BULLY (choen)

2

Noen wasn't like most boys. He didn't like football or any sports at all. He didn't enjoy when his dad would yell at the TV and say "touch down" because the game never made sense to him. Noen was soft. Very soft. He cried when watching romantic movies and watching kitten videos on instagram.

He would usually would stay by his mom and help her with gardening and little things like that. By age 13, he liked painting his nails pink and wearing flower crowns. He would dance around his room, wearing blush on his cheeks while dancing to Taylor swift's "red" album. His dad not so fond of his son being his feminine at all. His parents did sat him down to ask if he was transgender.

Noen shook his head, not even knowing what that meant. It was hard figuring himself out because the boys at school called him harsh names and he knew it wasn't good. It did took him a good 2 years later to come out to his parents and luckily they did support him.

Coming out may have not been the best idea because word did spread around. He gotten bullied really badly and diagnosed with depression. His parents decided it was best to leave Georgia and move to California to hope to find better for their son. California was better than Georgia in some ways. He was still teased but nothing major.

When he got to high school and met his Kevin Perry and avani, things did get better but assholes like Chase Hudson made his head explode. "He's staring at him again" Avani giggled, talking to Kevin at their table. The three of them were in the cafeteria. Noen turned his head, "who? I'm not staring I just got something in my eye". Avani did a "mhm" sound and smirked.

"Dude this is your 100 time staring at Anthony Reeves do you like him or something?" Kevin questioned him before taking a bite out of his home made sandwich. Noen never admitted to liking Anthony to his friends. It's not he was going to today either. "No... shhh he just had uh... something in his hair" Noen said nervously. He didn't like telling people he had a crush on someone.

Avani turned her head to see what he was talking about. "There's nothing in his hair... if you like him we won't judge he's a hottie" she said and nudged Kevin who was just shoving his face in his food. "Yeah totally he's definitely hotter than me" that made Noen laugh. "Ummm I guess I dunno" he begin to blush.

Avani made a big "awhhhhhhhh" sound. She was all for lgbt pride and loved gay couples. "That's so cute oh my god I ship y'all" she moved next to him to side hug him. Kevin nodded and held a thumbs up as he ate some chips. Noen turned his head to look at his crush again but he made eye contact with Chase instead which he instantly turned his head back around. The rest of lunch was avani asking him questions while Kevin was in food paradise.

-

It was last period which both boys was thankful for. Noen did like art class but today he just really wanted to sleep in his bed. Chase didn't like art, he planned on leaving quickly to make out with Cynthia after school. "Today class, you will be assigned a project. The project is called the reflections of you. I want you to give me a drawing, painting, or any texture you like but it has to be created by you. No plagiarizing allowed", the teacher continued.

"This project can be about things that make you or something personally you like to share. This can be your culture, sexuality, ethnicities, literally anything. I want you all to express yourself. Tell me things about you through art. What makes you happy? What makes you sad? What angers you? This will be due in a month from now I expect great work from all. I am assigning partners" thats when the whole class sighed.

"Today you start to brainstorm with your partners I'll start reading the names" so he begin reading the names and everyone was moving around the room to be close to their partners. Noen was wondering who was his partner. He was getting excited until he heard "Eubanks and Hudson" that's when his happiness dropped to -0%.

Noen looked at Chase who looked at him. "Excuse me sir I don't and won't work with this fa-" The teacher cut him off. "Mr. Hudson used that language again and you're going to be sent to principal office I don't tolerate bullying" the class snicker as Chase rolled his eyes and moved his bag grumpily to Noen's table.

Noen shift uncomfortably away from him as Chase took a sit next to him. The blonde boy started writing things what he wanted to be on the project as time passed by. The brown haired boy sighed knowing if get another bad grade it was going to be a problem. "Okay... fag I don't like you and you don't like me but I need a good grade" Noen just looked at him and slowly nodded.

The bell rung and Chase went to get up before Noen grabbed his arm. "You can over tomorrow and work on it with me" he wrote down his number and gave it to chase. Chase put the note in his back pocket and walked out the class. He kissed Cynthia when he saw her and walked out the school hand in hand. He didn't see Noen frowning slightly at the sight.