God Gave Me You

Chapter One ~ Standing Up for Me

"I recommend you not pay attention to that gay retard," Lucy spoke as cruel as ever. That's the first thing I heard, for I kept everything blocked from my hearing since those few minutes ago. For five minutes I was listening to bull. And that's all. No one ever stands up for me. Never helps me out when the kids are making a fool outta me. It hurts. All I was doing was doodling abnormal dinosaurs, trees and cats in my skinny red notebook. Yeah, different combinations. Also I doodled the nickname I want to be called on the front of it with a  Sharpie. That is Johnny. But I never get called it. I'm either Johnathan by the teachers, Gaylord, or Gay Retard. Sometimes even The Fail Idiot because they figured out I flunked the ninth grade. So here I am, back in this rat-hole. I should be in tenth grade by now. But I'm not. Because of my failure, I'm here in ninth grade again with all the immature kids. Oh, correction, most of the immature kids. All are in ninth grade, some are even in twelfth grade. And the twelfth graders are supposed to be in their mature state because they're almost graduating in June. Almost young adults. The ones who don't bully me (and trust me, most of the school bullies me.) ignore me. They don't say one word to me because they don't want to be teased for talking to me. And the teachers all say I'm a ' slow learner'. Which is pretty much true. But it hurts and makes me even more insecure. "Why so?" Wow, I've never heard a voice so beautiful before. From the corner of my eye, I noticed an angel. There was a shiny halo above her silky dark brown hair and flawless apricot face complexion with amazing blue-ish green eyes. Man, I could just die. She's just so beautiful. "I said why. He's just gay." Lucy started insulting me again like the first part of homeroom. "How is he gay?" the girl asked, raising an eyebrow as in being curious. "Because, he's a big fan of a man," Lucy replied, glancing at me and rolling her eyes. "That doesn't make a guy gay." I heard what I've always wanted to hear, and that girl said it. "He likes Ralph Macchio. And Ralph sucks!" Now Lucy's insulting Ralph again. "Are you serious? Ralph is amazing. I'm his biggest fan." The girl started smiling. My head shot up. And the girl smiled in my direction. Which was to me. "So you like Ralph? What's your favorite movie of his?" she asked. No one's ever cared enough to ask what I like before. It took a lot of courage to say, "M-m-m-my C-cousin Vinny." I was starting to stutter like I usually do. And I was staring down at my notebook. "You stutter? That's cute," the girl commented, giggling. "You have got to be kidding me!" Michael exclaimed from behind me. That made me cringe, it was so loud. "I'm not kidding," the girl admitted. "Whatever." Michael groaned, and I noticed him stuff his earphones for his iPod in his ears. "Michael, put away your iPod or I will sell it on the Internet." Ms. Lynne had arrived. She's my homeroom teacher. And she's that teacher that failed me. Ms. Lynne is the alebra teacher. She hardly helped me at all with my class work. It was like the other kids are more important than me. Which is probably true. "Johnathan, come up to the board," Ms. Lynne demanded, picking up a piece of white chalk. I gulped, hearing some chuckles. With her chalk, she wrote -6x + 5 + 12x -6 on the board. "Answer that," she said, taking a few steps back. I just stared at the board. What else was I supposed to do? "Answer it," she repeated. I glanced at her trying to make her see that I'm too dumb to answer this freakin' question. "Come on Gaylord, don't be so stupid!" Jarett shouted out, making everyone chortle almost out of their lungs. "There is nothing wrong with not knowing a question! Some questions are hard to others." I heard the girl's voice. She was standing up for me. I showed a teethy grin. Something I haven't shown in a while. But it was only to the chalkboard. "Ally, stop standing up for that gay retard," Lucy commanded with a growl. "Lucy, being gay is not an insult." Ms. Lynne cut her off. The whole class started laughing. Forcing down the chalk, I then ran out of the room leaving me hearing Ms. Lynne faintly say, "Get back in here!" since I had shut the door. Tears started pouring down my cheeks, and I kept wiping them away, but it was no use, they kept on. "Johnathan?" There was... Ally's voice I heard again. I stopped in my tracks but didn't turn around. Footsteps, I heard, coming towards me. A hand fell on my shoulder, and that was Ally I saw when I was turned around. "Don't cry." Apparently she noticed from the tear stains near my burning eyes. She wiped my tears that were just about to fall. Slightly, I smiled. By my surprise, she hugged me. I've never gotten a hug from anyone but my family before. "I see by how you hate how they treat you about the gay comments, that you're not," she commented, tightening the hug. "I-I-I'm n-not," I stuttered, kind of whiny. "I believe you," Ally whispered in my ear. Her breath tickled. A smile crept to my face. Unfortunately, she pulled away but still a smile on her pretty face. "As much as I hate to say it, we have to get back to class." She grabbed my wrist in her hand, practically dragging me to class. "Gaylord is back," Jarett insulted when I arrived back in class with Ally. "There's no reason to call him Gaylord. He's not gay." Ally is really starting to stand up for me. "Awh, someone's in love with a gay retard!" Lucy shouted, snickering. "Well, she can't have him because he's gay!" Michael added quickly. "I'm not in love with him. We're just friends." My head shot up. I can't believe it. No one's ever called me 'their friend' before. I've never had a friend. Honest to God. Everyone hates me. Only Ally likes me. Like a fool, I smiled a teethy smile. The bell rung, and I had to go to World History. "What class do you have next?" I turned to see that she was staring at me with those breath-taking blue-ish green eyes. "W-w-w-world h-history," I stuttered. "Same." Ally giggled. I knew my smile was goofy. When we arrived, I sat down where I always sit - in the middle of the room. We have black-topped tables instead of desks. Ally was talking with Ms. Kim. With those breath-taking eyes, she stared at me the whole time she walked to sit beside me on the left. Her smile she showed. See, I have no one to sit beside. No one would even sit beside me for a million dollars. "The Paleolithic era, meaning "Old Stone Age" is a very long period of human prehistory, extending from the first tool-using homonids at least 2.6 million years ago, all the way up until the receding of continental glaciers and the development of agriculture c. 10,000 BC." And she went on, but I didn't listen... as always. This time I wasn't thinking of going home. I was thinking of Ally. The bell rung some minutes later, and Ally asked, "What's next?" I was nervous again, so I stuttered. "L-lunch." I stood up. "Oh right, I had forgot." She stood up after with her binders in her arms. When we reached the door, I waved my hand for her to walk out first, "L-l-ladies f-first." like a gentlemen should. Our lockers are far apart. But we can still see each other. I stuffed my binders in my locker, then shyly walked over to Ally's. She shut her locker after she was done. Then she smiled at me. My ears started growing hot. In silence, we walked to lunch. I don't know why she was silent, but I was because I was so nervous. "Ladies f-first," I repeated like I did before. She giggled which made me smile. Ally picked out a cheeseburger, string beans, and mac and cheese. I guess we have that in common since I picked it, too. I pick that over any food they have at lunch for the day. Cheeseburgers are way better than spaghetti in my opinion. "So a cheeseburger fan, huh?" Ally commented on my choice with a soft giggle. I chuckled bashfully, nodding. "So where do you sit?" she asked. My eyes grew wide. "I-I-I've never had someone sit with me before." My answer was in a whisper. "Well, I'll change that." She smiled. "Show me where you sit." She followed me as I walked to the table I sit. And she insisted to sit across from me. Ally started with the string beans. That, I can tell, shows that she's healthy. "So how long have you been a fan of Ralph?" she asked, stuffing a few string beans in her mouth and chewing. "Three years," I answered honestly. I can't stop whispering. I'm just so nervous. "Wow," she responded. "H-how about you?" I was curious. "Almost a year. I've been a fan of him since June 3rd of last year," she replied, not taking her eyes off of her food. That shows she's hungry. "T-that's cool." Dammit Johnny, stop whispering, I think to myself. Ally started on her cheeseburger while I was already eating mine. "Awh, Gaylord and Miss Flat-Ass are--" Hilary started, but I interrupted her. "Don't talk to Ally like that!" I haven't stood up to anyone before. "Awh, Gaylord is in love with Miss Flat-Ass." Hilary started laughing. "What's funny?" Nick came into the short, cruel conversation. "Gaylord finally stood up to someone," Hilary answered. "That was so sweet." She started teasing harshly, acting like one of those grandmothers who pinch your cheeks and have that irritating voice when they do when they say 'That was so sweet'. "Who the hell is this girl?" Nick asked no one in particular. "Miss Flat-Ass," Hilary responded. I growled. "Awh, someone likes a girl for once. What happened to your Ralph Macchio, huh?" Nick teased, also harshly. "Will you just leave him alone?" Ally asked, I turned to her, and she had her eyes narrowed like a lonely narrow street. Today, I've finally became joyous, now thankful for Ally. She has made today better. And I hope she'll always stay. "No we won't leave him alone. He's Gaylord and always will be. And you will always be Miss Flat-Ass." Hilary just keeps on insulting. "And you will always be Miss Bitch." I've never insulted someone before, but she deserves it. "Burn!" Ally chortled. "Oh, I didn't know you knew what bitch meant since you failed the ninth grade, dumbass." Nick smirked evily. "That's not funny!" Ally started getting riled up, standing up and slamming her hands on the lunch table. "Awh, we're gonna get scared of Miss Flat-Ass!" Nick faked a surrender mock. "Stop calling her Miss Flat-Ass, you two ugly wilderbeest." I groaned, getting riled up myself. "Hilary, we better leave before they make fools outta theirselves," Nick said, making himself and Hilary laugh like hell. "Thanks for standing up for me. No one's ever done that before," I admitted, staring down at my thumbs that I was fidgeting. "You don't deserve that. Especially being teased about failing the ninth grade. That's just not right." What Ally was saying made me feel better, but, "I'm a slow learner." Ally shook her head. "Don't say slow learner. Say that you just need some more time to learn. I believe you'll pass this year and tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grade in the future. I believe in you, Johnny." I could just cry right now. Cry because no one's ever believed in me before. I mean, sure my parents have. But they haven't even said anything like that. Or even called me Johnny. The nickname I've always wanted to be called. I don't know if this is a crush, or just happiness that I've finally gotten someone to help me through this. I wish this was a crush... or even more. But I don't know. The only crush I've ever had was Claire. And I honestly do have those feelings I had for Claire... now are for Ally. Then again, do I just think that because she's the first person who's made me feel like I'm good? The bell rung, and next was gym. Oh... God. "What do you have next?" Ally asked, her eyes, I felt, looking into mine. "Gym. I hate it," I answered, groaning. "I have gym, too." She smiled, walking next to me, and we walked on to gym. "So we're playing kickball," Mr. Hites stated after a few minutes of Ally and I being here. "Dang it," I mumbled. "Since Ally's new, she'll be a team captain. And... Nick will be the other." He waved them over to face the rest of us. "Ally," Mr. Hites said her name for her to pick. Ally smiled at me sweetly. "Johnny." She waved with her index finger. I've never been picked first before. It feels amazing. Some chuckles filled the air, but I didn't care. "Nick," Mr. Hites called. "Hilary." Nick smirked. "Yay!" Hilary cheered, skipping over to him. "You." Ally doesn't know everyone's name yet. "Cool!" Katlyn gleefully jumped up towards Ally and I. A few names later, the teams were together. "Ally's team is up." I turned to face Mr. Hites. I gulped. I'm second up. Nick was rolling the kickball. "I recommend you roll the ball properly," Ally joked, making some people laugh. "Ha ha, very funny, Miss Flat." Nick's too scared to say 'ass' because he knows he'll get in trouble. Because even the littlest thing will get him suspended because he's been in trouble so much lately. Ally kicked the ball far and finished at third base. Next's me. "Don't make a fool outta your self this time, okay?" He told me with a smirk so bitter. He rolled the ball and I tried to kick, but missed. Like always. I made the first out. "You're not just failing ninth grade again, but you fail at sports!" Nick insulted, cupping his hands around his mouth as in shouting loudly. "Dumb Donkey, shut up! You're the one failing at being a human! You're better off being in a hole eating yourself!" Ally shouted, having everyone chortle like there is no tomorrow. Chuckling silently, I smiled. Katlyn kicked next, running quickly, and Ally finally came back, fivin' everyone in the line until she reached me. Spinning me around once giggling, she held on to my upper arms. "Not everyone's good at sports. Heck, I'm not good at volleyball!" Again, she's making me feel much better. Ben was the one to make the third out, so our team had to disband on to the field. ... "JOHNNY! Watch out!" I heard Torie's angelic voice call my nickname. The kickball hit me in my forehead and I fell down. Leaving everyone but Ally laughing. "Johnny?! Are you okay?" She seems really concerned. "No one cares!" Nick hollered. "No one cares about the--" Everyone started up. "No one cares about the-- No one cares about the-- No one cares about the--" And then Hilary screamed, "GAY RETARD!" Tears started pouring from my eyes like they did before. I ran away from the field crying. "Johnny!" I heard Torie shout my name, but I didn't stop. "You all are so rude!" she yelled. Hardly did I hear her though. Then it was the end of the school day. There's only four periods in my school which makes me happy. The bell rung. I didn't need to go to my locker because we didn't have homework. I mean, it is the first day since Christmas break. The buses were already at the parking lot of the school. So with other kids I hopped on the bus and plopped down where I always sit - on the right front seat. Daydreaming, I was just staring out of the window. "Johnny?" Ally's voice filled my ears. Turning my head to my left, I saw Ally sitting beside me. Never have I had someone sit beside me on the bus. "Hi," I greeted softly. "Are you okay?" She showed a sympathetic smile. Looking down, I started fidgeting my thumbs. "I'm fine," I lied. I was really feeling hurt. Humiliated. How I always feel when I get bullied. "You don't deserve that. You're an amazing guy." I started to smile real wide and turned my head to see her. She rested her hand on top of mine. "I hope we become really great friends." I kept smiling, but inside I was frowning. I want to be more than friends. But I love the feeling of her hand on mine. Her hand's so soft while mine is tough. And I don't mean tough in the good way. Unfortunately, she took her hand away. Silent, we glanced at each other the whole ride until the bus stopped at her house. We had kept glancing at each other, but she turned away quickly when I noticed her glancing, and she noticed me glancing at her millions of times the whole ride there. And I turned away, my ears burning with embarrassment. "Bye Johnny." Ally waved, standing up and getting off the bus. I watched her as she reached her house (or at least I think it's her house.) , then the bus started the rest of the way to my house. Finally, the bus stopped at my house. I hopped off, and reached inside of my house smiling like a fool. "I've never seen you so smiley coming from school. What's up?" That's my dad. "Ally." I sighed as if I were in a dream. "Who's Ally?" He winked at me, crossing his arms. "The first person that's stood up for me from all the kids." I couldn't stop smiling. "Really? That's great," he said. "Do you have a crush on her?" he sung, punching me playfully in my arm. "Dad!" He started chuckling. "I'm just kidding with you." My dad and I reached the dinner room. We noticed two plates of spaghetti on the table. "Dinner's ready!" my mom announced, walking in with another plate of spaghetti. "Let's pray." We sat down at our chairs and, "Dear God, thank you for family, our house, and everything we have. Amen." My mom says the prayers most of the time. "Why are you so happy?" She chuckled. "He found a crush," my dad starting teasing. "Is she nice?" my mom asked, raising an eyebrow. She's always been worried about me. I started to simper, my ears growing hot. And I know my cheeks are red. "Awh, she's something," my mom started teasing also. Still simpering, I messed with the spaghetti with my fork. "Tell us about her!" she begged, highly excited. Simpering still, I stuffed some spaghetti in my mouth and chewed. "Come on!" she begged again. "She's like an angel. It's like God gave me her to help me. But I don't know if I like like her, because what if it's just because she's the only person who's said I'm their friend?" I replied, finally looking up at my mom. "Oh, so you've got a friend?" She smirked. I snickered. And dinner ended about ten minutes later. "Johnathan, come on, watch Two and a Half Men with me." That's my mom's favorite show. Honestly, I do like it, too. We watched the show from 4:00 to 6:00. It was a long 30 minutes each show. "Get ready for sleep," my dad ordered. I obeyed and reached upstairs, taking a shower and dressing into my favorite pajamas: white t-shirt and dark red and brown plaid pajama pants. The rest of the night I read my favorite book: The Outsiders. The book is awesome. I just don't like the movie at all. Not even for Ralph. I keep on and on reading that book, ever since seventh grade. Right before bed, I ate a little snack: apples with peanut butter, and then fell asleep on my comfy twin bed.