•͟U͟N͟D͟E͟R͟S͟T͟A͟N͟D͟ ͟c͟a͟r͟t͟i͟u͟z͟i͟•͟

XX

Colorado -Kota The Friend

SYMERE:

Lithia Springs High School: Mableton, Georgia

The process with the school administration went much easier than I was imagining it would go. It was definitely stressful at first, as Jonathan, Kentrell and Jarad sat across from Sheyaa, Jordan, Robin and I in the front office. Despite the circumstances, however, Jordan sat beside me throughout the entire process. The comfort he gave me was something I had always missed since our fight.

Just before our group was scheduled to report to our principal, Dr. Smith's, office, in rushed both Willow and Jaden. They both held concerned looks as Willow rushed to check on Robin and Jaden came to Sheyaa, Jordan and I, even though we weren't overtly close with one another. Jaden was always cute, but I never knew if he was straight or not; I always just assumed everyone was straight.

"Jaden, Willow, what are you two doing here?" Dr. Smith asked. Willow's vision shifted from Robin towards her father, "Dad, I gotta vouch for these guys."

She put her hands on her hips and pointed towards Jonathan and the rest of his friends, "These, these- FUCKERS have been giving not only him, but everyone around Lithia Springs shit. For zero real reasons may I add."

Dr. Smith sighed, and looked towards me Jordan and Sheyaa, and said, "Boys, come in here." We all stood up, and Jaden patted me on the back; Jordan looked back at Sheyaa with worried eyes, and then looked towards me. I smiled, forgetting how much I missed him. I remember his hands pulling me up off the ground. They were so soft, so delicate, and I wanted them to feel me all over. Jaden gave a concerned look to Sheyaa, who shooed him off, giving him a halfway-hug in the process.

"Goddamnit, Symere," I thought, "you're Monty's, not his."

We walked in and sat down. I looked towards Jordan again, to see the same look of nervousness spread across his face. Dr. Smith sat down, and we each reiterated the past morning to him from our perspectives. For some reason, Sheyaa and Jordan had been hanging out during class change, which was odd, especially since Sheyaa had such a prejudice towards Jordan. Who knows? Maybe differences were set aside in the few moments that I happened to be away.

After a good 10-15 minutes of story telling, Dr. Smith leaned back in his rolling chair, putting his hands over his head.

"Look, what they did wasn't short of disgusting, and I completely understand why you did what you did," he explained, "but as the numerous sayings go: you can't fight fire with fire, or two wrongs don't make a right, these issues cannot be solved like that. They are civil matters, not street matters; this should be solved through ways of re-education and equality. They out there are in plenty of trouble, but don't think I'm gonna let this slide, especially with you Sheyaa. I expect to see better out of you next time." And with that statement, we were released from his office into the administration hallway.

We opened the door to his office, and everyone looked up towards us. Jonathan's face had nothing less than fear juxtaposed upon it, and Jaden and Willow were waiting patiently alongside Robin. They both hopped up as we walked outside.

"He wasn't too hard on you, was he?" Jaden asked. I shook my head, with a smile from Jaden in response. Sheyaa shook his wrist as he passed by Jonathan and his homies, each of their eyes following him as he walked by.