Just for a Moment

Alex walked through the school halls like he owned the place. The reason for his suddenly good mood being the kiss he shared with Jack last night. It was surreal. Alex had never thought Jack would have kissed him back. It was the perfect moment out of a fairy tale book. He giggled as he stopped by at Jack’s locker. Speaking of which, Jack is late. Panic washed over him. What if Jack doesn't want anything to do with him anymore? What if: the phrase that scares him most. “What If”: this phrase has the power to haunt you for the rest of your life. What if Jack has left him? What if he finally realized he’s a no-good loser?

Alex sighed painstakingly as he walked through the door of his homeroom. Everyone acted strange today. He quickly dismissed the thought by concluding it must be his distorted mind acting up. Jack wasn't in. It gave Alex slight hope that he might have been sick and wasn't avoiding him. But he could just be doing the latter to finally get away from him. After all, Alex ain't normal.
But Alex still couldn't help but wonder that something was awfully wrong. He could sense the weird tingly feeling on his back. Anxiety was getting the best of him. He dropped his pen and when he turned around to pick it up and everyone who was staring back at him were like demons in his eyes. This disturbing feeling told Alex that shit was gonna happen.

Alex decided to text Jack to pass time. He could care less about the teacher’s endless minutes of mind-numbing palaver.

A simple “Hey, Jacky! Are you alright?” was sent.
He waited a few minutes until he replied.

“Yeah, I came down with the flu. Sorry for leaving you alone Lex :(”, the text read.
A smile made its way onto Alex’s face as all his anxiety was blown away. This boy had such an effect on him. A good one too.

He let out a sigh as he wondered how he’d be passing the whole day without Jack. Even though none of the fuckers did anything yet, the stares they were giving him said something.

And he was right.

As soon as the bell rang, Alex made a dash for the door. He ran to his locker to get his shit for the next class. Alex was about to open his locker when a strong, muscular arm beat him to it; successfully shutting his locker. Sniggering could be heard. Life did had a way of biting him in the ass when he least expected it.

“Hey, fag!” someone shouted out. As Alex turned around he was greeted with a fist thrusted towards his nose.

More malicious laughter was heard.

A punch to his stomach.

A kick to the leg.

Alex fell down on the floor, face downwards hitting the hard, concrete flooring. A few scrapes on his face was promised now.

“Are you that afraid to answer, fag?” another insult thrown his way. Alex’s mouth had cracked and blood was gushing out. His head was spinning too much to form a coherent sentence.

“We know what you did to Barakat” “You turned him into a fag too”
His bully grimaced; his devil eyes were scorching fury.

“This is what you get for being a fucking faggot! You don’t deserve to be here.”
Several kicks to his back.

Alex could hear ribs breaking. The pain was unbearable. After all these years he couldn't believe their words could still put him down. Right now, all he needed was Jack. Jack to stop all of this. Jack to be his hero to save him again from the demons. Alex yearned for his Jack.

The kicks were either getting stronger or his endurance was withdrawing bit by bit.
Slowly but cautiously, Alex tried to call out for Jack. But all it came out was barely above a whisper.
“What is it fag?” One asked bitterly.

A knot forming in his throat went down unnoticed.

Alex mustered up his courage once again. This time they could clearly hear what he said was “Jack”.
This must have pissed them off even more since the next thing that followed the kicks was a baseball bat. They started torturing Alex’s back and legs with a goddamn baseball bat. All he could do was let out a whimper as all his fight had vanished. Alex was shoved against the brick wall where his head met the rugged, sabulous surface. If he thought the pain felt before was unbearable, this was like a thousand knives jabbing at his whole body. Cold sweat broke and a wave of nausea hit him.

Alex’s head was in searing pain and all he could do was wait. Wait till they have left. Wait till it’s over for a day. He felt like the whole world was blurring. He felt time stop. Never before did he think that he could feel such agony, for loving someone. For loving Jack.

Alex faced his bullies as much as he could in this state. Disgust was present in their eyes, and hate filled every inch of their skins. Their intelligence has dropped. It was the natural order of high school.
Alex’s eyes prickled with tears he refused to shed. He couldn't show them how much more of a wimp he was. For all he knew, it could worsen his already excruciating pain.
Make it stop. Make it stop. Please make it stop.

But Alex couldn't move an inch. Every muscle in his body was rigid and locked tight on the same spot.

The fuckers finally left but Alex collapsed into a heap. He let out a breath which he didn't realize he was holding. He could feel his body quivering as he hit the hard asphalt. The putrid smell of blood
making him feel sick.

Suddenly he could no longer feel pain. Like he was falling into a dark abyss. Where he felt safe.