The best kind of coincidence

I slowly read down the list of names ticking each one as I noticed their face in the room. I stopped when I reached one name, Alex Gaskarth. I scanned the room but he wasn't there, "has anyone seen Alex recently?" I asked trying not to sound too concerned. I hadn't seen him since that rather award encounter in the corridor three days ago. Then the captain of the football team spoke up knocking me out of my thoughts, "I haven't seen him since me and Zack made it clear to him not to look at other guy's asses." He sniggered as he completed his sentence. I couldn't contain the burst of anger that burnt through my body. "Get out!" I said sternly when he just looked at me and snorted, I shouted "GET OUT OF MY ROOM YOU HOMOPHOBIC BASTARD!" He looked up at me with a surprised expression on his face. I glared at him as he scurried out of the room. When I turned back to the class they were completely silent and staring at me with wide eyes. "Well.. Back to music..." I said sitting back at my desk and shuffling through my lesson plans. The lesson continued without a hitch, the rest of the students were brilliantly well behaved. I never shouted very often, in fact I don't think I've ever shouted at a pupil before. I was always the cool teacher, the one that let them listen to music while they were working, the one who let them mess around and stuff. They all laughed and joked around with their friends, apart from Alex, he just sat in the corner with his headphones in working. Stop it, I thought, your meant to be teaching a lesson! I went back to watching the kids until my mind wandered again, I was usually quite lenient and let people get away with things but homophobia just got to me.

Even when I got home I couldn't stop thinking about Alex, I remember what it was like when I came out in high school, I used to get beaten up and bullied every day. Tomorrow is Friday, I should probably go check on him. No that'll be a bit weird. But he hasn't even called in sick. I'll go. I finally came to a decision and began to formulate a plan. I'll look up his details and find out where he lives, then I'll go check on him. I got up off the sofa and walked into the kitchen to prepare some dinner. Just as I was about to eat my first mouthful of spaghetti I heard my doorbell ring. I wasn't expecting anyone... I walked down the hall and opened the door to see Zack standing behind a very angry looking man I recognised from my high school days and woman looking equally angry. "Oh shit." I mumbled to myself. "HOW DARE YOU CALL MY SON A BASTARD, YOU ASSHOLE!" The woman screamed at me before the man put his hand on her shoulder and said "I'll handle this." He turned to me and stepped up on the door step so he was on the same level as me. He was much taller and stronger than I was. I stood strong even though he could probably crush me to a pulp within a matter of seconds, "I'm sorry sir, but your son admitted in my lesson that he was engaged in a fight with another student over something I am quite sensitive about. I am truly sorry about my actions and apologise for letting my emotions cloud my professional judgement." I said carefully and clearly, looking him straight in the eye. He stayed still and said "what's wrong with my son beating that fag to the ground? People like gaykarth should be killed. To be honest I'm quite proud of my son for taking action." At this I just snorted and stepped back into my house, "ignorant people like you aren't even worth the effort of killing." I said slamming the door in his face. Well that explains a lot. I thought as I walked back into my kitchen, kids learn from their parents. I continued to eat my meal ignoring the bang at my front door. After eating I decided to take a shower, I could still hear the sound of Zack's father hitting my front door over and over again, even through the sound of the running water. God, he was persistent. I opened the window and stuck my head out of it, "my you please leave my property?mif you don't I will have to call the police." I called to him politely. He looked up at me stuck his middle finger up at me and shouted "go fuck your boyfriend, barafag!" I slammed the window shut. I stepped into the shower, his words still ringing in my ears.

After showering, I laid my head down on my pillow and stared up at my celling, 'barafag,' dammit that's going to stick. I spent at least an hour and a half trying to get to sleep but couldn't, the events of the day swimming round my head, keeping me awake. What if they had seriously hurt him? What if he hurt himself? What if he did some thing even worse..? I got up and walked to my living room, switching on the TV and collapsing onto the sofa. I channel surfed for a few hours until I finally gave up and switched it off, sighing. Guess I'll just have to go sleep then. I thought as I closed my eyes, not bothering to move to my bed as I drifted into a restless sleep.

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