Social Norms (Synacky)

Chapter One

“Where ya goin’ fag?”

Brian ignored the small group that had gathered around Zacky. He didn’t particularly like the way they treated him. Sure, he didn’t like the kid, but he wasn’t a bully. He continued on to his locker as they stole the poor kid’s journal, retrieved his math book as they pushed him down. Zacky was crying as Brian headed to his next class. What a baby.

Brian sat down next to Jimmy in Algebra II, watching the drummer fold his unanswered homework sheet into a paper airplane. He himself had completed the first three problems, then got sidetracked by his guitar and never bothered to finish it. When Mr. Benton asked for them to turn in their papers, 17 papers were passed and one airplane was thrown to the front of the room. Brian didn’t know why he even bothered showing up to this class anymore. He was making a “D” and there were only like two weeks left in the year for him to bring his grade up, which wouldn’t happen. Jimmy was failing, but even he didn’t give a flying fuck about it, and his parents stopped caring years ago. It wasn’t like he was going to college anyway. Even if he was, he could get into any prestigious school on music scholarships.

After school, Brian met Jimmy at his locker, ready to head over to the drummer’s house so they could play a little. “Hey, Jim, you ready?” he asked, looking up at the taller boy. Jimmy shook his head.

“Actually, I’m gonna go to Zacky’s house today.” Jimmy replied. “The poor kid got beat up by a couple idiots and I feel sorta bad for him. We’re just gonna jam a bit.”

Brian grinded his teeth together, but tried not to show his disappointment and anger towards Zacky for stealing away his best friend. “Oh, uh, okay.” He said. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

“Yeah, sounds good. See ya around, Brian.”

Brian didn’t hear it, though. He had already left the building. He was seething as he got onto his bus, passing his brother and his stupid freshman friends, ignoring the looks he got from Matt, who rode the same bus as him. He sat by himself and glowered out the window, drumming his fingers impatiently on his leg until they arrived at his stop, then stormed off before Brent could even stand up.

“What’s got you in such a pissy mood?” Brent barked at him as he made his way to the door. There were no cars in the driveway, so Brian fished the house key out of his backpack, jamming it in the lock as he grumbled some sort of reply.

“Is Jimmy coming round today?” the nosy little fuck continued as Brian went inside, heading straight for the fridge to see what the note was that Suzy left behind.

“Boys, McKenna and I are at Pop’s. There are leftovers in the fridge, your dad’s at the studio. We ought to be back before him. No guitar until your room is clean, Brian. Love, Suzy.”

Brian sighed, making his way to his room, kicking off his shoes into the mess he had grown accustomed to and reaching for his guitar case.

That night, he woke up to the beautiful sound of McKenna screaming bloody murder in the other room. He groaned, covering his head with his pillow and trying to block out the noise. Stupid baby…

After twenty minutes of trying to go back to sleep, he groaned and reached for his Walkman, making sure his Queen album was inside before drowning out the screaming with Freddie Mercury and Brian May, mumbling the words to Bohemian Rhapsody to himself as he tried to fall back asleep.

~*~

The rest of the week was a repeat of Monday, and Brian was starting to get fed up with Jimmy going over to Zacky’s. His dad was hardly home, Brent was still being a dumbass, and Suzy only busied herself with Kenna. He ended up cleaning his room out of boredom, drinking one of dad’s beers in central park with Matt on Friday night. It was then, Matt admitted he’d been going to Zacky’s too, and Brian got angry. What the fuck was so special about that kid?

He pushed Zacky up against the lockers before class on Monday, glaring at the younger boy. “What the fuck is your problem?” Brian growled, only receiving a terrified look back from him. “Why the hell are you fucking around with my friends?”

“I-I…” Zacky swallowed, and Brian could see pathetic tears welling in his eyes. “I-I don’t know.” He whispered.

“Back off, got that, queer?” Brian hissed. “You don’t deserve to hang out with them. Go back to your circle of losers. Or else I’ll punch that pretty little nose in.”

Zacky nodded quickly, emerald eyes flickering around for an escape route, but Brian let go of him, stalking off to his next class.

At lunch, Brian sat alone. Matt and Jimmy sat with Zacky and Wendt, and he heard them talking about bands and tossing around album names.

It pissed him off, to say the least. After school, they all went to Jimmy’s, casting glares Brian’s way as they climbed into Jimmy’s car.

“What the fuck?” he muttered to himself, climbing onto the bus with Brent. He would be able to drive them both to school, too, if his car had been working. But no, it was in the shop, where it had been sitting for the past three weeks.

Brian went friendless throughout the last week of school, which at least gave him time to study for finals and get his car back. He babysat McKenna so Suzy and his dad could go out, and even helped his brother do the dishes once or twice.

On Wednesday, they had superlatives, an event Brian had all but forgotten, and couldn’t care less about. They had made the students vote weeks ago, and today was the big reveal. Brian sat with the Berry brothers and Michelle, watching as they ran through the list of “Most Artistic” and “Best Dressed” and “Most Athletic.” Micah went up to receive his certificate, a worthless piece of paper that claimed he could draw, followed by other kids Brian didn’t know that well. Valary was voted “Friendliest” and smiled wide, blushing as she took the certificate, not giving herself the credit she deserved.

Brian only half paid attention to the awards, the other half of him watched a fly that was resting in the hair of the girl in front of him. He thought about shooing it away, but it would take with it his only source of entertainment. His ears perked up, though, when he heard the SGA Senior Class President read out, “Most Likely to Fail.” It wasn’t like he was worried that his name would be called, he just wanted to see which kid they would decide to humiliate this year, although he already knew the answer.

“Zachary Baker.”

Nosy teenage heads swiveled to gawk at the owner of the name. Zacky slumped down in his seat, obviously trying to melt into the fabric. The president motioned for him to come up to accept the “award,” and he complied after the boy sitting next to him shoved him a little. His tongue toyed with his snakebites, shoes dragging on the floor as he slowly made his way to the stage. Someone’s student handbook hit him on the back of the head, catching him off guard and causing him to trip as he ascended the steps.

Someone released the nasty insult, “Cocksucker!” and then the others broke forth, all wanting to have their dig at Zacky. “Faggot!” “Zack likes it up the ass!” “What a fucking queer!” Brian watched as tears filled the boy’s eyes, as he tore the paper in two and leapt from the stage. The principal came forward, shouting at the students and reprimanding them, but Zacky had already run down the middle aisle of the auditorium and out the double doors.

Brian frowned at the fly in the girl’s hair as the principal continued his rampage. He really couldn’t stand Zacky, but Brian would never embarrass him in front of the whole school like that. Most of the kids that called out names didn’t even know Zacky, other than the rumors and matching a name with a face. It was horrible, and if anything, it helped him to hate the younger boy a little less.