TW: Physical bullying (A little shoving around)

Friday couldn't have come fast enough, yet there I was, entering the same building with all of my peers that hated my guts just because I was gay, while they still fawned over Dominic Fuller. 

That was the thing. While I received homophobic slurs over social media and spray paint on my locker, Dominic just went on with his life like everything was normal. No cyber bullying, no spray paint, and definitely no homophobic slurs. 

Sighing, I opened up my locker and started grabbing the textbooks I needed for first period.

"Hey, Lu." I jumped. 

"Malcom, don't just come out of nowhere like that! A warning would have been nice." I glared at him as he stood to my right, looking apologetic.

"Sorry. How're you holding up?" Sighing, guilt filled the pit of my stomach as I looked into the hazel eyes filled with concern boring into the side of my head. 

"You don't need to worry so much. This was bound to happen. Besides, at least I don't have to come out of the closet on my own, since someone already did it for me." I forced the most convincing smile and laugh I possibly could, and slammed my locker shut. My bag felt heavier now, filled to the brim with all the textbooks I was going to need throughout the day. 

Mal and I were walking side by side when a hand reached out of nowhere and forcefully shoved me into the lockers. 

"Shit!" I cursed, sitting on the floor and grabbing my shoulder, where the most impact hit. I didn't catch who shoved me, but I wasn't worried about that. I was only worried about keeping my cool and trying not to cry in front of Malcom again. 

"Fuck, Luca, are you okay?" Malcom was by my side in an instant, his hands checking over my face and torso for injuries. 

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine. Just, help me up." Without another word, Malcom grabbed my hand and gently got me back up on my feet.

"I saw who it was, Luca. It was Dominic's soccer teammate, Derek. We can report him." I scoffed.

"Malcom, are you crazy? You know just as good as the next person that telling on bullies only makes the problem worse."

"Come on, at least let me take you to the nurse's office. I want to make sure you're okay." Malcom's voice sounded desperate and I hated causing him so much distress.

"Alright, fine." I sighed.

Knock knock knock 

"Come in!" Nurse Kathy's voice echoed throughout the barren nurse's office, and Malcom pulled me inside. 

"Hey, Nurse Kathy. Derek Adams shoved Luca into the lockers and—"

"Malcom!" I hissed, but he ignored me.

"—his shoulder is hurting pretty bad, could you take a look at it?"

Malcom freaking Shoney never listens to me. 

Kathy hummed, seemingly contemplating her next move.

"Of course, have a seat, Dear. I'm going to have the office call your parents, okay?" Her voice was soothing, but her words were anything but.

"What?! That's not necessary, Ma'am. Please don't call them."

"I'm sorry, but you're a minor. It's protocol."

I had no choice but to sit down and deal with the consequences of being an outed gay boy in high school.

At least I have Malcom. I thought to myself, relishing in his calming touch as he rubbed my shoulder comfortingly. 

I sighed. I'm so not looking forward to this.

Only twenty minutes had passed by the time I was sitting in the principal's office with my parents, who looked furious. Malcom had told them everything—leaving out the part about me being gay—and they demanded to speak to the principal as soon as possible.

"Derek Adams! I want that boy to be punished for assaulting my son! You cannot let this go just because you don't have proof of him shoving Luca!" My parents were back to arguing like normal, except this time, they weren't arguing with each other, but my high school principal, Mr. Moore. 

"Alright, just calm down the both of you. I'll have a word with Derek and his parents. He will not go unpunished for his actions." Mr. Moore rubbed his temple, as if my parents' anger were causing him a headache. I didn't ponder on that for too long.

"Thank you, that's all we wanted." My father was quick to wrap up this discussion and pushed us out of the office as soon as possible. Apparently, I was going home early, considering the way my parents were walking me toward their car. 

"Guys, what about my car?" I asked as they practically shoved me into the backseat. 

"Don't worry, Sweetie. We'll come by tomorrow and pick it up. It is the weekend after all." My mom smiled sweetly at me from the rear view mirror and it was difficult to remember her being so mad with the principal when she acted so sweet to me. 

"I don't like your principal, Luca." My dad huffed, and I wanted to laugh. He had always been a straightforward man. Mom used to say that's why she fell in love with him all those years ago.

"I haven't heard you guys that angry with someone other than yourselves in a while." I instantly regretted those words as soon as I saw the looks of guilt pass over both of my parents' faces.

"Sorry, I. . .shouldn't have said that." I rubbed the back of my neck, laughing nervously. 

"No, Honey, it's okay. We. . .we know how awful and unfair we've been to you and your sister lately." My mother started, surprising me as she glanced at Dad with warm eyes, "We decided to start marriage counseling and it's been going really well. Your father and I, we're working through our issues and I truly believe we can make it work. That we'll be happy together." 

I didn't realize how much those words meant to me until I was wiping tears from my eyes before they could fall. 

"Oh? I'm glad. Really." And I meant that, with all my heart.