High School Rumor Has it

Was it true? Ron wasn’t in math class, Pete was not in English, it’s going on the 3rd day now, rumor has it, they got caught in the boys locker room, doing something and got expelled. But you know how rumors are. We heard they needed to see a psychologist before returning. The stories got hot and heavy, from gay sex to suicide, and of course no one knew the real story. I didn’t know either of them very well, I just knew them from 4 years of high school together in passing.

Monday came and I saw Ron in the hall by his locker, I felt bad for the kid, everyone was watching him, pointing, and whispering. He is a small kid, kinda on the weak side, not athletic at all, I couldn’t for the life of me what happened or why he would be in the locker room unless he was in gym. Many jocks claimed they knew the true story and boasted about what they were up to. Ron walked the halls staring at the floor kinda zombie like, as if he didn’t want to be there. I saw him in class and he was very withdrawn, he was depressed. It was then I realized how bad the students could be, someone whispered loudly in his direction, hey faggot how’s Pete’s dick taste? He turned and threw his history book at him, yup it only took about 1 hour for the pent up abuse to surface.

A teacher acting quickly grabbed the jock by the ear and pulled him into the hall, and we could hear him yelling at him through the closed door. He came back in with the jock and made him apologize loudly in front of the whole class, and then the teacher proceeded to lecture us on right and wrong, and basically defended Ron and his actions, with that the bell rang and we all left but the teacher kept Ron and the jock after class and eventually headed to the principals office.

Later at lunch Ron didn’t stay in the cafeteria he went outside by himself sitting on the main staircase. I scooped up my stuff and walked over to him, I politely said hey Ron It’s Jerry, I’m very sorry for what’s happening to you, and just wanted to let you know I understand and if you want a friend, or to talk I’ll be here. If anyone gives you trouble I’ll be glad to be on your side, I mean I can’t stand up to most of the jocks but, at least I’m willing to face them with you. He looked up and said you must be a gluten for punishment then cause they’ll call you a faggot for sure too, especially if they see you hanging out with me, with that I said let them, and sat down next to him. He looked at me said thank you but you may want to rethink your actions.

After lunch I walked with him to his next class, and then quickly made it to mine. I got strange looks, especially from the jocks. After class I rushed back to his and I stayed with him to most of his classes, except for gym, he said he had a note to skip gym for the rest of this semester, and he had to report to a study hall. After school I caught up with him and walked with him home, while it was somewhat on my way, but still a bit out of the way.

He said he never really knew me, but I was being very nice to him, I said I meant what I said and had no intention of getting involved but, it was just wrong what everyone was doing to him.

Tuesday, rumors flew again, Pete had apparently either attempted or did commit suicide the previous night, although earlier Ron was in school, he was sent to the principals office, and I didn’t see him the rest of the day. I swung by his house after school, he answered the door and let me in. Ron told it was true, Pete attempted suicide, and he is in the hospital, he said his parents were not accepting of our relationship, yes I am gay he said and we were caught in the showers cause we wanted the danger of possibly getting caught, but now I wish we never did it, this is all my fault. He confided in me that this incident has ruined their lives, I love Pete, we’ve been together secretly for 2 years, my parents are accepting, but Pete’s were horrified and they treated him like he had the plague, I want to talk to him, but his parents won’t let me near him, damn it his parents are responsible for this, not me, he loves me.

I said right and offered to try to go see him, if they’d let me in. He said jeeze that would be wonderful, would you, and if you do tell him I still love him, please come back to me, we’ll get around his parents one way or another. Now I have to figure out whether I’m going to make it better or worse and what kind of parents are these people going to be.

I arrived at the hospital and yes Pete’s parents were dicks, they asked me all kinds of questions and my intentions. At first they stayed in there with me and I made up some excuse that we heard about you in English and I wanted to reach out to you even though you really didn’t know me. His mom went to get a coffee and his dads phone rang, and he stepped outside. I quickly said we didn’t have much time and that Ron sent me, I told him what I knew about him, gave him Ron’s sentiments and told him I would support him and Ron in any way I could, with a tear in his eye he told me he appreciated it, and hearing from Ron was the best thing.

I stopped every day, and after he was released, I continued to go to his house, I gained his parents confidence, even showed up with my “fake” girlfriend some days. Eventually he went back to school, and we all hung out together, but Ron and Pete were supposedly not together in his parents eyes. Even the kids at school became accepting, I’d like to think I was apart of that. Eventually Pete’s parent would let him go to my house, to hang, and we schemed to have Ron there so I could leave them alone for together time.

Ultimately Pete moved out of his parents house, by packing some things, he was 18, and he moved into my basement, that my parents and I set up as a small apartment. It’s also where Ron and Pete began their life together, I’m thankful my parents were understanding and not only offered support to me, but my gay friends as well.

We were a part of the solution to a wrong made right.