Next Level

Zacky's Point Of View

“Move!” I heard someone at the back of the classroom shouting as I walked into my English lesson.

I looked over to him and a frown immediately spread across my face. The guy didn't look familiar in any way at all to me, which meant that it was highly likely that he was the kid who threatened Zander and punched Kyle. He seems like the type to do that sort of thing as well. I mean look at him now, he actually just scared some guy out of his seat.

He looks a mess as well, you know, the classic rough look; that’s the one he has. To be honest, even though I know I shouldn’t judge people, I think I’d hate him right now even if I didn't know that he was the one Kyle and Zander were telling me about.

I went over and took my seat which was in the row in front of the new guy and diagonally across from him. He gave me a look, but I didn't know how to react to it. Was he trying to start something? If he was he’s even more immature than I thought to start with. We’re practically grownups now and he wants to start a fight in the classroom. Real mature.

Part of me wanted to confront him though, not about the look, obviously. I couldn’t care less about him looking at me like I'm the crap on his shoe. I want to stand up for my friends. The only problem with doing that is that it’ll get me in trouble and I’ve been trying my best to keep out of any since everything that’s happened. It’s changed me, I'm a good boy now...Kind of anyway.

I tensed up when I saw Sam walk in. He gave me a stupid smirk as he went and sat in the chair behind me, making sure that his feet were close enough to be able to kick my chair.

I do my best not to react to him now. He isn't worth it, but sometimes, it can be hard to control yourself, especially when someone has already put you in a bad mood.

“Stop it,” I hissed under my breath as a few more people showed up for the lesson.
Most of our lessons are like this now, everyone takes their time to eventually turn up; the teacher is one of those people too.

“Stop what?” he grunted, kicking my chair again.

Don’t you hate people like him? I know he’s only doing it for a reaction and that if I give him one he’ll be happy with it, but what can I do really? If I don’t react he’ll just keep on doing it. I know by now that Sam isn't the sort of person who gets bored and gives up on annoying people. He’s too good at it to let that happen.

I bet it’s some sick passion of his actually.

“You know what,” I mumbled, refusing to turn around and face him.

I wanted to make this whole thing go as unnoticed by everybody else as possible. It’ll be easier that way. Attention just fuels the guy on most of the time.

“No I don’t,” he said. Although I couldn’t see him, I could practically feel the smirk that he had on his face right then.

I took a deep breath and let it slide.

“Don't you like me kicking your chair forward?” he asked me. “I mean, aren’t you used to these sorts of movements?” he laughed, kicking my chair harder so it jolted forward.

Gay jokes. Very original isn't he.

“You’ve had more practise than most of us,” he smirked. “Some people wait until they’re legal, you wouldn't know about them though, would you?”

Just keep pushing me Sammy Boy. I dare you.

“You even got extra lessons in it,” he said, leaning over the table a little so I could hear him without him needing to speak louder. “Two teachers at once,” he said smugly.

I froze still for a few moments.

Everything he said then hit me like a ton of bricks. At school it’s as if there’s an unwritten rule that we can’t talk about the things that went on between me, Cole and Mr. Baker, especially when you’re talking directly to me.

It stung because I know there’s nothing I can do to pretend that I hadn’t heard him. He knows I heard, and more importantly, I do and I can’t exactly go and just forget about it. People at school are still thinking about it, talking about it behind my back. If they weren’t doing that then why would he even bring it up? It should be old news by now, but for some reason, in some people’s minds, it isn't.

The other bit that made it hurt was that I haven’t seen Cole in weeks now. It’s not that I don’t want to see him, I just haven’t had chance. Great, now he’s managed to make me feel guilty. Perfect.

“Can’t keep your hands to yourself,” he said in a much louder voice as he lent back into his chair.

I'm guessing he was expecting me to lash out before, that’s why he’s starting to get louder. Ha, he thinks a little extra volume will be enough to throw me over the edge. Maybe on the inside it might get to me, but not enough for him to notice.

I heard a whisper coming from behind and I was pretty sure it wasn't coming from Sam. He completely fails at being quiet. Seriously, he can’t do it. Not at all. His mouth has to be open. All. The. Time.

The whisper wasn't addressing me though; it was to get Sam’s attention.

That slight distracted was enough to make him stop annoying me and turn to speak to who wanted him. It turned out it was the new guy.

As you know, I can be a pretty nosy person, so I listened it on what they were saying. I guess you could say I had a right though, they were talking about me after all.

“What’s that about?” he asked Sam.

“You don’t know!” Sam laughed, playing like he was shocked before kicking my chair once more.

At that point I turned around to face him and shoved his table into him but because he’s the idiot that he is, he was leaning back on his chair when I pushed it so he ended up falling off it. I have to admit, it was hard not to laugh at him falling.

The new guy started eying me up again, probably confused and unsure what to make of the situation really.

I quickly turned back to face the front and realized everyone was looking over at us. Keep your head down, I told myself as I looked down at the table.

“You’ll pay for that Mongayle,” he grunted as he got back into his chair, but surprisingly didn't make a move to hurt me or get back at me right there and then.

I chose to ignore his accidental mispronunciation of my name and just rolled my eyes at it. He’s the only person in the school who still has a problem with me. Why won’t he just let it go? Even his best friend, Keith, accepts my sexuality. He doesn’t like me, he hates my guts, but I know that it isn't because I'm gay, it’s because my guys and Sam and his guys love making each other’s lives hell. That’s just how it is.

“He’s gay?” I heard the new guy ask him.

“Yeah,” Sam mumbled, to which the guy responded with a disapproving grunt.

Looks like the amount of people who judge me for being how I am just went up a little. I don’t care though, it’s not as if there was any chance on me and him being friends anyway.

By the end of the lesson I was just about sick of Sam and his chair kicking. The only thing I learned in the whole lesson wasn't even English related. It was just the new guy’s name. Harley. I’ve haven’t heard it before. Usually new names take a while to sink in for me, but I knew I’d remember his...

As soon as I was out of the room I practically ran into Kyle. As you can see, I was in a rush to get out of there.

“What the hell?” he laughed slightly as he picked his bag up.

I laughed a little; knowing that I must’ve scared him if that was enough to make him drop his bag.

“Sorry,” I breathed out, collecting myself.

“Someone really hates English,” Jay stated as he walked up to us. I'm guessing he saw all of that from wherever he just came from.

“Or the company,” Kyle mumbled when he saw Sam and Harley walking out of the room, talking to each other like they’d been friends all of their lives. I guess they were sort of made for each other, right?

“Who’s Sam with?” Jay asked in a hushed voice.

“Harley,” I told him. “The guy who gave Kyle his wikkle black eye,” I said in a teasing voice, earning a glare from Ky.

“I would’ve took him on but...” his voice trailed off.

“But what?” Jay asked, nudging his side.

“Nothing,” he mumbled.

“It’s something,” Jay and I said at the same time.

“Tell us,” he whined.

“I just, I guess you made sense for once Zack.” I raised an eyebrow at him as we walked out onto the yard. Me? Make sense? “All that stuff you said about rising above it and them not being worth it...You’re right...I guess,” he explained awkwardly.

I felt like there might’ve been more to it than that, but I dropped the subject anyway. He obviously doesn’t want to talk about it.

“You guys seen Zan?” I asked them.

Jay told me he hadn’t and Kyle said he went to see Matt during English. I found that a little strange though. Zan usually only has to go after lunch. He only goes earlier when there’s something up...

I hope that this is just a new schedule or something.

He didn't tell me there was anything bothering him.