All it took was one look

Aiden

Senior year, the last year of high school but to me, it would be the last year of a four year long prison stay. No, it's not because I don't like the school work; actually I'm a straight A student. It's just a constant reminder of any problem.

I know this school like that back of my hand so that means I know the people. And I don't feel like being picked in and thrown in a dumpster everyday.

Why, you may ask am I scared of my fellow class mates?

Well... I'm not. I'm wary of what they might do to me when they find out I'm the big G.A.Y

Yeah, now you know my problem.

You could say I'm shamed of my sexuality.

My parents are the ones that tell me that I should be proud. Yeah can you believe that; I was shocked too.

Okay, okay I'm not totally ashamed, maybe I shouldn't use that word; here's a better one. I'm scared of it.

So here in an incognito, playing the straight guy in my anatomy class writing notes, being the awesome A student I'm. The teacher was ranting on and on about medical studied and whatnot and I was trying to keep up. This class was my favorite just because the medical field was what I was going to be involved in for my career for the future. Jeanine who I call J, my all-time best friend was annoyingly tapping her pen against the desk next to me which made me to snatch it and throw it across the room. I gave her a narrow eyed glare while she frowned at me.

I eyed the one suggestively hoping she would get the hint raising my eyebrows at it. Apparently not, since she mouthed "what" to me.

Rolling my eyes, I picked my pencil up and waved it at her.

"Oh" she mouthed and set her pen down.

"Finally" I said heaving a heavy sigh.

"Mr. Carlisle is there something you would like to share with the class?" Mr. Simon asked giving me a stern look. I shook my head and said a sheepish. "No" Jeanine giggled at me along with the rest of the class

Glaring at her I turned back to my notes grumpily. Why is it that I'm always the one who gets in trouble when Jeanine and I talk in class? Slowly I laid my head on my desk and ignored the rest of what Mr. Simon said basically because I knew it already.

I suddenly found myself dosing off, Mr. Simons voice was starting to become a low mumble when a huge banging sound erupted. My head snapped up to see what was happening but all I saw was two body's bursting through the door, practically breaking it down and tumbling to the floor. There was a collective gasp from the class with a few screams from the girls. Everyone quickly stood from their desks to see what was happening.

And of course I was the one who would be caught up in the fight since I was the one right next to the door. They roiled too close to my desk making it up over with me in it.

I hit the floor with a hard thump, then the pain came screaming in my wrist and head as the fight progressed next to me.

"Mr. Parker! Mr. Jacobs, stop this now!" Mr. Simons yelled at them while I was still struggling to untangle my legs from the desk.

"Aiden!" I heard Jeanine exclaim, I never had the chance to look at her before something hard hit my stomach causing the wind to be knocked out of me and my head to hut the floor again.

"I really needed to get up now!"

Again the person was slammed back into me, ruining any motivation to even move. I was waiting for it to happen again but it didn't. Everything was quiet now it maybe it was because I was trying to sort out my head. All I know was that I was having trouble seeing straight.

*****

The nurse's office smelled funny when I woke. I tried sitting up but my head was swimming and pounding so badly I decided that staying still was my best option.

I looked around.

"What am I here again? And seriously why does it smell so weird in here?"

"Aiden! Are you up?" Jeanine's voice sounded from behind the curtain.

"Yeah." She pulled it back with a small smile on her face.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" She asked, taking a seat on the bed.

"Like hell. What happened?" I asked. I watched her face change drastically from shocked before taking on some sort of dark expression.

"Uh oh" I thought.

"You don't remember?" I shook my head. "No."

"Well, those stupid jerks came barging in the room in a huge fight, making you fall from your desk. You hit your head pretty hard. Are you sure you're not feeling woozy or anything?" Ignoring her concern, I asked who was fighting.

"It was Kyle and Liam," I starred at her side eyed.

"You're saying that our school star football players were fighting in our class and I got dragged into it?" She nodded.

"I'm lucky to even be alive right now," I exclaimed.

"Yeah. Mr. Simons had to break them up because he feared for your poor pathetic little life." She said with an evil smirk.

"Ha, ha very funny. It makes me feel so good inside that you care," I rolled my eyes.

"I know, you should feel honored. No but seriously I'm going to get the nurse to make sure you don't need some serious medical attention," with that I watched her disappear behind the curtain.

It didn't take long for the nurse to examine me and see if I was ok. So even she released me, she told me she called someone so I didn't ha e to walk home. She proceeded to give me instructions on how to take care of my head and wrist since I might have a mild concussion and I definitely had a sprain.

Jeanine walked me out and down the hallway outside; school let out ten minutes ago and I was glad because I had a major headache. As we made our way outside, J told me everything that went down in class since I missed most of it.

When we passed the principal's office, I suddenly heard raised voices. I had this cold sensation that was begging me to look through the rooms window so I gave in and saw the principal, of course, giving a very expressive lecture to non other than the hooligans that squished me.

Maybe it was just because he had this "look at me' type persona going in but my eyes especially trained in Liam. Well, his back and can I say what a nice broad back it was. His hair looked ruffled and crazy from his earlier fight but I had to say it was pretty exy from the back. I'm sure it was more so in the front. I never really seen Liam uo close and the famous star quarterback. But from what I heard, he was a total heart throb or whatever girls said about him. Me personally I never looked because I didn't want anyone to see me checking out dudes.

The abrupt tugging on my arm caught my attention.

"Aiden what's up? What's wrong?" Jeanine asked watching me with concern.

I shook my head, when did I stop walking? I was drawn to look into the window and notice Liam staring at me. He had a confused and shocked, almost angry expression. With a yelp, I moved from the front doors at a hyper speed.

He saw me staring at him!

Oh God now he thinks I'm a freak or worse, he knows I'm gay! He's going to tell and I'm going to be best friends with the dumpster for the rest of my senior year. I'm such an idiot.

Jeanine was staring at me weird, her dark brown eyebrows raised at me.

"What?" I asked innocently. "You know that top really compliments your skin tone." I said distracting her with the beet extreme gay fashion designer impression I've seen on TV, which always makes her smile. But really, she was wearing a light yellow blouse that went well with her light brown skin. It really did look good on her, even though I know nothing about fashion. I might be gay but fashion went over the head for me. If I could I would still have my mom pick my clothes in the morning.

"Uh huh, whatever. Your dad's here by the way," she said pointing to the Mercedes waiting in front.

"Crap, thanks,' I gave her a quick hug. "I'll call you later." I said slowly walking backwards towards the car. She shook her head, "I have dance practice so I'm going to be dead tired later."

"Oh alright. I guess I'll see you tomorrow then." I opened the car door ready to slide in.

"Yep, feel better," she said.

"I'll," was the last thing I told her before closing the door. Buckling up, I tested my head against the head rest.

"What is this I hear about fight?" My dad said as he started to drive. "Are you hurt badly, I know the nurse called me and said you were knocked out but no need to go to the hospital," he said concerning giving me sideways glances.

"No dad, I'm fine. I just have a headache and I sprained my wrist." He nodded.

"K. We'll go to the stroke and get you a wrist brace and aspirin alright?"

"Okay."

*****

At dinner, I got a whole bunch of questions about what happened to me and answered them to the best of my abilities. My kim like always thought that a gay basher was always terrorizing me. Dad stayed quiet and just agreed with everything she said. It was really annoying. My fourteen years old sister, Connie was sneaking text messages under the table since phones weren't allowed at the dinner table. My parents think our generation is rulled by technology.

I know, crazy right?

My brother, Nash was out with his girlfriend like usual and since he went to the community college, he still lived with usm he hasn't yet heart what happened to me and I was hoping it stayed that way. Ever since I came out to my family, my brother has been the one to be the most protective.

Like this one time the family and I were over at my great grandparent's house for a family reunion. So Connie, Nash and I were hanging with our cousins and you know how everyone has a douche bag cousin. That guy who always put you down whenever you're feeling vulnerable. A straight up bukky if you were knew one. Well mine happened to be Brent. So any who, Connie accidentally let it slip out that I was gay at dinner. I mean she was only eleven. She probably didn't even know what that meant yet or thought it wasn't a big deal.

So like the douche bag Brent was, he made a huge scene saying it was disgusting and wrong. He then did something I least expected. He called me a fag. No one had ever called me that before and to be truthful, it was kind of traumatizing. I mean, if my own family didn't like who I was, how would everyone else take it. Bad, that's how. Nash's face had gone bright red as we all sat at the table shocked. My brother had shot to his feet so fast no one had time to stop him as he sockef Brent square in the face. As Brent crashed to the floor in his chair.

"Never say that to my brother again you piece of shit!" Nash exclaimed snatching Brent from the floor and that was when a full scale war broke out. My dad and his brother, Brent's dad were struggling to try and separate them.

I remember how afterwards everyone was arguing and pointing accusing fingers at me like I was the bad guy.

It took so much in me to keep from crying.

They told my parents to never gone back with me so my dad told them if I couldn't be a part of the family, then none of them would ever come back. He took my arm and walked out of the house with his dignity intact while mine crumbled and blew away with the particularly strong wing that day.

The second we arrived home, my father instructed everyone to go inside while he kept me out with him. I could still remember how hard it was to look him in the eyes at that moment

"Look at me Aiden," I shook my head to ashamed at what I was and there was no way he didn't feel that same. I was a disgrace and no matter how much he tried to put on this facade, to make me feel better, I knew I was a screw up of a son.

"You don't have to pretend," I whispered. " You don't have to pretend that you love me." The sob tore through my throat as I said those words and before I knew it I was suddenly drawn into a bone crushing hug. Too shocked to say anything. I just let the tears come, sobbing in his chest as his arms tightened.

"I'll never stop loving you. You're my son, Aiden and not a thing is going to stop this family from loving you unconditionally!" Putting me at an arm's length and for the first time ever I tear in my father's eyes. And just like the stubborn man that he was, he refused to let them fall.

"There were in the wrong, not you. And I swear that I'll never let them hurt you again. Do you hear me?" I stared at him unable to move or speak.

"Aiden, I need you to understand, tell me you do," I then nodded, wrapping my arms around him tightly.

"I love you, Aiden. More than you'll ever know," he said kissing my hair.

"I love you too dad."

That was the last time I had seen my dad's side of the family. My mom's side were more accepting so now we go there for reunions.

****

I put my fish in the sink and headed up stairs to my room. I didn't realize how tired I was till my head hit the pillow and I had gone out.