Guardian

chapter twelve

I stared out the window. The teacher was talking about Shakespeare or something, but I wasn't paying attention. I was too tired and too busy thinking about Vic.

How could someone who doesn't know me care about me? I've been thinking all night trying to come up with an explanation. My dad who's known me my whole life doesn't care about me. Why should Vic? He's dead... doesn't he have better things to do than worrying about a fragile little sophomore? I had to admit though, it was sort of flattering. I can't remember the last time someone cared this much. I mean there was Austin and a million words can't express how grateful I was, but I think Austin would do it for anyone. He is so kind after all.

"Mr. Quinn, I asked you a question," my stern teacher said to me, snapping me out of my thoughts. Oh shit.

"Um, I'm sorry Mrs. Redfern, could you repeat the question?" I could looked down as everyone stared at me. I wanted to crawl into a corner and disappear; I get so nervous when any attention is focused on me.

"Not paying attention in class, hm? Mr. Quinn, please see me after school," she said handing me a detention slip. I sighed as my cheeks probably turned a darker shade of red.

I trudged down the long hallway after the final bell rang, shortly after it had been cleared out. There were so many kids bustling about with things to do- I felt kind of left out. I never had anything to do other than go home. I just wanted to get this over with as fast as possible. In Mrs. Redfern's room there were a few other people, but the one who really stood out was Alex Gaskarth. Shit.

"Okay I'm going to put you guys in partners and you're going to clean different parts of the school."

Please not Alex, please not Alex, please not Alex, I begged over and over again in my head.

"Justin and Gabe, you will be washing the graffiti off that you two probably put on the walls yesterday. Jenna and Jake, you will take out all the trash cans and clean all the white boards. And, last but not least, Kellin and Alex," she continued as my heart sank, "you guys are going to wash every table in the cafeteria and outside. Okay, now go."

Alex looked at me and gave me an evil grin. This was clearly not going to end well...

When we got to the cafeteria with our buckets with soapy water and sponges. My hands were shaking so much I could hardly wash the tables. I kept expecting Alex to hurt me or at least say something but he didn't. Every time he came over to dip his sponge in the bucket I'd flinch, expecting him to punch me, but he would just smirk and go back to washing his table. By the time we finished in the cafeteria and got outside I started to relax a little. I was in the middle of washing my last table when I heard Alex mutter: "Faggot."

"Excuse me?" I said, instantly regretting saying anything at all. Why can't I just keep my damn mouth shut?

"You heard me, faggot," he said. The words stung, I looked down not wanting to make things any worse. "Who do you think you are?" spat Alex. I looked at him a little shocked.

"W-what?"

"You spy on me making a deal and then go accuse me of being gay!"

My heart was beating so fast. "C-can't we just forget about that? You've already gave me a lesson." I said quietly, trying not to provoke him. He started laughing which puzzled me.

"Forget about it? Absolutely not! I bet you've started rumours about me. Who have you told that I'm gay? Because it's not true, you're the faggot."

"I h-haven't told anyone," I stuttered.

"Liar!" He yelled and grabbed my t-shirt. Panic rose in me, and I swear you could hear my heart beating a mile away.

Alex gave a really powerful kick to my leg. I yelped out in pain and fell down. That was the area where I had gone really deep with my knife, and I could feel it starting to bleed. I was shaking really hard now and I could feel tears forming in my eyes. Alex picked me up by my shirt again. "When I ask you a question you answer it! Now tell me who you told!" I tried forming words, but I couldn't speak.