𝐇𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐌𝐞 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 ; 𝘉𝘺𝘭𝘦𝘳

𝟖.

Watching from around a corner, Isaiah took a few deep breaths, the nerves suddenly getting to him when his opportunity to talk to Troy came. He was just alone, walking slowly. Seeming like his mind was somewhere else. And Isaiah had been planning this the entire week, biting his time until he finally got the chance.

For some reason, his go to conversation starter was always blackmail. Never a "Hi" or a "Hello", he'd always find dirt on someone before talking to them. Sort of like a safety tactic, but also used to get what he wants. And what he's wanted for months now was a drink of the tall glass of water walking his way.

Isaiah swallowed before approaching, stopping and tilting his head up when he got close. "Troy, right?" He started with, even though he knew good and well what his name was. Anthony Walsh. Son of Tom Walsh and Angela Garcia who are now divorced. He's from Chicago, born November 18th and a Scorpio. That was all the information he'd been repeating to himself just in case it ever came up.

"I know what you and Mike did."

His face was dubious, silently testing Isaiah on wether or not he was bluffing. Little did he know, Isaiah came prepared with pictures stuffed into his back pocket. Enough to be spread around a good chunk of the school. Word of mouth would do the rest.

"Pff, get outta my way." Troy replied, brushing past him and beginning to leave towards his next class. Which wasn't good if this was supposed to work.

"You might wanna rephrase that pal." He pulled the first picture out of his pocket, thinking 'I've got him now'. Before he could even look at the picture, Troy snatched it out of Isaiah's hand, ripping and tearing it down to its smallest form. Which Isaiah found a bit dramatic since he knew about the others.

"Oops, guess my hand slipped."

Isaiah loved the sarcasm more than he could show. Troy's sass was going to be fun to listen to while in stage two. As stage one was finding all the information on him, and stage three was constant bliss with the best boyfriend a guy could ask for. The love-hate relationship to top all love-hate relationships.

He just needed to stop trying to get away.

"I have copies."

Troy's whole body paused for a beat before he charged towards him, grabbing the collar of his shirt and lifting him with strength Isaiah didn't think he had. And he isn't the biggest fan of surprises.

"Listen hear bitch, I don't know if you know this but this is the sophomore hallway. So I suggest you get on your merry way before you get your ass kicked by an upperclassman."

As soon as he released him, Isaiah was out of there. Sure it was unlike him to be scared of...well, anything but there's something about the way he glared that made him fearful. Yet, he didn't want to leave him alone.

All he needed was a different approach.

A year later...

Hawkins High | Fri 12:33 PM
Isaiah Cordero-Taylor

At his old school, Isaiah never got anything from anyone about being gay. It was unspoken, unacknowledged by thirsty girls sure, but he'd take that over his treatment here where the harassment and disrespect was constant. It was this sort of thing that made him do things he wasn't proud of. But this time he was really trying not to be that dude.