At school, Jack finds me and wraps me in his arms, sighing against me. I can't help but smile and wrap my arms around his neck. I hear a whistle behind me but I ignore it. Jack lifts an arm for a few seconds and then sets it back down on my back. I assume he flipped off whoever whistled.

"I did some looking on my computer this morning, I wanted to know your condition more, is it true you're in more pain at night?" He whispers into me.

"Sometimes," I break the hug but keep my hands on his shoulders. "But, most nights, yes."

"Does that mean I made it worse?" Worry laced his voice.

"No, Jack, you didnt do anything to hurt me. I enjoyed every second," I grab his face, making him look at me. "I would tell you, I promise."

He smiles and kisses me, I kiss back. I hear commotion around us, but I don't care. Jack is my real boyfriend, how could I not be happy? Jack cares about me, he likes me, and I love him. He separates first, giving me the biggest grin.

"Ahh, so he finally fixed his bullshit?" Gene's voice stands out in the mumbling. "Good, now this Jack-ass won't be fighting me anymore," I laugh while Jack rolls his eyes, but his smile never leaves. "He's whipped. You know, he's never kissed any of his exes before? You've got him around your finger."

I happily shake my head, grabbing Jack's hand.

"Okay Gene, if all you're going to do is mock me, you can leave," Jack lays his other hand flat against my stomach as he pouts

"Im done, I'm done..." He turns to the crowd around us, you'd think they're watching a fight. "You guys wanna move somewhere else," Gene looks at me as if asking if I'm okay.

I sigh and shake my head, no longer smiling. Jack's hand squeezes mine. He leans down and whispers that it'll be okay. I believe him, so I nod.

"I'll be fine, promise. I wanna see my friends though," I whisper back.

He nods and looks around the crowd for my group, when he sees them he tugs my hand lightly, so I follow him. The crowd moves out of our way, and I keep my head down, watching the floor. He lets me sit at our table then sits him and Gene at the table next to ours. I smile knowing he's there to protect me.

"Guess who the talk of the school is?" Rain smirks.

"Okay, okay. I can explain everything."

"No need," Tim grabs my arm. "I already updated them. They were wondering why you didn't respond at all this weekend."

I sheepishly grin, giving a small apology. As we talk the crowd disappears, I know it's because of Jack. I listen to their amazing weekends, their parties, and their relationships. It feels good to be back to normal.

--

Class sucks so far, I'm getting a lot of looks and stares, thankfully I have classes with my gang and Jack's group, so they've been sitting around me, protecting me. I'm assuming Jack told them I have anxiety, and he wants them to protect me. They've been good at it so far.

Lucas sits next to me with a smile, and I smile back.

"How are you doing Mac?"

"I'm okay, and you Luc?"

"I've been great. I'm just happy you got to Jack, you've helped him out."

"Speaking of, did Jack tell you guys to keep an eye on me?"

He tries to bite back a guilty smile, I smile to myself.

"He did. This morning, he told us about you having an anxiety disorder, and with all the drama because Jack kissed you, which he's never done to anyone, he said to just make sure no one bothers you. He cares about you, you know."

"Everyone says he never kissed an ex before, but I have a hard time believing it."

"Well, I only know about these past 2 years, I wasn't cool with Jack until recently. Ask Gene. Genes has known Jack since middle school, before he was a player. Gene would know best. Or, just ask Jack yourself."

I remember Gene did say the same thing this morning, and Jack said he didnt like to kiss people. Maybe I should have more faith in his words.

"The boy who turned Jack gay," A brunette says, she's in front of me, glaring.

"Go away Paige," Lucas rolls his eyes.

"How did you do it? Give him sex? Beg him to date you, all for attention? What did you do?"

She's leaning on the black table, her blouse falling showing her red laced bra. I cringe. I'm bi, but she is not my type.

"Paige, leave. And pull up your shirt, no one wants to see that shit," Lucas says, with more aggression.

"Jack did," She shows an angry grin, her eyes on fire. "Jack couldn't get enough of me. Then you came into the picture. So, what's your secret, fag?"

Lucas bangs his hand on the table, she just looks over at him.

"Oh, I'm sorry, did I upset you? Did I offend you?"

My anxiety is spiking, all I have in this class is Lucas, and no one from my group.

"Paige, stop being a whore. Jack got tired of you; everyone gets tired of you. Plus, everyone knows you're made of plastic," he grins, and the class laughs. It's only now I realize the class was listening. "You're bad for the environment Paige, of course no one wants you."

Even I'm laughing now, my anxiety slowly decreasing.

She huffs. "I'm not done with you," she glares and points at me. "Freak," She calls me before turning and walking out.

"Don't pay her any mind. An old fling of Jack, she got too attached, He ended things. Thank god too, she's batshit."

"I noticed."

The teacher comes in and announces class is starting. He passed out papers and started directing our note-taking. Halfway through I stand to use the bathroom.

"Where you headed?" Lucus asks

"Just the bathroom, I'll be back," I shrug him off and take a pass by the door.

I take a large breath when the door closes; it gets muggy in the classrooms at this school. I start my way to the bathroom, getting glances from students passing by. I talk myself through breathing, realizing some remaining anxiety is still there. I enter the bathroom and sigh of relief, then realize how horrible it smells. I groan and just decide to hurry.

"Look, it's Jack's faggot," a boy says, I freeze in place. I look over; black hair, black eyebrows.

"Like what you see?" The other one, a blond with bright green eyes, says with a smirk.

"I think he does, I think he's hitting on us." Black hair says I turn into a stall.

"Running away to go jerk off, should we show him a lesson?" The blond.

I shut and lock the door, I no longer have the urge to piss, instead, I have the urge to run away.

"Come on, we don't bite."

"Maybe you might though. Tell us, does it feel good taking it up the ass?" The blond. "I bet you just love being Jack's little whore."

I sit down, pulling my legs to my chest, trying to keep my breath steady, they bang on the door, telling me to come out. I pull out my phone, about to call for help, but then they stop.

"No fucking fun."

"Fine, you win this time."

They start walking away, I hear the door open, and then close, and I don't hear any more steps. I cry. Tears flow down my face like a river, so I cover my face with my hands. I go through my breathing exercise, and in a minute my tears stop and I can breathe normally. I dont even need to use the bathroom; I need to get to class where I'm safe. I never thought I'd be discriminated against for simply kissing Jack, my boyfriend. I wonder if he's getting the same discrimination. I hope not. I've dealt with homophobia, but not like that. I stand and unlock the door.

I open the stall door, step out, then I'm knocked to the ground. My shoulder smacks the concrete, and I yell in pain. The boys are back, I dont think they even left. They're kicking me, laughing at me, mocking me, and recording me as I cry and get beat. I curl into a ball, grabbing my shoulder and praying for it to end. After a minute or two, but what felt like an hour, my face was bloody, my body was bruised, and I couldn't breathe or move. I'm in the most amount of pain I've ever been in. I couldn't even cry anymore, my voice was paralyzed, as was my mind.

They stop, and I hear the recording stop on their phones. "Tell anyone, and you're dead. Tell the other faggot and this video gets released showing just how pathetic you are," The blonde.

They laugh as they head out the door. I scoot to the wall, not getting up. I grab my phone.

"Jack," I cry when he answers the phone. "Help, please. Bathroom, 2nd floor."

I hear the panic in his breathing, "Hold on," I hear a teacher yell his name, but he doesn't stop. "Hold on Mac, I'm coming."

I sob on the floor, listening to Jack breathe as he runs. I hear a door slam open, then shut, then another door slam shut. Then the bathroom door I'm in shoots open.

"Jack," I whimper out.

He slides on his knees to me, he scoops me up into his arms.

"Can't breathe," I grip his arm. "Pen," I say. He looks at my neck, it's not there.

"Where is it?"

"Bag, classroom. Lucas."

He ends the call with me and then dials Lucas's number.

"Grab Mac's bag and come to the middle bathroom, hurry," he demands and ends the call. "You'll be okay Mac, it'll be okay, I promise it'll be okay."

I hear running, then a door slamming open. I hear Lucas curse, and then he's beside me. Jack rips open the zippers on my bag, searching every pocket until he finds the pen. He holds it to my mouth I take a long inhale, hold it for 5 seconds, then exhale the vapor.

He pulls me closer into his lap, leaning over me. "Lucas, get the nurse. Say Malcoms hurt," he points to the door.

"My ribs hurt, Jack," I manage to say before my vision goes black.

I hear Jack scream my name, then yells for Lucas to wait, then the sounds fade out.