𝐇𝐔𝐍𝐆 𝐔𝐏 | 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐲

21. Bathroom

Zach

I ran into the bathroom, feeling my chest heavy with panic and fear. Everything felt heavy and it felt like all the oxygen in the world was being used up.

Immediately my first response was to pull out my phone and tell Daniel to meet me in the boy's bathroom. Daniel was the first person I'd ever choose to help me at a time like this, just like he'd done so often before.

It only took a minute for Daniel to come bursting through the door, only to see me in my state of anxiety. The biggest look of concern washed over his face and before I could blink his arms were around me.

"Zach? What happened?" He asked with a surprised voice. "I, I-" I began, trying to slow down my breaths. I felt like I couldn't get any words out; my head was all scrambled.

"Ok, ok, just breathe... calm down, don't let yourself get too worked up over whatever this is" Daniel reassured. His tone was caring and soft contrary to his usual loud tone. I was grateful to have someone like Daniel around. He was the one person in this world who always cared for me no matter what.

After a while I managed to calm down and told him everything that had happened with Jack. He was shocked at first, and almost couldn't believe he'd done it but to me it made perfect sense for a guy like Jack to switch up and lash out.

"The only thing I don't know is why he did it..." I mumbled in a sad voice. Daniel sighed. "I still don't understand why he would act like that" Daniel thought out loud.

I shrugged. "Well... maybe Jack Avery will never stop being Jack Avery. Maybe it's just who he is. He hates what happened between us and he's insecure over the fact I could tell anyone. Maybe he's just trying to scare me into staying silent" I guessed.

Daniel shook his head. "I don't think so. I think something happened... I'm not sure what, but there must be a reason" Daniel reassured. I wasn't so convinced but I decided not to argue with him about it.

"Hey, you should get to class" I reminded Daniel, changing the topic. He shook his head. "No, I can stay if you need me" he offered kindly. I let out a small nervous laugh, still a bit anxious from earlier.

"Daniel, I'm fine. You're already late, and besides, I just want to take a few minutes to myself" I insisted. Daniel hesitated before finally agreeing to leave. "I love you, text me if you need anything and I'll be right there, don't worry about class ok?" He advised.

I nodded, giving him a small smile as I watched him walk out. I let out a large sigh when he was finally gone, leaning over the sink and letting my pretend smile fall.

Once again I was alone in the bathroom, left with nothing but my damaging thoughts. Maybe I was overthinking it all, maybe Jack just needed to get out his hate and now everything could go back to normal - him ignoring me forever.

Just as I was about to leave, I heard two loud voices from outside the bathroom in the hallways. "So uhh, you wanna head out and smoke?" One voice asked. It was muffled, so I couldn't hear it very well.

"I'm not in the mood" the second voice grumbled, and even though the voice was so distant and muffled I could feel the familiarity. I knew this voice.

Footsteps only grew closer as the people walked past the bathroom. "Come on man, just one. One joint won't hurt you" the first voice whined. There was a long pause before a response finally came out. "Alright fine, you go ahead. I'm just gonna head into the bathroom real quick."

At this point the voice was so clear that I knew the boy was standing right outside, nothing but a door separating us.

Now that his voice was no longer muffled by the distance or the sound of steps, I could hear exactly who it was - and that is why I felt my heart drop down in my chest.

It wasn't long before the door was swinging open and there was nothing I could do to stop Jack Avery from walking in.

At first it was like the curly headed boy hadn't even noticed me stumbling backwards in a state of fear, but as soon as his eyes looked up and met with mine it was clear something inside him was boiling.

The outline of Jack's jaw tightened as he clenched it, perhaps in suppression of anger. I didn't want to imagine what kind of thoughts could be going through his mind if he had to work so hard to hold himself back.

A chill ran down my spine as Jack took a small step towards me, his eyes trained on my face. My expression probably spoke a thousand words of fear... I wish I'd learnt not to show all the ways that I'm feeling on my face.

"What're you doing in here, Herron?" He asked, finally breaking the silence of the room. I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. It felt like my throat was closing in and my mind was completely blank. "I..." I finally stuttered out.

"You what, Zach? Huh? Spit it out. Are you tired of being a little gay slut?" He spat out, a hateful smile of mockery on his face. I swallowed harshly, feeling a sting in my eyes as if I was holding back tears. My whole body was shaking.

"N-no... I'm not" I stuttered out, backing up. Jack took a step closer, and I tried to get away but my back hit the wall. He stepped towards me, cornering and trapping me.

My eyes were glued to the floor, far too scared to look Jack in the face, but it seemed like he wanted me to see him. He grabbed my chin, harshly pushing my face up so that our eyes met. It was at this point that I noticed the expression on his face had contorted into one of pure bitter hatred.

"You think you can make me look an idiot. You think you can just walk around making a fool of me, thinking you're playing me?! Well, just know that you're not the one playing."

"What did I ever do to you?!" I cried out. "It's not my fault you're feeling confused, I've never done anything to hurt you!!"

"What haven't you fucking done? All you do is walk around finding new ways to ruin my life. You make existing feel like hell!" He screamed at me.

I took a shaky breath, but something in my eyes hardened. For a moment all I did was look at Jack, as if trying to understand his anger that had now become my own.

"Fuck you, Jack Avery..." I finally muttered under my breath, before pushing past him and grabbing my bag off of the side. I didn't even stop to look back before barging out of the bathroom.