My Solution (Jelix)

Chapter 2

*Jack's POV*

Nothing felt as blissful as reading a good book in a nearly empty library. I basked in the silence as I read the book in my hands, allowing myself to completely absorb the riveting plot and complex characters.

"Hey Jack," a deep voice brought me back to reality.

"Hey Mark," I said without moving my eyes off the page.

"So, I've got good news for you, Jackaboy," Mark sat beside me with a huge grin on his face.

"What, you finally got laid?"

"No," he glared at me," guess again."

"Just tell me, asshole."

"Fineee. I found a guy for you to tutor," he said with a mischievous smirk.

"I don't mind helping, but why is that good news?" I asked suspiciously.

"Because the guy happens to be a certain quarterback named Felix Kjellberg!"

"W-What?!"

My entire face went red at the sound of his name. I had had a crush on Felix for years now, stemming back all the way to middle school.

His perfectly blonde hair, his sculpted jawline, and those strong cheekbones...sigh; I practically swooned every time I thought of him. But, unfortunately for me, Felix had no idea I even existed, just like everyone else in this stupid school.

"I...I can't do it," I admitted to Mark.

"Why not?" he asked.

"That would be so awkward."

"So, yeah...I kind of told him you'd do it."

"Mark!" I exclaimed.

"I figured you'd be happy!"

"Ugh, fine. What subject does he need help in?"

"Algebra."

"When did you volunteer me to start?"

"Today after school in the library."

"I don't how I'm going to do this," i sighed.

"You've got this, Jack."

"What if he's mean to me?"

"Felix isn't like the other jocks. He's always been nice to me."

Our conversation was interrupted by the screech of a bell, and I knew it was time to go to first period. I always liked to relax in the library before class started; it was relaxing and solitary.

Mark said goodbye as he walked down a separate hallway. I walked to my class when, suddenly, I felt myself being shoved into the lockers. I braced myself as my scrawny body crashed into the cool metal. A pained gasp escaped my lips as my hands moved to my side. My fragile body ached after the rough impact.

My bruises, while painful, paled in comparison to the brutal sting of humiliation. I could only sigh as what remained of my dignity was ripped apart like cheap tissue paper.

"Watch out, fag" I heard a voice snicker.

I looked up to see Chris McKnight laughing with his friends as they walked down the hall. Chris was one of the most popular kids in the school: rich, athletic, and a straight up asshole. Chris wasn't a stereotypical dumb jock, though; he excelled at academics as much as he did at sports. In the crazy ecosystem of high school, he was a sly fox and I was a frail mouse.

High school was fucking terrible for me. Sean 'Jack' McLoughlin: nonathletic, unpopular, and painfully shy. Bullies loved me while the rest of my peers despised me. Mark was the only person who actually talked to me aside from a few acquaintances from the chess club.

I relaxed slightly as I took my normal seat at the front of my AP Calculus class. As lame as it sounds, I really liked math. The complex problems were a fun challenge to work through. They were like a puzzle, really, and if you didn't understand the answer, there was always a logical explanation waiting for you.

But math was not the only subject I enjoyed. I loved the inventive problem-solving nature of science, the fascinating pasts found in history, and the creative writings found in English. Really, I liked learning.

Mrs. Williams took her place at the front of the room and started writing problems on the board. I eagerly picked up my pencil and jotted down the problems, showing my work as I powered through the problems. Things were going well until the teacher started calling on us to share our answers.

"Jack, what did you get for this problem?" she asked in her nasally voice.

"N-no solution," I stuttered quietly.

"Correct as always!" she praised before going to the next student.

"N-n-n-nice stutter, faggot," I heard a boy chuckle from behind me.

My face turned a light shade of pink and I bowed my head down. I couldn't go five minutes without hearing that awful slur being thrown at me. The worst part was that I wasn't even gay; I was bisexual, but it's not like bigoted high schoolers care about accurately insulting you.

I turned my attention back to the math problems in front of me in order to distract myself both from the teasing and from the fear I had about tutoring Felix this afternoon.