Niel's face paled. "What the fuck did just happen?" He whispered to himself.
As he made his way into his school whispers started to erupt around him. Niel didn't know where to look, or how to act. It was like he didn't know how to function anymore and needed a reset. It also didn't help he had to walk on crutches. He stumbled more than he walked.
Niel kept his eyes down as he entered the big grey building, hoping people would take a hint and leave him alone. His peace was shortly disrupted, however, when he just walked around the corner on his way to his locker.
"Hey Johnson! How is that leg of yours?!" Jasper yelled right from behind him. "Or should I ask how is your boyfriend instead?" An arm was swung over his shoulder and it wasn't Jasper's. It was William's.
William was the tallest and biggest guy in the school and the best defence player on the soccer team. Coach used him mainly as a defence player to scare off the other teams. Although William was still nothing to the werewolves he met over the past couple of days, he was still very intimidating.
"Yeah, how is that boyfriend of yours Othniel?" William taunted.
"He is not my boyfriend, now please, leave me alone," Niel mumbled. His grip tightened around the handles of his crutches.
"Now where is the fun in that? Come on Johnson, admit you are a fagot just like your big brother."
"I am not gay. Now leave me alone," Niel tried to put force behind his words, so he would be taken seriously, but it was a sad attempt and Jasper's clique knew that.
"Whoah," Everybody cheered.
Jasper stalked towards the now slightly scared boy and stood chest to chest with him. Jasper wasn't much taller but he still managed to look down at Niel.
"You know what this town hates even more than fagots," Jasper hummed. "It's lying fagots. So tell me Othniel Johnson how long have you been living this secret life of yours?" Jasper grabbed Niel by his shoulders and smashed him into the lockers. Niel winced and grunted. His body felt battered enough already and he couldn't endure more punches, figuratively or literally. He needed to act and needed to act now. It has been long enough that people were dictating his actions or putting words in his mouth the last couple of days.
Niel knew he had one chance and one chance only. In a split second, he let go of his crutches put his left hand on Jasper's chest to move him back, and used his right fist to punch him in the face. Niel wasn't a big fan of using violence, in fact, he hated it. But he knew that dominance and violence were the only two things Jasper would listen to.
The punch was hard enough to leave an impact on Jasper Anderson's face. A small bust was made into his lower lip. The punch wasn't enough, however. It didn't scare the bully, it only angered him more.
"So you haven't learned your place yet. That's fine, I will show it to you." Jasper whispered. Before Niel could react Jasper had punched him back with twice the force he had. Niel fell down to the ground and screamed out as he landed on his bad ankle. Shortly after something knocked all the wind out of his lungs. It was Jasper's foot kicking him right in the stomach.
Luckily William stopped Jasper from harming him any further.
"Chill man, I think he got enough."
Jasper spit on Niel just before they scattered away afraid teachers might be attracted by the commotion. Leaving the poor teenager alone and in pain.
Students had gathered in the hall where Niel was being bothered, but no one helped him when he got bullied or when he lay there on the ground. It took some time for him to get up. When he had finally both his crutches in his hand again Lucas showed up. The childhood friend heard about the unfortunate interaction as the gossip about Niel spread around like wildfire.
"Yo, are you okay?"
Niel coughed. "I am fine."
"That doesn't look fine to me."
Niel just gave him a look and tried to circle around his friend to make his way to the vending machine.
"Where're you going?"
"To get some chips."
"Oh." Lucas followed him around until they both stood in front of the machine. Niel tried to put money in it but wasn't successful and started to punch the glass. "Hey, hey, hey, chill out. Let me help."
The blond boy took the money from his friend, put it in, dialed the number, and got the chips from the machine. "Here you go."
"Thanks."
Niel took the chips and tried to walk away again until Lucas stopped him. "Hey, are you all right." Niel quirked up a brow. "You are stress eating again."
"No, I like chips you know that."
"Yes, I know, but I also know you are very strict about eating them and you eating them this early in the morning says enough for me." Lucas started Niel down, in a way to get some answers out of his friend. He knew Niel couldn't handle it. When he still couldn't get answers out of Niel he started to ask questions because even though he didn't want to believe the gossip as it was crazy already after last Friday's game, he was still curious about this new gossip he heard.
"So is it true?"
"Is what true?" Niel asked.
Lucas cleared his throat as he turned away his gaze. "A-are you gay?"
"What?! No, of course not." Niel started to breathe heavily, now his only friend started to aggravate him as well.
"Wow, wow, chill dude. I am sorry, I couldn't help it." Lucas held up his hands trying to calm down Niel. "Shall I take your bag?"
"No, it's fine." Lucas didn't listen, however. He took the bag without listing to Niel's words.
The whole day Lucas stayed close to Niel in an attempt to protect him from Jasper's clique. It did work to keep Jasper away from Niel but not from other people. Many seniors kept staring at him or asking him if he was gay. Some weren't as polite and just accused him of being gay. It was infuriating Niel. During his childhood days and teenage years, he was told over and over again how bad it was to be gay. He was told to like girls, and find a submissive girl to marry to watch over and protect. To have children and make his parents proud. It was engraved in his mind and he was planning on doing just that. Although he wasn't busy with girls or getting a girlfriend during his high school he always knew that interest would come and if it didn't come in junior year, it would in his senior year. And if it didn't come in his senior year it would come during college.
He was sure of it.
There was one thing Niel noticed. The whole day he hadn't seen any sight of Daisy.
When school was over Niel felt relieved. He felt like he could finally breathe as he put his school books in his locker and made his way out of the building. His relief was short-lived, however, when he entered the parking lot.
Atlas showed up. He actually showed up. There was a small hope in the teenage boy he would have listened to him. But no.
But what was even more concerning was the fact his father had shown up at his school. His father!
Niel didn't even dare to look at Atlas anymore. Too afraid people and mostly his father would connect any dots. He made his way over to his father as quickly as possible to prevent any scene.
"You are coming home with me boy. Right. Now." Peter angrily mumbled below his breath. Niel just nodded his head as he made his way into his father's car.
The whole ride both men were silent. Peter's anger was building up and Niel's nerves were acting up. He couldn't help but bounce his good leg all the way down to their home. It was when they entered the suburbs Niel panicked. What was he going to say? Were the mad about yesterday? Or did the rumors make it past the school borders?
Silently the men left the pickup truck and walked into the family home. "Sit," Peter ordered his son while pointing at the couch. When he sat down his mother came down the stairs, also silently.
"What is going on boy?" Peter stood in front of his son, hands on his side, trying to intimidate Niel, which worked.
"What do you mean?"
"Don't act stupid. Where were you last night?"
Slight relief came to Niel as he thought it was just about the other night. "At Lucas' place, as I told you."
Then a hit to the head. "Don't lie to me boy. What's going on? Why do I hear at my work that you are seen with some guy who is kissing you? Huh?!"
Niel's hands trembled. His head feeling light, Niel felt as if he had lost his footing in the world. This was exactly what he was afraid of. No way in heaven or hell would his father put up with any rumors about his son being gay. Niel had learned that when his brother had likewise rumors about him going around in town. "It's a-all a misunderstanding dad."
"And why would I believe that? You haven't brought any girls home, you haven't been on any date. Or did you, but lied about it because it was with a guy?!"
Niel couldn't believe the words coming from his father's mouth. "What no!"
The teenage boy felt his anxiety rise with the second. He had no idea how to convince his father. The last thing he wanted was to lose his family as well although he knew there was a big chance if Niel couldn't convince his father otherwise.
"Then where were you last night?!" Peter screamed. "Where do these crutches come from and that black eye? Are you living some secret life like Florian?"
The mention of Niel's big brother made him small. It was a weak spot of his that triggered many things inside of the teenager. "It's all a big misunderstanding," Niel whispered.
Peter sighed. "Well, I am not being disrespected like this again. I was patient with your brother, but I can't go through this again. I will not be ridiculed again!"
Niel could only nod his head.
"So, I want you to get out of my house."
There were hundreds of scenarios Niel had predicted what was going to happen, what kind of repercussions he would have to face, but this one was the last one he would expect.
Camilla gasped. "Peter," She whispered. Peter didn't react to his wife, however. He pointed at the front door as he said. "Get your stuff and out of my house. Now!"
"Peter no, you can't do that to the poor boy. What if he speaks the truth?" Camilla didn't want to lose another child, another son. It was already hard enough not to have all her children around her.
"I am not taking any risks again, you hear me! Everything just calmed down after Florian and now this. I will not be shunned because my children don't know how to live properly Camilla!"
Niel's parents got into a fight, a fight Camilla was losing. Their words fell death to their youngest son, however. Niel was still trying to grasp what was happening. Every word felt surreal to him, his surroundings felt surreal to him. Niel didn't want to accept reality and wanted to escape so badly. He disassociated himself from the situation and slowly got up. Failure. Failure. Failure. Those were the words filling his head. Yet again Othniel had disappointed his parents and especially his father again.
Ever since what happened to Florian Niel felt everything went downhill. Niel's grades went down and struggled to keep them up to stay on the soccer team. He failed at the last championships as a captain. His team turned away from him, he got benched, bullied, called gay, and now kicked out of the house.
When Niel found himself in his bedroom, he had no idea how he got there. He was already packing a bag. Niel was pulled back by reality when his younger sister entered his room. "It's quite ironic you being kicked out of the house."
"What?" Niel asked confused.
"Well, you weren't very supportive to Florian when he came out, didn't help him in any way and now. Now you are being kicked out for almost the exact same reason."
Niel was shocked. "Do you really think I wasn't supportive of our brother?"
"Well, you never stood up for him," Arabella accused.
Niel had to sit down. What his younger sister was saying couldn't be any further away from the truth and her accusation finally made him understand why she was so distant towards him since last summer. Niel thought it was because Arabella was fed up being the perfect child. His little sister was the golden child in Niel's family. He didn't say that to bash her.
No, being perfect was exhausting and Niel felt for his sister as he never could take that weight off her shoulders. Being perfect meant you had to impress everybody over and over again. It was like climbing an endless mountain, you could only climb higher and higher. But once you fell, you fell fast and hard. You needed to outshine yourself every time. He always thought that was the exact reason why they grew apart, that Niel never tried to pull weight as a sibling.
Florian was always the troubled one of the three, Niel himself was the steady child and Arabella was the perfect daughter. But now Arabella was all on her own.
"You think I never stood up for him?"
"No, I know you never did."
"Who do you think found out about him first?" Arabella quirked up her brows. "Me. I shared a bathroom with him. I was the first one who saw the makeup, the wigs, and heels. I will never forget the terror on his face when I saw him fully dressed as a woman. He was so scared. And to be honest I was a bit shocked as well but I didn't care really." Niel sighed.
"I just said I was sorry to interrupt him and gave him space. Later when he put everything off he came to me in tears begging me to keep it to myself and not to think bad of him. I didn't. He was my brother." And Niel really didn't think badly of his older brother. Even though he had a hard time accepting the whole gay situation with himself, he never judged his brother. Niel had always been the observing shadow in his family, just like he was in school, and he always noticed his brother struggling to be himself, which questioned Niel. He could never put a finger to it until he saw Florian's true nature, so to say. Niel smiled when he could hear Arabella teach Florian how to do make-up and style your hair as a girl. He wasn't great with words, but Niel always supported his big brother through his actions.
Niel packed some last things in his bag as he continued. "You know just as well we are being taught that being gay or trans or whatever is sinful and honestly it's hard to think differently when you are being told that your whole life. But when Florian explained to me he wanted to be a girl, I didn't see him as a sinful person. I told him he could do whatever he wanted and I would cover up for him if necessary... When I saw the bruises on his skin one evening, I knew it was dad. I never felt such anger right then. Without a second thought, I searched for dad and gave him a piece of my mind. Father had never lay a hand on me before that moment, but right then I got a beating of a lifetime."
Arabella chuckled darkly. "Yeah right."
"It's true."
"Why haven't I seen them then?"
"Because I covered them up for Florian. I didn't want him to know that father had hurt me because of him. I always looked out for him, but I did it silently. You know I don't like attention, I helped but out of sight."
When Niel was done Arabella just stood there, speechless. He looked one last time in his room and left. "Wait." Arabella grabbed him by his arm. "I am sorry. I really thought..."
"It's all right, just stay with mom."
Both siblings could hear some distant yelling from downstairs. "I said, I want you out boy. Get out!"
Niel tried his best to get down as fast as he could and when he neared the front door his father stood there waiting. He held his hand up and ordered, "Keys."
"Peter, please. He is our son." Camilla begged her husband.
Peter looked her dead in the eyes and said, "No, he is not." And with that, he held up his hand once again. Slowly Niel handed his keys to his father. He could hear his mother crying and the silent sniffles of his younger sister.
When he stepped over the threshold he looked one last time at his family before the door was slammed shut. Where would he go now? Niel thought.
The young teenage boy looked up at the full moon and wondered if the moon goddess was real and if so, Niel wondered if he could ask for her help because it was then he really didn't know what to do anymore.