Surviving Elite High (2 page)

“I can't take anything more from you guys. I don't even know how to repay you for the clothing and shoes you guys bought me last year. I need to maintain my dignity. It's a guy thing.”

“John, I'd love to help pay your school fees if you’d let me,” Madison told me as she wiped my tears. “You deserve that and more. You help us with our homework, and we value your friendship more than all the money in the world.”

“And you're the sweetest kid ever,” Kitty remarked as she tousled my short brown hair.

“And cute,” Madison added.

I smiled happily.

“Mrs. Carter enrolled me in this year's tutoring program. She wants me to tutor a special student. In return, his parents will pay for my monthly school fee.”

“Special? Like retarded? Who?” Kitty asked me.

“I don't know. I have to meet her today at 3:45.”

“And you said yes?” Madison asked me.

“I don't have a choice.”

“That's a great deal! You tutor a dumb rich kid and continue to study at Elite High.”

“Exactly, you should be happy!” Kitty added with a smile.

“I know, but I feel like a charity case.”

“Don't say that! You're getting paid for your services. Besides, it must be an extremely rich family who wants to invest in you because they know your worth.”

“Exactly!” Madison added. “And what if he's a sexy little stud? You’d better take a naked picture of him for me.”

“You slut!” Kitty laughed.

“I know, but you guys love me so!”

“Yes we do!” Kitty and I shouted as we hugged her.

* * *

It was nerve wracking to say the least. I sat in Mrs. Carter’s office and kept glancing at the time. It was 4:30. My tutee should have been there at four o'clock so we could arrange a timetable at his convenience. You know what was strange, though? She always referred to him as simply 'him.' She never told me his name and I was too embarrassed to ask. Maybe she wanted to keep the suspense in the air. I simply sat and waited. When the door opened, Mrs. Carter stood up to greet him. I didn’t even need to glance back because I immediately recognized his voice. My heart twisted into a knot.

“Please don't let it be him,” I whispered to God.

“John? This is your tutee.”

I stood up, but I kept looking at my old shoes.

“I'm so sorry that I'm late but I had practice,” he explained as he stretched out his hand in front of me. I grabbed it and gently shook it as he introduced himself. “Nicholas Anthony Hawking.”

“John Henry Ames,” I answered him.

“Hey! I know you from somewhere,” Nick declared.

“We've been in the same classes for the last two years.”

“Oh! I'm sorry. I'm just really dumb sometimes.”

“Okay, then. I'll leave you two alone,” Mrs. Carter stated.

An awkward silence crept into the room as soon as she left. Nick examined the small office while I did my best not to stare at him. I literally wanted to die on the spot. I had no idea why I had agreed to tutor him in the first place. Nick's voice startled me.

“I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to be rude or obnoxious by not knowing your name. I'm a huge dick sometimes.”

Yeah, that's what Kitty says. Whoa, Nelly! You actually know the meaning of obnoxious!?

“It's okay…apology accepted.”

“Okay, can we sit?” Nick suggested. I immediately sat down. He chuckled. “I guess I didn't have to say that twice.”

“Sorry.”

“You don't need to apologize.”

Nick sat down beside me. To be honest, I was freaking out and I had no idea why. It was probably because he was too close to me and I could feel his body heat. Damn! He smelled so good. I realized then, why Madison wanted him. No! I had to snap back to reality. Nick was the king of the jocks and my number one enemy.

“Are you okay?”

Shit! Nick was waving his hand in front of my face.

“Yes,” I answered him.

“Good, cause I asked for your time schedule.”

“Here it is.”

I handed him the piece of paper. My hands were shaking. As a matter of fact, my entire body was convulsing! Nick smiled while he examined me.

“Thanks. You really are a quiet little guy. Why are you so nervous?”

“I'm not.”

“You appear to be terrified by my presence.”

“No I'm not. It's just that…”

“Just what?”

I sighed.

“I never thought that you'd be my tutee.”

Nick smiled while he continued to look at my schedule. I sat looking at him, but he kept glancing at me every now and then. Each time he did that, I lowered my head. I could clearly see him smiling at my reaction. I began to play with my fingers since I was so nervous. Why was he looking at me like that? Was I a joke to him? After he finished, he turned to me.

“I see. We could meet every day after 4:30 except on Fridays since those are game nights. Is five okay with you?”

I simply nodded.

“Cool,” Nick said handing me back my schedule. He stood up. “I guess I'll see you tomorrow.”

“See you,” I murmured.

I immediately bolted through the door. As I glanced back at Mrs. Carter’s office, I suddenly felt like I’d hit a rock wall and was instantly hurled backwards. Oh, no! It was Matthew and Jacob was standing beside him. He stared down at me like a raging bull on the loose. 

“You're dead, Ames! You're a dead little bitch!”

I instantly began to crawl down the hallway. Matthew grabbed my legs and spun me around. With a single tug, he pulled me under his feet. He bent down and grabbed me by the collar of my shirt. With a single jerk, Matthew lifted me into the air and slammed me into a nearby wall. A malicious smile developed on his face.

“I'm going to fucking kill you, you little poke!”

“Let's fuck him up!” Jacob suggested with a mischievous smile. “I bet he'll love to get fucked by two jocks since he's a dirty homo! We can fuck him in the locker room and no one will hear a thing.”

My heart dropped out of my body. I could not believe what Jacob suggested. They had always made sexual comments, but never that filthy or nasty. Matthew's smile grew as he heard Jacob's idea.

“Please—”

“Shut the fuck up, you little fag!”

Matthew slammed me against the wall again.

“PUT HIM THE FUCK DOWN!”

It was Nick. I immediately thanked God! That was the first time that I’d seen him angry. I re-thanked God for the fact that he was not looking at me. Matthew glanced at him and dropped me on the floor. My two tormentors took a few steps back. They looked like they had just seen the ghost of Christmas past! I had never seen such a look on their faces before. For a moment, I experienced the feeling they must have gotten when they tormented me. I loved that look on them. Matthew tried to explain.

“Sorry Nick…we…we were just playing around.”

“Two against one? That's one fucking unfair fight. Why don't you two stand up to me like that?” Nick asked as he stepped forward.

“No man, we don't want any beef with you,” Jacob answered him.

“Sink this into your heads. You fuck with him, you fuck with me! Understood?”

“Yes, Nick. Sorry man!” Matthew called out as they ran down the hallway.

As I stared at them, I didn’t realize when Nick reached my side and squatted in front of me. I turned to him. On impulse, I hugged him. I felt his warm body against me, his protective embrace, and his masculine but gentle hug. As I came to my senses, I quickly pushed him away. He laughed.

“Sorry!”

“It's okay. They really scared you,” Nick reassured me with a smile as he stood up. He stretched out his hand and helped me to my feet. “Now listen to me, if those two ever give you shit again, you tell me. I'll deal with them. Understood?”

I nodded in awe.

“Come here,” Nick insisted as he placed his left arm over my shoulders. He pulled me into him. “I'll take you home.”

We walked outside and yes, I was freaking out! I had never been so close to anyone like that before, I mean, besides my mom and my two best friends. What I am trying to say is that I had never been so close to another guy before. I loved the security that his tight embrace offered me since, for the first time in my life, I felt protected. That was the one thing that I wanted most in the world. I wanted protection.

Nick took me to his new 2009 Shelby Mustang. It seemed like every year he had a new car, but always a Mustang. Nick loved Mustangs. Mustangs, sports, and girls were among his favorite things in the world. And sex. Nick loved hot, wild, animalistic sex. How did I know that? Ask anyone in Elite High. We all knew Nick's life, or at least we thought we knew.

I quietly sat on the passenger seat and studied him as he drove me home. He was born to look cool and be cool. His aviator sunglasses gave him a cockiness that I envied. After a short stopped at Baskin Robbins, he dropped me home. My house, compared to Nick's luxurious mansion, was a dog kennel. His tree house was probably bigger than my residence. He quietly stared at me from the comfort of his car.

“Meet me tomorrow at the library. I was going to tell you that, but you dashed out the door. Do you play any sports? You're built for speed.”

My face got red while I smiled nervously.

“No, I don't. Thanks for the ride home and for the ice cream.”

“No problem. See you, kiddo.”

Nick started his car and sped down the street. I stood there, watching Nick drive down the street for a couple of minutes. He was the opposite of what I originally thought. I imagined him to be an egocentric jock that couldn’t care less about me or anyone else. Surprisingly, he was not selfish. He was Nick Wild Hawk: the hero, the lover, the friend, and athlete extraordinaire. I could go on and on, but on that day, I saw a side of him I had never seen before. I saw his compassionate side. I turned around and walked back into my world. For a few seconds, I had been inside his world, but now, I had to face my own reality.

I stepped into my house. It was dark. I tried to turn on the light, but the bulb was burnt out. I walked into the kitchen and headed straight for the refrigerator. It was empty as usual. I honestly did not know why I bothered to check each time I got home. I guess that I always wanted to find something inside. I found a few stale bagels and a jar of jam on top of the kitchen counter (or in other words, my dinner for the night). I walked into my room and locked the door. As I plopped on top of my bed, I observed my almost empty room. At least I had a bed, a closet, and a small black and white television, although cable was off limits. I did have a thin wire that I attached to the window from my television set. With that technological innovation, I managed to get a few local channels. It was better than nothing.

I began to remember my day, my sexual tormentors, my friends, and Nick. My heart pounded at the thought of Nick standing in front of me. He was perfect and completely out of reach. Nick would never see me as anything more than his shy tutor. He deserved better, much better. With these and many more thoughts, I dozed off into a deep sleep.

Chapter Two

It’s not like I don’t know that I am gay. I’ve been aware of that since pretty early on. Yes, I am gay, but I would never have the courage to say it out loud. First, there’s my mom. What would she say? Would she still love me? Would she understand me? Would she hate me? Would she disown me as her one and only son? As for my father, I never once met the guy! And honestly, I did not want to meet him. I never once asked my mom about him and, in reality, I do not even know his name. He abandoned me when I was born. He simply left. He didn’t want the responsibility of raising a child. I was a complicated birth. I was born at seven months weighing only two and a half pounds. I was her miracle baby and therefore I did not want to disappoint her.

Then, there are my friends. I think that they would understand and love me. Finally, there’s society. Let’s face it; society hates everyone that does not fit into their perfect little standards. They instantly discard them as social outcasts. I, for one, did not want to be the poor gay guy. It was bad enough being the poor guy only.

I got up early the next day and went straight into the shower. It was freezing cold. Hot water was a luxury rather than a necessity. After I took my cold shower, I searched for something presentable to wear. I found an outfit that Kitty gave me for my birthday last year. After putting it on, I ran downstairs to find something to eat. To my surprise, I found a note from my mom on the kitchen counter. She congratulated me for my tutor position and said that things were going to change for the better. My mom also left a plate of waffles behind; it showed her appreciation for my getting a new job. The fact that I was getting paid to tutor took a huge weight off her shoulders. Making the waffles also showed her genuine love towards me. Yes, she worked three jobs and we barely had something to eat, but she did all of that for me. Paying for the most expensive school in the region was not easy. It took a lot of work and sacrifice. My mom knew that a good education was the key to a brighter future.

I ate my food and stepped outside. I hated that part of the day. I had to walk three miles because Elite High didn’t offer public transportation. Against my will, I began my long journey to school.

I stood at the entrance once again. As I walked down the hallway, I spotted Matthew and Jacob. I froze and immediately turned away. I prayed to the dear Lord in the highest that neither of them would spot me. While I stood in front of the first locker, I glanced down the hall. Shit! They were staring at me. I panicked and headed towards the entrance. Suddenly, I bumped into Madison, who wore her usual vibrant smile.

“Good morning.”

“Morning, Madison.”

My shaky voice sold me out. Madison stared at me and followed my fears like a dotted line. She also spotted Matthew and Jacob. As she hugged me, she whispered into my ear:

“It's okay.”

Against my will, Madison dragged me down the hallway while Matthew and Jacob stared at us. They were definitely angry about yesterday and I could tell they wanted revenge. A smirk developed on Matthew's face when we passed in front of him.