𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮

makeshift heart

Benji's POV:

The drive to school on Monday morning is oddly peaceful. I can't help but to admire my boyfriend sitting in the passenger seat. It's a shame that he's staring out the window, completely unaware of my gaze.

Focus on the road, Benji.

I told my dad about my relationship with Jey last night. He had just come home from a long day at work, leaving him more than agitated. So it came as no surprise when he didn't take the news of my sudden gayness very well.

Jey is going home after school today.

Not to his home that is in my arms, but to his home where he is not accepted. His home where he is ignored. His home where he is not himself.

So that's why I find it so strange that we spend the car ride in silence. One of us should say something. Or do something.

If our lives were scripted, maybe we would.

But we're flawed and imperfect. So instead I just keep my eyes on the road. I wish I could just hold onto this moment forever. It's our last drive to school together. But before I know it, we're pulling into the familiar school parking lot that I've grown to dread. My body carries an extra weight, heavier than my backpack, when Jorge and I walk into class.

Jorge's POV:

My mind is a jumbled mess. I have to go back to my mom today. I'm honestly terrified. I go through my day in a trance-like state, dreading what I know is to come.

So when a large, rough hand grabs onto my shoulder, my heart nearly stops, snapping me back into reality.

"C- Cayman?" I stutter.

"Shut up." He hisses dragging me down the hall.

The feeling of his hand on my wrist makes me want to scream. I writhe against his grip, twisting my arm painfully.

"I- I'm going to be late- Let g-"

"Relax. I'm not going to hurt you. We're just going to duck for the first few minutes of this period. I need to talk to you." He explains, his voice steady and low.

Cayman Rhodes- the boy who has been out to get me since the first day- wants to talk to me?

He finally releases his deathly grip on me when we reach the South Wing restroom. Benji had told me about this place. The whole South Wing went under renovation a few years ago, but the school underestimated how much the project would cost. They ended up having to halt all construction halfway through. The whole area is kind of a wasteland, sharp splinters poking out from the wood and the occasional nail lying about. The door leading to the South Wing had a lock put on it at first, but a pair of pliers quickly fixed that issue. Staff never made any effort to replace the flimsy, metal lock, nor had they made an attempt to guard the doors.

It's like they're asking for a gang problem.

In my short time attending West High, I quickly learned not to go here. It seems barren right now, but soon enough the "trouble" kids would be raising their hands to get a bathroom pass, and the whole wing will smell like weed. More than it already does, anyway.

Cayman looks at me, sharply. My whole body is quaking. My mind moving a mile a minute, I try to think of a way to escape, but Cayman is both bigger and faster than me. It would be useless.

I wish Benji was here.

"Jorge, I'm serious. Chill out man. If you just hear me out for a second, you'll realize that you and I?" He points to himself before digging is pointer finger into my chest, "We're only the same team."