Student's Body, Warrior's Heart

Chapter 2

Marcus' POV

Great. Here I am, eight o'clock in the morning in my homeroom classroom surrounded by a large number of homophobes, most likely sharing lies and other crap between each other about me and other homosexuals in the school as usual. The teacher of the class seemed self absorbed in the school role call and her other business and I'm here, stuck in 10th grade. However, there was something that was predominantly on my mind. That boy, Thomas... He has been on my mind since we parted was at the school's entrance.

I think that I was so deep in my thoughts that the teacher threw a minute piece of chalk at me, which hit my forehead. This was then followed by laughter from all students. The teacher, Ms. Wolf, boomed, "Quiet down class! That is not very nice of you all whatsoever!"

"Edenberg, may I have a word with you outside the classroom?"

Obviously because she has complete authority over me, I had no choice but to obey her wishes. I stepped out of the room with Ms. Wolf and turned to face her. Unlike the students of 10th grade, she was worried about me and how I was coping with my hellish life in school.

"How is everything in your life, Marcus?"
"Teacher, everything is basically the same, the usual name-calling and sometimes forced into a fight with the male students. Luckily my depression isn't as terrible as it was before."
"I can tell. You're not crying as much as you used to when you entered the grade last term, and I'm also proud of you for not wearing your jacket to hide your past scars."
"Thank you, teacher." I smiled softly.

Concerned, she then asked me how my mother was doing as well. I didn't lie and told her that she was alright, but she gets frantic a lot when it comes to my well being and physical and mental ability to keep fighting this life. She sweetly smiled and rubbed my shoulder.

"I must say Marcus. Unlike these other students who show a lot of disrespect and vulgarity to those in control, you know exactly how to treat people and possess a big heart. I don't know if you know this, but because you're still here fighting life with full force, it tells me that you re mentally strong, and have a will to live. From what I've seen too, you're still learning how to defend against all the bullies and thugs that enter your life. You just know what to do. And to me, it doesn't matter if you're gay, straight, bisexual, transgender or any other sexual orientation. What matters is how you treat people, and you've done that well my student. I'm proud of you."

Hearing those words filled my heart with a sense of being cared for and a feeling of hope. Ms. Wolf is basically my second mother; she always looked out for me in my times of absolute despair and sorrow. After that little conversation, we re-entered the classroom.

"Aww, did you get an arrangement to meet someone to be your boyfriend Marky?" one student commented, which was followed by fits of laughter. This hate speech against me enraged the teacher badly.

Using her serious teacher voice, she heavily warned, "The next time I hear someone snicker or say a comment about Marcus or any other student in that manner I just heard, and this applies to every person in this classroom, the punishment that will be received is five days detention after school to clean the various classroom with an additional fifty hours of community service. Do I make myself clear?"

Knowing how much they hated community service, the class replied, "Yes ma'am." Well, I'm sure that went well.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thomas' POV

One of my good friends, Robert, turned to me and asked, "Did you do English homework? I have exactly no idea what exactly to do for that mad lady."