Blinders

Chapter Six: Saturday

Mikey's P.O.V.

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"Mikey!" Cassie said, skipping up to me. "How's your face?"

"You tell me." I closed my eyes and brushed my hair back.

"Still busted up, I see, Mikey." She fixed my hair and grinned.

"How was your day after I left?" I asked.

"Eh. I got Campbell to go to bed early, which is always great. I went for a walk. Got jumped by Jason, but Ryro scared him off. Went home and watched The Breakfast Club. Twice. You?"

"Wow. Glad you're okay. Tate saved me from drowning and I stayed in the garage overnight. It was pretty cold."

"That sucks. Did you go to the doctor?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"First good news I've heard all week. Ready to head to lunch? The rest of my friends're in Ryro's room."

"Yeah." I shooked my bagged lunch and followed her to Mr. Ross's room.

A dark-skinned boy, a girl with platinum blonde hair, and a boy with even darker skin and dreadlocks were seated at the desks they'd grouped together. Mr. Ross had written something on the board. As I approached, I saw it read, "The Merry Band of Misfits". "Hey, Ryro," Cassie called.

"Good, you're here. It's your turn to pick the music."

"All right! Fall Out Boy it is! Mikey, these are my friends Chris, Adeem, and Ayo. You lot, this is Mikey. They're new here. Mikey, meet those who have also been attacked by Jason and the local Jesus Squad."

They raised their hands at their names. "Ayo," the boy with the dreadlocks said. "You look pretty normal. What did you do?"

"I, uh, I... I'm a girl."

"Ah. Oh. Oh! Well, you can probably guess why Adeem and I are here."

"My name's Chris, short for Christina," the girl said, kicking her legs up onto the desk. "I have a six-month-old daughter named Rosie. That's a big no-no since I'm sixteen."

"Jason's the dad, which is a surprise to no one, but no one cares about that," Cassie said as she sat next to Chris. "And then he dated me, and when I broke up with him because I'm as gay as a diamond studded rainbow, he threw a hissy fit. He outed me, and now I'm here."

I sat down next to Ayo. "So, what's up?"

"I helped the math team win the regional championship yesterday," he said, grinning. "We're going to the state finals next month. I can't wait."

"That's so cool! I suck at math. Language arts is more my thing. And music theory's really easy."

"Watch it, missy. I'll make it harder!" Mr. Ross yelled.

"I mean, GOODNESS GRACIOUS, IS MUSIC THEORY HARD! I SURE HOPE IT DOESN'T GET MUCH TOUGHER!"

"That's what I expected!"

Adeem was grinning around his slice of pizza. "I'm drum major in the marching band. I get to make Jason's life miserable at the one place he succeeds at-- football. Unlike school."

Ayo high-fived him. "I saw what you and Mr. Ross did. That was AMAZING."

"Mr. Ross? Oh, my God." I shook my head.

"Marching band director!" he called.

"He and I arranged a song. 'G.I.N.A.S.F.S' by Fall Out Boy. We played it at homecoming. And two nights ago, at a competition. Jason freaked out."