Home Again, Soldier

12-I Don't Wanna Go To School

12-I Don't Wanna Go To School

Title cred: Break The Rules by Charli XCX

Hailey took me into the school's office while Jack ran off with his friends, I wish he would have stayed.

Now I'm sitting next to Hailey and across from my guidence counselor, a woman in her early forties who has far too many motivational posters to not be cliché, and overall I really just want to die. Mrs. Phish is going over my time table and squishing my day down to every minute,it's more comforting than it sounds.

"I've got one of my best students to show you around" Mrs. Phish leads us out of her office and across the room to a girl with short brown hair. "This is Sam"

"Hi Alex!" Sam smiles and waves, I muster up the strength to smile back but can't seem to get my eyes to move up from my shoes. I was kind of hoping Jack would show me around. But I guess. I mean last week he had told me that no one knows about him being gay, much less dating me.

Hailey turns to me "Have a good day, call if you need me, okay?"

I nod and she gives me one last smile before leaving me alone with Sam. "You can call me Sam or Sam, either is cool, just make sure you use they/them pronouns" they say leading me out of the office. I give them a questioning look and she answers my unspoken question "Agender." I nod with understanding.

"Okie dokie then" they say, I like them, they say 'okie dokie'. "Just some general rules that aren't real rules but are just widely known ideas." they ramble on "only use the bathrooms on the second floor, the other ones are super gross. If you're going to be late to class at least stop for a snack, the cafeteria serves breakfast and lunch plus there's vending machines."

We walk by the library and I see Jack in there laughing with his friends. Sam catches my eye and stops our tour against the wall, laughing sourly. "And most importantly, don't get caught up with the wrong crowd. There's a high clique here and that pretty Barakat boy is in one of them. It's like Mean Girls up in here. We basically create our own drama, it's how we stay entertained during the day"

Jack looks up,smiling once he sees me. Sam rolls their eyes and flips him off before walking away and I have to follow. "Jack is not the kid you want to run into let me tell you that. He beat my friend up last week for looking at him funny" Jack? My Jack? This can't be. "I'm the only one that stands up to him, mostly because I low key hate myself and need lots of attention."

They go to say something again but some dude yells "hey new kid" before shoving me to the ground.

"Leave him alone Elijah" Sam goes to help me up but Elijah pushes them away.

"Aw come on Samantha, don't be a bitch"

"How dare you call me a female dog!" Sam yells back and I just have to laugh at that.

Which was a mistake because Elijah kicks me in the stomach "Shut up, faggot"

"Do we have a problem here?" Jack steps between me and Elijah.

"Come on Barakat" his voice wavers "you're not really standing up for this nerd are you?"

"So what if I am?" Jack retorts

"Then I'd ask what happened to the real Jack Barakat" Elijah chuckles.

It only took a second for Jack to throw him against the locker "Lay a finger on him, and I will cunt punt you so hard that even scientists won't be able to figure out just how you ended up on the moon."

I should've been in stitches laughing if it weren't for how terrified of Jack I am right now. Jack pulls him off the locker and throws him into the crowd that had gathered around us. Jack turns back to me and sticks out his hand, I flinch, not realising he meant to help me up, not beat me up.