Chapter 8

 

Daniel

The Spanish classroom smelled like a a new oil paint. They were fixing it up so the students can start using it again. This might be the last time the place would ever be empty, which meant I’d have to find a new empty classroom for some peace and quiet.

 

I was just about to shut my eyes for a few seconds of sleep when I heard the whispers in the hallway.

 

“Someone said they saw them together, going at with each other at the garden.” Sam from class b was telling his friends. I could see them because I was already at the door. Had no idea who they were talking about until I opened the door.

 

The hallway suddenly fell quiet. “That’s him,” another boy said quietly, pointing towards my direction. My heart sank, not because I was scared of the rumors, but because I knew Jacob too well. I wondered how he would feel if he heard this. Knew I needed to do something before things got out of hand.

 

Went straight to the boy who was pointing at me earlier. “D..D…Danny,” his voice trembling and his head bent to the floor.

 

Held his jaw up so that our eyes met. That way he would be able to answer my questions honestly. “What’s this I hear about the garden?”

 

His friends were scrambling through their locker, pretending to search for something but the truth was, they were terrified of me. Most people are.

 

“We.. we were just talking about how good you look, Danny.”

 

I could hear him swallow the spit that hung on his throat. He wasn’t going to tell me the truth.

 

“Glad you think that little man. Although I’ll be very disappointed if I found out you were lying to me. You do know what that means for you, right?”

 

He gasped when I let his jaw go. If he wasn’t going to tell me what the ruckus was about. I guess I’d have to find out from the source. Mr Richard. He was the only one that came into my room that night.

 

I was almost at Mr Richard’s door when I saw him. Jacob.

 

He looked like he’d been beaten by a thousand men. He was walking slowly and staring at the floor mindlessly like the whole world had just betrayed him. His beautifully shaved hair was now a mess like he’d been pulling at it all day.

Our eyes met for a split second and he quickly looked away, muttering some words.

 

“Cruel bastard.” Was it? Couldn’t hear him but I knew it was something along the lines of that.

 

“Coward! Stupid! Idiot!” I muttered under my breath too, walking away.

 

I could feel his eyes burn through my back as I walked away. He must hate my guts.

 

Lunch was a nightmare. The dining hall was filled with chatters. Jacob stayed at the other end of the table, his face buried in his plate of food. Reggie, my very close friend sat next to me, eyeing me with a fork in his hand. “Are you gonna use that fork, Reg?”

 

“I would worry about that sausage in your hand. Does it bite?”

 

We both laugh. Reggie was a good friend. The best. He had obviously heard the rumors but he didn’t bring it up, because he didn’t want to hurt me. But I wasn’t worried about me. I was worried about Jacob. The kids would eat him up if I didn’t do something to stop this soon.

 

At the end of the table, Jacob was picking on his food. It looked like he didn’t want to be here and I could totally understand him. I didn’t want to be here either but that would only make things worse for the both of us.

 

Watched him pick up his phone and then he stood up, grabbing his bag and leaving the dining hall.

 

I’d gone to see Mr Richard but he wasn’t in his office. No one had seen him since today. So very convenient of him to suddenly disappear on the day this ridiculous rumors spread.

 

He must’ve had something to do with it. He can pretend to be honorable and shit all he wants, but I knew him better than anyone at the school. I have known him for quite a while now and he’s nothing but a lying, self-serving bastard.

 

I’d understand if he wanted to hurt me. There are a few ways he could do that. Always knew he hated me, not that I cared. He also knows this petty rumor wouldn’t hurt me, so why?

 

Why would he do something this awful to that poor kid. I always thought he liked Jacob or was that also a lie too? Well it didn’t matter, because he was going to pay for that.

 

“Earth to Danny,” Reggie’s voice cut through my thoughts.

 

I smiled. A very short smile. Reggie cared about me and he would never judge no matter what I did, but I couldn’t talk to him. Not about this. Not about him.

 

These past few days had been the hardest. Having to be in the same space with him and not being able to talk to him… or look at him. He didn’t seem to care though, but at least all that would come in handy now. Because who would believe the rumors when they don’t even speak to each other?

 

Ignoring him had been for his own good. To protect him, from Richard. From the kids at school but it no longer mattered now.

 

Picked up a pen and scrambled a few words on a paper. I’d taken the paper to Jacob’s door and was about to knock, when I heard a thud just at the corner.

No no no!

Was someone following me?