Unlikely ✓

Seventeen: A Flustered Mess

POV: Nathan Westmore

Over the next week, things hadn't improved by ignoring my problems.

I had gotten two more notes yesterday saying things similar to the first, it seemed harmless enough.  The notes were just empty threats yet, it changed the way I looked at people.

It could have been someone I knew since I was a kid or it could be a complete stranger to me.  It was like they were 'A' and I was trapped in a never-ending book series about liars.

However, today was much worse.  Mandy, Jax, or Misty were always in sight, giving me a false sense of comfort and security.

In my locker, the locker I dreaded opening anymore was a note, this one in bright yellow instead of the usual pink.

Attached were two pictures.

Zen and I were kissing, that much was clear.  The one was on the front porch of my house then the other was in his car.

If I knew about the pictures I would have been almost impressed with how nicely they turned out, they were clear even though both were taken at night.

Instead, I felt sick. 

It felt like my feet were permanently glued down to the floor as everything around me started to spin.  I couldn't breathe.

Whoever this was, had to have been watching me a lot closer than I had thought.  They were outside my house.

I'm not even sure what I said to Jax as I shoved the pictures into my backpack and shut the locker.  My 'Anonymous Helper' was not only watching me but upping their threats.

No matter how much I tried to think in class all I could think about was the note attached this time.

"Wow, still not listening to me, huh?  It would be a shame if I sent these to mommy and daddy wouldn't it... you know the deal.  I stop when you do." - Anonymous Helper

Not exactly something I could forget.  It was easy to dismiss if I thought logically.

Come out to my parents and then go to the principal or police if the threats go farther.

All those things were easier said than done.

I wasn't ready.  At least I didn't think I was, I would know if I was ready to tell my parents that my future was going to be a bit different than either of us had thought.

The hardest part was lying to them.  The thought of horror stories of other people coming out and being disowned or things not being the same in a negative way—that wasn't even including all of the violent cases.

I knew my parents wouldn't do anything to harm me no matter what, but the thought of any disappointment from them or them not being in my life anymore was more than I wanted to think of.

The hurtful truth was I didn't know.  I didn't know how they would react.  Addison didn't even miss a beat so maybe it wouldn't be as bad.

It made me think back to one of the other notes I got.  The thought pulling me back down and breaking the ladder to climb back up.

"Yeah, the preacher's son likes guys now!  I'm sure that will go lovely."

Which made little sense to me.  There was nothing wrong with liking someone of the same gender. 

I might not be the best at biology—or any branch of science but even I know there are well over four-hundred different species that were gay and another fifteen-hundred that were at least bi.