"Are you
being bullied at school?" Norman's mom strictly asks him who is laying on the
hospital bed. After coming to home Norman had massive stomach pain and
dizziness that he quickly called his mom. His mom is now worried sick cause the
doctor said someone had badly 'beaten' him up. "Norman nods his head. He
doesn't have any energy to cook a lie. "And why?" "I got into a fight. He
called me by names and i acted on impulse." "I'm gonna talk with the
principal." Norman's eyes widen. If his mom talks with the principal then she
may know about the photos. He can't let that happen.
"N-no mom.
Don't do it. We've settled it on our own. It's won't happen again. Please." And
his mom's heart melts at the sight of her precious cute son's pleading. She
sighs and rubs her temple. "Fine. But if such thing happens again I'm gonna
call the police." Norman smiles and nods.
......
Next day Norman
finds out Jacob is actually expelled. He doesn't know if he should be happy or
sad. Norman now feels safe as Raven is always with him like a shadow. Also he
did so much for him even went to this extent of expelling someone. He is ever
grateful to him.
Norman is feeling
less down today as Sara came to school after so many days and she also didn't
mind those pictures. She also claimed that Norman surpassed the world's models
in it which is obviously exaggerating. But nonetheless Norman feels good. He
also forgets about Saffran and his betrayal. If things go like this then Norman
is sure he'll be over Saffran in no time. Norman forgot to wear turtleneck
today so he's constantly lifting his collar up to hide those marks Raven gave
him.
Thinking about
the sex he had with Raven two days ago....he actually wanna do it again. It was
a great distraction. Even though he thinks he forgot about Saffran but it's not
easy to forget someone who he loved for so long. So whenever he's alone he
drowns in sadness and loneliness which eats him alive. So to calm his anxiety,
griefs he wanna dive into pleasure and numbness that comes with having sex with
anyone other than Saffran.
Norman
though feels dirty and guilty, he can't stop. Saffran should be given a Nobel
prize for making Norman like this. He is a mess. Just because he loved someone
blindly.
"Norm.
You're spacing out again." Raven pokes his cheek. Norman smiles a little and eats
his veggies. The whole cafeteria is looking at them and whispering to each
other. After expelling Jacob everyone fears Raven now. Well except the popular
table as they are the kings and queens themselves. They misunderstood the purple
haired boy who never leaves Norman's side. "You know what happened that day?!So
my mom brought this guy home-" Sara stops her rambling and looks at Norman
intensely. "Norman!!" She screams out loud which makes everyone look at her.
"You got hickies!!"
The whole cafeteria
becomes silent. "Quite down Sara! You're making a scene." Raven scolds her and
she sheepishly says sorry. Norman glances around. His heartbeat speeds up. Now
people got another reason to bully him. To insult him. He looks at the popular
table. Saffran averts his eyes quickly and whispers something in Jess' ear.
Then they both leaves the cafeteria hand in hand. Again sadness pools in his
heart. He is not the one Saffran wants. He'll now f*ck Jess somewhere in the
school. She is the one in his eyes. Tears slips from his eyes. Raven and Sara both
panics.
"I'm so
sorry Norman! I didn't mean to say it out loud!" Norman doesn't say anything.
Raven ushers him to get up and Norman does so. They leave the cafeteria and
heads to the classroom.
"So I've
visited this bar near my mom's workplace and it was so amazing! You guys should
come too. You know to blow off steam." Sara says as they walk through the
hallway. Norman is feeling so frustrated with his feeling that he just wanna
get drunk and sleep forever. "Really? I too wanted to visit a bar with Norman.
It'll be good to go you with you guys. What do you say Norm?" Raven breaks the
trance Norman was in. "Huh?" "Rave said we should go to a bar together." Sara
says smiling. "But I'm underage. How will i enter?" Norman says confused. "I
can get you a fake id!" Sara says cheerfully. Norman sighs. "I still can't go.
I've to be at home before my mom arrives from work." Both Raven and Sara's face
falls. "But I can ask mom when'll she have overnight duty again. Then we can
go." Norman tries to cheer them up. "A'right."
"I need to
pee." Norman says to his two friends. "Me too." Raven laces his fingers with
Norman and goes to the toilet after waving at Sara. "Can I come to your house
today?" Raven says hesitantly. Norman laughs at his nervousness. "The door is
always open." Raven flicks his nose. Suddenly they see Jess and Saffran coming
out of the janitor's closet. Raven immediately scrunches his nose in disgust
and Norman has this pained look all over his face.
Saffran's
eyes meet Norman's but Norman quickly averts his eyes. His eyes sting. Raven withdraws
his hand and snakes his arm around his waist pulling him closer to his chest. Seeing
them Jess dramatically sneers. "Hmh. Fags." Raven flips her off and calls her a
dumb slut. When Norman looks at Raven, Raven immediately kisses him. Norman gets
surprised at first but he kisses back eventually. It was a short kiss and they
quickly pull back. When Norman looks at Saffran again he sees the most upset
look a guy can ever give. Norman will never believe it's cause of jealousy
cause he knows Saffran just used him for his body. So there's no excitement in
his heart.
.......
After school
Norman goes to the soccer field to cut off his name from the soccer team.
Obviously some of the team mates mocks him, insults him. But he doesn't give
them the satisfaction by not paying any attention. Some eyes are on him like
hawk. Like Saffran and Jeromy's. A lot of guy is looking at him with pity. He
notices the coach and goes to him. Coach Moore looks at surprised. "How many
practice you missed after coming back from L.A?" He narrows his eyes. It's his
nature scolding boys about practice whenever he sees one. He even scolded some boys
who aren't even on the soccer team.
Saffran and
some other boys including Jeromy was near coach. They can probably hear what
Norman says next. "I won't play anymore."
He hears
snickers from some boys. Coach looks at him with a blank look. "Is it because
of those photos?" Norman gets shocked. How does he know? Does that mean all the
teachers know too? Norman panics. Seeing him coach sighs. "The boys told me.
It's not a big deal. Or you wanna leave cause of Saffran?" Saffran is looking
at him intently. There's a mix of surprise and irritation on his face. Even
Jeromy was surprised too.
Norman takes
a deep breath. "No. I just don't like it anymore. The teammates aren't my
friends so it's boring. I got this new friend with whom i wanna spend time
more." Saffran's voice surprises him. "New friend huh? Or a f*ck buddy?" The
boys laughs loudly. "Enough! Go practice you morons!" Coach shouts at them and
they leave lazily still laughing. But Norman's eyes stay on Saffran who just
made a mockery of him. He can't believe it. He fights back tears as he scowls
at him. Saffran's face softens as he realizes what he just told. Norman turns
to the coach. "I'm sorry. But I don't want to play anymore." Having nothing to
say Coach Moore nods. "Okay then. If that's what you want."
Norman turns
to leave and when he walks towards the parking lot where Raven is waiting for
him someone grabs his shoulder. He looks around and sees Saffran with his
famous stoic look. Norman quickly jerks his hand from his shoulder and starts
to run but Saffran effortlessly holds his arm in a tight grip. "What the f*ck
is your problem?!" Norman screams so loud that Saffran flinches. "I wanna
talk." Norman snorts. "And who gave you the permission to talk with me?"
"Listen Norm I-" "No you listen jerk! First of all it's Norman for you. And
second...." Norman takes a deep breath, forcing his tears in so they don't
fall. "T-the moment you called me a 'fatherless fag'" Tears are already
dripping. "You've become a stranger to me. Or a d-dead person. Cause I don't
want anything related to you! I regret so much giving you my time, my virginity
and my love! I wish I could take all that back! I hate you so much you that it
physically hurts! I wish I never met you in my life, you've literally jinxed my
whole existence! If you ever have some human decency then please stay away from
me!" All the pain he was feeling over two days bursts out. He never intended to
say those hurtful words to Saffran. No matter how that pretty boy treated him.
But now seeing him standing in front of him, with that nonchalant face,
continuously insulting him in the best way possible, he can't bear it. He wanna
vent out, all those frustrations, complains, grievances. He wanna shout at
Saffran until his throat doesn't work anymore. But he's tired. Looking at
Saffran's hurt face just makes him forget all his complains. So he runs. Just
how much pathetic can he be?
Norman runs
to the parking lot. Where Raven was standing. He hugs him tightly. Saffran can
see them from afar. His eyes were unfocused. The words Norman said to him claws
at him head. He looks at Raven who is smirking at him smugly. He squeezes Norman's
short body intentionally in front of him.
And then
they leave. Leaving a defeated Saffran all by himself.