Chapter Nine:

I yawned for probably the hundredth time that morning as I made my way to my locker. The Monday's after break were always total hell.

I tried to recall what had happened over break. I remembered hanging out with Geoff, Ryan, Jack and Ray but afterwards was all a blur. I woke up in a lawn chair in my backyard the next morning, completely confused. I had asked Geoff what had happened but he just laughed and shook his head, saying he'd tell me some other time.

"Yo, what up fag? Where's that fucking money?" I heard Arron say.

I looked to my left and watched as Arron slammed Michael against the lockers. Holden and Jared stood behind Arron with their arms crossed, acting as his bodyguards.

"The fuck are you talking about?" Michael asked.

"You've got money. How else would you buy your drugs and cigs? Give me the money," Arron said, pressing against Michael harder. "Don't make us get it," Arron whispered in his ear.

Michael turned his head away and reached into his pocket, grabbing a couple twenties and giving them to Arron. Arron nodded and sucker punched Michael before walking away.

I silently hid in my locker, pretending I hadn't seen any of what just happened. Arron, Holden, and Jared made their way over to me and asked me about our upcoming game for Regionals. I nodded and told them I was ready, trying to end the conversation as soon as possible.

Eventually they left me as the late bell rang. I looked to my left again to see if Michael was still there but he had disappeared. I sighed and grabbed my things for my first class, closing my locker and making my way to the class.

As I walked in, I took my seat next to Ray and tapped my pencil impatiently. Ray gave me a confused look before grabbing my pencil and turning me towards him.

"Are you okay, man? You look like you've seen a ghost or something," Ray said, genuine concern in his voice.

I gulped and looked around the room, looking to see if the teacher was ready to start class yet. When I found he was still sitting at his desk on his phone, I made my decision.

"I've got something to take care of," I told Ray.

I got up and made my way over to the teacher. I could feel my legs begin to quiver as I thought over what I was about to do.

"Good morning, Mr. Free. How may I service you?" The teacher asked me.

"Um... Can I have a pass for guidance?" I asked.

"Sure," The teacher said, quickly writing me a slip and handing it to me. He gave me a concerned smile to which I shrugged off before leaving.

...

"Mr. Free, it's nice seeing you again," The high school guidance counselor, Miss. Broughton, said.

"Likewise," I said, smiling.

"How's things been? Home life still doing okay?" Miss. Broughton asked.

"Yes, a million times better than when I was nine," I said, with a nervous smile.

"I'm sure. So, what did you need to talk about?" Miss. Broughton asked.

"Um... I need to report a student for bullying," I said timidly.

Miss. Broughton's face suddenly turned stony and she instantly brought out her pad and pen. She clicked the pen and looked at me, waiting for me to go on.

"It's Arron Gorrazo," I told her.

"And the victim?" Miss. Broughton asked.

"Michael Jones."

...

I walked into English, my final class, and took a seat next to Ray. I smiled to him and set up my desk according to what we needed for class.

I looked behind me, seeing Michael writing away in his journal. I tried to peek at what he was writing but I was stopped from doing so when the English teacher began class.

"Alright, I want to thank everyone who emailed me their writing assignments. I've graded all the ones that were emailed and I'll be passing out your grades at the end of class. But, first, I'd like to share my favorite one from this class," The English teacher said.

Everyone sat back and waited for him to read. Everyone knew who's it was going to be. Michael was the best writer in the class and everyone knew our English teacher heavily favored him.

"This writing piece was titled, Admiration.

'We can either hate or admire the people who have the strength and talent we don't.
Of course, I am one of the latter.

He's a quiet, but powerful and full spirit. Everyone says he's taboo. That his very existence is wrong, and ominous.

Obscene.

His walk and his talk. Oh so very meticulous but again, oh so ridiculous.

I hesitate to tell him how much I truly do admire him. He's such a sad soul, one that could probably do well knowing that someone cares. But, eventually we become the people we admire. And I'm not sure I'm ready to take that plunge.

So, I shall continue to walk past him and awkwardly notice the leap in my heartbeat. Or the smile that shows all my affection that I wish I could show to him. Or how I think of how beautiful he looks whenever he wears his glasses. I will keep my feelings and fantasies to myself.

Because, we can never be.

And why fall in love, when the person you admire most, hates you more than the themselves?'" The teacher read.

I gulped back my gasp.

This was my writing piece.

"This piece was written by Mr. Gavin Free," The teacher finished before moving on with class.

But all throughout the class, I felt Michael's eyes burning through the back of my head.

...

"Alright everyone, I'm sure you're all wondering where Arron is and why he wasn't at practice," Coach said at the end of practice.

"Arron wasn't here?" Holden joked, receiving a shove from Jared. Coach ignored the two.

"Well, I have bad news. Arron was suspended for bullying another student so I was also forced to suspend him from the basketball team," Coach said.

I nearly choked on my water. Suspended? He was suspended?

"So, with Regionals coming up, I didn't think we'd have enough time to formally choose a new point guard. So, Gavin, congratulations, you're the new point guard," Coach said.

Now I really choked.

"Really?" I said, after I was done coughing.

"Well, yes. You're an excellent shooting guard and I know Arron's been teaching you how to be point guard when he graduated. So, along with the title of point guard, you're also the new team captain," Coach said.

All the other boys clapped me on the back and cheered for me. I smiled and accepted their praises but I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach.

As I made my way home, the sinking feeling just got worse and worse until I finally sat down and thought about it.

Arron was suspended for his bullying, in which I was then appointed the new point guard and team captain. So, in Michael's misery, I was given something good. Something about that seemed completely fucked up to me.

But the worse part;

Now I truly did replace Michael.
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Alright. I'm actually excited to keep writing this. I have some really cool ideas that I can't wait to incorporate into this.
Thank you for reading. Please let me know what you think and how you think I can improve. Your constructive criticism will help me improve in my writing skills.
Thanks for reading.