I woke up as usual the next morning, and at some starfruit, and a glass of almond milk. Almond milk is the best thing on the planet. It is the nectar of the gods. My mother watched me suspiciously, as I ate. No doubt that she was waiting for me to say something about my chest. I was fine, and went over to her and gave her a big hug.

It took her off guard, and she smiled, and hugged me back. "Love you."

"Love you too, my sweet boy. " She said, and we hugged for a solid 5 minutes, she was coddling me, and I had to push her away, and go get ready for school. I put on an extra large blue shirt, and some black skinny jeans, and vans. I loved my vans. I had a dark red pair, tan pair, and a black pair. I chose the black pair today.

I finally got to sit in the front seat today. Tobey was late getting up, and he was fighting with mother about going to school today. She made him get dressed in a forceful, yet gentle sort of way that was my mother. Tai was the same way, but after he witnessed the scariness that is my mother this morning, he got dressed and ready fairly quickly. His hair was a bit unkept, but he was fearful of his life, and I fixed his hair so it be a cool kind of messy. I reached in the back, and he huffed, but I smacked his shoulder every time he huffed, so he would look like he was not homeless. I sat back down, and Mother sat down. She had put her hair up in a pony ail.

In fifteen years of my life, I ever never seen my mother wear a ponytail. I was shook. She usually puts her hair up with a clippy.

We got to my school last, and I had only like minute to get to my locker, and get to class. Tobey was being a brat about getting out. My mother had to get out, and drag him out of the car literally. I was so embarrassed that I ducked my head, and put my head in my hands. I knew how my mother felt though. She was feeling guilty. I could see the expression on her face. I felt the same way a few days ago.

Today was English first period, and I sat in the corner today. We were reading William Faulkner, "A Rose for Emily." Emily was in that class. Everyone looked at her, and laughed. This short story was really disturbing. I even had trouble with what it meant. The teacher would ask all these questions pertaining to the short story, but the whole class was silent. It was like crickets.

I stared at Emily. I wonder if she was seeing anyone. I think I would like to get to know her better. She seems like she is real, and not some fake wannabe, burnout.  I texted Sam under my desk, where the teacher could not see me. The teacher was busy writing all over the board.

-Where you guys eating Lunch today? - I texted him quickly, so I would not be caught. There is always this adrenaline rush when you are doing something you not supposed to do. Smoking weed, or texting in class, or sneaking out at night. I think that is why Alexander did it almost every night when he lived with us. He wanted to feel alive. I want that too. I want to feel all the colors of this crazy world, no matter who I am with. I want to feel the rush, like that fast-downward slope on a rollercoaster, and all those loops, where you feel like you are about to die, but then you make it through to the end.

English class ended, and people were rushing out the door. I even found myself rushing out of the door today. I met Chase in the hallway. "Hey what’s up Chase?"

"I have that book. " He pulled out ’Korean from Zero.’ "here, you can have it. "

I looked at him, and smiled. "I’ll give it back to you when I’m done." I said, but he shook his head, and waved. "Don’t be ridiculous. It’s yours. It’s what best friends do.  Besides I have the second and third book. I’m good. I want to go to Korea this summer. It’d be cool if you could come with me."

"Thanks. I’ll start on this today. " I said, and grabbed my math book. I panicked, and thought someone had stoled my math book. I thought they had picked my locker, and stole it, but it was at the bottom of my backpack. I need to get better at organizing my backpack. I started out really good, but now I just shove stuff into binders, and books, and my backpack.

Sam had texted me back. -We are eating today in the cafeteria. -

I texted him back. - Cool. I wanna come eat with you guys today. -

-Cool.- is all he sent back. I wonder if they are annoyed with my presence. Sam never really texts me, but he is dating Bethany. So maybe that is the reason. Maybe a girlfriend takes up a lot of your time. That’s probably why Alexander does not text me as often as I would like, but he texts me when I text him first. I do not like texting people first all the time. I feel like I am being annoying, and pushy. I just want to be liked, and have a lot of friends in many different places. I am aclique. I do not want to be trapped by some boundaries. I want to push and defy all the limits.

Math was boring, but I ended up getting the top marks spot for grades with Edward, and some girl that had jet black hair that hung over her face. I was in last for the top marks, but I still got the top grades in the class. Edwards came in first, and then the girl, and then there was me. We three did not get any awards but a certificate to get free ice cream shake from Chic-fil-a.  Great. I was hoping for no Math assignments for a week. I put the certificate in my binder, and took notes, and tried not to fall asleep. I should win award for staying awake in math class. That would be an award I would be glad to accept. 

Math class ended, and Spanish class went by real quick. Lunch was next. Thank god for Lunch. it keeps me going in the morning, knowing I have a something good to look forward to. I went to my locker, and grabbed my lunchbox, and headed to the cafeteria. I stopped, when I saw Chase. He was being shoved around by some jocks.

He was trying to escape, but the jocks were much bigger than he was. My best friend was being bullied. I needed to intervene. My feet were frozen in place, like I had been welded to the floor. There was a burning rage inside me. I walked fast. "Hey Chase. " I called out, and the jocks all looked at me, still shoving Chase around. so he could not escape their little circle.

I grabbed Chase by his arm." I’ve been looking all over for you. " I tried to pull him away, but the jocks would not let go. "Can you let you go of him, please. " I looked at the the jock who was about 6 foot something with curly brown hair that came down to his shoulders.

"Is this your boyfriend, faggot?" The jock said., as he pushed Chase onto me hard. I caught him, almost falling back on my ass myself.  I went wide-eyed, and the burning rage increased about hundred fold within me. There was a lot I wanted to say, but did not. I wanted to jump the dumb jock, who laughed in a deep chuckle, but I do not think that I could take him. I would have been roadkill in two seconds flat.

"C’mon we need to go find a seat before they are all taken." I shot the jocks a look, and held Chase’s hand, as we walked down the hallway in a brisk walk to the cafeteria. I wrapped my arm around him. He went wide-eyed. 

 "Jeong." He said, and I pulled him into the cafeteria. 

"C’mon. My lover from a past life. " I said, as I walked with him, pulling him into the cafeteria. I could hear the vomit noises, and expletives from the jocks behind us. 

Once in the cafeteria, I let go of Chase’s hand. I found Sam and his friend. "You can eat with us today. " I sat down, and placed my lunch box on the table, right next to Emily. Chase stood there for a minute. I knew what he was thinking. "Sit. Sit. " I gestured. "You guys don’t mind if he sits with us, right?" I looked at Sam and his friends. "No, we don’t mind. " Sam said. "Anyone can sit with us. " Emily said. Chase sat down, and looked at me, and bit his lip. He mouthed, "thank you." I nodded, and began eating. I texted him, so as not to make a scene with others.  

-What are best friends for. -

Next Chapter: Chapter 22