your grades? Probably.”

                “Right,” Kyle muttered. “Okay. I’ll change.” He decided the next best idea was to try and hurry before the guys got there. Avoiding his gym teacher’s eyes, he brushed past and made his way to the boys’ locker room. Unfortunately, his locker was as far as possible from the door, all the way in the opposite corner. Trying not to think of the weird looks he was going to get, he half-ran to his locker and knelt down, fumbling with the lock. The memories of the last fight kept flashing back in his mind as he pulled on sweats. He was trying to find the neck hole of his t-shirt when a voice called out to him, deep and husky.

                “’Ey yo faggot!”

                Heart racing, he turned on his heels. A muscular kid with a diamond stud in his left ear and a silver cross around his neck was glaring at him, head cocked back lazily as if he had better things to do. Kyle couldn’t help noticing how hot he was in a tank top and baggy jeans. His name was Sean Diaz, and he was walking towards Kyle with a menace in his cold black eyes.

* * *

                The guys were practically racing down the hall around Matt, inadvertently shoving him down the hall towards the gym as they jumped around, pubescent testosterone pumping in their veins. Matt ran his fingers through his hair, trying to make it look like a cool guy move and not a nervous habit.

                “This is gunna be great!” Rudy was saying, grinning broadly as he walked beside Matt down the stairs to the gym.