Complicated

Chapter 6

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 (A/N Look at me, updating! Pictures of Aarav Patel and link to Katy Lin above. Enjoy! - Leo)

They always tell me I'm stubborn. Sometimes it's a good thing. I mean, hey, nobody can pressure me into things, like drugs and crap. Well, it's not like they need to anyways. I already know what smoking cigarettes does to you, but does it look like I care? No. My only problem is buying them.

I usually don't buy them, just steal them from my father. He's not addicted like I am, it's more of like how he is with beer. Just something good to numb him temporarily. My father isn't a bad guy, really, he just makes terrible decisions. He doesn't clean the house much, or pay bills, or even work. Yet he parties and drinks through the weekends like he's a college student. He's 41 years old. And yet I stand here, a 17-year-old boy, more mature than his father.

The more you know, I guess.

[Aarav's POV]

I hate school. I hate people. I hate Connor. I hate Ross. I hate Katy.

We've been together for almost a year now, but she's still useless as ever. Well, useless to me. She's annoying, and touches me too much. Just because we're dating, Katy, doesn't mean you can hug me every 5 seconds. Does she know what PDA is? Jesus. But, I can't break up with her. Not yet, at least. I need to deal with the elephant in the room. Ross. He's my 'best friend', and honestly, is way too loud for me.

Plus, he's been way too involved in other people's issues, especially ones he shouldn't stick his nose in. I mean, Jesus, Ross, just look after yourself for once.

I shoved my black gym bag in my locker, taking out a few books as I heard Katy's voice. What a great start to my day. "Hey, Sweet Cakes!" She gasped. "I should call you mochi! I love mochi! It's a traditional Japanese dessert, and it's delicious! It's settled, then. I'll call you mochi!" She grinned at me, wrapping her arms around my waist from behind. "Please get off of me, Katy. And of course, I know what mochi is. I have a cousin whose father is Japanese. Plus, your mum makes it all the time when I come over." She frowned, disappointed. I shut and locked my locker, walking to my first block, which, thankfully, I didn't have with Katy. Did she really think I didn't know what mochi was? I mean, everything I said was true, except for the cousin part. Most of my cousins are fully Indian, as the traditional practice is to marry someone of the same race. Why was I even in this stupid school if they wanted me to have a traditional Indian life? I had to keep Katy a secret, because my parents wouldn't approve. Not that our relationship would last long anyways.

Anyways, that's beside the point. The first way I had learned about mochi was my secret love of Anime. My favorite anime was Haikyuu. I loved seeing the characters' determination and smiles, and the way Hinata and Kageyama trusted each other but didn't like to show it. And there was a small part of me that thought they would be a great couple. I was in denial at first, before surfing the web.

I learned that all around the world there were large, festive parades, dedicated to the Stonewall Riots, which was where LGBTQ+ people marched and protested against discrimination, and eventually earning rights. I thought it was wonderful how proud people could be. And suddenly, I felt disgusted. Not with others, but with myself. All the things I had said and done. I was terrible. I was a piece of absolute, burning trash.

What was I meant to do?