Chapter Text
"Disgusting" I hear the boy whisper. I'm in maths and I sit next to a rugby lad. Ever since I was outed keep hearing things like this. I don't react. I just sit there taking it in. I still don't even know how people found out. After maths, is lunch good for me.
I go on outside. I don't have to get my lunch from the cafeteria, I make lunch for myself in the morning. Even if I did, I wouldn't. I don't eat much. I find Tao, my best friend, and Isaac, my other friend sitting on a picnic table. I sit down next to Tao. They're arguing about something. Tao seems especially passionate.
"Charlie tell Isaac he has to see the adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird," Tao says as soon as I get there. I see somebody stare at me and whisper something to their friend.
"Why would I watch the movie if I can just read the book?" Isaac argues. I see somebody stare at me and whisper something to their friend.
"Because it's a good movie," Tao almost screams. I see somebody stare at me and whisper something to their friend. People are staring at me. People are laughing at me. I need to get out of here.
"I need to use the bathroom," I say and immediately stand up. I follow their eyes. They seem surprised. I wait for their next words.
"Okay," Tao says.
I rush inside. I go inside the bathroom. It's filled with people. I immediately lock myself in a stall. I stay in the stall until I hear that everybody left. In those minutes my heartbeat calms down. Now that there's nobody, I'm left alone sitting in the bathroom. Finally alone. I'm somewhere where nobody can bother me. Where nobody can call me disgusting. Where nobody can snicker and gossip about me.
I wait another minute until I leave the stall. I check my phone. It's been way too long for a healthy person. There's a message from Tao
You okay Charlie-Tao
Yeah I went to get lunch- I text a lie.
I leave the bathroom and walk around the school for a minute or two. I walk around and spot Mr. Ajayi's door open. Mr. Ajayi is the art teacher. He is the only openly gay teacher that I know of. The gym teacher, Mrs. Singh, was a few rumors of being a lesbian but I wouldn't know and don't like to speculate. He is a nice guy and I like him.
"Hi, Mr. Ajayi," I say in a weak voice.
"Hi, Charlie. How are you?" Mr. Ajayi
"Alright. Is your room open for lunch?" I ask.
"Yeah, sure come in. Don't you usually have lunch with your friends?" Mr. Ajayi asks.
'Yeah, but today I want a moment alone." I explain. I walk into the room. I quickly texted into the group chat that I needed to talk to a teacher about an assignment. I know I'm lying but I need some time alone and don't want to be mean.
I sit down at my assigned seat. Tao and Isaac both text back that they're fine with it.
"So, Charlie, how was your weekend?" Mr. Ajayi asks.
"Fine played Mario Kart with my sister," I answer.
"Are you good at it?" Mr. Ajayi is walking around the room getting his next period, my period.
"I'm better than my sister." I joke.
Mr. Ajayi chuckles, "My brother loves video games. The only game we play together is Mario Kart."
"Who wins?" I ask.
"My brother," Mr. Ajayi chuckles.
"Little brothers for the win." I say jokingly.
"Charlie don't. Please no," he laughs.
Everyday after that I kept going to Mr. Ajayi's room. I told Isaac and Tao that I needed to work on an art assignment. Today was no different. I walk to Mr. Ajayi's room. Then as I walked in, I spotted someone.
"Hi," I say suprised to someone new.
"Oh Charlie, this is Luke. He's working on art project." Mr. Ajayi introduces me to Luke. Luke has light brown skin, shade similar to a pine cone, with light brown hair wearing the Truham Grammar School uniform and skinny glasses.
"Hi," Luke says.