Kira (boyxboy)

Chapter 4

I walk back home in a daze and I don't even remember anything until the next day. As I walk into the school building I'm called to the Principal's office. I walk in and see a middle aged lady and man looking angry and upset. The man is trying to soothe the woman but he doesn't look to calm either. The principal is trying so hard to pacify the (what I assume to be) parents that he doesn't notice me enter. I let out a light cough and draw all of their attention. The parents' are shooting out rays of hatred towards me and I feel confused.

The Principal gestures towards me "Kieran please have a seat, these are Cole's parents and we all have some things we need to talk about. Kieran we've heard all of the rumors going around and we want to hear your side of the story." The Principal looks like he's trying to be partial but just from his words I can tell all of them already believe that I'm a rapist. I'm speechless but I know that if I say nothing they are going to condemn me so I speak. "I don't know where these rumors came from. I've never even met Cole. I saw him maybe once or twice at the cafeteria but that's it." Cole's parents get angrier with every single word I say and they finally burst when I say his name. "You sicko! Don't you dare say his name. You disgust me! Why would you hurt my baby? All because of your disgusting, sick desires. All of your kind need to go to jail. You're a menace to society!"

I feel both hurt and confused. These are adults, aren't they supposed to take more into consideration than rumors? How did they just all of a sudden believe everything high school students say? The rest of the time no one really lets me speak. Not that it matters because they don't believe a word I say. At the end of the 'conversation' Cole's parents tell me to expect their lawyer because they are taking me to court. The Principal tells me that I'm temporarily suspended until the verdict comes out. What the actual fuck!?! What happened to reality? Logic? Reason? Apparently no one in this town has any of these things because by the end of the day everyone believes I'm guilty.

I got fired from all of my part time jobs, everyone looked at me with suspicion and horror. When I got home Mom was there sitting at the kitchen. "I heard what happened at school Kieran. We need to talk." She talks about all kinds of things but then she gets right to what she wants to say. "I need you to be honest with me Kier. Did you rape that boy?" I am filled with disbelief. "Mom what did you say? You think I raped that kid? Fuck no! I thought you would trust your own CHILD!"

Mom starts fidgeting in her chair, "Kier no need to get so angry. I...I know that you are alone in your...interests...and you probably have....urges...but I need to know." I try to keep my anger in check with deeps breaths. "No mom I did not rape that kid" I try to use my most civil tone.

I can see that she doesn't fully trust that I'm telling her the truth. My mom doesn't trust that I'm not a rapist. There's a buzzing in my ear that seems to drown everything out, but I focus again when I see Mom's face go cold. "Kieran I can't have a rapist as my son. I know you denied it, but Kieran I can't take chances. I'm disowning you. You can stay here but you're going to have to stay in the loft and I'm going to need you to pay rent."

She must be fucking kidding me. This all has to be some kind of joke. But it's all real. I start to lose all sense of feeling. I'm going numb. I go through the motions of life. I move my things to the attic and wait for the court order. I don't have to go to school so I take the bus to the next town to get some part time jobs. I need a way to pay the rent and I end up needing to spend the rest for court fees. The months go by and I get number by the day. I don't talk and I don't feel. Finally after another 5 months of trial I'm declared innocent. Ironically they found out that Cole was gay and he had a lover that he used to meet. His lover broke up with him and he couldn't handle it so he killed himself.

His parents came up to me afterwards and looked at me guiltily. They apologized and told me they would pay me back all of my court fees and my school fees until I graduate. I didn't say a word, but I took the money. They at least owe me that. The Principal came to rescind the suspension and brought me back to school. The first week I returned everyone looked at me with a mixture of pity and doubt. Not everyone believed that I was truly innocent. It didn't even matter anymore. Joy tried to come up to me and apologize but I just looked at her coldly and didn't say a word. As she continued to plead I just turned and walked away. After 1 week I couldn't handle anymore of the bullshit so I dropped out of school.

At home Mom seemed sorry and wanted to make it up to me. She had lost the promotion when they heard the rumors about me, but once I was declared innocent they felt guilty towards her at the hospital. She got her promotion back and a raise. Mom told me that we were going to move again and start over. Now that I look at her I don't feel a thing except betrayal. She was supposed to love and trust me the most. She was supposed to be the one person I could rely on, but she threw me to the wolves. She told me I didn't need to pay rent anymore but I still did. I wasn't a part of this family anymore. Rowen was my own bright sunshine throughout these months but yesterday she came and looked at me with anger. "My friends said that my brother is a rapist and don't want to hang out with me anymore! You ruined EVERYTHING! What am I going to do now?"

Maybe that was the last straw after everything I endured. That night I packed up a bag with some clothes and all of the money I had. I waited until morning for Mom to go to work and Rowen to go to school. I walked to school for one last time and stood before the gates half an hour before the start of school. As always there was no one else around. I heard the familiar melody of the piano and walked towards the music room. I stood outside the window and looked in. I saw his lean fingers dancing across the keys and remembered the first day I saw him. Much like today he had windswept hair and soft hazel eyes. I felt tingles that day, but now I feel nothing.

Aaron looks up and see me. His eyes fill with guilt and he opens and closes his mouth as if he wants to say something but no sound comes out. I look at his familiar face that used to monopolize my dreams and wait for the butterflies in my stomach, but they never arrive. It's just barren and cold. I turn and walk away, out of the school and towards the bus stop. Aaron runs up behind me and grabs my hand trying to stop me for a second but I pull away. He ends up following me all the way to the stop trying to talk to me the entire time but I don't hear a word. I walk up to the counter and pay for a one-way ticket to the big city. The bus leaves in five minutes so I climb on and sit by a window seat. Aaron is still standing outside looking and me and he keeps saying sorry.

Maybe it's fitting that the last thing I see before I leave is Aaron. I once gave him my heart and he crushed it along with my life. It was just a puppy love, I never really expected anything but just for those small feelings he decided to ruin my everything. I lost my friends, my education, my family, my reputation and my ability to feel. What else do I have left for him to destroy?