A Bundle Of Sticks

Part 2

It was just after Jacksons soccer tryouts that it happened.

Jack had done great and danced circles around the other players, the coaches were definitely impressed. And we were just waiting around for the list to go up to see who had made the team when Stephan came over with a devious look in his eyes.

Stephan was a textbook jock, cocky and up himself. He was the team captain for our schools soccer group, he slept with all the girls and he had absolutely no tolerance for Jack. Big and all muscle, poor Jack wouldn't stand a chance physically against Stephen and Stephen knew it. Stephen knew he intimidated everyone and he used that to his advantage. Bullying and bashing any student who looked at him sideways. He had a real temper and was never afraid to take it out on people.

Unfortunately, Jack was an easy target. Most of the time teachers would look the other way when Stephan harassed Jack. It was like they were saying: "Well, you chose to be gay so you have to deal with the consequences." As if people would choose to be bullied and harassed every day of their lives. To be the outcast.

It was wrong on so many levels, yet that’s just the way the world worked. The teachers, Jacks parents, no one would help or stand up for him.

Except me.

"What're you doing homo?! Sprinkling your fairy dust around and infecting us with your disease!" Stephen growled.

"Shut up, punk. You have no right to say that to him," I defended.

"Just leave it Liz," Jack whispered through his teeth.

"Well, he has no right walking around, showing off the fact that he is a faggot!" Stephen was yelling now, clearly working himself up.

"You're such a fool, Stephen," said Jack, trying to keep his cool. "Yeah, so I’m a bundle of sticks! What does it matter?"

"What are you talking about gay boy?" Said Stephen back obviously confused

"Nope, nope, now I’m a happy bundle of sticks," Jacks said with a whole lot more composure and cool than I had.

"You know what?!" Stephen said, truly mad now, "You join the soccer team and I will fucking kill you! I don't have to be watching my back every time I bend over."

"You have no idea!" Jack said as he turned to leave.

"Get out of here, queer!" Stephen called to Jacks back.

"You complete idiot!" I yell and shove him hard before I turn to go find Jack.

"I'm not kidding Liz! I will kill him!" Stephens yelled at my back.

As I tried to find Jack I was trying to decide whether Stephan was serious or not.

He's always all talk but it's obvious that poor Jack will never feel safe around Stephan again.