Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Tongue

.1

"Dimitri Emil Scaldavald! It's time for school! Get up!" My step sister Elaine yelled. She shoved me off my bed and onto the floor. "Come on you lazy ass!"

I scrambled to my feet and glared at her from my half covered face. She laughed and pulled the blanket off my head. "Dude your mom knew you weren't gonna get up! First day back at school since Spring Break. Let's go!" She skipped out the door giggling.

First Day Back At School

I walked up to the front of the school dragging my feet behind Elaine who was just as bouncy as ever.

Welbean High. A pretty outside with a dark inside. Just like most of the people inhabiting it. The school grounds had a pristine light gray building with gazebos and trees on either side of the front. It was a particularly warm spring so the flowers bloomed early and were strategically placed all around the near perfect walkway to the entrance. Students zipped by on bikes and skateboards narrowly missing me as I was almost invisible to everyone here. I was a very slender tall guy with jet black hair that hung around my face, green eyes, and pale as can be. I enjoyed wearing dark gloomy colors. I guess to them I was nonexistent since I didn't portray their typical student.

Walking into the school was just as well done as the outside. A black mat lay in front of the schools silver and glass double doors. The office to the left had a glass window where sat the elderly secretary, Mrs.Dunby. She was a short women with almost glowing white pixie cut hair. She only wore sweatshirt tops with places she's visited on them. On this day she wore an emerald green one with the gold lettering spelling out "New Orleans" on it.

Off to the right was the library. An open concept area with long rectangular wooden tables in the front next to the librarians desk. All the shelves of books in the back with various bean bags strewn about. Ms. Webble sat there reading some thriller novel. She was a young woman with her red and black dyed hair pulled into a bun resting on the top of her head with a pencil through it. She wore thin red glasses for blue light protection although she preferred the smell of old books and tarnished papers between her fingers. She was unlike most teachers and faculty here. She had tattoos down both arms and a septum piercing. She was very into horror and almost every week you'd catch her latest favorite of the genre on the "Books of the Week" display.

Elaine promptly stopped her skipping in front of me. "Off to the library." She looked at me pleading eyes. "Dim, I know I've only asked this once before. But please, come with me. There's so many nice people there. And you-

I held up my palm in reply.

"Dim, I just worry about you. If you really feel that way then I won't pressure you anymore today. Try to have a decent time in class." She walked off in as her flowing summery dress waved behind her.

Elaine was unlike anyone else I had ever met. She was a fair skinned, short girl with almost white hair with bangs. She wore rounded glasses nearly covering her crystal blue eyes. I believe she is the prettiest girl in school and the nicest by far. I was happy to have her as family even if she was my total opposite.

As I walked the halls I thought to myself, what if I had just tried reaching out to someone. If i even tried speaking. Nope I can't. I fear even the most unsuspecting would know I was gay just by my voice.

Most of the students occupying the halls were kids from religious backgrounds who didn't dare uttering a word about gay people let alone atheists. The halls were lit up brightly with big light tiles on the ceiling. They really brought out the pure white walls and marble tiled floors. Although the atmosphere was more toxic than mustard gas, the look of it was a welcoming hospital glow. The walls had long vertical red lockers. Each year the school custodian Mr. Burkley painted them to make sure they stayed in tip-top shape. Every classroom door was kept clean and the poster boards next to them had all sorts of latest student projects tacked on them.