Crown-less Kings

Impact

Marvin didn't say anything to me the rest of the time we were there. Once we got in the car, I carefully whispered everything that had gone down to Sheppard who nodded and smiled and frowned like this was actually an interesting story. 

Mom and Dad thought we had all gotten along swimmingly. I let Sheppard share his time more than I shared mine so they didn't know I basically called out Marvin. 

I hadn't thought about what would happen after we got back from Thanksgiving break, but it was surprising what did. I guess I was expecting another stupid word or term written on my locker or Braden's. But it was empty. 

I stared, the hallway alive around me at the clean locker. Nothing. I glanced around, expecting an ambush. But nothing. Jason and a few others walked past me with the nastiest glare they could do. But didn't trip me, or punch me, or yell names at me. 

I watch them leave and jump when someone taps me on the shoulder. I turn around hastily, but it's only Braden.

"Oh my god, Braden, you scared me!" I place a hand on my chest and breath deeply.

"I'm sorry, I'm a little on edge too. They didn't write anything on my locker, did you?" I shake my head and Braden frowns, "What could they be planning?"'

"I..." I hesitate but go ahead and say it hoping it won't jinx me, "I don't know if they are planning anything? Right now at least."

Braden's eyes are wide and give me a look as if I were insane, "What? Are you crazy?"

"No, listen," I shut my locker, "I went over to Marvin's house for Thanksgiving, not knowing it was his house. And, woah, can his mom make some good stuffing. Not the point, the point is his Dad made us hang out and I may or may not have broken one of his walls? I'm not sure, I got him to get emotional about losing Rey Dyke as a friend, then I called him out for what he and Jason have been doing and gave them a piece of reality."

"Which was?"

I shrug and we start walking class, "That I had to learn to stand up for myself otherwise I wasn't going to live longer. I gave him some LGBT youth suicide facts and I think that scared him."

"Holy shit, Barkley," Braden is not one to curse very often, "Do you really think you've scared them away?"

I shrug again and look forward, "One can hope."

I wave him goodbye and keep walking to my class.

I couldn't believe my eyes anymore. After not seeing anything on my locker, and now. Rey still looks pretty emotionless, but that fact that he's talking to anyone is shocking. The fact that it's Marvin talking to Rey, had me stopping in the middle of the hallway.

Neither of them looks particularly annoyed about talking to each other, but I also don't really see happiness in their expressions. Are they talking to each other willingly? 

I stay next to a locker as if I were waiting for someone, and watch them converse. Rey is slightly taller than Marvin, and thicker with muscles whereas Marvin is a lanky type. 

Rey looks stiff, and Marvin looks nervous. Poor boys, they look so awkward. Anyone a mile away could see they aren't close anymore, and how they haven't talked in years. They need help easing the conversation.

I stride over, dodging people to make my way to the pair. It feels nice being taller than Marvin, even if it is by a ich or two.

"Hi boys," I smile brightly at them. 

Rey glances down, his face slack and emotionless, "Barkley."

Marvin's screws up his face, "You know each other?"