You Were Mine From The Start (boyxboy)

The New Kid

Biology went by quick enough I guess, we had a test today which I think I did well on. It's my favorite subject, so paying attention in class isn't as bad as in History. Taylor, on the other hand, hates it, she likes art class better. She is an amazing artist but is so modest about her abilities. She tried convincing me to take art class with her, but the best I can draw is a very realistic stick figure. Plus, I don't mind gym. Some of the homophobic jocks give me weird looks but that's about it. Since last year, that's about all they can do without getting punished.

Taylor and I said bye and went off to our other classes. As much as I miss having her around, it's nice having new friends. It's still something I'm getting used to though, even before I came out I didn't really have anyone but Taylor. My best friend from my old school and I hung out occasionally but he was usually busy with football or out with his teammates. We eventually grew apart. When I did come out, I went from being the quiet kid to the school joke. Saying I was bullied is a bit of an understatement. The jocks in my grade pushed me into lockers, trip me at any time, and they always threatened to do worse. As if physical abuse wasn't enough, everyone else decided to not let a day go by without making sure that I've been called a "freak", "sinner", "faggot"... you get the point. It hit me pretty hard when it first happened. My worst fears about coming out had come true and felt worse than I could imagine. I got really depressed, I stopped eating, my grades plummeted, I even iced out Taylor and any other friends I had thinking they'd rather be with their popular straight friends. One day Taylor had enough, she marched to my house and confronted me. My parents already knew about me being gay and for the most part, accepted me, but she was the one who told my parents about the bullying.

After hearing what happened, my parents had a conversation with our principle and got him to agree to a stronger anti-bullying policy. Taylor gave me the confidence to keep going to school and being myself, whenever someone would make fun of me, I would respond loud and proud that I didn't care what they said and that I will never change, and a few other comebacks and stuff. Of course, it was all false bravado. I was terrified to even look anyone in the eye, but eventually, some of the bravadoes became a small bit of confidence. Once they saw that I wasn't affected, for the most part, they stopped. Except for a few jocks but by the end of the year no one really cared anymore or they didn't show it. 

Its now sophomore year, I still get dirty looks, occasionally get shoved but it's not often and much more people accept me. I don't know what I would've done without Taylor and my parents, I don't like to think about it too much. What happened to me that year hurt me deeper than I care to admit to anyone, not even Taylor, or myself. There are still things that happened that keep me up at night, that no one knows about. I locked away those feelings in the furthest part of my mind, never to be remembered. One or two more weeks of hate and unacceptance, maybe I wouldn't have made it to my sophomore year.

The door to enter my math class snaps me back to reality. Enough of that. This is a new year, a better year, I'm not gonna let bad memories ruin potential good ones. And with that, I step inside.

Math class goes by just as quickly as did the next two classes. I got bored during class and got a head start on my homework. I finished just in time for my lunch bell to ring. Eating lunch with Taylor may be my favorite part of the day. Unfortunately, lunch ended, making me go back to my class. On my way back to my locker our principle's voice is heard on the intercom.

"Pardon the interruption, Charlie Clark please report to my office immediately."

Wait, me? What did I do? 

As I'm trying to figure out what he could possibly want with me, a voice calls out to me.

"Hey! Charlie!" It's Taylor. She runs down the rest of the stairs and then faces me. "Why does the principal want you? What did you do?" 

I respond, "Nothing! I mean I don't think so, I don't know."

She frowns at me. "I'm coming with you, whatever he wants with you involves me too."

"Are you sure that's a good idea, don't you have class?"

"I have art and Mrs. Berry loves me, she won't mind. I'm already ahead on my painting anyway." She smiles at me. Honestly, she's the best, what would I do without her?

"Alright I guess, let's go," I say as I grab her hand and lead her to the office. The principal is standing outside of this office by the door, we chucked to himself when he sees Taylor behind me. He knows us well enough that we are almost inseparable. 

"Shouldn't you been in class Ms. Sacheli?" He says to Taylor with amusement on his face.

"Mrs. Berry is fine with it, I'm almost done with my painting and plus if Charlie is getting in trouble for something, I wanna be there to laugh at him." She adds with a smirk. I roll my eyes at her, then turn to Mr. Brownfield.

"You needed to see me, sir?"

"Yes, and you're not in trouble if that what you're wondering," he says jokingly putting my mind at ease. "I'll explain everything in my office, please come in." He opens the door for Taylor and me to step in. One of the two chairs opposite Mr. Brownfield's desk is occupied by a boy I haven't seen before looking up at us. His blue-green eyes looked at us nervously, then looked back down to his lap. He was kind of cute, but he's definitely not my type. 

I catch myself staring at this poor stranger and quickly stop myself. I proceed to take a seat next to the unknown guy and try to keep my focus on what Mr. Brownfield has to say. I wonder what it could be?

I turn to the door and notice a blushing Taylor shocked at the stranger too. She walks to the corner of the room and stands there grinning, occasionally looking at the guy.

"Well now that you're all settled, I'll begin. Charlie, to your right, is Alex Daniels," He explains.

"He just moved to town and is enrolling here at Jefferson High."  

I look over at Alex, he shyly looks up at me and gives me a half smile. I smile back at him. It's cool that we're getting a new student and all but how does this involve me?

"You may be wondering what this has to do with you," He continues as if he was reading my mind. "You Charlie, have been picked to be his guide. He is in all but one of your classes, instead of gym class I have decided to let him have free study during that period, he will be allowed to go anywhere he needs. Transferring schools is hard and he needs all the help catching up he can get. You will show him around school the rest of the day, I have talked to all of your teachers and they will excuse you from certain work as long as it involves helping Alex. I just want you to help him get used to the way things work around here. Who knows, maybe you will grow to be great friends. Will you accept?"

It didn't take me very long to figure out my answer. Help the seemingly nice new boy get used to the school, also get out of doing school work, how could I possibly say no? But there was one thing on my mind.

"I'd love to help, but just one question. Why me?" I asked. Mr. Brownfield opens his mouth, then closes it unable to answer. He looks to Alex for help. Alex nods then faces me.

"Let me explain, it's kind of a long story," he says. His voice is deep but quiet. Maybe he's shy. 

"At my old school, I was bullied," He paused. I could see the pain in his eyes, he was reliving what had happened to him like I had done this morning. 

How does this guy get bullied? And what for? What does this have to do with me? Maybe they picked me because I was bullied last year, so that gave us some common ground? Hell if I know.

He continues, "I wasn't really an outgoing kid, I mostly kept to myself, I played soccer but wasn't friends with any of the sporty jocks. I didn't really have many friends, except for a few people on my team and people in my classes, but even then we weren't close. One day I decided to tell one of my closest friends a secret of mine," he looked at me and Taylor nervously. "I told him that I was bisexual."