6. I'll help you.

After I had lunch with Ty and his friends, I rushed to the library to meet with Aaron. We had decided to meet there after lunch. Aaron was already waiting for me when I arrived. I quickly walked toward him and took my seat opposite him, can't able to control my curiosity for one more second. 

 

"I and Ty were best friends..," Aaron commenced with a small smile on his lips. "We were best friends even before we started Kindergarten, from the time we were in diapers. My family used to live in the house beside yours. Our Mothers were also really close." 

 

"Oh..", I nodded. 

 

"We both started school together and we were really great friends until 4th grade. A lot of people were jealous of our friendship, right from that time. 

 

Everything actually started with Mateo. He transferred to our school in 5th grade. Unfortunately I was sick during that time and didn't attend school for a week. Mateo occupied my empty seat and became friends with Ty. 

 

I of course didn't like it when I went back to school and saw him on my seat beside my best friend. I asked him to get up. He refused. Ty was hesitant to ask him to give me back my seat and I was hurt. I ended up pushing Mateo out of my seat and he hurt his ankle. 

 

Ty wasn't happy about the incident. And he continued to act friendly toward Mateo. It soon caused a fissure in our friendship. We started quarreling because of him. I wanted to somehow get rid of Mateo's existence between us. But Ty continued to be his friend. Anyway, I and Ty were still friends for a few more months until a big argument happened between us, of course about Mateo. 

 

I asked Ty to choose one among us and he wasn't ready to do that. It got me hurt. I said I don't like to be friends with him anymore. Ty tried to convince me for a few days. But I wouldn't listen to him. At last, he ended up being Mateo's friend. 

 

We both didn't talk again for more than a year. Also at that time, we shifted to our new house. So I and Ty only saw each other at school where we ignored each other. When Middle school started, we were in the same school. But Mateo wasn't there. His Dad again got some transfer and they again moved places. 

 

Ty was a whole new person in 7th grade. I was surprised by his sudden change in behavior. He came to me and talked to me like nothing happened between us. We became friends again and I was so happy to get him back, although our bond wasn't so strong like earlier. 

 

But a few of my friends, especially those from my football team didn't like the idea of both of us being best friends again. They started asking me weird questions like 'Why is that nerd now trying to stick to you? He once abandoned you for the other nerd, right?' 

 

One day one of my friends asked me if Ty is gay. I was so shocked at that. Very soon it started getting more and more toxic. My friends started saying Ty is a faggot and he wants guys. Now since Mateo is gone, his Target is me. Such comments continued to arise. I tried to ignore them for a while. 

 

But eventually, I was done, especially when one day one of the guys asked me, 'Are you too fucking gay? I think you also like him. Otherwise, you'd have already ended the friendship.' Anger fueled in my head hearing all those comments. 

 

I couldn't let all my friends abandon me. I couldn't let everyone think I was gay. I was afraid of my parents' reaction. I yelled at my friends that I'm not gay and I don't like Ty. 

 

Then they told me to prove it, to prove that Ty means nothing to me. And that's the point where it all started. I called off my friendship with Ty. I still remember his face when I said that. He was a crying mess. It didn't just end like that. I let my friends bully him and soon I also started bullying him along with them. They forced me to hurt him and prove he means nothing to me. 

 

I couldn't do anything to stop or convince my friends. I let them destroy his bike. I accompanied them in writing shit on his locker and tearing his assignments. I threw water balloons at him while he was walking home. I literally did everything they told me to prove I don't like Ty. 

 

But despite all this Ty still tried to talk to me. He started staring at me in classes, giving another excuse for us to bully him. I wished he would start ignoring me like he once did. But it never happened. It was like he was testing how far I could go hurting him. 

 

And finally, he said it openly in front of my friends. But I knew it long before he told me. He really liked me. He liked me so much. And once he said it, I couldn't handle it anymore. I started hurting him even more. I know I was stupid to do all that. I was really an idiot. Ty was my best friend...” Aaron looked away with a painful expression in his eyes. 

 

“So that’s what happened. You guys were his bullies. Eventually, Ty was done with you and he changed school, right?” I asked. 

 

“No..” he shook his head. 

 

"Then?" I asked. 

 

Aaron looked away tapping his fingers anxiously on the table. “I feel scared looking at you,” he mumbled, and only then I realized I was glaring at him with my eyebrows scrunched together. I must admit, I was really shocked and exasperated hearing everything. 

 

Of course, I had doubts that Ty liked boys. So, that wasn't very surprising. But I least expected Aaron to be one among the people who bullied Ty in middle school. I wanted to punch his face so bad. 

 

"Then what happened?" I asked sternly. 

 

Aaron inhaled sharply and looked down starting to speak again “One day, things got really heated while we were in the locker room. As usual, we had approached him to pull out the things from his locker and make fun of him. I yanked his bag from him and unzipped it. As I held it upside down in my hand, a diary fell out of it along with his books and other things. 

 

I took the diary and opened it. It was actually a diary about me. The first date on it was from 2 years back, that is the time we were in 5th grade. I quickly read some pages and realized he liked me from that time. I was shocked to know that he was hesitant to come and talk to me because he had a crush on me and he was really nervous about that. 

 

One of the jerks along with me yanked the diary from me and started laughing and passing comments, reading it. I was so mad. I took my anger on them upon Ty. I slammed him against the locker and yelled at him to tell me that he don't like me. He yelled back at me that he loves me. I slapped him and told him to correct himself. But he kept on saying, he loves me. 

 

And then my friends started punching him. I couldn't do anything. As tears started to flow down his eyes, I pulled my friends away and pushed him hard to get him away from them so he can run away. But he hit his head hard against the opposite locker door and fell down unconscious, thick blood flowing down his forehead."

 

"What!" I gasped. "Aaron, you are so worse than I imagined. You are so cruel! How could you do that?" I burst out in anger, staring furiously at Aaron. 

 

Aaron bit on his lips that were slightly trembling. "I didn't do it intentionally. But I know, I know I'm pathetic. Ann, I regret everything. When he fell and didn't open his eyes, I froze. I couldn't believe that I did this to my best friend for the sake of those assholes. 

 

Only then I realized how important he was to me. Nobody could replace his place in my heart. I pulled him to myself and yelled at the people who were standing around us to call the teachers. My asshole friends all escaped from the scene and when the teachers arrived, Ty was lying unconscious on my lap, covered in blood and I was a crying mess," Aaron breathed heavily. 

 

I really wanted to shout at him to shut the fuck up but I just controlled myself and waited for him to continue. 

 

Aaron wiped his eyes and looked up, continuing in a hoarse guilty voice. "They took him to the hospital. I couldn't go with them. I was scared he'd die. I even decided to jump off from the school building if something happens to him. 

 

I called off my friendship with those jerks and told them I'm leaving the football team even when they threatened me with things. They said they would mess up my life but my life was already messed up. I almost killed my best friend and got dismissed from school. 

 

But I promised myself that I'd apologize to Ty and take care of him for the rest of my life if he recovers. Things however didn't happen as I expected. Fortunately, Ty was alright. Nothing serious happened to him. But he no longer wanted to see me. He said he hated seeing my face. 

 

My parents yelled at me a lot that day. I ran out of home that night and headed to the hospital to see Ty and apologize to him. When I reached his room, he was sleeping. His Mom too was sleeping nearby. I went to him and touched his face. 

 

He suddenly woke up and started screaming. His Mom also woke up and then the Doctors and nurses all came rushing. He was screaming uncontrollably as I tried to grab his hands. His Mom tried telling him 'It's me and I won't do anything.' His Mom knew nothing about me bullying him. She just thought we had a fight that day. But as Ty continued to scream, she held me back from him along with the nurses. 

 

I wanted to talk to Ty but he was screaming at me to get lost. At last, I was pushed out of his room and they called my parents. I was crying when my Dad and Mom arrived. I thought they would scold me again but they actually understood I wasn't alright and my Mom tried consoling me. 

 

After that, my Dad got me admission in a new school. Ty too took TC from our previous school and joined a different school. I wanted to see him once and apologize to him. One day my parents took me to his home. But Ty refused to see me. I could only apologize to his Dad and Mom. I was glad at least they forgave me. 

 

After that, I saw Ty only after three years. That is last year after I transferred to here. In truth, I purposefully entered into a fight with that guy from my previous school to get dismissed from there, so that I can join here. I thought Ty might have forgiven me and he'll finally talk to me. I badly wanted to talk to him. 

 

When I met him here last year, he had changed a lot. He was no longer the meek nerd. He had a new best friend, Asher. And he was on the basketball team. Ty met Asher in the middle school he joined after our incident. Asher was the one who encouraged him to play basketball and took him into the team. 

 

Soon after I joined here, I tried to reach Ty and apologize to him. I tried many times. But every time he just walked away, ignoring me. At last, I decided to seek Asher's help. He knew everything about me. Ty had told him everything. 

 

Asher finally promised to help me. But he just made the situation worse. I don't know what he told Ty but Ty just came and yelled at me that he hates me with all his heart. And now it's a year since I'm trying to just talk to Ty to make him understand I didn't really want to hurt him. 

 

But Asher wouldn't let that happen. He keeps on telling Ty shit about me. He says I smoke, drink, and use drugs..he says every possible thing he can to make Ty hate me even more. Ty believes everything he says. He trusts him so much since he is the one who helped him at his worst time. And now Ty hates me so much because of him. That's why I hate Asher. 

 

I admit I bullied Ty for almost half a year and it was really wrong. But it's four years since I'm bearing its guilt. Don't you think I should at least get the chance to apologize to him ?" 

 

Aaron breathed heavily. I was silent. I didn't know what to say. I couldn't decide whom I must be more mad at, Asher or Aaron. Of course, I was still angry at Aaron for doing all that to Ty but like he said he too was hurt. I could understand it from his voice. And his blue eyes were sparkling with tears. 

 

"Ann..please say something. It's okay if you say you also despise me. But just say something," Aaron said anxiously looking at me. I decided to ask the first thing first. 

 

"Do you like Ty?" 

 

"I like him so much." He replied without any hesitation, his expression genuine. "If I've ever felt real happiness, it was when Ty was with me when he was my best friend. I want him back so bad. You know, it's really horrible to know that he now hates me so much," his voice cracked. 

 

"So you aren't afraid of being called gay anymore?" 

 

"No, I'm not afraid anymore," he replied sternly. "But I am sure I'm not going to get a second chance. I messed up too much for that. So, I just want to apologize to him. I just want him to forgive me." 

 

"Hmm..." I nodded, thinking about what I should do. I need to make a decision about this. Should I actually help Aaron? Can I trust him fully? We sat silent for a few minutes before he opened his mouth again. 

 

"Ann, It's enough for me if he just listens to me once. Can you please help me?" he asked staring into my eyes with those beautiful blue eyes. 

 

"Okay, I'll help you," I said. 

 

"Really?" He asked, eyes twinkling with happiness. 

 

"Yes. I think you deserve to be forgiven. I'll help you." 

 

"Please don't betray me like Asher," he said looking into my eyes. 

 

"I'm not him." 

 

"Thank you so much Ann," he said smiling a bit. 

 

"First let's get back at Asher for what he did to me and you. He must pay for it," I said fisting my hand. I was so mad at Asher after hearing everything. He was supposed to help Aaron. But he made things worse for him. 

 

Maybe he was afraid Ty would become best friends with Aaron again and he would lose his friendship with him? Or does he like Ty? Oh shit! That can't happen. Ty can't fall in love with an arrogant heartless jerk like him. 

 

"Yeah..but what can we possibly do to Asher? It would just come back to us in double or triple. You know he can really influence our principal," Aaron said. 

 

"Aaron, does Asher like Ty?" I asked ignoring what he just said. I know how to get back at Asher even without Asher itself knowing. Just leave that to Caroline. 

 

"I have doubts," Aaron replied. "But he had a girlfriend in middle school. He never dated anyone in high school but I think he hooks up with girls often." 

 

"Oh..? That's confusing," I frowned. 

 

"Yeah, I've seen him kissing girls at parties last year. Still, he acts like he likes Ty. Maybe he is afraid to come out or afraid of how Ty would react. But I think Ty wouldn't reject him if he confess." 

 

"No, that shouldn't happen. We should reveal Asher's true face to Ty before that," I said furiously. 

 

"But how?" he asked. "I can't even prevent Asher from tutoring me today." 

 

"He isn't tutoring you," I said. 

 

Aaron furrowed his eyebrows. "What's your plan?" 

 

"Plan..? Let me think."