I turned off my alarm angrily and slipped back under my covers. There was no way I was going to go to school.

Everyone knows I'm gay.

I can't handle it.

"Charlie?" Jane peeked into my room to make sure that I was awake. I didn't move from under the covers, not wanting to leave the safety of my bed.

"Mm," I grumbled in reply, hiding in my pillow.

"You got to get up for school," Jane said softly.

"I'm not going."

"Charlie." Jane sighed and pulled the covers off.

I sat up and looked at her in annoyance. "Yes?" I sass, causing her to sigh.

"I know you had a bad day yesterday, but hiding away won't solve everything," Jane told me. I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes.

No, but it would stop me from being bullied.

"Get up and get ready," Jane demanded. She walked out and shut the door so that I could get dressed. I sighed deeply and got up out of the covers. I grabbed my school uniform and began to get ready.

When I started the rest of my morning routine, I could hear an argument beginning to form downstairs.

"Maybe Charlie shouldn't go to school today." Julio tried to convince Jane.

"No, I already said he was going. So he is." Jane huffed. They were talking in hushed voices, but it was louder than they thought.

"Remember what he said yesterday? Kids are mocking him! I don't want him to go through that!" Julio argued.

"I don't either! But if kids begin to mock him, he can go to the principal and tell on them!" Jane reminded.

"Fine." Julio felt defeated; he couldn't argue this morning before his coffee. I stared at myself in the mirror.

Why was this happening to me?

What did I do to deserve this?

"Char?" Tori asked, leaning up against the doorway. I turned to her and forced a smile "yeah?"

"You feeling okay about school today?" Tori asked.

I rubbed my face and sat back down on my bed.

"No," I admitted; there was no point in me hiding the truth now. Tori sat beside me, leaning into me for comfort.

"Let's walk to school." Tori offered. That's probably the best way to go since everyone who took the bus knows and will laugh it in my face.

"Breakfast!" Jane called from
Downstairs. I snatched my bag off my desk and followed Tori downstairs. I definitely couldn't eat; I felt so anxious about the school day that I could puke any second.

"Here, Charlie." Julio placed a plate of eggs and jelly toast in front of me.

I shook my head and fiddled with my school uniform jacket. "I'm not hungry."

Jane was about to argue but took a deep breath, knowing it wouldn't help. "Alright, just eat at lunch." She mumbled.

I nodded and got up, grabbing my bag as Tori was done.

I looked up as Julio stopped me, "if anything happens, just give me a call," he said softly. I nodded and hugged him, "thanks, Dad."

I tried to calm my nerves as Tori, and I walked to school. My heart was beating fast as we arrived at Truham; we had to go our separate ways.

Tori hugged me; I melted into her arms and clung to her, not wanting to let go. She was my safety net. "I'm one text away." Tori reminded. I nodded and watched as she walked off to her all-girls school.

Before I could open the school's doors, somebody tripped me, causing me to fall to the ground.

Two: bullying/violence

I landed with a thud, and my books flew everywhere. Everyone laughed as I shakily picked up my stuff. I looked up only to see Jackson and Max.

Oh god, I could already tell they weren't going to leave me alone.

Before Jackson could speak, my best friend Tao came to the rescue. He is my knight in shining armor.

"Didn't your mothers teach you manners? Leave him alone." Tao helped me pick up my stuff, glaring at the bullies. I sent a grateful smile over at him.

"Awh, how cute, is your boyfriend saving you?" Max taunted. I rolled my eyes and stood up once I had all my books picked up.

"Tao isn't my boyfriend," I said and tried to walk into the school. I huffed as Jackson yanked the back of my shirt and pulled me back.

"Hey, let go!" Tao shouted but was held back by Max. I froze and turned to Jackson, who smirked in delight.

"You aren't going to get away that easy." Jackson laughed and punched me in the jaw. I stumbled to the ground once again, tears whelming in my eyes.

What made things worse was everyone around us just stood there, not doing anything.

Tao was the only one who cared about me other than Tori. "Asshole!" Tao shouted at Jackson. "What makes it fun to punch people??" Tao demanded.

They laughed and walked off, proud of their achievement. I stayed on the ground, rubbing my jaw as it throbbed in pain. Tao walked over to me and helped me up. I hugged him as a thank you. I tried hard not to cry as I sunk into his arms, desperate for comfort.

"your dad should come to pick you up," Tao suggested softly. He was right, and I didn't want to be here. "Okay, I-I'll text him." I nodded and pulled out my phone, wiping my eyes as a tear rolled down my cheek.

"I'll go to the office and tell them what happened and that you're leaving early," Tao assured me.

"Thank you, Tao. So much." I said as I sent the text to my dad asking him to pick me up. He replied right away and said he was on his way. Thank god, I didn't want to be here.

I watched as Tao walked into the school. I quickly rushed to my dad's car as he pulled up.

"Charlie," Julio said in surprise and worry as he saw
My bruised, swollen jaw.

I smiled weakly at him, even though tears were beginning to flood my vision.

"What happened?" Julio demanded.

I sighed shakily and wiped my eyes the best I could with my sleeve.

"I was walking into the school, and these two guys came up. They tripped me and mocked me, bothering Tao as well. One of them held Tao back and then punched me." I explained the best I could without breaking down into tears.

"Oh, bub." Julio hugged me close; that was my breaking point. I sobbed into my dad's arms. "Let's get you home." He kissed my forehead.

"Yes, please."