Humiliated.

If there's one word to describe that night, it was utter humiliation. The type that would have Carrie tearing down a whole gymnasium in that Stephen King novel.

I can't believe I was so stupid to believe that I was talking to a real person. Fuck!

I stayed in that bathroom for a while after Tobias left. I couldn't have him see me like that. I didn't want anyone to see me like that. I wanted to preserve any dignity that I had left after that which was close to impossible.

I yelled at him pretty badly which I feel bad about but on the other hand, I don't. How could he be friends with such horrible people? Did he know they were going to do that to me? He must've. I don't know... I don't know what to think.

Shortly after he left, Mrs.Templeton and Dad walked into the bathroom to come and console me.

"Hey, buddy," Dad said stepping in front of me.

"Dad, that was the worst thing that's ever happened to me," I said clenching my stomach.

"And it won't be the last. Unfortunately, this life is very long and this will be one of many embarrassing moments." He sighed, patting me on the arms.

"Everyone saw." I cried.

"And everyone will get over it. I promise you. In a few weeks, you'll be far away from this place and you won't have to worry about seeing these people if you don't have to." He rubbed my arm. "You're a strong kid, Elijah. Remember that."

"Remember who you are, Simba." I laughed.

"Exactly." He laughed back.

"I better get those pictures." I sniffed, sitting up.

"I already tore them down." He smiled.

There was a knock at the door. "Elijah, dear? Can I come in?"

Mrs.Tempelton called through the door.

"Sure." I sighed.

Slowly, my favorite teacher walked in.

"Oh sweetheart, I'm sorry that happened to you. I can't imagine what you could be feeling right now." She said crouching down in front of me too.

"It's okay. I'll be okay." I said smiling at my dad. He nodded his head in agreement.

"Fortunately, the professor, Mrs.Patterson from the Art Institute of Toronto is still interested in seeing your actual art piece." She clapped her hands. "She's in the art room waiting for you."

I sat up. "What!?" I sniffed, wiping under my nose.

"She said she felt for me and what happened and wanted to see it through." She smiled, nudging me on the chin. "Don't let those bullies win, Elijah. Go get your admission."

I guess we can all root for an underdog.

☀️☀️☀️

"If anything, these types of situations make you stronger of an artist." Mrs.Patterson smiled at me in the art room.

"So, you're saying I should say thank you to those bullies?" I laughed.

She shrugged. "Maybe you should. Do you feel inspired to create more?"

I looked at my art piece (the real one) behind me. Decorating the wall was a huge collage of pictures of my mother as a teenager around my age. The way the pictures were set up and color graded, together they created a new picture of a self-portrait of myself.

It was supposed to signify how even though she had left, she was still a part of me. She'll always be a part of me and I of her.

I thought about how proud I was of this piece and even more so how excited I am to create more to shove it back into the faces of those guys.

"Yeah. Yeah, I do." I smiled back at her.

"Well, then it sounds like you owe them a thank you. And I owe you an admission." She got up from her chair and shook my hand, fiercely.

"Thank you, thank you so much." I smiled as she left the room.

The next few weeks were a blur. With graduation coming up quickly, ending classes, and avoiding the team at all costs, the days just blended together.

"Are we ever going to talk about what happened?" Dad said to me one night while I was polishing off the cutlery.

I sighed. "Dad, I just...I need to leave this town."

I looked up to see his sad eyes. He was hurt as much as I was by this whole incident. He had contacted the police but since I was already 18, they couldn't press charges. Plus, how could I prove that it was them? It's all just a mess I want to forget about.

"I don't want you to go," Dad muttered.

"You prepared me for this moment, Dad. I need to spread my wings or whatever." I shrugged.

He looked down at his shoes. "I guess I'm just not ready to say goodbye to my boy. You really have to live on campus?"

"Dad." I sighed, tilting my head at him. We've been through this so many times.

"Okay, okay." He gave me a soft smile before walking away into the kitchen.

I'll miss him too but the faster I can get away from these people, the faster my life can begin.

At that thought, Gwen walked into the restaurant. At least one good thing has come from that night.

"Dad, Gwen is here," I called out. I was so proud of him for tracking down her workplace and giving her a call.

"Hey, kid." She winked at me.

"Hey." I smiled.

☀️☀️☀️

Graduation day couldn't have come any faster.

"You look great," Alexa said in front of me fixing my cap.

"Thanks, pretty." I smiled down at her. At 6"3, I towered most of the school. Well, except for Tobias. He was always an inch taller than me.

My mind raced at the thought of him. I was pretty harsh with him the night that everything went down. I'm still mad at him but that doesn't mean I'm not curious about how he's been holding up. It's graduation day which means I'll have no reason to see him after this day.

I couldn't help but turn around at the thought. I scanned the people behind me knowing his last name is Voss which means he's pretty far back in the line.

I kept looking until I spotted a tall blonde under the grad cap. He was looking down at his shoes, hands behind his back.

I bit my lip. He looked good in the gown.

"Alexa Thompson" Our principal called out. Which meant that I was next.

I stepped up to the stage and readied myself. At this height above the other students, I could really see Tobias' face if I wanted to. I looked over my shoulder and spotted him again.

This time he was looking back at me. My breath hitched. He looked tired. More tired than I've ever seen him. He had dark circles under his eyes and his hair looked limp and unkempt. The worst part? He had a split lip. Someone had to have done that to him.

"Elijah Thorne" Principle Barton repeated.

I snapped back into reality. Had they been calling my name the whole time? Rushing up the stage, I shook her hand and proceeded to shake the hands of the other teachers.

That's when I came up to Mr.Voss last. Tobias' Dad. He looked down at me with a disgusted look on his face.

I looked back up at him all the same. This man made me so angry for some reason. He just clearly wasn't a good man.

Taking my hand, he shook my hand tightly to the point that it hurt.

"Congratulations. Good luck wherever you end up." He said through clenched teeth.

"Thanks," I muttered, tugging my hand back.

What a weirdo.

I walked off the stage and headed towards my seat in the crowd.

"What was that about?" Alexa whispered to me as we sat down in the same row.

"I have no idea," I muttered.

"That man gives me the creeps." She shivered.

"Same."

We sat there and watched the rest of our student body graduate across the stage. It soon became Tobias's turn and I held my breath as I watched him cross the stage.

It seemed as though a certain spark was lost in his step. He seemed sad, almost broken.

He walked up to the other teachers like usual, shaking everyone's hand until he got to his Dads. I watched closely as his Dad gripped the back of his head like he always does, slamming Tobias roughly into his chest in what looked like a weird rough hug. Whispering something in Tobias' ear, he finally let go and clapped as Tobias walked off the stage.

"What the hell is wrong with him? Was that supposed to be normal?" Alexa whispered beside me.

I watched Tobias walk off the stage and join the others in their seats. I watched as Tobias took a seat beside Harry Walker. Harry whispered something in Tobias's ear which turned my stomach and reminded me why I was so angry in the first place.

Still friends with that piece of shit? What a coward.

"I don't know and I don't care. Tobias Voss is just like the rest of them. Can't wait to be rid of him." I said, clenching my jaw.