Forgotten Wind: Disclosed Memories

Chapter 18: Try It

"So, what's your plan?" I asked Alicia as we stood at the back wall of the cafeteria. I watched as the large crowds of students waited in lines to grab their lunch trays.

"We go in and see what he's up to." Alicia said. She zipped her jacket up and put the red cap over her tightened bun.

"Alicia... I'm not so sure about this."

"Look, he goes to the senior section. Right?"

"Yeah," I told her.

It's true. This week, Joe hasn't been coming over to our table where we usually sit. Instead, he just gives us an avoidable look and goes on by.

Speaking of, there he was now. He passed us by, and we looked in another direction so that he wouldn't notice us. We looked back to where he was headed and inconspicuously followed.

With my hood over my head, I looked down at my footsteps and Alicia's as we followed him to the senior section. This was a risk we so daintily took, huh?

We kept our heads down as we entered. Surrounded by the chatter of obnoxiousness and loud excitement from the cliques that they sat together in. We went for a table near the window and, luckily, it was right near Joe. We didn't want him to notice us too close, so we started talking as if we were conversing.

It felt as though all eyes were on us, since we were the least tall out of everyone else in this section.

"Let's listen to what they're talking about, alright?" Alicia suggested.

I nodded. We scooted slightly closer with our heads kept down and listened as close as we could.

"Where do you want me to come?" I heard Joe say.

"The basketball court at Westler Terrace. It'll be safe to do it there." One of the boys said.

"Remember, we've got to make it look like an accident."

"Change of plans," Joe said. "We need to frame somebody."

"But, who?"

There was a second of silence.

"Max. Max Powell." He finally said.

My eyes widened when I heard my name. I could feel my hands trembling for a moment before Alicia held them and calmed me down.

She looked at me and gestures over to the exit. I replied with a nod, and we both walked slowly over to the exit. I catch my breath as we stood outside the school entry doors. The wind then became impossibly chilly.

Alicia looked at me with a look of concern.

I turned my back, looking down on the ground at the brittle pavement.  My head was a little dizzy by the words I had just heard.

Alicia's hand nudged me a bit. I turned back around and looked at her, the color in her short hair suddenly became a bit faded.

"Max... is Joe?..." She said,  her eyebrows scrunched slightly.

I didn't say anything. I just stood there and stared at her, the both of us now knowing why Joe was so distant.

It was now time for fourth period, and I was walking down the east hallway when I caught sight of Kamil. He was talking to a couple of boys near the lobby entryway. I c****d my head down and quickly walked past them, but I then froze when my name was called.

"Max!" Kamil exclaimed.

I turned my head towards them and walked over, hesitantly looking at the two boys that stood behind him.

Kamil took my hand in his palm and gave me goosebumps shivering up and down my body. I could feel the back of my neck starting to sweat. 

"Guys, this is Max." He introduced me to them. "He's my boyfriend."

One of the boys gave me a look when he said that. I c****d my head down and diverted from his eye contact.

"Well, uh... Max. It's nice to meet you, man." The first boy said shaking my hand. His ocean blue eyes stared right at me as soon as he released his tight grip.

"Nice to... meet you too." I said, returning a stare. His lips curved a coy smile.

That's when the bell rang.

"Oh, I've gotta get to gym." Kamil said, giving me a kiss on the cheek before he departed. "I'll call you later, babe."

I waved goodbye at him as he ran down the hall. 

And now I was alone with the two boys. Their gracious looks soon turned into devilish smiles with expressionless stares. My neck tensed a little. I bit my lip as I continued to stand there in front of them, sheepishly smiling at the duo.

Then, without sudden and quick notice, one of the boys stepped up to me. He was inches close from my face. My nostrils detected a scent of mustard and bologna coming from his mouth. I held my breath  inside and regained eye contact.

"What's your name again?" He asked me.

"Max." I said.

He looked around and turned back to me. There was no one else in the hallway besides us.

"Well, Max..." He began, and his sentence was withheld as I watched his fist drive into my stomach.

I fell to the ground, holding myself up with one knee. My eyes trembled inside but refused to let a tear escape. The pain was deep and pulsed through my entire abdomen.

Then the boy grabbed my face and held it up to his, the color of his eyes becoming intense and soul bearing.

"We don't like queers in this school... understand?" He breathed in my ear. 

I gritted my teeth and looked away, but he jerked my head back and pulled my ear harshly.

"I said, do you understand?" He hissed.

I nodded rapidly, and he let me go; I held my hand clenched tightly to my stomach. 

I looked up at him, scoffing down at me with the other boy.

"You're nothing but a useless faggot... aren't you?" He said.