Chasing Pavements

School Problems

As Jude Foster headed into Kennet Middle School he knew what his Mom was talking about earlier and what she always was talking about. He himself was very well aware he had always been different then the other boys growing up and he knew why, but he had never come out and officially said it nor had his mother.

Wearing the glitter sweatshirt had been a big move for him and he knew his mother was worried about it even if she encouraged him to always be himself. The bracelet as well was another bold move as he headed to his locker and got ready for the first set of classes for the day. Neatly placing his books in size order in his bag he straightened out his locker like always did for the OCD he had sometimes got the best of him.

Jude was probably one of the kindest people you would ever meet but sadly he didn't have many friends, infact he never really had especially when he started to become more of himself.  Sometimes the loneliness got to him for he heard the kids snicker at him, tease him and call him faggot not wanting him to be on their teams during gym or much of anything else for that matter. He was also exceptionally smart and missed school sometimes for weeks and was able to catch up in less then two hours. That didn't do much for his social life but he was grateful for his one friend who hadn't made it to school yet.

As he continued to neatly place his pens in his bag that were sorted by color and size he heard the same group of boys come over and harass him like always.

"OHHH lookie who it is!! Judycorn!" Dennis teases slamming Jude's locker door shut along with his friends Reggie and Kev who kick the boys bag the books flying all over. "Got your little sisters sweater on fag?" He jokes as Jude picks his books up but Dennis knocks them out of his reach. "I asked you a question homoboy!"

"Buzz off." Jude says gathering his books as one of the boys grabs him by his sweatshirt slamming him against the locker. Getting in his face Jude swallows hard not showing any fear. None. "Get off me asshole."

"Ohhh big words. What you gonna do sprinkle me with fairy dust HOMO!"

"Is that the only word you know how to say? Just fuck off!" Kicking the boy in the nuts as hard as he could Jude was never really one to back down from a fight for he was like his mother in that regards. Stef had really tried to instill a sense of that in her kids and Jude was no different despite his small appearance.

"You little shit!"  Dennis yelled pushing Jude's face against the locker when a teacher came pulling him off.

"Get to class and leave him alone! Now! Before you little trouble makers get detention. Now go!" 

As the boys ran off Mr. Sharp helped Jude pick his belongings up noticing the sweatshirt.

"Hey Jude maybe it would be a good idea to change your shirt."

"Why? Because some people can't deal with who I am? Do people ask you to change your shirt?" The boy asks getting up and swinging his backpack on that he decorated with stars and glitter as well. 

"No I just mean...well if you wear that it might, well...

"It's fine. I can handle myself." The boy says shaking his head as he runs into his best friend Gilda who had just made it to school an hour late.

"You ok Jude?" She asks as the boy shrugs his shoulders.

"Yeah don't worry I'm fine. You ok? I looked for you earlier." Looking concerned at his friend he knew Gilda's home life was pretty bad considering most nights her father was passed out drunk and her mother was in and out as well dealing with her issues. Some nights it got so bad Stef let the girl stay over when her parents would scream and throw things at each other.