Simply Sinful (Boyxboy)

2) My school the Bullpen

My mother's voice floated into my room. I struggle to make out her words. She was singing the sane song as yesterday. She must be in a good mood again today. I turn over and glance at the clock. It's five minutes to six. Why is she up already, I think. A groan escapes me as I place a pillow over my head. I'm not ready for this. I lie there like this for several minutes more. A new school awaits.

This isn't my first time being the new kid. I should be familiar with all of this by now, but it never gets any easier. I can't stand the idiotic questions. Where are you from? What was your old school like? So irritating! I hit the empty mattress beside me. I just want to stay home today. On cue, I can hear my mother footsteps approaching.

My door opens with a creek. I don't even have to look to know she's staring down at me from the doorway. "I'm getting up," I say after a few seconds. I bet she's smiling right now. Happy that I didn't drag out this game of ours longer.

"Good. Hurry up and get ready. I have a surprise for you." A surprise? It's something I won't really want I bet. I'm sure of it. The only surprises my mother has ever given me consisted of me lying my way out of trouble, running for my life, or late night hospital visit. Needless to say, I'm not a fan of her "surprises." I reluctantly remove my body from the tangled mess of sheets.

I sigh and force myself to move. Stop being a chicken and just get it over with. These words combined to form my daily pep talk. Things good be worst. My mother could be out there waiting to tell me she wants a grandchild again. I sigh again. How many times have my mother said those words to me? I think back and come up with five times. Her reasons are always the same. She wants a baby but doesn't want to lose her figure. After all, that's how we get food on the table she's always quick to add that part.

I look at my now open bedroom door. I can feel the dread creeping up my legs and entering my veins. I glance back at my bed. If only I could hide there all day. I repeat my pep talk a few more times before standing up and walking over to an open box. I dig through the box until I pull out a pair of jeans and a shirt.

Laughter is coming from the kitchen as I walk down the hall. I entered to find my mother at the stove, something I've never seen before. The smell of bacon and eggs cooking distract me from noticing the man sitting at the table.

"There you are Nicca," he says. I look in his direction. Could this be the surprise my mother spoke of? Dominic sits there reading the paper and sipping something from a ceramic cup. He looks over my outfit. I can tell he wants to say something from the way his eyes narrow and his mouth opens and closes soon after. "Your uniform should arrive later today he says. If you want, we can stop somewhere and get you something else to wear. You know, so you'll fit in a little better. Make it easier for you to make some friends. What do you..."

"I'm fine with this," I say gesturing to my clothes. I take a seat across from Dominic. "So, what brings you here so early or did you not go home last night." My mother drops the fork she's holding. I look over to her. I've never seen her so mad. Little tremors rock her body as she tries to calm herself.

"Apologize," she says through clenched teeth. "Apologize right now," she repeats. A chuckle escapes Dominic. He places the paper on the table and walks over to my mother.

"Nicca doesn't have to apologize." He kisses my mother on the cheek. "He has a right to know." He turns to look at me. "I spent the night here. That's part of the reason I moved you guys here. So I could be closer to the woman I love. You'll be seeing a lot of me." He wraps his arms around my mother and kiss her. Before I know it, the kiss is becoming something I don't want to see. I turn to leave, but a thought occurs to me.

"What does your wife thinks about this," I ask. They pull apart the minute I mention his wife. Anger flashes in my mother eyes. Maybe I've went too far this time. I start to back out of the kitchen. Once again it's Dominic that breaks the silence.

"How about we tell Nicca about his surprise?" My mother looks over to him. Just like that the anger is replaced. She looks to him with so much love in her eyes it frightens me.

She turns to stare at me again. "You're going to be a big brother." She smiles as she says it. All I can do is nod. I walk over to the counter and picked up a handful of bacon.

"I'm going to be late for my first day if I don't leave right now. Um...." Words escape me. I turn on my heels and flee the scene in the kitchen. I can hear my mother calling after me. It's too much all of this is too much. I grab my bag and leave the house.

As I walk to school, I can't stop thinking about my mother. About the words, she told me. I grab my head in frustration. Nothing else needs to happen. I can't take anything else. Someone breezes pass me. My head turns to look just as another person bumps my shoulder.

"Geez, watch where you're going." The words slip out before I can call them back. The boy stops and walks back towards me. He's wearing the same uniform that'll I'll be wearing tomorrow. He stools in front of me and grips my shirt.

"What did you say?" He glares down at me then turns to his friend. "Did he just tell me to watch it?" His friend snickers and nods his head. "I thought so."

"Now, now, now," a voice begins, "causing problems so early in the morning." I look over. Two guys stand there watching us. The boy with the death grip on my shirt releases me. I smooth down my blue shirt before attempting to walk away. My escape route is block. I stand there willing this standoff to end. The boy who saved me walks over.

"I'm not causing problems Abel. I'm teaching a lesson to this kid here." He grabs my shoulder and squeezes. I try not to wince from the pressure he places there. The first rule of surviving a new school: never show weakness. I need to follow this one at least since not following the third rule got me into this mess. The boy holding onto me continues his conversation.

"Perhaps you just need to mind your business." The other boy named Abel laughs. I steal a glance before averting my eyes and watching the ants crawl about on the ground.

He's beautiful, I think. I look up once more. No sound infiltrates my ears as I watch the boy in front of me. All I can see is Abel running his fingers through his brown hair. His mouth turns up in a smirk. He laughs again. I wonder how that mouth... I stop myself. I can't be thinking this. What's wrong with me? I shake my head to clear them of my recent thoughts.

"Let the kid go Sam," I hear Abel say. Sam must be the name of the guy beside me. He removes his hand from my shoulder and places it on the small of my back. My body is propelled forward as Sam pushes me towards Abel and his friends. I'm falling. The ground is approaching quickly. I place my hands out in front of me to catch myself. I brace for the impact that never comes. Several people are laughing. Probably at me. It is then that I realize my eyes are closed.

Hesitantly, I open one eye then the other. I'm being held up by Abel.

"Anytime you're ready you can get up," he laughs. I'm not ready. Abel clears his throat. I grip his arms and pull myself upright. He smiles again. My heart nearly stops. This is ridiculous, I think. I really shouldn't be thinking these things. I sigh.I struggle to get myself under control. Abel's mouth is moving. I stare at it entranced. What's wrong with me?

I shake my head once again. I can finally make out what he's trying to say. He's asking for my name. People are watching us. They wear the same uniform as Abel and Sam. The same uniform I'll be wearing. They look me over like they can tell I don't belong.

"So, are you going to tell me or do I have to force it out of you?" Abel asks. I can't think of what to say. I'm suddenly struck with the inability to speak. My mind wonders over the many possibilities that Abel could choose to force me to talk. I feel a light tap on my head. It's Abel. His green eyes show concern. Could he be worried about me?

"I'm Nicca," I tell him. He gives me another smile.

"Nicca sounds like a girl's name," a small voice says. The voice belongs to one of the girls watching.

"I think it's a nice name. It just means his mother is creative." The girl frowns at me. She grabs Abel's hand and lead him away from me. "I'm Abel," he calls back to me. I turn around, but Abel and the girl who stole him away are swallowed up by the crowd. I start walking again. A hand grabs me. I turn ready to defend myself against the other denizens of the bullpen.