Sit Back, Gotta Catch My Breath

It's been a little over a month since Alex's parents caught us making out, and Alex still hasn't returned to school. A few weeks ago, Rian explained to me why Alex hadn't visited me in the hospital. Apparently, his parents had him under house arrest.
You know, it's amazing how something so wonderful can turn to shit in a split second.
And what makes things worse: tomorrow is Valentine's day, which means I'm going to have to deal with seeing so many couples being all lovey-dovey wherever I go. Just the salt I needed for my open wound. I don't get to spend the day with the boy I love.
Yeah, you heard me. I said the 'L' word.
But it couldn't be more true. I love Alex. I love him more than life.
But I'll never be able to tell him that. And that alone made my heart physically hurt. I miss him so much.
The bell rang, pulling me out of my thoughts. It was time to go to music class, which was the class I normally shared with Alex. But, his seat was now taken by Juliet, who tried her damnedest every day to try and make me smile at least once. Sadly, she hasn't been able to, yet. Not once.
I shoved my notebook into my backpack and walked out of the classroom and began down the hall, but stopped when I heard a voice calling from behind me.
"Hey, Barafag!"
Yeah. Barafag. Broc's new pet name for me.
I turned to face the boy, who had this evil smirk on his face.
"Is it true that you and your little bitch broke up?"
I cringed when he called Alex a bitch, but didn't say a word. Strike one.
He shoved me back a little bit. "Aw. Is the little faggot all alone, now that his little bitch dumped him?"
Strike two.
"Why don't you just go kill yourself, emo faggot? I bet your bitch is already dead, and that's why he hasn't been at school."
Strike three, four, and five. You're out.
Before I knew what I was doing, my boney fist was colliding with Broc's nose, causing blood to drip onto the floor. I quickly turned and sprinted to music class before Broc or any of his buddies could react.
I slid into my seat, chest heaving.
"Woah," Juliet said, looking at me, "What happened? You just run a marathon?"
I shook my head. "More... more like... looked death... in the face," I said between breaths.
She nodded. "Broc, again?"
I finally caught my breath before answering her. "Yeah his nose is bleeding now." I pulled out my music notebook as a look of shock formed on Juliet's face.
"You punched him? Do you have a death wish?"
I turned to look at her again. "What's with all the questions today? Can't you just nod in agreement and move on?"
She looked taken aback for a second, but eventually nodded and turned to the front of the room, waiting for class to start.

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I curled up under my blanket and hugged my pillow. I took my picture of Alex out of the top drawer of my bed-side table and just held it in my hand, staring at it. He was smiling in the picture, being his goofy self. Oh, how I wished I could see him like that, again.
A tear rolled down my cheek, followed by another, and another. And, before long, my vision was so blurred, Alex was just a blob.
I pulled the picture to my chest and held onto it for dear life. And I just laid there and sobbed until I heard footsteps upstairs. I bit my lip, trying to stay completely silent. My dad couldn't know that I was crying over Alex again. Because, according to him, real men don't cry. Especially over other men.
I listened as the footsteps started their way down the stairs. I quickly returned the picture to its drawer and wiped the tears away the best I could.
A flood of relief washed over me when Rian peeked around the corner. He walked over to me and sighed.
I sat up and looked at him in the eyes. "What?"
"I just hate seeing my best friend like this."
I bit my lip and looked down. "Then why are you here?" I looked back up at him as a smirk played with the corner of his mouth.
"Because I have a plan."

Notes

Yay for Rian! :D

-Ryan

Wait, what? o.o