Sixteen, Clumsy, and Shy

Chapter 3: How Much I Love Your Casual Way

The bell for the first class of the day rang, indicating the hour of Hell was upon Morrissey. He sunk into his seat and began reading yet again. All he could hope for was for something interesting to happen in order to make class more interesting: a fire, a fight, Ms. Branka kicking the bucket which would liberate the students from the Hell they were subjected to. Just as Morrissey considered standing up and dropping his trousers to the teacher, his wish came true.

The classroom door creaked open and a reluctant boy poked his head through the door, looking down at his schedule. "Is this, um... English Honors with Ms. Branka?" he asked. She rolled her eyes at the boy. "Yes, you're late," she spat, "you must be the new boy."

"I am, yeah."

"Alright, the only seat available is next to Steven-"

"Morrissey," Morrissey hissed, "Stop calling me Steven." Ms. Branka shook her head in annoyance. "You will be seated next to Morrissey. What is your name?"

"Johnny, Johnny Marr." Morrissey looked up when he heard the name. 'That strangely charming delinquent is in English Honors?' he thought to himself, 'Why would anyone subject themselves to this kind of torture? Has he gone mad?'

"Alright, Johnny. Take your seat next to Morrissey."

"Okay."

Johnny walked over and sat in his seat when he could hear whispering from behind him, "Psst!" He looked behind him to see who it could possibly be; it was Mike.

"Psst!" Johnny rolled his eyes and turned around, "What do you want?"

"Why are you here?" Mike questioned, "I thought you were in the stupid class!"

Morrissey didn't like what he was hearing and stepped in, "I think you'd be doing us all favor if you silenced yourself, thank you kindly."

"Who's this? Your boyfriend?" Mike retorted, hoping to make Johnny mad, "Morrissey's a fucking fag. Why are you sitting with him anyway?"

"Piss off, Joyce," Johnny replied. Morrissey decided to step back in, "Yeah, why don't you-"

"I can handle it myself, asshole," Johnny remarked coldly. 

'Why was Johnny acting like this?' I know the term "asshole" was endearing coming from him, but his tone doesn't much the sentiment behind the word... I thought we were friends?' Morrissey recalled.

"I was just trying to help."

"Save it, fag."

Morrissey could feel his heart shatter into a million little pieces; the boy he thought he could befriend betrayed him... He finally remembered why he never bothered with anyone.

Before it could get any worse for him, Ms. Branka opened her mouth once more.

"Alright, class. We're going to begin the partner project I mentioned yesterday, so go around the room and find someone to work with."

Morrissey had been so hurt by Johnny's words that he didn't want to be anyone's anything; he was going to wait until one poor soul didn't have a partner and was forced to work with him. He turned around and saw Johnny talking to Angie. Bored out of his mind without anything to do, he decided to listen.

"Hi Johnny," Angie said, smirking to herself, "I was wondering if you wanted to be partners for this assignment.

"Thanks, but um..." he looked over at Morrissey. 

'He looked at me. His earthy, heart-warming brown eyes locked with mine... Now why on Earth would he look at me with such kindness?' he thought.

"...I'm working with Moz." Angie frowned, nodded, and walked away. Morrissey nearly choked.