{ TWELVE }

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CHAPTER 12 | Hope

You can skip flashbacks if you like ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I still couldn't believe the sudden change of attitude in Mark. On past days I would have never been able to tell him a single word, it would be him who would throw at my face all kind of insults. But just a few seconds ago, being with him was different. I felt scared, but after talking with him, and hearing him call me by my name, I didn't feel that scared now. It was the first time I encountered him and I didn't end up hurt.

I don't know if we would become friends after this. He would never consider me his friend, not to mention that none of his minions would accept me. Not that I'd like to be with them either. Only with Mark.
If we can't be friends, then at least I hope he stops bothering me and insulting me. After all, he thinks I'm straight and that I don't like him.

But that doesn't mean I will look at him as much as I want now. He might get pissed and start to hate me again.

Shortly after he left, I walked out of the classroom too, only to be scared by the sound of a high pitched voice calling my name.

"ZACK!"

I let out a small yelp as I turned to see my friends standing behind me. Amber had one of those creepy smiles on her face.

Vincent grabbed my shoulders and looked all over me. "Zack, you ok? Did he hurt you? Did he threaten you? Do I have to kill him?"

"Uuh, no, Vin. Nothing of that, I'm fine. We just talked..." I said and he released me. "What are you doing here?"

"We heard everything." Amber said, still smiling. "Well, almost everything."

"You did?" I asked, blushing a bit at what I said.

"Sorry, Zack." Jaida said sincerely. "I told them you had stayed because Mark needed to talk to you, but Vincent didn't think it was a good idea to leave you alone with him, so we came here and we couldn't help but listen to your conversation." She explained.

"Ok, don't worry, Jai." I said giving her a reassuring smile.

"Well, I thought Mark was going to do something to you, but we were surprised to see you two talking calmly in there." Vincent said.

"I know, I'm surprised too." I said. "But at least I'm glad he didn't do anything to me right?"

They all nodded. "Although he's behaving too nice and happy right now. That's not normal in him." Vincent said placing his fingers on his chin.

"I think he is bipolar or something." Amber said. "Because when we were dating, he would often have these irritating mood swings. One second he was happy and childish, and the other he was all serious and angry for no reason."

I thought for a while. Then maybe that is the reason of his sudden mood change. Probably it won't take long until he gets back to his old self again.
The others seemed to think the same as they nodded in agreement.

"Anyway, why didn't you tell him you liked him, Zack?" She asked, changing the subject.

"Are you kidding? He would have killed me if I'd said that."

"What if not? You never know what he would have done."

"Of course I did. He hated me since a beginning because he thought I liked him. And... well, yeah, he thought right." I muttered blushing, while Amber giggled. "But if I made him think I didn't like him, then he would leave me alone."

"He has a point." Jaida said. "You did the right thing, Zack."

"I did? I mean... thanks."

They chuckled. "Well, let's go to the cafeteria, I'm hungry." Vincent said.

"I'll just say that Mark calling you by your name was one of the most cutest things I had ever seen, and I'll take that as a signal." Amber said winking at me before turning to walk away. "Zack, you explain it to them."

"Signal?" Both Vincent and Jaida asked at the same time with confused faces.

"Uh, it's a strange power she has, or something like that. It's not important, really." I told them. "You know how fangirls are."

They nodded, muttering an Oh, but the confusion was still on their faces. I just chuckled and we followed Amber.

================

My classes finished a bit earlier this time, so our group was the first one to exit the classroom. I guess my friends' classes are going to take some more time, so I decided to wait for them at the lockers.

I made my way through the school's gardens, which I actually found quite nice. There were flowers of all colors, the grass was well taken care of, the trees all grown up and green, and there was even a fountain in the center. It was a relaxing place, way better than my old school's.

In my old school you could see trash scattered everywhere. The few plants that were there, were all dry and brown. There were water leaks, making the floors slippery and giving the surroundings an awful smell. The buildings looked old with cracks, broken windows and rusty doors. Everyone would think it was an abandoned school. I even wonder if it's legal to have students in that place.

I'm glad I moved to this school. But I had to go through a very hard moment to make it happen.

========FLASHBACK========

"So what did you want to tell me?" Russell asked me while he looked in front of him.

We were sitting on some rocks, in a distant part of the school, a place that is empty of people most of the time.

I was nervous about what I was going to say. I have never talked about it with anyone, until now. I recently found out and accepted the fact that I was bisexual. I have always liked girls since I was a kid, but as time passed by, I started feeling attracted to boys too.

Russell and I have been friends for quite a long time. He was the only friend I had. We always talked about almost anything, we helped each other, and I simply liked to be with him. He was the only person I trusted to talk about this kind of things.

"Russell... We've been friends for a long time and... Well, you're the only friend I've ever had. I would really appreciate it if... you could understand what I'm going to tell you. And that you keep it as a secret."

He finally turned to look at me, with a bit confused but curious look. "What is it?"

I sighed, feeling more nervous. "Well... I recently found out that... I-I like boys, but I also like girls... T-That means that I... I think I'm bisexual."

I was looking down at my hands, not daring to look at his face and growing more nervous with every second of silence between us. I finally dared to look at him, his eyes widened and his mouth forming an O, as if he had seen something scary.

"Wait... Does that mean you... like me?!"

"What? No! Russell... I am bisexual, ok? I like boys and girls, but not all of them."

He seemed to relax a little, but the slight look of horror was still on his face. I kinda regretted having to tell him. I felt a pang on my chest only with that look.

"Please, Russell... Promise me you won't tell anyone. This is something very hard for me to talk about. I'm telling you because I trust you."

He stayed silent for a bit longer until he spoke. "Ok, ok. I won't tell anyone. I promise."

I sighed of relief and gave him a smile. "Thank you."

He returned the smile and we left after that.

Next day, as I made my way to my class, I noticed everyone was whispering and laughing at me. Some people gave me looks of disgust, others threw balls of paper at me. I didn't know what was happening until I heard some guy yell the word 'faggot'.

I froze in place after hearing that. I felt humiliated, weak, ashamed, as I had never felt before. There was only one explanation to this. All of my emotions were mixed with disappointment, disbelief and anger as I saw Russell coming out from one of the halls, smirking.

========PRESENT========

I was such a fool. A fool for trusting him, to tell him my secrets just to have him revealing them to the world. I'm a fool for considering him my friend. I just never thought he would be able to do such a thing. I'm just bisexual. That doesn't change anything about me.

That day I got in a fight with him. The first one I started. I was feeling so angry, so furious at that idiot that I used to call my friend. That day I exploded in anger as I charged towards him, and tried to make him as much as damage as possible. I had never fought before, so I just threw random hits at his face and body. He was a better fighter than me, so that resulted in him winning the fight, and me in ending on the floor covered in blood and bruises.

I will remember that day as the worst one of my entire life. The same day in which happened the incident with my parents. The day I thought I almost died with all those beatings I received. All because of being brave enough to tell the people I trusted who I am. I wish I could erase those memories from my mind forever.

That was my past. I won't let it haunt my present. Everything will be going fine now. I hope so.

I continued walking, passing in front of the library, but I was too distracted in my own thoughts, that I didn't notice the tall figure that was just emerging from the library doors as I passed by. I bumped into something hard, feeling a familiar smell as our bodies collided. I immediately snapped out of my thoughts.

"Uh, sorry." I apologized, but then I looked up to see the person I had bumped into. It was no one else than Mark. He was looking at me a bit confused, holding a roll of paper under his arm, which I suppose was the poster.

I gulped. Damn it, he's probably going to hate me from bumping into him. "M-Mark! I-I'm sorry, I didn't see you, really. P-Please don't-"

"Hey." He interrupted with a quiet voice, making me look at him in the eyes. "Calm down."

I had never heard that tone of calmness in his voice. I was surprised he wasn't even glaring at me, he still looked a bit confused, but I didn't find a hint of hate or disgust in his eyes.

I just stood there, not noticing that I'd been staring at him until he spoke again. "What are you doing here?"

"Uh... I was just heading to the lockers... To wait for my friends."

He nodded slowly, moving his eyes to look at the side. I would have kept walking and just leave him there, but I wasn't moving. Instead, I talked to him a bit more just to keep looking at him. I had to take advantage that he wasn't being an arrogant jerk right now.

"What were you doing in the library?"

His eyes moved back to meet mine. He didn't seem bothered by having me looking at him, and him looking at me. I felt relieved and happy for that. "I was making this thing." He motioned to the poster he was holding. "The drawings."

"Oh." I said nodding, remembering that Jaida gave it to him so he could do that.

"By the way." He said stretching his arm, holding the roll of paper. "Can you give it to that girl?"

By that girl, I knew he was referring to Jaida, so I didn't ask who he meant so he didn't think I was a fool. "Oh, yeah, of course." I said taking it, our fingers brushing just a little bit, enough to feel that strange tingling sensation again. Why do I feel this just to the very small contact I have with him? It's strange but it feels nice at the same time.

"But... Why don't you take it home yourself? Just asking..." I asked.

He put his hands on his jeans' pockets, a pose that made him look sexy. "Because if I take it home, I might lose it among the disaster I have in my room."

"Then why don't you clean up?"

"'Cause I'm lazy."

I chuckled. "Don't worry. I am too."

I saw a small smile form on his lips, and my stomach fluttered. He had just smiled. AT ME! I couldn't believe this was actually happening. I just made Mark smile, something I never thought I'd do. It wasn't a big smile, but I was more than enough with that.

I returned a much bigger smile, and he just looked away, coughing awkwardly. He then looked at his fingernails, as if they were the most interesting thing he had seen.

I stayed like that in a comfortable silence, just watching him. I think the silence was uncomfortable for him, as he sighed and looked everywhere but me, his foot tapping against the floor.

It didn't take long until I heard the voices of his friends approaching. I sighed. These irritating bastards had to come to ruin this moment.

"Hey, babe." Said Scarlet as she wrapped her arms behind him, her lips brushing his ear. I couldn't help but feel jealous of her.

He replied with a simple Hi, then Scarlet's eyes landed on me, and that ugly look of disgust appeared on her face. "Why are you with him?"

"I was just giving him the poster for our project."

"It really sucks that you have to be in the same team as him." Herman said, giving me that same look.

"I know right. Like, out of all the people you could have been with, you had to be with him." Scarlet said.

"Yeah, I know." Mark said turning around. "Let's go."

He walked away with them, not before receiving a mocking smirk from Scarlet as she clung to his arm.

I glared at her, though she didn't see me. But I was relieved that Mark didn't do or said anything bad while he was with them.

My friends arrived to the place shortly after. "Hey, Zack. I saw Mark's group leaving just now. Did he do anything to you?" Vincent asked.

"No, he didn't. He just gave me the poster that we're making for our project."

"Oh, I can take it with me, if you want." Jaida offered.

I hesitated for a moment, because that's exactly what Mark told me to do, to give it to her. But then I decided to do otherwise.

"No, Jai, don't bother. I will take it home this time."

"Really?"

"Of course. Don't worry, I'll take good care of it."

"Ok, thank you, Zack." She said, smiling.

We made our way out of the building and we said our goodbies, before me and Amber walked to my aunt's car, so she could take us home. My aunt is already used to taking both of us home, since we follow the same way to get to our houses, and Amber has no problem with it.
Her house is 5 blocks farther than mine, so my aunt goes to leave Amber at hers first, and then goes back to leave me at mine.

My aunt stopped in front of Amber's place. She thanked my aunt and opened the door. She turned to look at me before leaving. "See you tomorrow, Zack. Don't think too much about Mark." She whispered that part with a wink. She giggled and closed the door before walking to her house. I just sat there, feeling a small blush form in my cheeks. I hope my aunt didn't hear anything.

"Mark?"

Great.

"Uh, it's no one... Just a classmate." I replied.

She just hummed, not very convinced with my reply and she drove us home.

As soon as we arrived, I slid my backpack off my shoulders and let it fall on the floor. I mindlessly started to walk up the stairs to my room, with the poster under my arm, until my aunt's voice stopped me.

"What's the urgency to go to your room, Zack?"

I looked at her from above, almost not noticing I was close to my bedroom door. "Oh... I'm just going to leave this in my room. I'll be down in a second."

She replied with an Ok, and telling me she would teach me another cooking lesson. I rolled my eyes, but there was a smile on my face. I must admit I had gradually improved my cooking skills a lot, thanks to her. Now I was able to cook an egg with beans without burning my hand in the process.

I got in my room and placed the poster on the floor. I knelt in front of it and rolled it open, the images and information we had worked on coming into sight. But what my eyes were looking for was any sight of Mark's work.

I opened it fully, and I instantly caught something that wasn't there before. At the lower left corner of the poster, there was a part of a work in progress. The poster's background was a white color, but Mark decided to change it to a black color with some silver figures and lines on it. There was also the drawing of a beaker with a yellow substance inside, like the ones you see in laboratories.

Mark used the colors to give lighting really well, making the beaker look like it was a picture taken from Internet, but it was not. I just stared in awe, thinking: how did he do that?!

It looked very nice so far, and I couldn't wait to see the final result. I don't think anyone else would put this same idea on their posters. Mark was going to give us a super high grade with this. But was he really going to fill all the blank spaces with this art? That seemed like a lot of work, but it also seemed like that was what Mark enjoyed to do: drawing.

"Zack! Come down, I'll show you how to use the pressure cooker!"

"I'm coming." I replied before rolling up the poster and placing it on the night table.

I walked down the stairs to take my next cooking lesson. I never thought I'd say this, but I was eager to go to school tomorrow, just to see Mark. He acted so nice today, we even exchanged some words and looks, that were only a few, but those few words and looks were a nice moment while they lasted. Who knows if he'll still be like that tomorrow. Let's hope so.

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