Social Casualty {muke}

ten

Luke
The next couple of days were mostly spent stressing about graduation and finishing any last minute assignments. On Saturday, me and Michael arrived at the school at 9:45, fifteen minutes before the ceremony started. We enter the dimly lit auditorium and take our assigned seats. Michael is two rows ahead of me.

The lights dim and I see the principal walk up to the podium in the center of the stage up ahead. She taps lightly on the microphone and begins to speak,
"Welcome class of 2014, I would like to say first how proud I am of all of you." A few kids scoff from their seats. "Anyways, shall we begin?" She started calling up students alphabetically. I was zoned out for a while.

"Ahem, Michael Clifford, please come up." Mikey stood up from his seat and approached the podium.

"Guess the worthless piece of shit actually graduated huh?" I heard from behind me. I stiffened in my chair and tried to zone it out. "At least we never have to see the fag ever again." I stood up and turned around to look at the guys.

"Hey dumbass!" They looked up. "What makes you think you can pick on him, huh?" Everyone was staring at me now. I grabbed a fistful of his shirt and pulled him up to his feet. His eyes were full of terror. I brought my fist back and let it connect with his face.

"Luke, stop!" Michael comes up behind me and puts his hand on my back. Pushing him off, I run out of the gym. I rest my back on the cold brick building to catch my breath. My heart is beating so fast that I can feel it throughout my entire body. 

Michael soon comes outside to where I'm standing. His face is fearful, but also full of disappointment. "What the hell was that Luke?"

I look at him in the eyes, "Are you fucking kidding? Do you expect me to just let them talk to you like that?"

He scoffs quietly, "I'm pretty used to it now Luke." I can see tears starting to well up in his eyes, but he holds them back. I stand still for a few seconds, but then finally I walk towards him and wraps my arms around him. He's caught off guard by the sudden action but soon lets his arms fall around my waist. I pull my head back a little and plant a small kiss on his cheek. "You're my boyfriend Mikey, it's my job to protect you. I won't let anyone hurt you." 

He smiles and rests his head in the crrok of my neck. "I like you a lot." I can tell he wasn't ready to say the real word yet. It's not like I'm ready either, we've only been dating less than two weeks. 

We finally let go of eachother and head for my car. "You know you missed getting your diploma right?" Michael asks me. 

"They'll probably just mail it to me, I'll send them the address later." He nods and we both climb into the car. 

As we drive the car is silent, but Michael soon speaks, "Oh, I forgot to tell you this earlier Luke."

"What's that Michael?"

"Nice punch." We both laugh the rest of the way home.