Unconditional Validation

Chapter 7

Tyler.

The past week flew by like a falcon spotting a mouse in a field from above. Swooping and diving in on the poor and innocent rodent. I can handle my emotions with the feelings for that gorgeous man Justin. I can handle my grades and homework and those god-forbidden tests. For some strange reason, I haven't been able to deal with Killian. Everyday I have to fight him not to steal the lunch I've brought for me to eat. I'm in a constant state of feeling cornered by him, still being beaten up by him, and even had gotten my favorite blue Tiffany necklace ripped apart by him. Everyone, except for my parents, have noticed the aftermath of what happens to me. I'm tired of him coming after me! He's gone after Skyler once, but she punched him in the nose as a way to defend herself, then he didn't go after her again.

"Hey Tyler," speaking of Skyler, "Tyler! Tylerrrr!"

"What?" I snapped back into reality.

"You okay, bro? It looked like you wanted to disappear," Skyler asked me with concern in her voice.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I sighed deeply and looked down at my food.

I didn't feel like finishing my sushi that I got off-campus during lunch. The four of us went to the new sushi restaurant that just opened by the school. Being at this school made me feel welcomed, but at the same time, I didn't feel that feeling from certain people. I wish this day would go by faster because I need to get Justin's birthday gift.

"Soooo...who's ready for Justin's birthday tomorrow?" America asked everyone at our table with excitement.

"I definitely am!" Meghan smiled with a ton of enthusiasm.

"This is your first party for you two celebrities," America laughed while pointing her chopsticks at both me and Skyler.

"High-school party," Skyler corrected her with a smile and a wink.

"Oh yeah, that's right! You guys have been to parties before!" America smirked.

"Welll...more adult-like parties. More so for Tyler and his fashion or art reveals," Skyler pointed out.

"Yeah," I admitted, "However, they're fun at first. Until the party either gets boring or someone gets too drunk."

Everyone laughed at the statements towards the parties that our parents put me and Skyler through. These parties were either a release for what I do as I further my career, or holding a music release for Skyler. Our conversation was interrupted by Meghan's alarm for when we needed to leave to make it back to school for our next class.

"Oh shit! Let's get the check and then let's bounce!" America exclaimed. The rest of us nodded in agreement.

We had to wait for a couple minutes for the bill to be handed to us. Of course, Skyler insisted on paying. We didn't have time to argue because we needed to be back on time. After Skyler paid for us, we dashed out to America's car. The four of us headed back to the dreaded school.

On our way back, all I could think about was going shopping to get Justin's birthday present. I still didn't know what to get him so I started scrolling through his social media feeds to start getting ideas. That's when I noticed that he really likes shoes and cars.

Definitely not a car. I don't know him like that, I thought to myself.

We got back to the school, and the four of us parted ways since we didn't have the same class for this upcoming period. I rounded a corner, and I guess I didn't see where I was going from scrolling because I ran into the soon-to-be birthday boy.

"I'm so sorry! I was scrolling through stuff to see what I can get-" I started to blurt out my words, but stopped myself since the person I was getting the gift for was in front of me.