~Mirrored~

Chapter 5

I look frantically around the small closet, trying desperately to find something to protect us with for when I open the door. I can't find anything and Dan pounds louder on the door. I see Jack looking at me, terrified. I slowly open the door and Dan comes bursting in and throws me to the ground. "What were you two doing in here?! I told you to stay away from that rat" he yelled furiously. "You were bullying him! I wasn't just going to leave him there!" I yelled back at him. "Why not? You should just accept that this piece of garbage deserves to be beat up" says Dan angrily. I get up and stand in front of Jack. "Just leave him alone alright? He hasn't done anything to you" I say more angrily. Dan shoves me and makes me land on top of Jack. I'm in too much shock to really think much about it so I stay in his lap. "Just stop it Dan!" I say frustratedly. I eventually realize I'm still on top of Jack and I quickly get up. I look at him nervously and look up at Dan. "Oh please, you probably just wanted to seem like the hero.." he pauses "or are you gay Mark?". I look at him wide eyed and I stutter "I-I'm not gay and you know it" I exclaim. Dan's eyes grow wide and his lips curl into a devilish smile. "You like boys, don't you Mark? That's why you broke up with Kate isn't it" he says deviously. I stare him down and think whether I should just run into the bathroom or stay and protect Jack. I decide to protect him so I grab him and make sure I'm completely blocking him. "Just don't bother him. You can ridicule me all you want, just don't mess with him" I say sternly. Dan shoves me again then walks away to grab more people to come and ridicule me. I quickly grab Jack by the wrist and sneak into the bathroom. I pull him into the stall and lock it. I look at him even more nervously now and place both hands on his shoulders. "Are you okay? I didn't hurt you with my fall did I?" I ask spastically. "N-no it's okay" he says. I could tell he's definitely nervous and I feel really bad. At his age, he shouldn't be so terrified of being bullied. I look into his eyes again and my heart melts. "H-hey, do you maybe want to come and hang out at my place tonight?" I ask shakily. He waits for a second while staring at me and then says "s-sure?". I smile brightly but hears someone walk into the bathroom. I quickly stand on the toilet seat and duck down to try to hide the fact that I'm there. "Is someone in here?" I hear Dan's voice trying to be disguised. I roll my eyes at how stupid he was to think that would work and stays quiet. I hear him leave so I quickly and gently grab Jack's wrist and sprint out of the bathroom and out of the school. I run to my car and open the passenger door for him. Once he sits down I get into the driver's seat and quickly start it and heads home. Most of the ride is quiet but I felt like I had to break the silence. "So what are you into?" I ask him. "I'm kind of into drawing" he says quietly. I smile realizing we have that in common. "I use to be pretty good at it but I fell out of it a while ago. My family isn't the most supportive of it". I glance over at him sadly and see him looking like he might cry. I place a hand gently on his shoulder to try to comfort him but he freezes as if my touch were like ice. I take my hand off of his shoulder noticing this and goes back to driving with full attention. I pull into my driveway and opens the door so I can get out. I walk over to the passenger side and open the door for him politely. He gets out and looks around at my house and yard. He seems as if he was shocked that this was where I live. I open the door and walk into the house with him. I shut the door and look at him. "So this is the kitchen" I say as I point to the little kitchen area next to where we walked in. I show him around the kitchen then walk into the living room and sit on the couch, "And this is the living room". I turn on the tv and motion him to sit down. He sits down awkwardly and looks at me. "Man I feel like I'm pulling teeth trying to talk to you" I say while laughing. He laughs and continues looking at me but smiling now. "I'm just worried I might say something stupid" he says while laughing a bit. "Trust me, I say a lot of stupid crap, it won't bother me" I say kiddingly. He laughs again and seems to calm down a bit. I hope he eventually becomes more social. I really want to get to know him.