Dear Kellin

Chapter Two...

Detention was brutal. We had to clean all the chalk boards and clean the erasers. After two minutes I was coughing from the chalk. There were only two other guys besides me in detention, so he let us off easy. After we finished cleaning the chalk boards he told us we could do whatever we wanted but we had to stay in the room. I thought it would've been a good time to check the letters people send in.

Only about half of the school knows about the school newspaper, so I don't get a lot of letters. But sometimes I get a lot. I usually always get one or two letters every week.

This week I got a letter from someone new. I usually get the letters from the same people, but this time I had no idea who it was

Dear Kellin,

Let me introduce myself. Well.. maybe not. I don't want to introduce myself just yet. I want it to be a surprise. So you can just call me Mr. X. I'm not new here but I still don't know my way around this place. I'm very shy. Very shy. I've only talked to two people since school started. One of them was my brother. The other is this new boy I met in one of my classes. He's truly beautiful. Not a flaw that I could see. And I'm not even sure if he's gay or not. He's just beautiful.

That's kind of why I'm writing to you. I want to talk to him more. But I can't. I'm scared to death. And it isn't easy. Mike (my brother) is saying I need to make more friends. He's in ninth grade, and he's probably one of the most popular kids in the entire school. Meanwhile, I'm having a freaking panic attack. I was never good with socializing. I've always had a panic attack talking to people and I'm surprised I got past talking to him. He's truly beautiful. One of the most beautiful people I've ever seen. I saw this drawing they threw at him today. It was him. With heart eyes. Looking at me. And at the bottom it said Stop drooling Kellin. Is he gay? I would be very happy if he is. But that's not the advice I wanted. All I can think about is suicide. I need help. Everyone laughs at me because of my anxiety and depression. I'm not sure if I can stay much longer. I know it sounds crazy but ever since I saw Kellin, I could've put an actual smile on my face. Mike is really proud of me. He's happy that I sat next to him. He doesn't even know what he looks like. My question is, should I try and be happy and talk to Kellin? Or what if the bullying never stops?

Please write back, Mr. X xx

It broke my heart reading that letter. I'm glad he decided to talk to me, but I'm sad because it's about suicide. Does he even know that I'm the one whose reading this? Maybe he does. I'm not sure, but I know I have to reply to him.

Dear Mr. X

Let me just say that I'm proud you held on this long. I'm very very very proud. Mike should be very proud of you for having a genuine smile. I have gone through similar situations when my dad started hurting me. But let me tell you, it really does get better. You should be alive to see it. Kellin sounds like an amazing guy. You should talk to him. I'm sure he would love hearing about you.

Suicide should never be an option. You have your brother, Mike, to help you. I would love to learn more about Mike. He seems like the boy who will always help, trust me, he does.

Whenever you feel like you're about to have a panic attack, take deep breaths and imagine a calm place, and place you love being. I know that you're stronger than this. You always are and you always will be.

I hope I gave you good advice, if you want to talk about anything I'm here.

Love Kellin J

I pressed send and the letter went out to the internet. I was scared for Vic, I had no idea he had panic attacks and wanted to die.

Out of all of that I remembered a name. Mike Fuentes. I've heard that name from somewhere, I have no idea how I remembered this name, considering he's in the ninth grade and I'm in the eleventh. I just know I know that name.

When Coach dismissed us from detention, I grabbed my books and bolted out, going to the library and getting on one of the computers. I went onto twitter and looked up 'Mike Fuentes'. I waited until a twitter name came up and clicked on it. When I got to my profile I saw him. He looks like a badass. He's with his friends and flicking off the camera and doing skate tricks. I was jealous, but not a lot. I was never the badass kind. I stayed at home and wrote and read books and I was a big momma's boy.

I saw his profile picture was him and Vic. They were in front of a waterfall with two people who I suppose are his parents. They looked very young. And his mother was beautiful for a woman. It looks like they were camping. I didn't think he was a camper. I clicked on the photo and saw it closer. Vic was wearing short sleeves. And you could see his scars. They acted like they weren't there. His family didn't care about his scars. I wonder why he hates his life so much. He seemed so happy in that photo.

I looked through Mike's profile more but I have no idea where I've seen him before. It makes me so mad because it's on the tip of my tounge, but I can't quite get it out.

As I sigh and stand up to leave the library, something catches my eye. It's Mike. He didn't seem like the type to come to the library. I had to talk to him.

I walked over to where he was sitting and looked at the book he was reading. To Kill A Mocking Bird. Even I wouldn't offer to read that book. Why is a badass like him reading that book?

I go up to him with a panic look, "Are you Mike Fuentes?'

He jumps up, feeling startled I guess. He hides the book in his bag and gives a fake cough, "Yes. Who are you?"

I give a small sigh of relief and look at him, "I'm uhm.. Kellin. Kellin Quinn. I uh.. know your brother." I say as calmly as I can

A smile appears on Mike's face, "Nice to meet you. My brother doesn't really know you but he talks a lot about you, even though he's only know you for a day." A smile appears on my face. He actually talks about me?

"I uhm.. wanted to ask you some things about Vic, if that's okay.

"Yeah, sure, go ahead, but can we do it somewhere else? I kind of have a reputation." He smiles and I give a smile laugh

"My house then?" I say and he nods. Once he gets his bag and stands up we head off to my car and go straight to my house. I have a feeling this conversation is very important.