Chapter 13

On Friday, it was hard to tell Yani about how I got bruised since she started getting pissed as soon as she saw my face. I was able to calm her down and explain, but she still thought Eli shouldn't have punched me. To that, I told her that it was the best he could do in that situation, and that everything's still the same between us. Even after that talk, she was still iffy about it. I guess I couldn't blame her. If she had a boyfriend and he had to punch her to protect her rep, I would be upset, too. She'll get over this eventually...

The weekend was nothing but gaming on my computer with Oscar (online) and watching Umma's TV dramas with her. Saturday night, Eli and I had a phone call and we stayed up pretty late just talking (Conversations ranged from school work to how we'd murder people if we were serial killers. We learned a lot about each other that night...).

When I came back to school on Monday, I could feel that there was a significant change in the air. It wasn't anything physical. It was something else. It felt strange to walk to the usual spot, like people watched me. Something was wrong.

"Do you feel weird today?," I asked Yani once I sat down next to her.

She shook her head and tucked her hair behind her ear. "Why do you ask?"

"Everything feels weird to me...," I murmured, "I don't know what it could be."

"Did you play too many games or what?," she joked. I stifled a light laugh, but it wasn't a lasting one.

"Maybe it has something to do with your bruise," she suggested.

I thought about it for a moment, before shaking my head. "No, if it was that, I would've felt like this on Friday, too..." I shifted in my spot and scratched at my cheek. Looking around at everyone, I was at a loss for what made me feel so strange. I suppose I'll just ignore it for now. Maybe I did play too many games.

When the bell rang, Yani hugged me before leaving. I left for physics, a little nervous to see Wesley there. Does this feeling have something to do with him? When I got to my class, Wesley only flashed a cunning glance at me once and that was it. I expected something more from him since he was involved in last Thursday's incident. It seems he's still under the impression that Eli hates my guts. Good. That means he didn't punch me for nothing.

All of my other classes felt a little off, too. Teachers acted normal with me, some even asked if I was feeling better. It didn't feel weird talking to them, but sitting with other students felt different. I really wanted to know what was wrong, but I would look stupid if I asked anyone. Instead, I kept to myself.

Lunch came around and I felt relieved to see Yani again. I wanted to tell her how everything still felt strange, how I would catch people looking at me differently, like I did something. Did Wesley's scheme to ruin me finally kick in? Do people know I'm truly a fucked up pervert? If they do, I would expect shit from everyone. Nothing has happened to me yet. It kind of scares me...

I made it to the booth Yani and I sit at and found her there doing some homework last minute while biting onto an apple. "Still feel weird?," she asked, glancing up at me for a moment.

"Yeah," I answered, "I don't know what's wrong though. Do you think Wesley finally ruined me?"

"Nah," she said, "I think you'd know when he does. He'd be a cocky son of a bitch about it. Well, more than he usually is."

"I guess you're right...," I mumbled, still unsure. Setting my backpack down on my spot, I left Yani to get in line for lunch.

The feeling was worse when I waited in line. More tension. I felt that, at any moment, something bad would happen, I just didn't know what. What is it??

After I got my food, I started walking back to my table. As I walked, I was suddenly stopped by a hand grabbing my arm. I turned to see Christian Sorhinsky sitting at a table with his other friends, leaning forward over the table a little to catch me. His face was one of concern, not his usual poster-boy smile.

"Hey, Calvin! You doing okay?," he asked me.

I nodded. "Why? Is it the bruise? I just hit myself on a table," I explained.

He furrowed his brow a bit and said, "Dude, I know that's not true."

My smile faded a bit. "What do you mean?"

Christian sighed, then took out his phone. He messed with it for a bit, before beckoning me to stand closer to show me something. Holding up his phone for me, I stared at the screen. It was a video. From the looks of it, it was recorded on a phone. A figure dressed in black was growling at someone. That someone looked terrified.

That someone was me.

Eli was on his rant, and I could barely hear the words he had uttered on Thursday over the sounds of students conversing around me. No wonder he felt so bad scaring me. I felt bad for myself, looking at my pale, petrified face in the video. Paying more attention to the video, I noticed the angle it was recorded at. It was recorded from where Wesley had been standing that day. Eli and I were too busy with each other to have noticed him taking video. He set us up...

Suddenly, the sound of a hard, smack snapped me out of my thoughts and I watched myself keel over. I didn't realize how I had struggled to even sit up correctly. Eli was snapping at me next, and hearing the words he said to me again sent chills up my spine. It really looked like he hated me, and I really looked like I was horrified. I wondered if it was because of getting punched, or because, in that moment, I was actually scared that Eli hadn't been faking.

The video cuts off just before Eli turns around to growl at Wesley again. Christian puts his phone down and I asked him, "Wh-When did this video come out?"

"Earlier this morning," Christian answered a bit sadly, "it was shared by a lot of students here. Everyone's been talking about it amongst themselves. How come you never told anyone?"

Staring at him with wide eyes, I stammered, "I-It just wasn't important..."

"Calvin, Eli Gateman hit you. He pretty much threatened harassment," the brown haired senior said, now annoyed, "That's pretty important."

"I'm fine, honestly," I said.

One of his friends chimed in, "Listen, it's alright to be scared, but you can't just let him mess with you."

Another friend remarked, "That bastard deserves to get his ass kicked, punching someone like you."

"Guys," I tried interrupting, "please--."

Christian adds in, "We could fuck him up for you Calvin, if we were like that. I'm sure he's gonna get enough hate, anyway."

"N-No," I said, but I wasn't loud enough.

"Always knew Gateman was just another fucking lowlife," a guy said. "He'll get what he deserves for sure."

Shaking my head, I started backing away.

Christian looked up at me and asked, "Hey, what's wrong?"

Before I could answer him, I gave him my tray and hurried away. He called out for me, but I didn't stop. I ran back to Yani, and she could tell I was upset. "Hey, what happened--?"

"Wesley set us up," I blurted, "H-He recorded Eli hitting me, a-and now the whole school is practically hating him. I need to find him. I need to see him. People are saying he'll get what he deserves. I-I don't want him to get hurt. Yani...!"

Tears of panic welled up in my eyes and Yani had me sit down next to her to comfort me. Petting my hair and holding my hand, she said, "Calvin, calm down. No one is going to jump him, okay? He's too scary to even bother with."

"B-But--."

She shushed me and wiped a slowly falling tear from my eye. "He's going to be fine. Text him. Call him if you need to. He'll be fine," she assured me. I pulled out my phone to send him a text, asking if he was doing okay. I waited that entire lunch period and he never replied.

In graphic design, I was a nervous-wreck. I kept waiting for Eli's message but nothing came through. Oscar had seen the video and thought that I was anxious because of Eli, that I was scared he'd come after me again. It felt like forever until the class ended. I didn't wait around for the bell and left straight for the gym. Maybe his phone is just off, or he forgot it at home. I would see Eli in PE for sure. Please. I must have hurried too fast and ended up being one of the first boys in the locker-room. Eli wasn't there. Yet. I stalled my changing time to make sure he walked in through the door. Sure enough, he showed up and I wanted to leap on him for a hug.

Suddenly, the coach comes up to him and stops him. "Gateman, I'm gonna need you to not participate in today's activity, and go to the weight room instead."

Eli frowned and asked, "Why? Is something wrong?"

"Just do as I say, son."

Eli's nose scrunched a little as he replied, "Sir, with all due respect, I have the right to know exactly why you're giving me this attitude."

"Just listen to what he's fucking telling you, Gateman," another guy hissed.

Eli shot a death glare at him and growled, "Excuse me?"

"He doesn't want you hanging around the guy you punched and harassed," the same guy stated, nodding at me.

Eli glanced over at me and his face fell a bit. In that moment, I could see that he figured things out. I don't think he knew how, but he knew.

"Eli, please do as I say," the coach ordered him.

Eli looked at me and said, "Calvin, you have to tell them--."

"He doesn't have to tell you shit, dude," another guy grumbled behind me.

The dark haired delinquent glared and said, "You don't have to tell me shit, either. Stay out of this."

"Gateman," the coach scolded.

"Or what?," the other guy challenged, "You're going to hit me? Claim me as property?"

"Shut your damn mouth!!," Eli growled, eyes flaring with anger.

"Go fuck off, Gateman," the first guy said.

"H-Hey," I stuttered.

"Why don't you fuck off? You're not a part of this," Eli hissed at the guy.

"Gateman, quit it," the coach barked again.

"Listen to the coach, or else..!"

"Or else what? Huh? What the fuck are you gonna do?!"

"Knock it off, all of you!," the coach ordered with a louder voice.

"Listen to the coach, Eli," I said, stepping in front of him. He was still glaring when he looked at me, but it was softer. Regardless, he placed a hand on my shoulder and moved me aside. This set off another guy and he shoved the dark haired delinquent away from me.

Eli was a swarm of fiery energy after that. He lunged forward and tried grabbing at the guy. That guy managed to dodge his hand and landed a punch across Eli's face. I yelled out loud as soon as I saw his head bang against the lockers. Before Eli could charge at the other guy, the coach stepped in and restrained him. Other boys held back the guy who hit him and I just stood there, panicking.

The coach took Eli outside of the locker-room and commanded, "Gateman, go to the front office, now!"

Eli looked at me through the doorway, and his face looked pained (there was also a red mark near his eye where he had been punched). With a huff, he stormed away, carrying all of the tension with him. (I had a feeling he wasn't going to the front office.) When the coach came back in, he yelled at the other two guys who tried defending me. I just rushed past everyone to get to the bathroom stall and finally change into my PE clothes. While changing in the stall, I let my tears of frustration out quietly. I want to go see Eli. I want to go comfort him. But what if he's too angry for me to talk to? Either way, I can't leave class. Not now.

I want to see him...

•••

After school, I tried texting Eli again, and then immediately after, I called his number. I only got an automated voice message.

My mood was terrible the rest of the day. I didn't want to hang out with Umma and Appa for dinner, and it was hard pretending to be somewhat okay. Yani and I talked over the phone, and I explained to her what had happened. She told me not to worry about him, saying that he would be fine. I still wanted to talk to him, wanted to hear his voice, wanted to see him. I felt bad, like him getting hurt was my fault. In a way, it was. If I hadn't taken the photos, this drama wouldn't have surfaced, and Eli wouldn't be getting so much hate. Even on social media, he was getting dissed (Yani saw some posts on her Twitter feed and mentioned them). Why is he getting all of the hate? I was the one who fucked up. Why him? It should be me. He doesn't deserve a single shred of hate.

That night, as I lay in bed, I couldn't sleep. My concern for Eli kept me from resting. What is he doing right now? Why doesn't he answer my calls and texts? What did I do wrong? I should've backed him up when he was in that argument in PE. I should've taken his side. Maybe if I had done that, he would be talking to me right now, telling me he's glad to hear my voice again.

I finally fell asleep at 2 am...

•••

The next day, all I heard was talk of the video. People started opening up more to it, and some asked if I was okay. I only gave them half-baked responses. (I was especially upset in the morning, because I expected a message from Eli to be on my phone screen when I woke up. I had nothing.)

Teachers were concerned for me, and I was even called to the counsellor's office to have a talk about the incident on Thursday. My parents were informed, too, and I prayed that Umma and Appa didn't try to do anything brash. Throughout the entire day, I worried about Eli. I kept hearing that he didn't show up today, and people made fun of him for that, saying he's a bitch for hiding. As much as it wouldn't have helped, I really wanted to tell those people off. What the hell did they know?!

Lunches are just a mess. Students would stop me and ask me if I was okay. I always said I'm fine. I overheard the occasional "Eli is a fucking douchebag" conversation when standing in line and sitting at my booth with Yani. It was so much, and even Yani was hesitant to talk to me since she could see how close I was to exploding.

All of this lasted for a while. A couple more days actually. I couldn't get in touch with Eli during these days, and he never showed up to school. My concern was off the charts by the time it was Friday and I was desperate to see Eli again. It sucks that the only photos I have of him are his nudes and they're on my computer. I should take more pictures of him just so that I can see him when I miss him. But photos are the least of my concerns now.

On Friday, while I ate at lunch, my phone buzzed in my pocket and I yanked it out, hoping it was Eli. My hope fell as all I had was a text from Wesley.

Wesley: aw, people care about u, creep! how nice. too bad for Eli. i overheard talk of some guys wanting to jump him because he tried fighting their friend in PE a few days ago. if I see it, I'll definitely tell u all about it. maybe send some quality pics. :)

Something inside of me finally burst. I stood up from my booth so fast that I scared Yani. Before she could ask me what was wrong, I bolted away. My blood boiled as I started reaching closer and closer to my destination. I didn't care if I shoved past someone on the way--I needed to get there. Finally, Wesley came into view and, immediately, the thought of slamming his head down into his lunch tray came to mind. Instead of doing that, I knocked over his tray and got his attention.

"What's got you so cranky?," he said, with a cunning smile (not even upset that I just tossed his food onto the floor). His crew all drew their attention towards me. I would have been intimidated by that, but my rage shoved aside any worry.

"You set him up," I growled loud enough for him and his whole table to hear, "You wanted him to punch me so that you could catch him, and ruin his reputation too!"

"Eh, it wasn't that good of a rep anyway," Wesley chortled and a few guys laughed.

"Why him? What happened to ruining me?"

He shrugged. "I just felt so sorry for you, ya know? Seeing you look at him all scared like that. I thought him hurting you was enough punishment."

"Bullshit!," I shouted. The tables around us started going silent the more Wesley and I argued.

"I'm doing you a favor, Creep," the blonde haired douchebag said, "At this rate, you won't have anything to worry about. With all the hate that Eli is getting, no one is going to think about you anymore! At least, not in the way I wanted."

"This isn't right," I started, "He doesn't deserve this! This isn't his fault!"

"It has to be someone's, right? He hit you, Calvin," Wesley chuckled, grinning devilishly.

I stared at him straight in his piercing, blue eyes, at a loss for words now. Then, I looked at the people who stared at us quizzically.

An idea came to mind.

All of this has to be someone's fault. Just not Eli's. Never Eli. He's not a bad person.

Without a moment of hesitation, I climbed up on top of Wesley's table, earning a puzzled look from him and his crew. At this point, more attention was put onto me, including those of the security guards and teachers that were in the cafeteria. From afar, I could see Yani standing up at our booth, watching me with worried eyes. She's gonna hate me for what I'm about to do next...

With a deep, deep breath, and a voice full of bravado, I yelled out loud for all to hear, "I took pictures of Eli Gateman nude and changing in the boys' locker-room!!!"

The cafeteria grew quieter after this. Yani gaped at me from across the giant room, and Wesley was quietly chuckling to himself. This is what he wanted. All along. This is what he set Eli up for. Despite that I hate his fucking guts, I'll give Wesley what he wants so badly, if it means Eli can be okay.

"Any rumors you heard about me taking those pictures are true!," I went on, "That's why Eli punched me! He had every right to!"

"Dude, that's messed up, even for you...," some random guy commented.

"You bet your ass it is!!," I chimed, faking confidence, "I took those pictures because I think he's fucking hot as hell. And you know what?! I don't regret a single thing! I don't feel bad that I did what I did! I loved every, single, moment, of it!!!"

Someone threw a milk carton at me and it hit my side. People started talking now.

"Fucking Creep."

"Creepy ass queer."

"Disgusting."

"Poor Eli. I feel gross for feeling bad for that creep, now."

"People like him make me lose faith in humanity, I swear!"

"Fuckin' faggot creep."

I smiled at every single comment. To everyone, I must have looked like some overly confident, pervert, but I was happy because now Eli won't be hurt. So damn happy..!

Security guards finally coaxed me down from the table and ordered me to go to the principal's office. Before I left, I had to get my backpack. As I was escorted back to my table, people hissed at me and called me names. Someone even threw a water bottle at my head and a security guard had to yell at them. When I got to my booth, Yani immediately asked me, "Calvin, what the hell were you thinking?!"

"I'm not gonna let Eli get hate for something that isn't his fault," I told her as I grabbed my bag.

"But...Calvin--!"

"I hope you don't get any shit now because of me," I said sadly, "I'm sorry if you do. I'm a terrible friend, I know. I'll see you later, Yani."

She shook her head and stepped forward to grab me, but one of the security guards got in her way and demanded her to get back. I walked with the other guard and left the cafeteria to go to the principal's office. Despite that I was shot all of these revolted looks, I felt content. A weight was finally lifted off of my shoulders.

My phone buzzed in my pocket and I took it out. It was a text from Wesley.

Wesley: nice performance u gave, creep. didn't think u had it in u. wish I recorded it. :)

I finally texted him back after never doing it, and said: Congratulations. You got what you wanted.

Wesley: thnx, i'm pretty happy with this. good luck now, creep. ur gonna need it. ;)

I know I will.