Young Blood

Chapter Fifteen

  The next day I had class, I spend forever getting ready. Not the usual fancy clothing from Paul’s closet, but something extra special. I put on cologne that John and Paul had bought for me a while back and put on my personal nicest outfit, hoping no one would find it suspicious I looked so nice for class. I skipped all my other classes, taking forever to get ready. Besides, I only had two classes prior to Ritchie’s, and then I was done for the day.

  I came into the class right as it began, sneaking in and sitting down in my usual front-row seat as Ritchie’s back was turned to me, writing on the board. I leaned back slightly in my seat, putting my feet up on the desk. I pulled a pack of gum out of my pocket, taking a piece and shoving it in my mouth, smacking the gum loudly. I could hardly contain my excitement for Ritchie’s reaction when he turned around and saw how “rebellious” I was being today. I hoped it let him know what was in store for tonight.

  Right on queue, Ritchie turned around and glared at me. He was so pissed, I could see it in his eyes. But not pissed because I was breaking rules in class. Pissed because I was turning him on.

  I laughed to myself. Ritchie was going to kick my ass after class, I could tell. But I didn’t mind. I loved seeing him angry like this, a pretend angry for everyone else to see. Deep down inside, both of us knew he was glad I was drawing the attention to myself to make him upset. But he had to put on a mask, the same mask he put on every day. The mask that he didn’t love me, and that I didn’t love him.

  It was funny, really. He could be an actor, really, he was fantastic. None of the kids had any idea how in love we were, let alone the fact that I was going to ask him to marry me sometime soon. It was so exciting, knowing that in just a few hour’s time,  we were both going to promise to each other that we truly wanted each other, and that we wanted to be together forever. And now that marriage between two men was legal in Spain, we just had to save up enough money for Spain, and it would be official.

  “Mr. Harrison!” Ritchie snapped.

  “Yes?” I smirked, raising an eyebrow, my feet still plopped up on the desk.

  “Put your feet down this instant!”

  “Why should I?” I chuckled.

  “Because, I will pull you after class and have a stern speaking to you!”

  “Haha, alright.” I smiled.

  “This isn’t funny, young man!” By now the entire class was watching in awe as Ritchie scolded me, the secret sexual tension between us almost too much to bear. I couldn’t take having him in front of me like this and not being able to have him.

  “It is to me.” The room went silent.

  “Get out in the hall, right now!”

   I smacked my gum. “Make me.” I smirked.

  That was the end of that, Ritchie turning back to his writing and teaching the class while I sat there absentmindedly, smacking my gum to piss off Ritchie. He didn’t say anything about it again until the end of class, when everyone else was filing out to go on with their days.

  “Mr. Harrison?” Ritchie asked as a few stragglers were about to exit. “I’d like to have a word with you.”

  I slowly walked to Ritchie and he shut the door behind the last student to exit, turning to me and frowning. “What the hell?”

  “What?” I asked, my now flavorless gum still being smacked in my mouth.

  “That scene you caused at the beginning of class!”

  I chuckled.

  “Jesus Christ, George! You can’t just do that!”

  “Why?” I asked, a smirk now growing on my face.

  “Because I’m a teacher, and my job is to teach you! Pulling that shit back there wasnot cool!”

  “I thought it was pretty funny.” I smacked my gum.

  “That stupid gum!” Ritchie cursed. “Stop smacking that stupid gum!”

  “I’ll do what I want, thank you very much.”

  “Spit it out this instant!”

  “Why should I?”

  Ritchie sighed, annoyed. “Just do it.”

  “Make me.”

  Instead of kissing me or at least doing something somewhat sexual like I expected, Ritchie just shook his head. “You’re just a kid, George. Stop acting like this just to impress me.”

  “Hey! I’m only a few years younger than you!”

  “But you’re still in school, George! And until you get out of school, this whole situation between you and I is just ridiculous!”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Us, George. Or do you not understand that either?”

  I shook my head, trying to not to let any tears fall. “Ritchie, please..”

  “Mr. Starkey,” he spat.

  “I don’t understand..”

  “From now on, I am Mr. Starkey to you. Good day, Mr. Harrison.”

  I practically ran out of the classroom with my things, trying not to let the tears fall until I got home. I was devastated, heartbroken.. Ritchie didn’t want me anymore! He had just broken up with me!

  I slammed the door behind me as I walked inside, throwing my bag at Paul as he raised an eyebrow at me. I ran to my room, slamming the door behind me again, diving onto the bed. And that’s when the tears came out.

  I literally could not stop bawling. It was horrible. Ritchie has just broken up with me! I promised everything, everything to him! And what did I get in return? A scolding! I should have known I wasn’t good enough for him from the start.

  What was I thinking? Why would perfect Ritchie want to marry someone as low as me? Why had I bought that stupid ring?! I couldn’t believe I’d wasted so much of my hard-earned money on a promise ring to Ritchie, a promise that he’d be mine forever. How could he promise to be mine forever if he got upset over something so small between us?

  It was stupid of me to think we’d be together forever. We had only met a few weeks ago, and I was already asking him to marry me. It was ridiculous, this whole idea I had. Thinking back, I felt ridiculous. Maybe I should just take a few pills and go to sleep.. yes, that’s exactly what I need. I shoved as many colored pills as I could down my throat and prayed I wouldn’t wake up, sinking on my bed and shutting my eyes. Maybe tomorrow, the good lord’d take me away.