To Be Different; Part One

To Be Different; Chapter 7

~

"Check this out!" Ari and I hear from the playground. "It's dead!"

 "What do you think they're doing?" Ari asks me as we sit on the swings.

"I don't know", I kick my legs up in the air and pump, allowing myself to swing higher.

"Well, do you want to check it out?"

 "Do you?" I stop and look at where a group of boys were standing around in a circle.

Ari shrugs but I know there is a little interest of what's going on, somewhere inside him. "Let's go."

We jump of the swings and I follow him to the group of boys. I make my way through and see that one of them has a stick in his hand and poking what looks like a dead animal. "What is that?!"

 "Beats me", the boy looks up from his poking spree and I realize it's one of the seventh graders named Mitch.

"Well, leave it alone", I take the stick away from him and throw at the fence.

"HEY!" he yells at me.

"Don't touch it."

"Why not?" he huffs. "It's already dead."

 "Respect the dead smart one", Ari pipes up from behind all the boys.

 Mitch scoffs, "Respect the dead? Now that is something to hear, when it's a dead animal."

"Just leave it alone Mitch," I turn on my heel and walk away.

 "Whatever," Mitch mutters. "Think she's so high and mighty but she's hanging with that queer."

I stop abruptly and turn back, making my way back to the circle. "Don't. Ever. Call. Ari. That".

"Why not? That's what he is, isn't he?" He mocks.

"Don't call him a queer Mitch, because you're no better than him or anyone else", I stare him down and I see laughter in his brown eyes.

"Right", he laughs. "Whatever. Come on let's go in." he motions to his crew and then I'm left standing there, frustration filling me.

"You didn't have to do that," Ari whispers, hurt in his small voice.

"Yes, I did", I sigh and look at him, seeing he was on the verge of tears.

"Don't listen to them, Ari. They don't understand", I reach for him but he pulls away.

"Let's go home", his voice is straining.

"Okay", I go to his side and we walk. Back home, back to a haven, back where it should've been safe.

~

"Cass?" I look up and see Ari's parents at the door. "It's nice to see you."

"I guess", I'm tired but I don't want to leave his side. "I'd much rather be seeing you at home and not here." I mean the hospital. I mean by Ari's bedside, wondering what'll happen next.

Mrs. Simmons gives me a small smile, "Anywhere we see you, is nice". I nod and look back at Ari. "I don't understand."

"Don't understand what?" I look back up and see that her eyes are filled with tears.

"Why this is happening. Ari is such a good boy", her voice cracks. "Do you know what's going on?"

My voice tries to say, "Mrs. Simmons. I don't know if Ari told you this but he's gay and a lot of people in Riverside High are homophobic." But I remember that Ari wasn't willing to tell his parents that. Wasn't willing to tell them the truth, so instead I stay silent.