The Glow of the Rainbow

Chapter 11

I was back to looking over my shoulder.

Back to hearing the whispers.

Back to the strange looks.

Back to the judging.

I should be used to this, but I don't think I'll ever be used to it.

"We can always skip class. Charles said we could use the graphics class to do all our normal work. The other tutors understand. We can go for a walk then see Charles, or we can sit in art. There's that separate room that no one uses. We can sit in there and paint."

I feel like I'm walking through a nightmare. Like nothing I do will stop this from happening. That no matter what I do, this will always happen, over and over again. That people won't let the past be the past.

I'm suspicious of everyone.

"I can't let them win."

"And you won't. But right now, we need to lay low."

"I got beaten up. That's why I moved. Some kid thought that I was that wrong that they beat me up. Broke my arm, cut my head." I showed Matt the scar that I hide with my hair. I'll never be able to have a shaved head without seeing that scar every time I look in the mirror. I wiped my eyes with my hand, pushing my palm into my eyes, trying to push the tears back in. "I was told they had a knife in their bag. They don't know what they intended to do with it, but I have a pretty good idea."

"I'm so sorry, William."

"I've never hurt anyone. I've never bullied, I've never sent anonymous hate, I've never put someone down to try and push myself up. I've laid low. I've tried to blend in. So why do people feel like they can tell me I'm wrong, that just because I'm different that I don't deserve to live how they get to every day? I want to live without fear. I don't want to leave the house every day with my parents wondering if they'll get that knock on the door, telling them someone murdered me. They don't want my name to be followed up with a police case number." I let the tears flow and my voice crack. "I just want to be seen as a normal guy, who the hell gets to take that away from me!?"

I must have said that louder than I thought, the corridor was dead silent. People were looking at me. I don't care.

I walked through the people with ease. They moved out of the way to let me pass; no one was going to get in my way, not when they had just seen me angry. Matt followed.

We didn't speak until we were outside.

"I think I need to go home."

"Okay."

"I'd like you to come though, if that's okay."

"I'll call mum." He replied.

"I'll call mine."