So, this chapter isn't my best work yet, but hopefully you guys disagree. I'm so sorry for constantly having these lacking updates, but when Writer's Block has got you, it seriously doesn't let go. Gr.

Anyways, please enjoy!

***

The cafeteria seems busier than usual - since the newly found gossip about Harry is fresh, rumors are still floating around. Though he wasn't at school all of yesterday, today he's back, and still the subject of conversation.

Sabrina isn't in my lunch period today, so I sit with Madison and some of her friends. I've known them almost as long as I've known Madison. Charlette usually sits with us, but with everything going on, she is probably on the hunt for her brother. The protective instincts in that girl are extraordinary, and I wish I had that kind of tenacity.

A silence falls over the lunchroom, multiple people are still minding their own business, but most are eyeing the dark haired boy who's never looked so small before. Harry carries his lunch in his hands as Charlette slowly ushers him forward.

Whispers carry throughout the room, and I do'nt even want to know what they're saying.

When the two finally sit down next to us, it feels like the whole cafeteria is eyeing our table. I shuffle uncomfortably in my chair and glance over at the spot I would usually sit at. None of them are even paying attention to the drama that is going on around them, they are only interested in what's going on with them. Everyone except for Rodney - he is watching our table, a smirk a smirk already settling on his face.

Shit, this isn't good.

"Harry, are you okay?" Madison asks, and I turn my attention towards her. "If you ever need anything..."

A brief smile appears on Harry's face. "Thanks, M."

Before she can speak again, Sammie and Caroline steal the show away from our table. The two of them walk into the room, holding hands. Everyone at schoo had their assumptions that they are together, but besides parties where they were completely drunk, they never showed any affection in public. Especially not in school.

They make their way over to us, still hand in hand, and smile brightly at Harry.

"Well don't you two look chipper." Maddie remarks.

My gaze falls to their interlocked fingers.

Caroline uses her unoccupied hand to ruffle some of Harry's hair. "This lil' guy started a mini revolution!"

"What are you talking about?" Harry grumbles, still not happy that he's here, and the fact that Caroline messed up his hair.

Sammie laughs. "You haven't heard? Ever since the Quarter Dick called you out yesterday, a few people have already came out in your honor."

"You're kidding." Harry's facial expression is unreadable as he stares blankly at the two girls.

They take a seat at our table and beam at him - the guy they never gave the light of day when they thought he was straight. Now they're worshipping him like he's some kind of Martin Luther King Jr. for the gay community.

Considering that other school have taken the sexuality-equality leap so much earlier, the whole ordeal shouldn't have been this big in the first place.

My gaze turns to Charlette right away when Bradley wraps his arms around her from the back and kisses her cheek. She smiles at him and sends Harry a look of sympathy. Bradley makes sure to make himself comfortable right between the two siblings. This is surprising considering I had no idea they are dating, and I usually know everything that goes on at this school.

Laughter erupts from a couple tables over and I glare in Rodney's direction. I can tell he's up to something from the mischief in his eyes and I glare while shaking my head at him to ward him off, but like usual, he doesn't listen to me.

"Hey, Harry!" Rodney continues to ignore my warnings and pretends to choke on the banana in his mouth. "Am I making you horny?"

The table I normally sit at burts into laughter and Harry shrinks into his seat, his face red of embarrassment.

I'm about to tell Rodney to knock it off, but someone beats me to it.

Bradley turns towards his cousin, anger clearly on his face, but he holds it in like he always does so graciously. With fists clenched at his sides, he stands from his seat and makes his way towards Rodney's table. Once he gets there, he's greeted with a challenging look, but he doesn't back down.

"You wanna try doing that again?" Bradley asks with an aggression I haven't heard before in his voice. The two cousins who are usually inseperable are now at a standoff, their faces only inches apart.

Rodney chuckles and nods in Harry and Charlette's direction. "You trying to show off for your new girlfriend here? Stand up for the brother and maybe you'll score some points?"

"I'm not doing this to get something out of it. I'm doing this because you're being a dick."

Right when the words leave his mouth, Rodney retaliates. Faster than I can register, he has Bradley on the floor. A strategic punch knocks him to the ground, but he doesn't stay down long enough to let his opponent get in a second strike. Quickly, he pushes himself off the floor and sends a blow to Rodney's stomach.

He gets a tight grip on Bradley's arm and twists, but Brad quickly turns it around so that it's Rodney whose arm ends up twisted behind his back. Clearly Bradley is a lot more experienced in fight than him, which would be surprising if he wasn't the captain of the wrestling team.

"You wanna try it again now?" Bradley mockingly asks his question again.

At this time, Cole and Jameson get involved, prying the two cousins away from each other. It doesn't work at first, allowing them to get a couple more punches in before getting separated - too far to do any damage.

Bradley shakes from Jameson's grip and takes deep breaths to try and calm himself down. His nose is bleeding, so he brings his hand up to wipe some blood away. Harry is quickly at his side, making sure he is okay- most likely as thanks for defending him. That is just the kind of guy Brad is, though; he is like a Robin Hood for the bullied.

Guilt settles in the pit of my stomach. I should have been the one to help Harry when he was being embarrassed by my friends, not his sister's new boyfriend. Which is odd now that I think about it. Charlette doesn't have boyfriends. Not in the six years that I've know her has she ever shown any interest in settling down in any way.

Everyone in the caferteria quiets down considerably when the Vice Principal finally enters the room. As he evaluated the situation, Harrys is cupping Brad's face and checking for something in his eyes - most likely a concussion. He was hit pretty hard.

"You, you." Vice Principal Erickson points at Rodney, then Bradley. "And you." His last finger lands upon Harry. "My office. NOW!"

Rodney's shoulders slump, cussing quietly to himself, and I can hear Bradley sigh. The three of them follow the VP out of the cafeteria without so much as a word of protest. None of them are rule breakers, so seeing them all in this situation is incredibly strange.

After lunch is over, I wait for Harry outside of the attendance office, knowing he'd have to come out that way eventually. It doesn't take long for him to meet me, but Bradley and Rodney are still in there. They are the ones who started the whole thing, so it isn't surprising.

"Hey, you didnt' have to wait for me," he says, closing the door behind him.

"I wanted to know what happened. Both you and Rodney are my friends, and I don't want the same thing that happened to to me and Whittney happen to you and me. Why did Rodney attack you like that? He never goes after someone for no reason."

Harry rolls his eyes. "He's had it out for me for years, ever since he had the idea in his head that I have a thing for Amber."

"Why would he have thought that? And everyone knows that you're gay now, so what difference does it make?"

"Because it was true."

"You like her?"

Immediately Harry's expression contorts into one of anger. "Yes, Austin. I liked her. Just because you hate her doesn't means everyone else has to as well."

"I never said I hated her," I huff.

As much as that bitch annoys the hell out of me and always gets in the way, I don't hate her. My hate is reserved for those more deserving. Dax, and above all Eddie, take that medal without effort.

Harry ignores me and only continues. "When I told Amber we needed to stop seeing each other behind her brother's back, she was really upset. And that's when I told her that I was starting to lose interest in girls."

My expression hardens and I stop him for a moment. "So when you figured this out, you told her instead of your best friend?"

He can't help but laugh at my statement. "I think the reasoning behind that question is pretty obvious. Plus, she's one of my best friends, too. The night I, uh, came out to you," he looks down for a moment and clears his throat in discomfort. "Amber was the one who came over and comforted me. She was the one who acted like a best friend when I needed one."

I brush a hand through my hair, my face strains, and a sharp breath leaves me. "Hare, I'm sorry. I had no idea the two of you were so close. But I'm more sorry that Rodney's own cousin was the one to stand up to him - Charlette's new boyfriend - when it should have been me."

"No," he immediately counters. "You don't have to apologize for that. Ever since Bradley started to, um, see my sister and all, the two of us have been able to rekindle out old friendship."

A sheepish smile appears on Harry's face. It feels like it has been ages since I've seen him smile like that.

With eyebrows raised, I smile back. "So, he's been coming over a lot lately?"

"Um." Harry's gaze lands everywhere, but on me. "Actually he-"

Our conversation is interrupted when someone pushes through the office door and itno the hallway. For a moment I'm afraid that it could be Rodney, but only Bradley exits.

"So I got off with only a couple of deten-" Bradley stops what he's saying right when he sees me. "Austin, what are you doing here?"

I squint at him suspiciously, but ignore the question. "Thanks for standing up for Harry. Took some balls standing up to your cousin like that."

"It was no problem, really." He shrugs.

"Hey, uh," Harry turns to me. "Can I talk with Bradley alone for a second?"

"Oh." It both surprises me and hurts for a moment that Harry wants me gone, but I brush the feelings off as quickly as they come. "Oh yeah, I mean, I got to go anyways."

The ride home after my last class is peaceful, and a quiet I've been craving ever since the incident at lunch time. I'm away from the high school drama for now, and can finally focus on the more important things.

Since it's Wednesday, I only have a couple more days until I owe Dax the money. Friday will be the day taht all this could end, and I'd go back to my life, with an abusive father as my biggest issue. But, that's only if things go as planned, and and considering the 'luck' I've had in this life of mine, things probably won't.

Before I know it, I'm already pulling into my driveway. My phone starts going off and Sabrina's name appears on the screen, but my attention is drawn to something else.

A black SUV is parked on the front lawn, leaving patches of shredded grass in its wake. I turn off the engine of my car right away and hop out of the front seat. When I get to the front door, it's cracked open a little and the handle is blown to bits.

"Fuck." I run my hands through my hair and take a deep breath before pushing the door open and making my way inside.

When I first get in, there are no lights on which makes it clear that neither of my parents are home. I wearily look around, preparing myself for whatever, until I see there is one light peeking through the bottom of the basement door. Before going down there to investigate further, I go into my father's office and reach under his desk.

My hand wraps around the grip of a gun and bring it to me. After checking the clip for ammo, I hold it in front of me, ready to shoot if necessary. Dax had taught me how to use a gun at the Torres's shooting range. It is more complicated than the simple 'point and shoot' like everyone always says in the movies, but easier than I always thought before learning.

During my descent down the stairs, my heart beats frantically, the sweat gathering on my palms makes me feel my grip on the gun will fail me.

I reach the bottom stair, and point the gun straight towards the first room to the right, which is the basement TV room. No one is hiding out in there, so I continue my nerve racking search. At first, I almost skip over my room, but the door is cracked open, and I know for a fact I closed it this morning. With my gun at the ready, I count '3,2,1' in my head and barge into the room.

A lump forms in my throat and I point the gun directly at the intruder when I lay eyes on him.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." He sends me a pointed look and directs a gun in my direction, too. I slightly drop my weapon, but not completely. "I'm a better shot than you."

"Eddie," I say, barely louder than a whisper.

The smile that creeps onto his lips tells me things are about to turn for the worst.

***

So Eddie has decided to pay Austin a little visit. I thought that a cliffhanger added onto my lacking updates was just a great idea, haha. (Don't hate me.)

Please remember to leave comments so I know what you think, and maybe even a vote if you think the chapter was deserving of it!

Again, sorry for the lacking updates. I hope that this madness will end so I stop driving the few Reputationers that I have crazy, hahaha. Til next time

~TheWriterD