In My Eyes

Chapter Nine

Bianca

The texts I got from Ben last night were a little strange, but I continued through my school day normally despite it. I wonder what he would even want to talk to me about in the first place.

As I sit through my classes, my mind wanders a bit and I start to doodle, as I do most of the time. But my drawing comes to a halt when I come to a sharp, painful realization.

Someone told him something about me, didn't they?

As soon as I thought of this, I panicked. What if they told him something completely false? I don't want to lose him. Just when I thought he was starting to like me, too...

Suddenly, the day gets a whole lot gloomier and fifty times slower. In fact, it felt as though I was walking through a pool of jello when I changed classes. I wanted to set things right immediately, but I didn't see him at all today. God, can the clock tick any slower?

By the time the day ended, I had easily done enough stressing about the situation to wear me down for a week. As soon as that last bell rang, I sped to my locker to get my stuff together and swiftly headed to the designated meeting place. I sit on a rock nearby and wait, very pained, for Ben.

After what seems like an eternity, I take notice of a familiar shape coming towards me. However, his usual dorky smile was nowhere to be found. Rather, he looked like his own antithesis: downtrodden, completely disheveled, and at a loss for words.

"H-hi, Ben," I greet him, shaking a little. He stands in front of me.

"Hi."

"What do you want to tell me?" I ask, very anxious for his answer.

He sighs. "Listen, I just heard some stuff yesterday that upset me a lot. I haven't been very happy since then. I want you to tell me the truth... what's the real reason these people are saying things about you?"

"What did they say this time?" I frown, expecting the usual insults.

"One of the guys on my football team said that there was something wrong with you and your family. It really hurt me when he said it. I thought he was making fun deep down, but I was also scared for you. Is everything okay at home?"

I feel myself getting saddened more and more by the second. "They're all so cruel to me. They've been making up rumors about me since I was in middle school. Do you want to know the real reason why I have no friends and everyone avoids me?"

He frowns, but nods anyways.

I sigh deeply. "I know I should've told you this sooner, but... I have two gay dads." I peer down at the ground, extremely afraid of his reaction.

The air changes. "Wait, that's it?"

I peer up immediately. "You... you don't hate me?"

"Of course not. For a reason like that? What the fuck?"

I continue. "When I was in seventh grade, one of my close friends started telling people lies. She told them that I not only had two gay dads, but that I was a complete retard and had serious psychological issues caused by them. It spread so violently because everyone here is so crazily Christian."

He sits next to me. "Those bastards."

I start to cry a little. "When you started talking to me, I was so shocked because no one wants to even come near me. Not everyone bullies me, but in the very least, they don't want to associate with me. I've tried to ignore it, but it's hurting me so much more now."