dan

i fiddle with the fabric of my seat as i switch the laboratory monitor on. i don't want to make a stupid html document about global warming. i've done enough of those already.

"howell, stop being a lazy bum." miss lawrence says, looking at me over her spectacles.

"yes, ma'am" i say, sticking my tongue out at her once she turns around. i sigh, fingers curling loosely over the computer mouse and clicking away at the screen.

i admire the desktop background as it appears: a grey llama chewing on a textbook. but something at the corner of the screen catches my eye and i smirk. i wonder who wrote that and why as i see the words 'WUSS POPPING JIMBO', apparently a title for a file. i click on it only to realise that it's an html document on the notepad. "perfect," i whisper to myself.

i copy and paste the html code and add the essential global warming facts in the place of those about mental health issues, my face scrunched up in concentration.

i move onto saving the thing and decide to "reply" to the file i saw on the desktop earlier. i name mine "that's an old meme" and place it right below the previous file so that the person who wrote it could see it next time they visit.

i sit back in my chair and ruffle my hair, proud of my work. my smile turns to a scowl when the guy sitting next to me rolls his textbook and smacks the back of my head with it.

"hey, faggot." he sneers, his black beady eyes gleaming. "sucked any dicks lately?"

"oh shut up, ben." i snarl. "i saw you kiss matt in the auditorium yesterday. don't want your dirty little secret out now, do you?"

i grin as i see ben go red in the face and an even darker shade at the ears: not a good sign. "you little-"

"what's going on there?" miss lawrence interrupts. she purses her lips as she looks over at us. "keep shut and work, will ya?"

"yes, ma'am." ben and i say at the same time.

"you were saying?" i address ben, once the teacher had turned her back to us. the corners of my mouth turn upwards as ben positively shakes with fury and i give him a wide smile.

"if you tell anyone, howell," ben says, trying to keep his voice low. "you'll pay."

"no need to worry, bastard. i don't like getting into other people's business," i glance at him and let out a fake cough. "unlike some..."

ben's nostrils flare and his hands curl into fists, a teacher's presence the only thing keeping him from hitting me.

i call the teacher over to have a look at my html document and she flashes a look of approval once she sees it, proceeding to grade me in the book she's holding. "not bad, howell."

the shrill sound of the school bell resonates throughout the school seconds later, followed by the sound of shuffling feet and the chatter.
i slip through the doorway, and jog into the halls trying to prevent ben from catching hold of me. i blend in with the mass of students and hope to catch a glimpse of the blue-eyed boy. i blush as i try and get closer to his locker.

i finally see him laughing with his friends, and notice how his tongue pokes out in an endearing way. how his blue jumper is pulled over his hands so that only his fingers showed. how crinkles form at the corner of his eyes when he smiles. how his black hair falls over his face, casting a shadow on it. i wonder what it'd be like to touch his hair and his li-

"gotchya, howell." someone breathes down my neck. i snap my head around to see a glaring ben, his face inches from mine and i run for the lockers. quickly cramming all the books needed in my backpack, i head to the doors.

"howell, wait!" i hear the bastard's booming voice.

"saying that won't make me stop, idiot!" i retort, heart beating a thousand times per second with ben running just a few feet behind me. the wind hit me full in the face as i walk out the huge doors.

i turn at the corner of the block and spot a woman standing under a tree and talking to somebody over the phone. "hi, mom." i pant, slowing down as i reach her. i hear ben stop and pant as he sees me with the woman. he makes his way past us and gives me a death glare that seemed to say, 'i can't really hit you in front of your mom'.

i smirk as he disappears down the next corner and turn to face the woman.

"i'm sorry." no, i'm not. i'm very proud of how i got rid of that asshole. "i thought you were my mom; you look alike." you two look nothing alike.

"that's fine, dear."

"i suppose i'll leave. have a great day!"

"you too!" she says with a sweet smile that i return.

as i make my way home, kicking at stones and stepping on crisp leaves simply to hear the satisfying crunch, i think about the boy i had made routine to stare at after every school bell sounded. it only took the thought of him to light me up inside and make a smile creep to my face. only a glimpse of him to brighten my day and forget my problems.

ugh. why am i so gay for phil lester?

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[1st jan 2018]