All about love : Part III

At Junctionville High School (named after the town of Junctionville), Todd Hamilton stood back from Robbies locker and checked out his handiwork. He held a can of spray paint in each hand. Going down the length of Robbies locker he had spray painted (in big letters), COCK SUCKER. Down the hall on Jacks locker he had printed the words FAG LOVER. He smiled to himself, placed the cans back in his bookbag, looked around quickly, ran down the hall and through the door. School would start in an hour and he didn’t want anyone seeing him hanging around to early…it would give him away. He started whistling a happy tune as he strolled back to his van. Nobody had seen him. At least he thought nobody had seen him. His best friend Billy lived right next door. He had observed Todd through his bedroom window leaving his house early and he followed him to the school. He saw what his friend had done and his heart sank. There was going to be big trouble ahead at Junctionville High and he knew in his heart of hearts that he was going to be right in the thick of it.

****

As Robbie and Jack strolled through the door and headed down the hallway, they noticed two separate crowds of kids in the hall. This, in and of itself, was not so unusual. There were still kids walking up and down the hallway and there was the usual buzz of activity and conversation. However, this time there was a feeling in the air. A feeling of uneasiness and they both felt it. As they got closer to the first crowd of kids they started to notice people staring. They were whispering and pointing and a few kids giggled and laughed out loud. It was at that point Robbie realized the first locker was his.

“What are they doing at my locker?”
“I don’t know but we’re about to find out. Come on.”

The crowd grew quiet and slowly parted as the two boys approached. Robbie stopped, looked up and stared. As the words printed on his locker leaped out at him, he heard the snickers and felt the stares of everyone around him. He felt like he had been kicked in the stomach. Now everybody knew. His life was over and his humiliation complete. His bookbag slipped from his shoulder and fell to the floor with a thud. His head started to pound, then swim and from a distance he heard somebody say his name. He just knew he was going to be sick. He turned and ran blindly through the crowd and didn’t stop until he reached the bright sunshine outdoors. He leaned over and retched. Last nights dinner, the drinks. Everything came up. His skin hummed and he felt like he was going to pass out. He drew his hand across his lips, pulled in some fresh air and tried to spit the rest of the gook out of his mouth. Silently, slowly he moved to the steps he’d just run down, sat down and burst into tears. He didn’t care that a bunch of kids were staring at him in wonder. Fuck them all he said silently. Fuck…them…all.

****

Jack stared helplessly at Robbies retreating back, yelling his name twice. He would have run after him if some girl had not restrained him. He recognized her from chemistry class.

“Let him go,” she whispered. Her eyes shone kindly as she smiled slightly at him. “You need to go check your own locker.”
“But he needs me,” Jack practically yelled.
Someone in the crowd yelled ‘gross.’
“Aww fuck off…all of ‘ya!” The girl yelled.
To Jacks amazement the crowd parted and the kids drifted away. “Who are you?”
“It doesn’t matter. Go to your locker, tell them all to go to hell then meet me outside. I’m going to catch up with your boyfriend. He is your boyfriend isn’t he?”
“Well…yes damn it! Of course he is.”
“Good. Then let me give you a bit of advice. You strike me as the dominant one in this relationship. Let him have a few minutes to himself and then he’ll come around. In fact I guarantee he’ll come looking for you.” She smiled and picked up Robbies book bag. “Now go.”
Jack looked towards the door again, looked at her with curiosity and then headed to his locker. What he saw made his blood boil.
“Fucking cowards,” he said outloud.
“Now is that anyway to talk about us nice town folk?”

He turned and saw Todd standing there with a shit-eating grin on his face.
“I know you did this Todd,” Jack said evenly.
“Let’s say for the sake of argument I did do it. What are you going to do about it? Huh faggot? At first I thought you were just defending the poor fag but after witnessing you calling him back, I realized that you actually are one yourself. So it gives me great pleasure to tell you that I did do it. You should be happy butt muncher. At least somebody noticed you (he pointed at the locker for emphasis) who takes pride in their work.”

Jack dropped his book bag on the floor and advanced on Todd. “I’m…going…to kick…your…ass.”
“Temper, temper pretty boy…or do you not know who my father is?”
“Introduce me asshole. That way I can kick his too!”

He grabbed Todds shirt with his left hand and proceeded to pound his face with his right. He didn’t hear the kids screaming and urging him on. He didn’t hear the teacher screaming at him to stop. All he could focus on was Todds face and the pleasure he was deriving from re-arranging it. As if in slow motion, they fell to the floor with Jack straddling Todd. Blood was spurting everywhere and he heard something crack under his knuckles. Images of the look of horror on Robbies face drove him on. He would have beaten Todd to a slimy pulp but, two burly male teachers pulled him off. When he caught his breath, he looked down at Todd moaning softly and writhing in pain on the floor. His face was a mass of blood and his nose was…well…moved to the side. Two more teachers reached down and helped him to his feet.

“YOU MISERABLE COCKSUCKING FAGGOT!” He screamed. His voice sounded whiney and squeaky because his nose was busted. He was having difficulty breathing and talking because his mouth was full of blood and both his lips were busted…again!
“What did you say you trash talking bastard?” Jack struggled to be released from the men holding him. “I’ll fucking kill you!”
“That’s enough!” One of the teachers snapped.

Todd ignored him and blood was spraying everywhere as he continued his tirade. “Do you know who my father is in this town you little ball-lapping sissy? HUH? Do you know what you have just gotten yourself into? No? Trust me when I say you’re about to find out.”
“YOUR FATHER! YOUR FATHER!” Jack screamed back. “I wouldn’t care if your father were the king of fucking Siam! You ever come near Robbie or myself again and I will finish the job I just started Todd. Trust ME when I tell YOU that!”

“Okay ENOUGH!” The teacher shouted above them. “That’s it! Both of you down to the Principles office. Oh and Todd…I know who your father is and I’m not impressed. You were warned about starting trouble in this school again. In fact, you were warned about starting trouble period. So it gives me great pleasure to tell you that vandalisim on school property is a crime and this time, my friend, I’m moving for your complete expulsion!” 

Todd started to protest before the teacher cut him off. “Don’t even think about denying your artwork,” he said through gritted teeth. “Two other teachers and myself heard your little confession and this time daddy won’t be able to save you.”

Then he turned on Jack. “As for you Mr. Parsons; a fight on your third day in a new school does not bode well my friend. Your are looking at a three day suspension to reflect on this and if you want to make it more…just open your mouth once!”

The silent crowd of spectators moved to the side as the boys were hustled down the hall, around the corner and into the principles office.

TO BE CONTINUED...