Adam&Audrey

Rule #9: Just Gonna Stand There And Watch Me Burn

Rule #9: Just Gonna Stand There And Watch Me Burn

I knew the news would spread; I just had no idea how fast. Ever since I had messed up in front of Nicole last night and she had ignored me when I tried taking the words back, the news had spread like wildfire.

What is this, high school? I thought with disgust as I scrolled down my Twitter feed, the words ‘Cody’, ‘gay’ and ‘fag’ jumping out at me from every Tweet. Each was followed by an immense feeling of guilt.

I glanced down at my phone, which had been shut off since last night. I knew ignoring everyone’s calls was probably going to backfire on me, but I had no idea what to say to anyone in the first place.

Even the lecture hall buzzed with gossip. A few people turned to look back at me before turning away and continuing to whisper among themselves. Frowning, I looked back down at my phone. Lately my mentions had been blowing up as well. Weird.

Before I could see what the deal was, the teacher walked in, and class started.

Or, well, tried to start.

The whisperings were like annoying bees in my ear, and finally, two minutes before class ended, the even the professor had had enough.

“Quiet!” Mr. Wellington barked, sending the girls in the row in front of me into a quiet stupor. Then they started up again. Holy crud, what is so bloody hilarious?

“Sir, have you ever had an, um, urge to date a guy before?” one of the girls asked before giggling into the back of her hand. Mr. Wellington turned an ugly shade of purple, and before he could burst, I jumped out of my seat.

“Sir! May I please be excused?”

Everyone looked back at me, their expressions confusing me. It seems like today as the day Martians decided to take over Earth. Why they would want this wretched place, I have no clue. Honestly aliens, just go back. Please.

During my internal tirade Mr. Wellington had apparently excused me, so after giving him a small twitch of a smile in gratitude, I grabbed my laptop bag and rushed out of there. I was too busy waiting for my phone to turn on so I could speak to Audrey that I didn’t realize I had knocked someone over.

It was Jay. I helped him up, apologizing hurriedly. “Sorry, man, didn’t see you –”

“Save it,” he said, yanking his arm away from me.

“What’s your problem?” I asked, miffed. Stupid Martians.

He glared at me as he brushed past me roughly. “My problem? Well, it certainly isn’t the fact that I can’t be trusted to keep a goddamned secret. Now who’s problem would that be, I wonder?”

I stepped away from him, lips pursed. “Alright. You win. But let me explain –”

“Explain it to Cody,” he said harshly, then let out a bitter laugh. “Oh, wait, you can’t because he’s currently in hiding from everyone. Now whose fault is that?”

 I slammed my hand on the wall beside us. Jay didn’t even bat an eye. “Listen, I did what I did for Audrey, okay? Cody’s no friend of mine, and honestly, it was about time he cut the crap.”

Jay snorted. “Don’t you dare blame this on your prissy little girlfriend. But wait, she’s not your girlfriend, which makes me really wonder who she is to you.”

“We’re not talking about that here.”

“You’re right, this discussion was over before it even started!”