Sick Little Games [Jack Barakat]

You Can't Say That To Me

I walked into my Freshman History class and walked past two girls.

"She's a dyke. She's in a rock band with all guys. It's so obvious!"  I looked at them and the girls were staring at me. 

I took my seat and pulled out my notebook. Jack walked up to me shortly after and sat on my desk. 

"Well, hello, there." I raised my eyebrows.

"Hiya." He smiled down at me. "How are you?"

"Just got called a dyke for being in a band by Slut 1 and Slut 2 over there."

"Who?" He asked.

"Alyssa and Rachel."

He looked up at them and before he could say anything, my history teacher walked past us. "Barakat. Off her desk. Now."

He hopped off my desk and the teacher mumbled something, while walking away.

"What a dick beater." Jack whispered to me.

"Not as bag as the cunt bags over there." I responded as the bell rang.

Jack gave me a sympatheic smile and headed to his seat, behind me. We started off class with attendance then moved on to take some notes on God knows what. I space out during the lecture, thinking about how many people in the school probably think I'm a lesbian because of All Time Low.

It's not even a rock band. It's clearly pop punk.

"Allbourne."

"What." I asked in surprise, the class laughed.

"Can you answer my question?"

"Erm.. What was your question?"

"Of course. Not paying attention as usual. Tell me, Madison. What is it you're thinking about right now? What it is that's more important than Ancient Rome. Was it about your dead beat dad that left you and your mom?"

My jaw dropped and the class laughed, "Excuse me?"

"You heard me." He turned around.

"You can't talk to me like that." I stated.

"Oh, but I can." Mr. Spence smiled at me.

"No," I stood up, "You fucking can't."

"You think you look tough right now, Allbourne? Cussing at a teacher?" He sat down on the front table. "You're not tough. You're weak. You're just a dyke in a rock band."

"You fucking prick."

"Out of my class." He said.

I picked my back pack up and slung it over my shoulder. I headed to the door, it was silent. Halfway to the door, I heard rustling. I turned around to see Jack slinging his backpack over his shoulder and standing up.

"Sit down, Barakat." The teacher commanded.

"Hell no. I'm getting out of this bullshit class." He responded. "You're an immature fucking bastard with no respect." 

I smiled and waited for him to catch up with me. He held his hand out and I interlocked his fingers with mine and he turned his head to the Mr. Spence, "Grow the fuck up."

We walked out of class together and as soon as we were halfway down the hallway, I turned to him and hugged him tight. Letting the tears I was holding in pour out of my eyes.

He rubbed my back slowly as I cried.

"You're the best, Jack." I said into his ear.

He pulled away and smiled at me, then wiped a tear from my face.

"I'd do anything for my best friend." He smiled at me. "Come on." He held his hand out again.

I interlocked our fingers and we walked out of the school together, thank god it was our last class of the day.