A WEEK LATER....AUGUSTINE'S POV
I made my first few steps into my new school. I'm pretty excited about starting over. I hope to make new friends because I don't plan on becoming a loner this year. I'm done with all that crap. I want to hang out with people on the weekends and have someone to sit with at lunch during the week. I'm tired of being alone all the time. It's not the life I want and i'm ready to change it.
I took a few deep breaths then I started walking through the hallways. The halls were buzzing with kids standing at their lockers and talking to their friends. I smiled softly, wishing to have that. I want to have someone to walk to class with. Right now, it's only a wish I have. I pulled out my schedule and quickly looked it over to see what I have first.
Math. Nothing like getting your gears turning to start the day off.
I sighed then stuffed my schedule back into my pocket and started making my way towards my math class when something caught my eye. I noticed a couple people were checking out the bulletin board. Curious, I walked over to it to see what's on it once they walked away. I stood in front of the board and right in the middle was a poster for the theatre club. I'm not really an actor and the thought of standing in front of people kinda freaks me out, but i'm actually a little curious about their play which is supposed to be based off Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.
I started chuckling and I shook my head.
This play has been overdone so many times that i'm surprised everybody's not tired of it yet. Then again, Romeo and Juliet is a classic that doesn't get old. Though, i'm wondering how this club is gonna show it. I started making my way over to the auditorium to see if the drama teacher is there, but once I opened up the doors, I saw a whole bunch of students. Most of them were sitting in seats way at the front and standing in front of everybody was a student with someone standing next to him.
I walked in and made my way down the aisle. I stopped and listened to what the group were talking about.
"I think this is a bad idea, Christian. Won't people get offended if we continue this play?" One girl asked.
"I agree. I know it's not our fault that a student died, but I feel like a lot of people and even parents will become offended because we'll be continuing something that's fun right after a student died." One guy said.
The guy standing at the front, who's name is probably Christian, sighed.
"I realize that, but we can't scrap this idea now. We already have our roles picked out and everything. It'll just seem like a waste. I'm sure people will understand." He said.
"I don't know. If my friend died and people just went ahead and partied right after his memorial service, I would get pretty offended." Another girl said.
The guy next to Christian sighed.
"We're not partying, idiot. This is a PLAY. Get it? A PLAY."
I narrowed my eyes, getting a really weird vibe from the guy next to Christian. He looked mean and now I know it's true.
"Stephan, why don't you just shut up alright? Not everybody is as heartless as you." Another guy said.
"Guys! Calm down!" Christian shouted.
"Did you come to try out for the play?" A voice asked.
I looked next to me to see a rebellious looking guy sitting in a seat. He looked up at me and smiled.
"Um...I don't think so. Anyways, what's going on? What's this about people getting offended because someone died?" I asked.
The guy sighed as he looked over at the group. "His name is Tanner Williams. He got killed recently because everybody found out that he's gay. He was the number one target in school way before people found out, but once his secret leaked out, things went crazy. I heard that he was taking a shower in the boy's locker room showers when a group of guys went up to him and beat him to death. It was pretty sickening." He explained.
I felt my heart drop. Of course I've heard of people getting bullied because they're different and because they like the same sex, but I didn't think that at this school, it was that bad. Now I feel really bad for Tanner. He was just a typical kid that had feelings and people judged him and hurt him.
"Everybody is pretty hurt, but not as much as Tanner's boyfriend. His name is Collin Stanley. They've been together for quite awhile. When he found out that Tanner got killed, he sorta shut himself out. He hasn't attended school in over a week. His parents are pretty worried." The guy explained.
"Wow..." Was all I could say. I felt really bad for Collin. Now i'm a little worried about getting bullied myself because i'm gay. At my last school, I wasn't really bullied. People just avoided me. Now after hearing that there is a group of guys that hates gays, I fear that they might find me out.
"By the way, my name is Jasper Lee." He said.
"Augustine Winters. You can just call me August." I said.
Jasper nodded then stood up and walked over to me.
"Do you wanna go see it?" He asked.
"See what?"
"Tanner's memorial garden."
I hesitated, not sure if I should.
"Uh..."
"Let's go." He said then turned on his heel and started walking out of the auditorium.
I looked back at the theatre group before I quickly followed after Jasper.
***
When we reached the school's garden, we stood in front of Tanner's memorial place. There were flowers and ribbons that surrounded a picture of him.
Wow...He's cute...
"That's him. He was a junior." Jasper said.
"Were you close to him?" I asked, looking at him.
Jasper shook his head. "We never really talked. I had a couple classes with him. He was always reserved and never really talked to anybody, but his best friend Terri and Collin." He said.
I nodded then looked back at the picture of Tanner.
"I can't believe it. All because he likes guys..." I said.
Jasper nodded. "It sickens me, but that's how it is. Nobody was around at the time it happened. His body was found about two hours later by a janitor who heard the shower running as he was cleaning."
I clenched my fists together, but then I released them. I wasn't here when it happend so there was nothing I could do about it. I just have to move on.
"So...how recently did this happen by the way?" I asked.
"A week ago. Crazy that you're just now coming to this school huh?" He said, looking at me.
I was surprised, but then I nodded. It's only a coincidence after all.
Jasper finally sighed. "Let's go. Class is about to start soon and i'm sure you don't want to be late on your first day." He said then started walking away.
"Yeah." I said, nodding then followed after Jasper.
So, the first day at my new school started off interesting. Instead of getting lost trying to find my classes or having nobody to talk to, instead, I hear a story about a student who recently got killed because like me, he's gay. What a great way to start off the year.
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