"I can't believe how rude they are, like, seriously! I'm just a normal human being yet because I like guys, they seem to think they can treat differently. It's not fair! They don't get teased and shouted at because they're straight." I ranted, all in one breath.
I was trying to regain oxygen when Harry and Lila replied, taking it in turns to speak.
"Yeah, it's not right. Plus I don't get bullied for being bi... well, not that much." Lila commented, crossing her arms and leaning back against the wall.
Harry nodded before adding something. "It's really sad... I don't get why people can't just all accept each other. Sexuality, race, gender. It doesn't matter. We're all people." He looked sad as he stared at the floor, hands held closely together and eyes distant.
I sighed and wrapped my arm around his shoulders. "It's okay Haz, there are a lot of people who do, it's just the ones who don't make sure we know about it." Lila smiled slightly and pulled the two of us into a hug.
I let out a shaky breath, being reminded of all the experiences I've had to do with homophobia, and let my smile fall while I was hidden.
However, as soon as the hug was broken, I forced the smile to return to my lips.
"Well, there's a party tomorrow at Alec's house and I wouldn't half like to show up just to see the looks on their faces." I chuckled darkly, not noticing the hesitant looks both of them held.
"Yeah... I guess. But are you really going to go that far? I get you want revenge but... what if something happens to you?" Lila spoke softly, eyes holding worry.
"It'll be fine, okay? I'll go in for five minutes before coming out again. You guys don't mind waiting outside for me, do you?" I spoke quickly, pacing around the room.
"No that's fine, but I'm worried you'll-" Harry started speaking, but I stupidly cut him off.
"Good! Thanks by the way. Now, I'm gonna grab a snack and go to sleep."
With those words, I left the room, completely unaware of the terrible future I just made inevitable.
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The day passed relatively quickly considering it was a Thursday, and the classes weren't the best. Though... could any day ever be good?
However, as soon as the final bell rang, everyone was running violently to get out of the doors and home as soon as possible, and I'm guessing because of the party.
I hadn't expected to be going as I never went to any school parties, but I wanted to do something to spite them all, and this was the best thing I could think of.
I was going to walk in there, bitch slap a few people, and walk back out again.
Well you know, that's what I thought I was going to do. Does anything ever play out how you expect it too though?
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"Okay, I need to look cute but not too cute, yet also kinda hot but not so hot someone will try to touch this prize." I ranted to my two best friends as I paced around my bedroom. The party had started half an hour ago and I planned to be fashionably late, arriving in roughly forty minutes, but I still had to pick an outfit.
"How about that." Lila spoke, a smug tone to her voice, and I instantly knew what she was talking about. It was the outfit I had only worn once, and the one that got Ash to stare at me for a good five minuted before I poked his head and told him to get his eyes off my ass.
That was the one other time he seemed to acknowledge me for something other than calling me a... not very nice word.
Harry chuckled darkly before he said anything. "Oh yes, that's perfect."
Feeling a small wave of excitement rush though me, I ushered the two of them out of the room so I could change in peace. However, as soon as I was done, they both burst through the door again and Harry began messing with my hair while Lila started with the makeup.
What did I ever do to deserve these two goofs?
Twenty minutes passed until I was finally done, hair curled just the right amount and a heavy amount of eyeliner and lipgloss had been applied.
I stood and looked in the mirror, giggling slightly as I checked myself out.
"Thank you guys so much, I don't know what I'd do without you both." I squealed, pulling the two of them into a tight hug.
"No problem! Now go get 'em tiger!"
As those words were spoken, we went bolting out of the house and walking down the street towards Alecs house, which was only fifteen minutes away. The walk may have felt like forever on your own, but when you're going with your two amigos, the time passes quickly.
Before I knew it, we were stood looking at the driveway of the house. Loud music could be heard from outside, and people were walking in and out of the house like it was some busy fairground ride. You could see the bright lights and dancing bodies though the curtain-covered windows, and I had to take a deep breath to steady my nerves.
"You sure you want to do this?" I glanced over my shoulder at the two of them and smiled softly, nodding my head.
"I'll be back soon, just wait here. You'll know when you hear the chanting." I laughed to try and hide how scared I was, remembering the last party I had attended.
Let's just say, it wasn't good, and it stopped me from attending any other social event since.
So with one last breath of courage, I walked up the driveway and through the already open door.
The smell of alcohol and sweat hit me instantly, causing me to scrunch up my nose in disgust from the extremely pungent scent. People were dancing, and not in the prom style manner, while others were stood or sat talking and drinking. I heard distant voices chanting 'chug chug' over and over again, and then the sound of cheers and screams.
"Look who it is." A deep voice sang, and I felt a shiver go up my spine.
"I'm not here to talk to you, Cole." I answered, turning to face him with hard eyes. He was holding a red plastic cup in one hand while the other was tucked inside his pocket. His eyes were dark and sinister as they bore into mine, and his lips were pulled into a smug grin.
"Figured," he paused, taking a gulp of the foul smelling liquid. "You look hot by the way."
I had to take a moment to register what he just said, glancing down at my body and remembering the cropped red hoodie and tight black denim shorts that my fishnet clad legs were decorated with. The black cargo boots came above my ankle and I began to fiddle with the long silver earring hanging down.
"T-thanks?" My words sounded more like a question, but could you blame me considering that the homophobic straight guy just called me hot.
"Hmm, no problem baby."
Okay, he's officially hammered.
I gave him a strange look before turning on my heels and continuing to look for my target, the one I really wanted to see right now.
Ash.
I wanted to slap him across the face for all the times he teased me, and then I could move onto the rest of his gang.
I was looking around for a few minutes until I finally laid eyes on him. He was leant against the wall, also drinking from a disposable cup, and was talking to a group of girls that shared the equivalent of one outfit between the four of them.
Finally, happy that I had located my target, I strutted forward and stopped directly beside them.
"Excuse me, but could you move your flat asses out of the way for a moment?" I sassed, looking down at the four of them with an disapproving look.
"We're having a conversation here." A girl with blonde hair spoke back with equal sass, one hand placed on her hip and a spiral of hair wrapped around her finger.
"And I have a game of dungeons and dragons to get back to. We all have schedules missy, now move." I demanded, prepared to lightly shove her out of the way if she didn't get out of the way. Yet when a large hand grabbed my forearm and span me around, I panicked.
"Do you have a problem, twink?" Ash slurred slightly, eyes shining with a dazed anger. He was looking quite far down to see me due to the height difference, eyes scanning over my face.
And this is why I want to inflict the horrible pain of being kicked in the balls upon him.
"Yeah, I do actually." I pulled my arm away roughly and winced at the light burn it left from the intense grip he had.
"Mhm? Go ahead, I'm listening." He crossed his arms and a smirk played over those thick lips of his. Without even noticing the large crowd that had progressively gained in numbers, I finally let all of my bottled up anger out.
"My problem is you, Ash. You and your gang of homophobic pricks. You treat me like shit just because I like the same sex as myself, and I really don't get why. It's cruel and unnecessary, and quite frankly, really really painful. You have no idea what it's like to be physically and mentally abused because of your sexuality, and as much as I hate you, I hope you don't. It's the most excruciatingly hideous pain and honestly, the thing that annoys me the most is that there is no point to it! Nothing you say is going to stop me liking guys, so just stop. Please." I ranted, out of breath by the end of it. My hands were tightly closed into fists and my hair had drooped down into my eyes.
My jaw clenched and I didn't even notice the small droplets of blood running from my palms, all due to my nails piercing the skin, that hit the laminated floor.
The entire room had gone silent.
No, scratch that.
The entire house had gone silent.
An almost inaudible song played in the background, but I could just make out the lyrics, 'I feel like I'm drowning'.
I related to those lyrics at this precise moment, feeling unable to breathe as everyone stared at me. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of hate as small whispers began to erupt throughout the room, and my breathing quickened even more than it already had.
After a moment I moved my gaze up to Ash, and to say I was utterly shocked by what I saw would be an understatement.
He looked guilty. Not a completely sincere from the bottom of his heart guilty. But guilty non the less.
I couldn't help but let out a soft yet dark sounding chuckle as I turned away from him, yet a pair of hands gripped down firmly on my waist, restricting my walking.
"Get off me." I snapped, twisting in his grasp and slapping him hard across the face.
The sound echoed through the room as gasps could be heard from all over. Anger had taken over me, yet when I saw Ash with his eyes closed, head tilted to one side and a red mark across his cheek, terrifying realisation hit me harder than the slap.
He slowly opened his grey, hazel tinted eyes and his jaw tightened before his gaze made its way to mine, moving so slowly that I couldn't tell if the world was moving in slow motion.
"Oh shit." I muttered, stumbling back when I saw his eyes. They were filled with hatred and rage as he slowly took a step towards me. Everyone around us was moving out of the way as I slowly stumbled backwards, trying to get away from him.
Shitshitshitshit-
I fell backwards and grabbed onto the bannister of the stairs, preparing to run.
"River Skyter, I swear to god I'm going to fucking murder you."
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Hehe~ there you go!
How are you liking it so far? What do you think of River and Ash? Do you relate to anyone?
Thank you for reading, and I hope to see you next chapter~
- Storm ð¹