The R Word

Rodney

Sara was still upset that Rodney hadn't even said goodbye, but she did feel sorry for him. He didn't even have the spirit to talk to his best friend. That obviously means it must be bad. Sara barely got any sleep last night, for she was thinking about what was troubling him

A dead family member? Bullying went worse than expected? Sara didn't understand, so she barely talked, only thinked, during breakfast, (which was the occasional eggs and bacon) even the car ride. She just looked at the rain pounding down on the window. She wondered if rain had a mind of it's own. If every single raindrop was special. Just like people

When Sara reached the school, she ran through the halls. That wasn't new, but this was not about bullies. It was for Rodney. Only Rodney.

"Rodney!" She exclaimed.

Rodney saw her, and then tried to leave before Sara got ahold of him. This turned into a mad chase around the school. Knocking books out of kids' hands, the occasional trip, but Rodney ended up squirming out anyway. She knew so much more now..those medications must be helping. She was still undoubtfully a retard though.

Finally Sara caught up to Rodney and tackled him down. in the band room.

"Tell me what's going on."

"No!" He yelled, trying to leave, but Sara ran to the door before he could, and pulled his shirt. They fought so much that his shirt ripped open and was unwearable.

"Thanks a lot, Sara!" Rodney felt the back of his shirt which had a huge gap in the back.

"Hey, I'm sorry! But I'm not letting you leave until i know what's going on."  She got up, but Rodney stayed down, making sure he wouldn't be tackled again.

"Fine, well, remember the bully thing?"

"Yeah, so?"

"Well-" Just as he was about to explain, Steve walked in, and saw the two. He was very suspicious of it, since Rodney was shirtless, and with a girl.

"I'm not sure what I should say.." He mumbled.

"Hey Steve...." Rodney exchanged glances with Steve.

"Did you tell her?" Steve whispered to Rodney.

"No, not yet." Rodney whispered in reply.

"Well you should. She probably doesn't know what..you know what means."

"She has been on some medications.."

"It's a whole lot easier when she doesn't even know what it means, bro. And she is your best friend."

"Sara.."

"What?" Sara asked.

"I'm gay."

She laughed. "What does that mean?"

The bell rang, which was a good excuse not to tell.

"I'll talk to you later." Rodney explained, as Steve and him walked into the bathroom.

"Wait, you can't explain it to me quickly?" She knew he could. He just didn't want to."

The fact that it'd be embarrassing to go to class without a shirt was enough to skip a class for Steve and him. Steve and Rodney talked all hour, like they were just really good friends. They talked about school, sports, all that manly stuff. They were still the same people. It was still them, just realizing something.

Steve sneaked through the lost and found, and found a shirt perfect for Rodney. Steve put it on him gently, and they headed off to the cafeteria.

Word reached some of the jocks, and they didn't take it well. "Fag" was sneered at him at the lunch table.

"Listen Steve, we promise not to tell about you and your little boyfriend to the school, but what's-his-name has to join the team."

Rodney objected but Steve whispered to him. He saw how muscular he was, so why not? Rodney ended up agreeing, but they still talked about it amongst the group of jocks, when Sara butted in.

"Okay, i know you guys know what gay is, so tell me." She obviously heard peeks of the word across the table.

"It means your little friend likes to get with guys." One of the jocks replied.

"Get with?"

"Date."

Sara paused for a moment, then got angry at Rodney.

"You couldn't tell your best friend about this, yet you could tell jocks that you barely know all about your love. I would've comforted you on the telephone, but you hung up on me. You HUNG UP on ME! What kind of friend does that without saying goodbye?" She was so red in the face.

He took Sara to an empty table and whispered, "Sara, I didn't tell them. Steve did. And I'm so sorry you weren't the first to know."

Sara tried to fight back public crying, but she ended up crying into Rodney's already filfthy used shirt.

"I promise not to tell." Sara whispered

"I promise to tell." Steve instantly replied.

Sara stared at him with a blank expression.

"I will tell you everything  from now on."

Sara smiled, and they sat back down. Sara on the right of Rodney, and Steve on the left."

Sara must've made a new friend that day. Rodney's.......friend is Sara's.........friend.