Chapter Text
Beep Beep Beep
An alarm blared through my bedroom and I reached out from under a tangled bedspread and slammed my hand on the snooze button.
I flipped the blanket off of my face and sighed. I still don’t understand why I always sleep with my whole body under a blanket, including my head. But considering I’ve been doing it since I’ve slept in an actual bed, I just accepted it.
I finally opened my eyes and stared at a blinding white ceiling.
Another day in hell.
I didn’t move for a few minutes, just stared straight up and tried to convince myself to get out of bed. I set my alarm for 10 minutes before school started and it was a 5 minute drive. I was pretty much convinced that the student body counted on me to be late at this point. After all, I hadn’t been on time since 7th grade. I couldn’t kill 4 and a half years of expectations.
However, as much as I wanted to lay in bed until after the bell rang, I heard footsteps pounding down the hall and jumped up immediately.
I grabbed a pair of jeans from the floor where I had left them the night before and pulled them on, then pulled a plaid shirt out of the closet and stuck my arms through the sleeves. Then I shoved my feet into my old, worn out black sneakers and grabbed my book bag, moving towards my window at the same time.
When I got there, I shoved the window open and climbed out onto the porch roof as my father’s fist pounded on my bedroom door and then slid off the roof, landing on my hands and feet on the ground.
As my dad yelled and swung my door open, I climbed into the driver’s seat of my old jeep and started it up, backing out of the driveway and finally buttoning the shirt I had thrown on at the same time.
Another morning of successfully avoiding contact with Adam Stevens achieved.
I pulled into my parking space at Anchor Beach as soon as the final bell for first period rang through the halls. I eased on to the breaks and put the jeep in park. My jeep was the only thing I owned that I actually took care of, because it was the only thing that had no connection to my dad. I got a job as soon as I was old enough and saved every cent I owned until I could buy my 20 year old car for myself shortly before my 17th birthday. The only way I could escape my family whenever I wanted.
I climbed out of the car and swung a book bag strap over my shoulder, casually walking towards the school. I was late already. There was no point in rushing now.
But while I was walking down the sidewalk along the beach, another car pulled into the parking lot late and a black woman climbed out of the driver’s seat. She looked stressed and rushed, and started to dig through the back seat, pulling out a couple bags and a mess of papers and folders.
While she was clearing out her back seat, the passenger door swung open and someone stepped out.
Now I’m not one to use romance movie clichés, but I fucking swear to god, time slowed down when this kid stepped out of the car. He was about my height, but pretty lanky with shaggy brown hair that he ran his fingers through as his feet hit the ground. He had thin lips that curled into the brightest smile at something the woman said. The smile broke into a laugh that echoed through the courtyard and made a smile play at my mouth when it hit my ears. He was wearing slightly loose skinny jeans, black Vans, and some obscure band tee that fell perfectly on his skinny frame.
Okay, so yeah, I’m really gay. I don’t admit it to myself often, but this kid sent the word pounding through my brain. The longer I looked at him, the more “Connor, you’re fucking gay as shit” rang through my thoughts. But the school loner and rebel and bad guy isn’t supposed to be gay. So I don’t date and claim that I hate commitment and fuck girls every now and then. But that kid. He made me feel things no girl ever did or ever could.
However, I apparently let my eyes hang on him too long, because as he was walking into the school building and talking to the woman, his eyes locked on mine and he started walking towards me instead.
“Looking at something?” he asked when he was about 2 feet in front of me.
His voice seemed too deep to come out of his body and I almost couldn’t help getting lost in his chocolate brown eyes when he was that close.
But I forced myself to look away and I glanced to the right then back at his face, hoping I appeared more casual.
“No, not really. Just investigating the new kid. I have to size up my competition.”
“Well, if you mean dating competition, you don’t have to worry. I don’t date.”
“Me either. Doesn’t mean you won’t be competition.”
The boy raised his eyebrows at me.
“As fascinating as this conversation is, my mom is the new vice principal and I’m already late. I probably shouldn’t be any later.”
He turned and started to walk away and then stopped and turned back to look at me.
“Are you planning on going to class?”
I shrugged. “I’m getting there.”
He rolled his eyes.
“Okay weirdo.”
He sighed and looked like he was about to start walking again, then seemed to change his mind.
“I’m Jude, by the way.”
I shot him a half smile before saying, “Connor.”
He smiled at me politely, nothing like that earth shattering, cloud breaking smile I saw before, and turned away from me, jogging to catch up with who I could only assume was his mom.
“Jude.” I mumbled the name to myself, trying to ignore how nice it felt coming off of my tongue as I continued to make my way to class.