One Last Rose

Chapter 2: Making Friends

Damon's pov:
As I walked home from Keith, I sighed. Something about him intrigued me, I dont even know why. He wasn't quite a talker, but that could have been because he was beaten up, the poor boy.

Sadly, I know how he felt. I had been bullied enough to know. It wasn't long until I got home my parents, brothers and sister had already started eating.

"Finally you're home, Damon. Where have you been so long. We were about to get worried." My mother said when I came in.

"Sorry mom, but a boy was being beaten upin the park, so I sent the cops and helped him get home." I quickly explained.

"Oh my, is he gonna be okay?" My mother asked worried. I nodded. "His name is Keith Rich and he's also going to Hardwood High."

"Maybe you could become friends then?" My father suggested. I shrugged eating my food and letting the subject rest.

"Is Anna still coming over to discuss your plan?" My mother asked and I nodded again.

"So you haven't changed your mind about that ridiculous plan and just being yourself?" My father asked with a frown. I shook my head no.

I didn't want to get myself and my family in the same shit we were before we moved.

"I'll be okay one day, dad. But for now, I guess it's best for all of us to keep quiet." Both my parents looked at their plate and I quickly finished eating before going to my room.

I would tell everyone we had moved here because of my father's job. That I had a girlfriend I had left behind and most of all I was going to be as manly as I could.

The truth however was that we moved here because I've been bullied and beaten up by people who didn't like 'my kind of people'. I liked boys. I found out when I fell for my best friend, but when I told him, he turned against me and that's when the bullying started.

It got worse through time and in the end I just wouldn't go outdoors anymore, so they started terrorising my home and family. I ended up having panic attacks and anxiety. That's when my parents decided to move.

So here I am, trying to start over. Trying not to be gay. Trying to be someone who fits in.

Anna would pretend to be my girlfriend, while she was actually a childhood friend who moved away quite a few years ago, but we never lost contact and she was more than happy to help.

She had a week extra before school started again so it was perfect to make it look like she was actually my girlfriend.

I looked at my bag fully packed with school stuff. It wouldn't be long until Anna arrived, so I started getting my room ready.

I began with getting rid of any trash and put clothes into the laundry. As soon as I finished I heard a knock on my door.

"Come in!" I said, looking af the door. It was Anna, as expected. She smiled at me as I opened my arms for her. We hugged each other tight.

"I'm so happy you're helping me out Anna, thank you." I said grateful. She kept smiling and shrugged.

"It was a good excuse to leave my house." She laughed. "That bad?" She nodded.

"So, what's the plan pretty boy?" I sighed and explained evey little detail to her. She would be my girlfriend and every day after school this week she would meet me. We practiced the story we would tell people who asked.

"Is that everything?" She asked tired. "Yes, I think you've got it." She yawned and headed over to her bed and I got in mine.

"Damon?" I rolled over so I could look at her. "Yeah?"