The State Of Denial

The first day of sophomore year. I pictured it to be a lot different, actually. The trouble started in 1st period. The teacher was a complete jerk. My best friends Marshall Lee, Marceline, Bonnie and I always have a particularly good way to find trouble. The teacher said he was asking us questions he said we should know already. He called on Marshall.

“MARSHALL LEE! PAY ATTENTION! Now what state do you live in?” He barked. “Denial.” Marshall said promptly and happily, smiling. The class just about died of laughter. And Marshall smiled wider, showing off his fangs.

“So that’s funny, is it? The teacher said. “Perhaps a detention will teach you how to be well behaved.” Now Marshall was always the class clown, so the next thing he did set the teacher on edge.

“Oh no!” He mimicked. “Now I’ll never perfect like you.” His voice faded back to his own. The class erupted with laughter once more. But, the teacher started to have a yelling fit. Marshall shrunk back in his chair. That’s when I budded in.

“You may be older than us, but that gives you no right to insult a student that deeply!” Then Marceline stood up, too. “Yeah man! There is no need to get that hard core!” Then Bonnie joined in. “There is nothing wrong with having a little fun!” Marshall Lee looked amazed with our performance. Well, next thing we knew, we were all in detention. Well this sucks. I thought to myself. I pulled out The Hunger Games and started reading. Then a paper ball hit me on the head. It said, “Should we ditch?” I looked at Marshall, shrugged and returned to the reaping ceremony. Then I received another paper ball from Marceline saying the almost exact same thing. “Why am I in charge? If you want to go for it.” I wrote back. She through a paper ball at Marshall.

Next thing I knew, Bonnie and I were being carried swiftly out of the room by the to vampires. Thank god for the teacher to be in the bathroom at the time. They let us go outside and we all started running like hell. “What the H man!” I yelled as we hopped in the car. “All I have to say is we all better be sick tomorrow.” Marshall Lee said, panting and started up the car.

Well, instead of being sick, we all “Had a field trip and had to be dropped off early.” That means we got to school, went to the front office, said we had to leave to go on a vacation and wouldn’t be back until next week. It was Friday so that actually worked. As we left I said, “Marshall, we are gonna be living in the state of denial pretty soon.” “Yeah, I bet we are.” He said, unconcerned. The girls had to leave to go to an Ooo royalty meeting (Marshall and my meeting isn't until tomorrow) so it was only us and the awkward silence wasn't helping at all. Now is the time to tell you that, well, I'm gay, and yes, I do have a crush on Marshall. Since 5th grade actually. I just never had the nerve to tell him. I know he's gay, too. He came out to me last year. I've just always been embarrassed to tell him. Just then he turned and looked at me. "Gumball, I know we'll be living in the state of denial soon, but just be ready to stand up to them and if they figure us out put up a good argument. I know you can." He put a hand on my arm. It wasn't its usual icy cold, it was warm and gentle. He pulled me forward and kissed me. It wasn't long but somehow bright and dazzling.

He pulled back slowly, grinning. "Why didn't you pull away?" He asked. I couldn't find an answer. But then he started singing, very softly, as if to answer his own question. "You'd think people would have had enough of silly love songs." He sang, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "But I look around and see it isn't so." "Some people wanna fill the world with silly love songs." I sang, sort of a reply. "And what's wrong with that? I'd like you to know, 'cause here I go again." Then we both sang, joining hands. "I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you." He leaned forward again. I didn't hesitate at all this time. Our lips crashed together, mine warm and his cold. Just then a car honked, we jumped apart.

We looked to see two smiling girls in a car. "HONK FOR GAYS!" Marceline yelled out the window of her pick-up truck. "OH, VERY FUNNY!" I yelled. "I THOUGHT FREAKN' VOLDIMORT SNUCK UP ON US!" "Save your breath, she's worse than Voldimort." Marshall said rather loudly, putting his arm around my shoulder.