Chapter 4.1: Mr. Popular Overnight

AUGUST

My chest was still pumping, thankfully, it's not out of fear anymore, but it's literally out of exhaustion. I might have pedaled my way home in ten minutes, and it got my heart racing with the wind. I dragged the bicycle inside the garage and sat on the ground for a while until the pumping in my chest calmed down to a tolerable state. My backpack felt a bit heavier now than I've stepped down from the bicycle. After fifteen minutes of letting the heat on my nerves settle down, I stood up and staggered inside the house.

"I'm home!" I shouted as my usual routine, but I immediately remembered I was not in Highmont anymore, and this isn't my old place, and this is not even my old family. No one answered. My dad's probably still at the repair shop, and Wednesday's probably taking a nap or something.

I went straight to the fridge and poured a glass of ice-cold water. I gulped the water as if I hadn't had a glass of it for years, and it didn't disappoint from quenching the drought inside my throat. I washed the glass and returned it inside the cupboard before eventually strutting upstairs towards my room.

I dropped my backpack on the floor and started remembering what happened, and I thought it was intense. It's not my first time dealing with that kind of physical altercation, but it's definitely the first time that I've done it for someone else. Usually, I would get into a fight trying to defend myself, but that was definitely something I never imagined I would do. I don't even know this Jessie person, but I just jumped in there like someone from a superhero movie.

I'm a bit proud of what I did, it felt good to know that I've stood up for someone like me, but now I feel rather scared for myself. I just punched Ambrose Haylock, and I'm totally certain that things aren't going to go well for me tomorrow. I should've thought of the consequences. Punching the most popular bully meant striking a deal with the grim reaper.

I tried distracting the shuddering thought that was trying to create a home inside my head by trying on my uniform. I slipped on the type A uniform, and I looked like I was about to enter a corporate office. Maybe it's because of the necktie, but somehow the coat has something to do with it. The navy blue coat looked regal, but I'm right about it making me appear a bit older. I changed the type A uniform and switched to type B, and I was right too; I liked it. It definitely felt light and cool compared to the feeling of being wrapped tight.

By the time my dad got home, my stepmom had finished preparing an early dinner for us. They both asked how my first day was, and I just said it was okay. I mean, I'm not going to tell them that I planned to enter late and that I was humiliated right in front of everybody. The rest of the dinner conversation focused on the baby inside Wednesday's tummy. They are already planning on buying some clothes and stuff for the baby.

I was quiet for a moment. They don't even know if it's a boy or a girl, and they've already got everything sorted out. I forced myself to join in with the conversation just because I didn't want to make them feel like I was jealous of this superb attention they were giving to this unborn child.

***

I woke up the next day just as the alarm clock began doing its given job. I let it beep for a moment, and I just realized that I feel the exact same feeling that I felt yesterday. I don't want to go to school. Yesterday was because I wasn't ready, but this day, it's because I'm about to be doomed. I thought that everybody else here in Mary Heights was starting their day with the alarm clock going off and feeling the unwillingness to enter school, but I was just trying to make myself feel less guilty and more scared. I ceased the thought; however, the unwillingness to go to school kept me chained on my bed for about five more minutes.

I couldn't help but ponder about the terrible things that Ambrose might do to me. I only heard of violent things about him, but I'm not quite sure about the things he could actually do to me. I don't want to limit my expectations. I imagined him really beating the shit out of my face. I imagined him bringing his circle to gang up on me.

Should I wear a diaper to school? Because I think I'm going to piss myself If I see Ambrose. I saw how he bashed that innocent guitar on the floor, and although that was just an act of frustration, it warranted my eventual demise in the hands of the one Ambrose Haylock.

I took a shower, slipped on my type B uniform, and ended up having breakfast with my new family. By the time I was riding my bicycle to school, I was already getting anxious. A huge part of me wants to skip school, but I was given a choice between facing Ambrose and getting grounded by my dad. I'm pretty certain that my dad would kill me, but I also know that Ambrose will do the same thing. Either way, I'm trapped and fucked up.

I ended up choosing to enter school. I won't take the skip school pill because I'm scared of losing my parents' trust, and everyone knows that trust is one of the hardest things to repair. I hanged out by the bridge and watched some of the other students walking their way to school. I waited for the perfect time to enter school without having to meet Ambrose in the hallway, and by the time that time came, I was rushing. I doubled my time tying my bicycle on the parking rack until I got to my first period.

Our English teacher entered the room two minutes after I did and immediately proceeded to teach as if this wasn't our first time meeting. I guess he already knew every single student here, and everyone knows him too. There's basically no point in wasting the first thirty minutes of class just to get to know people you already knew. He did let me reintroduce myself in front of the class after noticing what he would describe as the freshest face. I introduced myself, and I couldn't help but notice some of the girls giggling around. I'm sure those giggles weren't meant for me, but when I returned to my chair, this girl named Cassie handed me a folded sticky note. I unfolded it, and it said, "You're so cute!" with a heart and winking eye. I looked at her, and she smiled, giving me the obvious impression that she was trying to flirt with me.

When our first break came, I was shocked to prance the hallway with everybody looking and whispering something about me. Thankfully Mary showed up at the right time, saving me from this utter confusion.

"What's going on? It seems like everybody's talking about me?" I asked as soon as we got to the losers' table.

"Wait, you haven't seen it yet?" Mary babbled. She's already watering my growing curiosity.

"Seen what?" I asked. Mary fished her phone and began tapping. "Someone posted this on Mary Heights Files."

I reckon that is Mary Heights' unofficial site where students post some gossips and whatnot. Mary showed me the post, and I was shocked to see a short clip of my altercation with Ambrose. I let out a crispy curse inside my head.

"Who posted this?" I asked, but I think I already know who posted this clip based on the angle.

"Butterfly69. I don't who that is but August, you are one tough stubborn man for fighting with Ambrose. Congratulations! You just bought yourself a ticket to the school clinic and possibly the hospital."

"I know. Crap!" I said.

"Oh, and I'm going to remind you, Mr. August. That's not a guaranteed one-way ticket."

"F***!" I let out, clamping my head with both hands.

"It might be a lifetime ticket!" Mary isn't really helping me. She's just adding to the fear that's bottled up inside of me.

"Here's our man!" Rock began voicing out in a very loud and proud manner as he inched his way behind me.

"What's up superman!" Gustav followed as I began to feel Rock's hand massage my shoulder blades.

"Guys," Mary uttered. "Haven't you realized that August just made a rivalry?"

"Of course we do! But don't you worry August, we have your back!" Rock trailed as he tried pumping his chest up.

Rock and Gustav seemed to be having some kind of unwarranted fun about my problem. They even had a fist and chest bump, thinking that they'd back me up if ever things go rough. It's nice to have their support when this is just our second day of hanging out with each other. But I'm going, to be honest, I look at them, and they don't look like they can land a single punch.

"Are you seeing what I'm seeing?" Gustav announced and called for our attention.

"What?" Mary asked, and we all shifted our attention to what he was saying.

"Rachel's coming to our table," Gustav mumbled, keeping his voice low.

I noticed Rock move away behind me and took a seat as he watched Rachel with dreamy eyes.

"Hi," Rachel greeted as soon as she got to our table. "August, right?" She asked, looking at me.

"Yes, hi." I smiled back just to be polite.

"Uhm, I saw what you did yesterday and I thought that was brave of you." She said.

"T..thank you."

"I really want to talk to you if that's okay,"

"Uhm, sure!" I nodded.

Rachel gave Mary, Rock, and Gustav a look. "Uhm, in private?"

"Oh, oh, Sorry." I heard Rock talk before eventually standing up and walking away with Gustav.

Mary stayed right beside me, but Rock and Gustav came back and pulled her away.