Dear Scott..

January 16 (Part 2)

I hold your head up with my hands and stare at your, now closed, eyes. How could this happen? I look up at Ryan who is standing only a few feet away, laughing. Something clicks inside me. My stomach turns and I get a pounding headache as the blood running from your nose and eyebrow is now visible to me. You saved me. You stood in front of Ryan and took the hit that I was meant to get. A sharp pain of guilt shoots through my body as I lie your head down onto the floor and stand up. Ryan looks at me, suspicious. 

"Was that not enough for you, gay fag?"

"No, it actually wasn't."

"Then come here and let me show YOU the lesson this time, yeah? Not with your little prissy boyfriend in the way."

"No. I won't. Because I am done with how you always treat me. How you always treat...well, everyone. You act like a God, when really you're just afraid of yourself."

"You better watch your mouth, little boy, or you'll be on the damn floor just like your boyfriend."

I step closer.

"Well then do it. Put me on the floor, bad ass."

"Are you testing me?"

"Why the questions? I thought you wanted to beat the shit out of the gay fag. So here I am, what are you waiting for, bad ass?"

"Why are you calling me that?"

"Isn't that what you are? Hm?"

"What exactly are you doing?"

I look around to everyone watching. Their eyes pierce through me like a million daggers. They are waiting for a reaction. A bad one from me. They are waiting for me to break down and cry. Run away. Hide. I am done hiding from Ryan. I am done hiding from everyone. I raise my eyes to the crowd and look around, cautiously.

"You see, everyone. He is asking questions like there is no tomorrow. He wants a bad reaction from me. You all do. But the truth is," I stare directly at Ryan, "I'm done wasting my life on you assholes." And with that some people in the back cheer, others look stunned and some even look scared. Good. This is what I wanted. They wanted a reaction, so I gave them one. Just not the kind they were expecting and hoping for. 

And with that, Ryan lunges at me. I step back before his fist can meet my face and punch him right in his stomach. He bends over to catch his breath and this that free opportunity, I punch him in the face, sending him half way across the hallway and falls against the lockers.

Then I feel two hands on my shoulder. Holding me back. Pulling me away. I struggle to release the person's grip when I hear your voice. Then I stop. Everything is silent. Everyone is silent. They are all staring at us. I turn around to look at you and cringe when I see that the blood on your face is still visible in various places. You place a single finger to my lips and whisper things to me to calm me down. I then look over at Ryan, who is now recovering. He gives me a glance, scoffs, and then walks the other direction. Good. One less thing to worry about. But now I have a bigger thing to worry about. You. You are all beat up and it is because of me. I hate that this has happened. I should have taken that punch. God dammit. I hate everything right now. I need to get you cleaned up. 

"I...I'm sorry Scott. I didn't mean to lash out I just-" I was cut off by your lips crashing onto mine. Then ended up losing my words. See what you do to me? Wait we are in public. Did you realize that? Did you forget? Or are you ready to show public affection? I'm so confused by our relationship. I feel like in a way we should take it slow, but then again I cannot even imagine not being with you any chance I can get. You complete me. You complete mess. 

You then pull away and look into my eyes, avoiding the stares, "You have nothing to apologize for. I heard everything you said. I cannot believe you stood up for me though."

"I can't believe you stood up for me either."

"I guess we truly are one." Your words send shivers down my spine and I bite my bottom lip, lean my head against your chest, and look around to capture sight of our surroundings. Everyone has their phone out. Getting pictures of the "gay couple". Pathetic. I never want to be someone who discriminates against anyone. It's truly disgusting to be quite honest. 

"Let them stare, Mitchy." You whispered in my ear as if reading my thoughts. You really do know what to say and when to say it, don't you?

----

We continued on with our day at school regardless of what happened. We had all of our classes together except for one, but I skipped that one in fear that a repeat of this morning would fall into place as soon as I had to part without you. Call me clingy. I don't even care. You went to class though. I wonder how that went. I'll have to ask about that later...

Right now, though, we are at your place. We drove to get pizza after school and then came back here. You, of course, wanted to stay out longer, but I have tons of homework I need to complete for tomorrow. So I insisted we come back sooner. 

"Do you need help with any of your homework?" You ask me. I chuckle and turn my head slightly to met your gaze. 

"Since when do you know anything about algebra?"

"Well, I took it for 4 years," you smiled, causing me to laugh harder.

"That's not really something I would be proud of if I were you." I close my book, "what about you? Do you need any help with homework?"

"Ha ha, that's funny. You act like I actually DO the homework. You silly boy."

"God damn, no wonder you took algebra for 4 years." You come and sit beside me, taking my books and throwing them onto the floor. 

"I really hope you're going to pick them up, you dick." I give you a serious look and you roll your eyes, a smile playing on your lips as you take my hands and turn me to face you. You look like you need to talk to me about something. I knew it. I'm too clingy. Is that it? Did you find out that I skipped class today? That isn't like me. Maybe you're corrupting me just a bit. And maybe that isn't necessarily a bad thing. 

"I want you to go somewhere with me tomorrow."

"Um, okay. Where to, exactly?"

"That's the part I don't know that you'll be too thrilled about." 

Oh. 

"Tell me, Scott."

"Okay, okay. So I want to take you to the fireworks. There are some fireworks that are being set off tomorrow night."

"Okay, yeah sure I'd love to."

"But-"

"But?"

"It's attached to a party... Now, I know what you're thinking. I know you don't do parties and I know you don't drink. And I mean you don't have to drink. I just-I want you to come to this party with me to watch the fireworks. That's all I am trying to say."

A party? A fucking party? With drunk people everywhere and probably drug addicts too? No way. I've never been to a party and I do not necessarily want to started now. 

But he is counting on me. 

He cares about me.

He knows I don't do parties and he's generally asking me to come along. I mean, I can't just say no.

Oh God, Yeah. You were corrupting me alright. And you know what? Maybe it was a good thing. I'm actually quite fond of being corrupted just a bit. 

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I hope you guys enjoy this chapter! Don't forget to read, comment, and vote! Thanks :) -Ray