Oreo

Chapter 4: Thoughts

Romeo's POV~

It was Monday, and..... it almost shocked me how different it was.  Despite the weird looks we were given, no one dared try to make a snide comment at all.  I almost felt relaxed.  Orion had followed me to my locker and took me to his afterwards so that I wasn't left for the hounds.  In classes, some of our peers were whispering amongst each other and shooting glances, but there weren't any paper balls.

As much as all of that pleased me, the dreaded final period barreled closer way faster than I had presumed.  It was now Sixth and my whole body felt tense.  None of last weeks bruises had even fully healed.  My shoulders were raised and and my posture stiff as I nervously made my way towards the gymnasium.

"Heeey, heey, calm down, buddy." Orion stated, making me jump a little as he put his arm around me. "You got me here, so there's nothing to worry about."

I frowned a little, looking at him.  "Dont you have band right now?"

He shrugged.  "I quit.  I prefer Celo anyway and there isn't an Orchestra class here.  I need the gym credit anyways."

"... Okay." I replied shortly.  I dismissed the mild confusion that had momentarily replaced my anxiety.  However, a light sigh of relief escaped me as we entered the gym.

It was the most wonderful thing to see the faces on Greyson, Garrett, Corbin and all their lackeys as we entered together and not just their favorite victim.  It honestly felt weak to be protected by a guy only an inch taller than myself, but his ego and highly possible background with martial arts made me just shove those insecurities aside.

I don't care how weak it makes me feel, so long as those assholes are put in their place and their egos knocked down a few...

The bell rang and so did the teacher's whistle.

"Alright!  Everybody, warm up!  You know the drill!"

~

The coach's whistle blew a final time and all the dodgeballs stopped.  Greyson, Garrett and their friends grumbled and complained, having been pelted all throughout the game.  Everyone was sent to the locker rooms to change.  It was fairly refreshing to watch, knowing that I was finally free from the pressure of everyone around me.

I followed Orion into the locker rooms.  "Ahh, I'm glad I got my period switched." He said, stretching.

A smile actually found my face for the briefest of moments only to quickly fade.  "Yeah..." Why do I feel so guilty, though?  He's new to this school and immediately he gets himself so wrapped up in my problems... It feels like I'm being selfish or something...

"You okay?" He questioned as we started changing into our ordinary clothes.  No one had a locker on my side except for, now, Orion, because everyone gets the wrong idea.

"Yeah.." I replied shortly, pulling my shirt over my head.  My eyes remained on my own pile of clothes or my locker.  I don't care if he's gay too, I'm self conscious enough.  I don't want to cause any sort of discomfort...

"Hmm.." Was all he said in response as pulled his own shirt on.  The other guys in the room just mumbled around to themselves or each other, ignoring us.  A welcomed change in environment.

Finally finished the convert into average clothes, I locked my locker and and picked up my bag.  The idea of just walking out and just waiting crossed my mind.  I don't want to give him the wrong idea, though... I'm appreciative, but I don't want him to think I'm not.  I should just stay and wait so we can walk out together and pretend things are normal.  Pretend?  Is that the right word?  It doesn't really feel like it... I don't think I'm pretending......

"Hellooo~?" Orion snapped in front of my face, yanking me back to the real world and I looked up at him.  "Something wrong with your locker?  Or were you just lost in thought?" He had finished changing.

Yes, that.  I have a tendency for doing that.  "Ahh... latter."

"Okay.." He said.  "You sure you're okay?  You look ultimately pissed about something."

And that was more or less expected... "That's just my face.."

He chuckled shortly.  "Whatever then.  Come on, School's out." He put an arm around my shoulders, walking me out the back door that lead straight outside.  "So.  Want to come over to my place again today?"

"No, I can't." I replied, more bluntly than intended.  "I have a part time job I need to get to.."

"Oh?" He raised his eyebrows.  "Really?  Wow, I didn't know you had a job." He paused.  "Well, I don't know too much about you in  general, but that's cool.  Where?"

"Michaels..."

He scratched his chin thoughtfully.  "Aahh, really?  When do you get off?"

"Six-thirty."

He grinned and slapped me on the back.  "Awesome!  I'll come by and pick you up afterwards so we can hang out!"

"Okay.."

"You taking the bus?" He questioned.

"Yeah."

"Want me to ride with you?"

"I've got no problem with that..."

"Alright!" He grabbed my wrist and started pulling me off campus.  As much as his actions were hasty as hell, I just allowed him to pull me all the way down the street to the city bus stop.

He spoke a lot about how he was tying to find a job, himself, to pay for rent and how annoying his older sister was.  How she would pry to him about being responsible now that he was living on his own even though she still lived with their parents at the age of twenty-five.  He also gushed about his baby sister and how fast she was growing up and how much he wished he could see her life unfold.  This stuff went on the whole bus ride until we reached the Towne Centre where the Michaels I worked at was located.

"So, do you have any siblings?"

Her face flashed through my head.  "... I did."

"Hm?"

My watch beeped when we finally reached the store.  "I have to get to work.  See ya."

He watched me go into the store.  "See ya at six-thirty."

I sighed as I went to the work room to clock in and put on my name tag.  Luckily, I hadn't done much moving around during gym so I didn't totally reek.  Hopefully today would be slow to give me enough time to think about everything.

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