I sighed in annoyance as I walked into Turham. School was beginning to become a nightmare, my least favorite place. Everyone began to look over at me and whisper gossip, along with giggles.

I'm used to it by now.

I walked over to my locker and opened it to collect my textbooks. I let out a yelp as Jackson shut the lock in my face.

"We don't like how your sister treated us yesterday." Jackson slammed me up against the lockers. I gasped out from the impact; ouch.

"It was my sister; I didn't do anything." I managed to say through nerves. My flight instinct is kicking in. I can't get out of Jackson's grip, no matter how hard I struggle.

What makes it worse is everyone walking by didn't seem to care. They continued with their day as if nobody was getting bullied right in front of them. I guess I'm not that important.

"Well, maybe after this, your sister won't bother us again." Max snarled.

TW: bullying/violence

The next thing, I got punched. I stumbled a bit from how hard it was, and then I was shoved to the ground. Tears began to whelm in my eyes as they kicked my side multiple times before a teacher could rush over. Turham claims to be a non-violence school, but this proves otherwise.

End of TW

"Get off of him! Jackson and Max to the principles office, NOW!" Mr.Ajayi shouted as he yanked Max away before I could get kicked again. I sat up, trying to catch my breath. I shakily wiped my eyes, and I don't know what was more embarrassing—getting beaten up or crying about it.

"Shit, are you okay?" Mr.Ajayi bent down to my level.
I gripped my side as it began to throb in pain and gave the best thumbs-up I could in reply.

I didn't know Mr.Ajayi well, but I heard that he was a great art teacher from Tao. He was the only teacher who cared that I was getting beaten up.

"Let's get you to the nurse." Mr.Ajayi suggested.

He gently helped me, and I gasped a bit at how my side cramped up in pain from the sudden movement.
Tears formed in my eyes once again as reality hit me. I got beat up. I just got beat up.

Mr.Ajayi offered support as he led me to the nurse's office. I avoided eye contact as he brought me in.

"Oh my, what happened?" The older woman asked. I have never gone to the nurse's office, even to fake being sick to go home as Tao did.

I think the school's nurse is useless. You go in there for a stomach ache, and they hand you an ice pack like it would solve all your problems.
I tried not to laugh in irony as the nurse offered me an ice pack for my side as she noticed I was gripping it in pain. Dark humor once again.

"Go lay down and keep the ice pack on your side. I'm going to call your mom so she can get your side checked out; those bruises are bad." The nurse said in a soft tone.

I send Mr.Ajayi a grateful smile as a thank you before slowly walking over to the bed-more like a table with a sheet on it she had laid out. It's better than nothing.

"Your mom is on your way." Mr.Ajayi assured me.

"Wait." I squeaked before he could leave and sat up the best I could. He looked over at me with an amused look, "yes?" Mr.Ajayi asked.

"Thank you," I said softly, fiddling with my sleeve.

Mr.Ajayi nodded. "You don't have to thank me, Charlie. I'm pissed at whoever walked by and didn't stop it! I'm glad I can help. You don't deserve what those assholes did to you." He ranted.

I smiled slightly, "teachers aren't supposed to swear?"

"It'll be our secret." Mr.Ajayi winked before walking out of the room.

I sighed and rubbed my face, still trying to comprehend what had happened.

"What happened to my son?" A familiar voice demanded. I look over at my mom standing in front of the nurse, crossing her arms.

"I'm sorry, but your son got beat up by two boys." The nurse tried to explain, but my mom didn't let her finish.

"Wow." Jane chuckled angrily. "This school claims to be a 'non-violence' school! That's bullshit if you ask me! I wouldn't have had to leave work early to pick up my son, who was just beaten up, and nobody seems to give a shit!" She ranted, fuming.

I have never heard my mom swear that way before. I heard two adults swear today, score!

"Charlie, come on, bubba, let's get you checked out," Jane said gently.
I got up slowly, so my side didn't throb and grabbed my bag.

It was a quiet walk out to the car. I leaned against my mom slightly for support as I did with Mr.Ajayi; it seemed to help the pain ease a little.

I turned on the radio after I struggled to get into the car and looked out the window. I pray that my mom won't want to talk to me about what just happened.

"Are you going to tell me what happened? Or am I going to have to get the school to show me the security cameras?" Jane asked, a bit agitated, but I knew it was because she was stressed out. All I've been doing is stressing her out.

"Since the school learned I was gay, these two guys have been harassing me. They were calling me names and shoving me. It didn't get violent until today." I partly lie, not wanting to upset her even more.

"Why didn't you tell anyone?" Jane demanded. I sunk into the passenger seat a bit, not caring that my side hurt.

"I told Tori, but we ran into them yesterday, and she got mad. It's not her fault, though." I rambled out fast.

Jane was giving me a stern look. "You know violence isn't the answer, Charlie. You could've told a teacher or the principal! Instead, I had to leave work early and come get you." Jane huffed.

I looked down at my lap and fiddled with my hoodie's strings. My mom was acting like this was all my fault. Is it my fault?

***

After the hospital, Jane led me inside once we got back home. I didn't have the energy to say hi to Julio or Tori, sitting in the living room waiting for us to come home. I managed to walk, well limp upstairs. It was hard to walk with my wrapped side. Luckily my ribs aren't broken, they are just sprained. The nurse told me to keep it wrapped for two weeks to for the swelling to go down.

I sat at my bed and just broke down into tears. The tears I've been holding in all day.

"Is Charlie okay?" I heard Tori ask from downstairs.

"No," Jane sighed. "He got beat up at school today and I had to bring him to the doctors. Luckily his ribs aren't broken they are just severely sprained." She explained with teary eyes.

Julio got up and hugged her. "Let's give Charlie some space for now and check on him in the morning."

I got under the covers, not even bothering to change and hid in my pillow with a sniffle. I hope this nightmare will end soon.