Tw - f slur, d slur, homophobic language overall, and even some sexisim.

--

Damp clothes, fresh out of the dryer.

It must be broken again.

Keith's parents, despite being rich, didn't spend much on things of actual importance. They'd rather care for things like jewels and suits.

"Brianna.. Could you text mom that our dryer broke again? My clothes are soaked!" He huffed, throwing them back into the dryer.

He didn't wait for her response, quickly picking up his skateboard and heading out from the front door.

"Keith! Your supposed to-"

"That's a you problem!" He called out, slamming the door before she could say anymore.

He hadn't practiced being on a skateboard in months. Ever since that incident with Cole, he was scared to. But it was different now, he was starting to regain the trust he had built with his other friends. The ones he had before Cole and the others.

The ones he'd torment people with.

He practiced outside his neighborhood for a while, getting the gist of it all again. He couldn't help but self consciously press on his chipped front tooth with his tongue, feeling the emptiness. He looked like a absolute dork.

--

"Keith, what's up? Seriously, man, you don't look good." Eddie laughed, slowing to a hault on his own skateboard.

Keith stumbled a bit, trying to catch up to his old friend. "Ah, yeah, I'm good. I'm just.. Tired. And I haven't practiced this in a while."

Part of that was true. He had a ton of built up energy he wanted to get out, but something pulled him back from doing so. He felt trapped in his own mind.

Eddie did a quick flip. "Ha! That Cole kid really made you soft, Keithy." He teased, poking his chest. "But seriously. I'm glad you opened your eyes, stopped hanging out with those fags. Your a cool dude, Keith. Don't blow it again."

Keith's eyes softened as he heard this. Even though he hadn't seen Cole and Peter in what felt like months, it still hurt a bit hearing them be treated like that. Like a weird specimen.

"Shut up," He rolled his eyes. "I did not soften up. And your right. They were weirdos, anyway."

Eddie scoffed. "And that super pale, skinny chick! No meat on those bones at all. I wonder if she's anorexic. Probably a dyke, too. No guy would want that nut job." He laughed in his face, it grossed Keith out. He could feel the little particles of saliva on him... Gross.

He took a step back, skateboard still in hand. "Yeah. I guess." He thought that was the end of it, so he reluctantly set his skateboard down and took a shaky step onto it. Maybe Eddie was right. Maybe Cole did mess him up.

"I will say, though.. That Indian chick you were hanging out with? She is hot. Didn't know you had game, Keithy boy!" He slapped Keith's back, hard. Making him tumble over.

He caught himself on his hands, inhaling sharply. He could already feel the scratches on his palm.

"Woah, Keith! You okay?" Eddie offered a hand, but Keith ignored him, standing on his own.

"Yeah. Fine." He replied coldy. Something about the way he spoke about Yehl really struck a nerve, made his blood boil. Was that all he cared about? He spoke about her like she was a piece of cake, not a person. Simply a accessory.

"Mmm. Did you two ever.." Eddie trailed off, a smug smirk on his face.

Keith's eyes widened. "Dude- No!" He winced.

Eddie threw his hands up defensively, patting Keith's back again.

"Hey, hey! I'm just saying. Totally waisted opportunity. If I got my hands on a chick like that.." Keith mentally plugged his ears. He couldn't handle someone speaking about his Yehl like that.

"Can we.. Just skate?" He interrupted, mumbling and kicking a rock that was crammed into one of the cracks of the skate park.

Eddie sighed. "Sure, dude. You really have changed, though. The old you would've totally agreed with me," He scoffed, setting down his board and going down a slope quickly. Keith followed soon after.

Skating around as the air hit his face and filled his nostrils, it made Keith think. He wasn't any better than Eddie, was he? He was the exact same way only a year ago. And despite everything, he still thought of Yehl as his. Like she was property. He wondered if Yehl thought that way of him, or at least used to. He was no better than a perverted pig, like Eddie.

He quickly pushed away the thoughts, focusing on the task at hand. Making Eddie like him again. He was tired of getting weird looks in the hall, just for being friends with some gay guys and a few girls. He was more than that. He was Keith, he wanted his title back. He wanted to be known again.

He wanted people to fear him again. To give him a sense of power, something he'd never had in his godforsaken life.

"Eddie!" He called out, stopping to get a drink of water. "You'll let me sit with you and the others at lunch, right? I don't want to be around those.. Fags, anymore. I could smell like from a mile away," He laughed.

Eddie smirked, hitting Keith's back again. He liked doing that. "Hell yeah, dude! You've seriously changed for the better. I thought you were gonna show up to school one day in drag.. Or something.."

Keith's eyes widened. "Ew, seriously? That's so.. Gross! You wouldn't catch me dead wearing nail polish, let alone makeup. Or a dress? Yuck!" He meant it. It grossed him out. It didn't match the roles that God had given males and females, and it was just.. Weird. He'd tried to push down the weird feeling, seeing Cole and Peter being all lovey, but deep down there was always a bit of.. He wouldn't say hate, but something close to the sort. It just wasn't natural.

It was a sin.

He carried his skateboard in hand, munching on a chip bag. Laughing his ass off with Eddie on a bench.

This was the way it was supposed to be, he knew. Maybe his parents had been right, pushing so many ideals on him and his sister. That way, they knew their place.

He was glad he wasn't a girl, at least.

--

Notes!

This was hard to write, but I wanted it to be accurate, yk? Sadly, you will be seeing more. 😭.