Metanoia.「skephalo」

31 | Fight or flight.

"Jesus Christ, why all these people aren't at the stadium already? The pep rally is gonna start in like ten!" Zak whined as he dodged groups of students, sided by Harvey.

"Oh boy, no idea." he replied right after avoiding a flying piece of paper by taking a step back. "But we gotta move too, or Coach's gonna bust our balls."

Sighing anxiously, the captain tightened his hand on his sport bag's shoulder strap without slowing his pace.

"This is gonna be a mess." his eyes narrowed as a familiar wave of bad feelings hit him, causing to his body to shiver.

Harvey couldn't help but glance worriedly at his friend time to time, still hiding his concern behind the grin plastered on his face.

"What the fuck? Is that Carder?" one of the students spat as the two baseball players jogged by, stopping one of his friend siding him by slamming the back of his hand on his chest. "We really letting a faggot leading the team on fucking homecoming?"

Frowning at those words, the shorter boy glanced at the raven Zak expressing how flattered he was with his grin fading away.

"It's okay, Harvey." he reassured, tight lipped. "That ain't nothing compared to what's waiting for me, today."

"And you still wanna do this despite it?" he complained, his confused frown increasing.

"Oh, hell yeah." a genuine smirk full of determination grew on his lips. "I'm not getting stopped by some random homophobic kid."

The Sophomore opened his mouth ready to object, but ended up closing it back and sigh.

Finally, after minutes of silent walk through the crowded hallways, the two baseball players made it to the locker room.
Without too much hesitation, Zak's hand grabbed the handle, getting stopped by his friend right before being able to open the door.

"Zak, wait." he started, laying a hand on his shoulder. "Are you really sure about this?" the asian anxiously asked, exchanging a nervous glance with him.

Without giving a verbal answer, he took a quick deep breath before nodding, then opened the door.

Inimical eyes were immediately aimed on Zak, studying him from head to foot with disgust and a hint of surprise.

"Good afternoon to you too." the raven haired spat, his eye narrowing in exchange as they swiftly passed on his teammates.

The captain made his way to his locker, not surprised to see the red spray forming a slur still on the iron surface of it.
As he attempted to open it, an old voice came from behind him.

"Carder, I've heard some things about you."

After hearing that sentence that felt like punch well aimed to the stomach, the short boy swallowed anxiously and tired his best to mask up his panic, then turned on himself, facing the adult.

"Coach." he greeted, his words sounding choked. "What is it?"

"It was about something that's inside your locker." the man explained, indicating it with a nod.

Dave appeared from behind the middle-aged man, a pleased grin plastered on his face.
The captain's eyes couldn't help but widen lightly at his sight.

Everyone's eyes were back on him, burning his skin. And he couldn't ignore Harvey's ones.

"I've got nothing to hide." Zak forced himself to say, trying overcome the increasing pressure on his chest.

"So it won’t be a problem if we check it out, will it?" all smug, Dave stepped in.

'How the fuck do you know.' the short boy thought as his eyes landed back on him, fighting against himself not to say it out loud.