Just Different

Chapter 4

Rob sighed. Things were becoming boring and depressing again. He was letting this get to him.

'It's a silly crush, you barely know him' he thought. He wanted to cry. 'Get over it.'

The weekend was nice, spending time with his newly made friends, but it felt so awkward and tense for him to be around Brad. He felt like his reactions and emotions towards the other teen were making it obvious he liked Brad.

He was tired of faking a smile for the guys during the weekend and the morning. He was in one of the classes he didn't have the guys in, and Rob was glad. It was getting a little annoying to have their bubbly personality in his face constantly. Now he was free to mope and frown.

The other teens never asked Rob much about his life at home. Recently divorced mom, no siblings,  no money. They didn't know any of that. They didn't ever ask about his old school, or his old friends. He couldn't even remember their names. They pushed Rob away for so long he just stopped thinking about them. His old peers were never really "friends".

It hurt Rob that they didn't seem to want to know much about him. Yeah, they knew the basics, like his favorite color, his age and whatnot. They really didn't know Rob.

Rob picked at a hang nail, glancing up at the empty seat in next to him. He really didn't know he sat there, the teacher never cared too much about that student not showing up.

As if on cue, the classroom door opened and scrawny boy strutted in. The smell of smoke and marijuana automatically hit Rob's nose as the student walked in.

"About time you show up to my class Mr. Bennington. Hope you actually have a pass."

"No sir," Chester said, smirking as he took the next to Rob. "But don't worry,  the attendence office knows."

"Good," the teacher sighed. "Don't come into my classroom smelling like that again."

Chester smirked and a few students snickered. He slouched back into his chair and leaned over to Rob.

"What are we doing?"

"Oh, uh, just a review."

"Alright." Chester grabbed the textbook from under his desk. "What page?"

"Three nighty-four," Rob murmured. Chester nodded and opened the textbook up. Rob thought it was pointless, since the boy never got started on the assignment.

Guilt washed over Rob. Should he have ignored Chester? Surely, giving him page numbers wasn't a big interaction, but what if it bothered the others? Rob shrugged it. He was worrying too much over this. Chester didn't mean harm to him.

Chester's heart was pumping fast. He heard the blood rushing in his ears. Quite loudly too. He wanted to laugh and giggle, feeling overwhelmingly giddy. He talked to him. He actually did.

'Oh his voice!'

Chester bit his lip to keep from smiling. The fact that he was high was making it more difficult. A small chuckle escaped his quivering lips. No one reacted, or looked his way. This behavior was expected from Chester. Nobody batted an eye when he had small outbursts like this.

He felt Rob's eyes on him and he felt his body grow warm. 'Oh, oh god.'

Chester needed air. Water. He was trembling. He stood up and dashed to the door. His sneakers squeaked loudly on the floor as he skidded down the hall.

The restrooms were empty. Good. He threw open a stall and let out a strained breath. His hands went to his chest. They ran up to his neck, then clasped around his head. His breathing picked up as he bit his lip and whimpered.