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Luther's POV

I walk to and fro the door so many times, but I can't bring myself to walk into that classroom.

To be honest, I would prefer to just leave. I want to go back home and tell my mother that we should move to a new town all together. But she is definitely going to say no.

My reluctance is enough to attract the class tutor, Mrs Mabel. She sticks her head out and squints those almond eyes at me.

“Excuse me, darling. Aren't you the young Mister Wayne?”

My fingers fidget as I walk to the door. “Yes, ma'am.”

Her warm face burst into a smile and she gesture for me to come. “Come in then, we are all excited to see you.”

Murmurs are bouncing around, but as soon as I walk in, the silence of a graveyard.

There are about thirty kids in this medium sized classroom, but I feel like I am standing in the middle of a bloody stadium.

“Guys, this is the new student that i said will be joining us today. His name is Luther Wayne, and he is seventeen years old. He is a unique student because he will be studying almost all the courses offered in the grade– he will be combining the sciences and arts. Um…. What else am I forgetting?”

She tap her hand on her chin. “Oh yes, he identifies as gay.”

I shut my eyes and curse under my breath.

My mother again, Janet Wayne will be the death of me.

I told her not to, countless times, but she has insisted to always tell any school that I am going to, that I am gay.

It's not a big deal, I've told her that she doesn't have to announce it all the time, but she won't hear about it.

Maybe it's because of the time I was twelve and got beaten up by the kids in my grades because of my queerness.

Now, the whole classroom is looking at me with different expressions on their faces, mostly standoffish unfriendliness, but nothing I haven't seen before.

“Okay Luther, you can take that seat on the third roll. We are all your friends here, so tell us if you need anything, okay?”

I force a smile as I walk slowly to my seat. I try not to pay attention to the whispers around me as Mrs Mabel get back to writing on the board.

“Hey,” a feminine voice to my left whispers.

I raise my head to see a girl with strawberry blonde short hair, smiling at me.

“My name is Bernice Huston.” She stretch her hand to me. “Nice to meet you.”

Oh my first interaction in a new school, that's record breaking.

“Likewise, Bernice. I'm Luther.” I say with a smile.

“Do you want to be friends, Luther?” She goes straight to the point, taking me by surprise.

My first friend in Densberry. This is so promising.

“Yes, sure, Bernice.” I nod.

“How is your math?” She ask.

“Pretty okay?” I shrug.

“Super! I hate math. You help me pass my math, and I will protect you from all these losers, deal?”

I stare at Bernice and then break into a short laugh. How is this smallish doll of a girl going to protect me from huge hockey players? but I like her already, so I say, “Deal.”

Someone throws a paper against my head and I turn around with a frown.

“It's the hockey players at the back,” Bernice rolls her eyes. “Don't worry, I will tell them to back off.”

I pick up the paper and slowly undo the crumble. It's a poorly drawn picture of a dick.

I exhale as I tear up the paper and toss it into my bag.

Densberry is going to be a handful…

*****

After three days, I have just kept mostly to myself.

I've gotten to know Bernice more. Her mother is a rich widow, she has worn only black since Mr Hudson died five years ago, but they are always designer clothes.

Bernice doesn't care about school that much. All she cares about is to get married as soon as she turns nineteen, like her mother.

Every boy in school tries to get her attention, but she doesn't even look at them twice. She calls them dumb boys.

Mrs Mabel is kind, but she is just the homeroom and English teacher.

The other teachers are more intense, and they've let me know that they won't slow down for me to catch up, but I've been doing fine on my own.

We've just taken a general calculus test yesterday, and Mister Hong, the strict maths teacher, gets in with the papers in his hand.

From the angry curl on his lips, everyone can tell that the test was a bomb. As usual.

“Oh Lord, here we go again.” Bernice rolls her eyes. “Marlon is probably the only one who has passed, and Mister Hong is going to scream his lungs out about it for the rest of the day…”

Mister Hong’s eyes move around the room. “Marlon Gustave. Where is he?”

“He just stepped out of the classroom, sir–”

At that same time, he is casually walking back in. Hands in his pockets.

“Stop right there.” Mister Hong orders.

“Yes, Mister Hong, what did I do?” Marlon shrugs. The spoiled nonchalant boy he is. How is he usually the highest in the math test?

Mister Hong flings the papers in his hands directly in Marlon's face, and everyone gasps collectively.

“An utmost failure, that's what you are! I have an agreement with the coach to suspend you from the team if your grade drops, and he will be hearing from me today. I expected this from everyone, but you?!”

Marlon shuts his eyes, as if he is trying his hardest not to hit the teacher in front of him.

“What's my score?”

“Ninety six percent!” Mister Hong yells on.

Marlon shrugs. “So? I'm always the highest, what has that got to do with anything?”

“The new kid got ninety eight percent! How dare you even raise your head?!”

Marlon's neck sharply turns to look at me, and it's like I can't breathe anymore.

Everyone's eyes are on me.

“Oh my God, you're the highest. Bernice holds her hand over her mouth. Why did you lie to me that you are just ‘okay’ at math?”

“Stand up, Wayne!” The teacher orders.

My legs straighten up immediately.

“You have shown this piece of shit that he better watch his back, else you are going to take his place, and I commend you for that. Tell him that he is a loser”

My eyebrows lift. “Ex– excuse me?”

“Look Marlon Gustave in the eyes and tell him that he is a pathetic loser.”

Marlon was staring at me intensely, as if daring me to do it.

“You're a loser, Marlon.” The words roll off my tongue very easily. Too easily.

A dry laugh comes from Marlon’s lips.

“Thank you, Wayne. Have a wonderful day. Same to the rest of you, losers. Except for Marlon, he is the biggest loser here.” He leaves the class with as much haste as he came with.

I don't understand what has happened, or why the teacher spoke to him like that.

It's as if Bernice could read my mind, because she leans forward and explains. “Mister Hong has been Marlon's private tutor since he was a kid. He gets really angry if Marlon is not the absolute best. Don't worry, Marlon's Dad approves of his methods.”

I hurriedly stand up and turn to her. “I need to go to the bathroom, Bernice.”

I walk out of the classroom before she can say anything.

I get into the restroom and stare at the mirror, almost not recognizing myself.

I splashed some water over my face a few times.

I am still partially blinded by the water drops in my eyes when the door or the restroom opens and shut quickly.

The next thing I feel is a heavy punch in my face, follow by another, and another.

I fall against the sink, eyes watering with pain and seeing the droplets of blood going down the drain from my nose.

My attacker grabs a handful of my shirt and pulls me up to his face.

“You ever try to embarrass me like that again, and I will fucking kill you. Do you understand?” He spit in my face.

Marlon. How can I forget the cologne he wears all the time?