Decided By Fate (Preview)

Act 1, Chapter 17

Simon was defenceless as he looked at the three muscular men standing over him. He didn't know how to react in this situation, but the jocks weren't acting with hostility. The one jock offered him a hand, but Simon remained reluctant to take it. The jock shook it, insinuating that Simon should take it and seeing no other choice in the matter, Simon did. His pasty white hand met the jock's, and in one swift movement, he pulled Simon up to his feet. There weren't any surprises, punches or cheapshots. Simon merely stood there in front of the quarterback. He placed his hand on Simon's shoulder and forced him to face away from the direction where he had been taken from. The quarterback's goal was to ensure Simon could see the door. The other two jocks kept guard behind them in case Simon did something stupid or something else happened during the negotiations.

"Kid, you see that door?" The quarterback asked.

"Why are you doing this?" Simon asked.

"Answer the question." The jock said while his eyes glared into the younger boy.

"Yes, I can see the door," Simon said.

"Good. Now tell me, what are doors made for?" The quarterback asked as they started inching closer to them.

"Seriously?" Simon replied and, in doing so, tried to break the boy's grasp on him, but as he struggled, the jock tightened his hold.

"Answer the question, young blood." The muscular boy growled at Simon.

"To let people in?" Simon asked, not knowing what answer they could be looking for.

"And?" The quarterback continued.

"And what?" Simon answered.

"They keep people out who aren't wanted. Guess which one you are?" The jock said as Simon didn't say another word as his feet continued to forcefully move toward the door. "Look, kid, I don't know why you're with that girl. We've all seen the cuts on her arms now, and if this is some sort of suicide pact, like one last perfect night before you off yourselves, then find somewhere else to do it."

"It's not like that. I'm her boyfriend." Simon mentioned.

"Oh, yeah. So what, you're like her little bitch or something. The stray dog that always follows her around. If you're into older women, Jason's mom is single and looking to mingle, minus being in jail and all." The quarterback continued to ridicule Simon.

Doing what he could, Simon tried to resist his body from moving forward. Yet the quarterback was quicker and forced Simon's head down into a headlock, ready to dispose of the boy.

"Why are you doing this?" Simon asked again, knowing his opportunities to get away were non-existent now.

"I have an offer, kid. If you leave now, I won't come back next year to ruin your graduation after-party; sound good?" The boy asked, but Simon wasn't ready to back down.

"Fuck off. I'm not coming next year since my girlfriend is leaving town." Simon fired back.

"Shit, guys, this puppy has some bite to him. Well, little bitch remember your girl will be off at university with a whole bunch of older guys. Partying, doing drugs, drinking booze, you'll be another forgotten memory by her second week there." The quarterback said, hissing his final remarks.

Before Simon could say anything else, the jocks pushed him toward the doors hoping he could do the rest and turned away from him. Their words were hanging in his back like daggers, cutting him up on the inside as he struggled to fight his reality. What made it worse was that the jocks weren't wrong about their assessment. With a three-hour drive between me and him, and neither of us could drive, it was going to be a rocky road. Simon had no choice but to accept the facts.