Author's Notes:
Before I get into the Legal stuff, I want to say thanks first to my Editor, Pete. He always does a wonderful job. Second, I want to thank my Readers. You guys are the best.
Okay, these characters are not meant to resemble any living or dead person. I make no apology to anyone who is offended by anything in this story.
If you don't agree with the idea of guys being in love, then find something else to read.
Let me know what you think of the story by emailing me at Hnstskr4@aol.com
Copyright 2009, 2010 by Chuck B.
The Journey Begins -- Chapter 10
The Attack
I didn't mention to Steve my feeling of being watched during our kiss after school. It could have been just a case of the nerves. Last night I dreamed that I had died. My body was in the casket, but my spirit was overhead. It was weird because my parents weren't there. Only Sarah, Mark, and Alex were there from my family. The rest of the people were friends. I'm still shaking from it. Wonder if that was a foreshadowing of what is to come. I can't take any more. I really can't. Well it's time to head off to school, Steve will be here any minute.
Right on time, Steve never is late for anything.
"Good morning, sunshine!" Steve says as I get into the car. He really needs to find something else to say to me in the morning.
"Umm...Steve, can we just go to school?"
"Wow...you are in a bad mood today?"
I didn't say anything to him. At least not right away, I really feel tired. My life has been on a spiral lately and it's not been a fun ride.
"Babe, I'm sorry. Guess, I'm just a little tired and stressed."
Suddenly, he looked really worried. I guess he has every right to be worried. After all, I am his boyfriend.
"You know that you can talk with me whenever, right?"
"I love you!"
I leaned in and gave him a quick kiss.
It's funny but a kiss is what lead to my unrest yesterday. Can't take this anymore!
"Yesterday when you kissed me, it felt like someone was watching us. I'm sure that it was just nerves, but now I'm not sure."
"So what's changed?"
"I can't put a finger on it. It's just something that I know."
Now, he looked really scared. As we approached school, I noticed a group of kids in front of the school.
We pulled into the back of school and parked the car. Another group of kids were gathered at the back doors. What the heck is going on? As we approached the doors, a kid approached us.
"Are you the reason that old man Owens talked to us yesterday?"
"Yeah what of it?" Steve answered him.
He laughed and pointed to the doors.
"Well, then I think you should check out the paper on the door."
Suddenly, Steve pushed his way through the crowd. He got swallowed by the crowd.
"Eric, this isn't good."
The kid who asked about Mr. Owens just looked at me. He shook his head and walked away. I felt like something had hit me and I don't even know what Steve's talking about.
As I approached the door, most of the kids were headed into the building. In Steven's hands, he held a paper. It was crumpled up because Steve had crushed it in his fist. Steve showed me the paper. Oh man!
"Eric, I'm sorry! I... I... don't know what to say."
I was speechless. I took the picture and walked straight into the building. I should have taken it the office, but I didn't.
"I'm going to pound that piece of shit till there is nothing left but a pile of pulp."
"Steve, what I want to know is how far has this gone. I'm going to the bathroom, why don't you remove any pictures that you come across."
This trip to the restroom was like walking to the electric chair. There was an eerie feeling that just seemed to overwhelm me the closer I got to the restroom. I got inside and locked myself in the stall and did my business. As I stepped out, I got hit twice in the face. I didn't even see the person who hit me, but luckily someone else was in the restroom too and came out of the stall as I slumped to the floor.
"Come on!"
As my hero took me out into the hallway, Cathy just happened to pass by us.
"Eric, what happened?"
"I... I... I got hit in the face twice."
She looked at my face and I could tell that it looked bad because, she suddenly looked really worried.
"Did you see anything?"
She asked the kid that was with me.
"No, but I thought I heard someone else come into the restroom after the stall next to me closed."
"Cathy, whoever hit me was wearing something over his face."
She didn't stick around and took off. I assume she went off to grab Cody and hopefully to find Steven.
Someone opened the office door and that is when I heard Steve's voice. I couldn't see him, but I could tell he was upset.
"Eric, was it Dale?"
"I... I... don't know, Steve. I didn't see his face."
I was taken into the nurse's office and she looked me over and determined that I wouldn't need stiches and focused on stopping the bleeding. It took a little while, but she eventually did get it to stop. Steve and the kid who came across me waited there with me. They must have been waiting on Mr. Owens.
Mister Owens stepped into the nurse's office and closed the door while the nurse closed the blinds. He turned to us and in his most caring voice said, "I'm going to put a stop to this homophobic crap. You have my promise that it's over. We have proof that Dale was behind your attack. We know it was he who took the picture and he who posted the pictures. I normally do not discuss student punishment with other students, but I'm telling you that Dale will be expelled from school and arrested before the day is over."
I wasn't surprised by the news that Dale was behind it. I don't know about Steve, but I didn't want Dale to be a part of it. I don't know why, but I know at first he was just trying to pull me back from what he saw as sin. Sadly, he stepped across the line and the longer I sit here, the more upset I become. Mister Owens excused himself and went out of the nurse's office. One by one, Steve and the other kid, David, were called into Mr. Owens office. After Steve came out of the office, Mr. Owens came out and got on the public announcement system.
"Pardon the interruption teachers. We've had a hate crime here at school. Needless to say during our second hour class, there will be a special assembly during which I will speak briefly and then an officer will be speaking. You are to come straight to the auditorium after attendance is taken for your second hour class. Thank you"
He came back into the nurse's office and sent us back to class.
I didn't want to go back to class. At this point, I would rather go home than to sit through class. We shouldn't need an assembly to speak to other students about hate. We should be safe at school. I don't blame the school for what happened, but I don't feel as safe as I use too. Luckily 1st hour was almost up by the time, we got to our classes. I don't know how much of second hour will be spent in the auditorium, but I just feel it's pointless. Policy changes cannot affect how other people feel. The haters are still going to hate. Instead of showing it or acting on it, the hate will be bottled up.
The bell to dismiss 1st hour class went off and I was as nervous as could be. I didn't know what to expect. A part of me was hoping that Steve would be close by. David would offer much protection but right now, I would be happy to have him close by. As I made my way to my 2nd hour class, Cody and Cathy came up behind me.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm going to be bruised and I'm still a little tender, but I'm okay."
Cathy took a second look at my face. "You don't look okay. What's up?"
"Honestly Cathy, I'm a little scared. I keep expecting to get attacked again."
Cody was quiet until I finished talking.
"My class is right next to your 2nd hour class. If you want, I can follow you there."
Under the circumstances, I would love to have someone with me. At least, I would feel safer with him following me.
"Sounds good to me Cody let's go!"
Cathy departed from our little group while Cody and I made our way to our classes.
I went into my classroom and sat there waiting for the announcement to go to the assembly. I wondered what revelations Mr. Owens would give us in relation to my attack. All I know is that I want to get this ball rolling. Just as I finished my last thought, the office came over the loud speaker excusing us to the auditorium. This time, Steve and I meet up in the hall. I was too nervous to talk as we walked down the hallway. Everyone's eyes were on us. All the kids who came in to school before we arrived saw the pictures, so there shouldn't have been any doubt on who was attacked. Five minutes later, the entire school filled the room. Mr. Owens walked over to the podium and began to address the audience.
"Students, I want to start off this short assembly by saying how sorry I am to those involved. No one should be treated the way those two students have been treated. The student responsible for the pictures being posted around school and the subsequent attack has not only succeeded in hurting their reputation, but they have smeared the reputation of this school. Hate in any form will not be tolerated. Normally, I would do in school suspension for first offense, but in the case of hate crime threat, you will be expelled for the grading period. If there is any violence associated with that threat, then you will be turned over the police and expelled for the year. With that in mind, I want to invite Officer Vasquez to speak with you."
The soft spoken officer that Steve and I met in the office yesterday approached the podium, only he didn't look so soft spoken today.
"Students, I don't often get to talk with you like this, so I'm going to be real with you. This isn't going to be your normal pep talk. I'm not your principal or your teachers. I'm a cop. I've talked with my superiors and your principal, so I'm going to put it on the line with you today. Whoever participated in this attack today is crap, a low life piece of crap. Anyone, and I mean anyone, who commits a hate crime such as this has to deal with me. I am the GLBT officer for our city. I've arrested adults for hate crimes and I sure as hell have no problem arresting any one of you who thinks they're better than anyone else in this room. Hey you in the front row, come here."
He pointed to me and now I was sweating.
"Do you see this face? Do you see it? This is the result of one of your classmates deciding that they are better than this kid. If you think you'll get away with it, you won't. We are going to investigate the attack and the materials which were gathered last night, and when we have the evidence sorted out there will be an arrest either at your home or here at school. Principal Owens, I want to clarify one thing with you. If any student receives a threat of violence, the student responsible for the threat will be arrested and carted off to Juvie lock up. You're parents will be called and they can pick you up from there and you will serve 40 hours of community service. A second offense and you'll be sent before a judge. Do you guys hear that? Now if you carry out that threat, or if anyone else follow through with that threat, both of you will be arrested. You can clean up the community together. I'll be standing right there to make sure it gets done. Now, if I have to come back out here, I'm not going to be as nice as I was today. To the wipe who attacked Eric, we are close. Principal, the kids are yours."
Principal Owens returned to the podium and addressed the teachers.
"Teachers, take your classes back to class."
Our teachers took us back to class. The rest of the day went by quietly.
Everything was peaceful for the rest of the day. I couldn't have asked for a better day. Suddenly it hit me. Could Dale have sent anything to the house? He said that he would. Oh no! What if he did? I sat there waiting for Steve when my phone rang. I looked at the screen. It's Sarah!
"Hey sis, what's up?"
"Eric...you need to come to my house after school. Do you hear me, do not go home."
"Why?"
"Eric...I think someone sprung a leak. Mom has been acting very weird today. She told me that she got a piece of disturbing email today. I think she knows Eric. Do you want Mark to pick you up or do you want Steve to drop you off here?"
"Ummm...Steve can drop me off!"
"K... bro, everything is going to work out. We'll figure something out."
Now, I felt cold.
Now I know why I had that dream, it's because my parents are going to get rid of me. Thanks to Dale, there won't be a chance to show my Mom and Dad that I'm still the same kid. Now, their eyes are burned with the image of Steve and I kissing. Steve had better hurry up. I just want to get out of here. Good... he's here.
Time to get out of here. I'm so glad to have Steve in my life. Now all I need to do is figure out what in the hell, I'm going to do.
"Steve, I think that little shit sent my folks a copy of that picture. I can't exactly slide out from something like that."
"No... that would be a little bit hard to explain away. What are we going to do?"
"I don't know, but I need you to take me to Sarah's house. Is that all right?"
"Hey babe, it's fine with me."
Steve put in a CD of our music that we made from our favorite music program on his computer. In an effort to relax, I sang to the music as much as possible even Steve started singing. When we arrived at Sarah's, I could hardly contain my emotion. I had no idea what to expect, but my gut told me this was bad, really bad.