He walks upstairs and checks on his daughter, whose nightlight is on. He places the covers over her shoulders and kisses her cheek. “Night Sweetie, sorry I wasn’t home earlier,” he whispers. He quietly leaves her room and goes to his bedroom to see his wife curled in bed, her hand touching the empty spot near her. He takes off his tie, his shirt, pulls off his pants and sighs.

He climbs into the bed and pulls her close. She makes a small sound and then moves into comfortably. He slides his hand along her hair. She stirs a little and then her eyes flutter open slowly.

“Hi babe. I’m sorry. I know it’s late.” He whispers to her.

She shakes her head and moves closer to him. “You’re home. You’re safe. Everything is fine,” she says softly.

He lets out a long breath. “I’m sorry I’ve been staying out so late.”

She shakes her head and looks him in the eyes. “You’re here. You haven’t left. You’re working hard. I’m not mad Babe.” She pecks his lips. “I love you.”

Tears build in his eyes. “I’ve felt like a horrible husband and father…I just…” He shakes his head.

“No…it’s okay. We’re all trying. You don’t hear this much…but thank you.”

He kisses her passionately. When he pulls back he kisses his forehead. “No, thank you so much.”

She kisses his neck softly. “We’re okay. Don’t worry. Get some rest Babe.”

He closes his eyes, still hugging her. “I love you too.”

She runs out the room and crying. “Bridget!” He runs out the classroom, and after her. “Bridget!” She turns right down the other hall and he chases after her and takes her arm.

She sniffs and shakes her head. “Don’t. Please, don’t…” She looks down and tears fall.

He turns her to him and shakes his head. “Shh.” He wraps his arms around her. “Stephanie is stupid. I’m not here to judge you, just make sure you’re okay.”

She pulls back. “Yeah, well I’m not.” She wipes her eyes.

He looks at her and gently brushes a tear. She meets his eyes. He looks at her and wipes another tear. He swallows. “Do you want me to go?”

She shakes her head. “No…Thanks for…running after me.” She shrugs. “I just didn’t want anyone to know like that…” She sighs. 

“It’ll work out.” He touches her hand. She looks at their hands and then him.

He picks her up from behind and she squeals. He smiles and carries her to his locker. She turns to him. “You’re back!” She squeezes him.

He spins her around and then leans against the lockers. “Miss me?”

“Yes! Is your grandma okay?”

“She had a bad fall, and my Dad is staying with her for the week. She might move in with us. It’s for the best. She needs to not be so far from family.”

She nods. “Yeah. I’m glad she’s okay. Did you give her my card?”

He smiles. “Yeah, she was cracking up. She smiles wide. “So…what I miss in Math and English?”

“Boring stuff.”

He chuckles. “Very helpful.” He opens his locker and looks at her.

She looks in his locker and her eyes widen. Inside his locker is a box of chocolates and a giraffe, her favorite animal. She looks at him. “Why?”

He shrugs. “Seeing that we didn’t see each other at all over spring break and I missed the first week back at school…I think this was neccessary.”

She steps closer to him and wraps her arms around his neck. “Thank you.” She pecks his lips. “You’re the best!” She kisses him. He brings her closer and kisses her deeper, but his hand slides into his locker and pulls out the giraffe.

He pulls back and says in a different voice, pretending to be the giraffe. “And a kiss for me?”

She giggles. “Well I just met you Sir Giraffe. Don’t you think it’s too soon?”

“Nah. Lay it on me!”

She grabs the Giraffe and pecks him. He chuckles.

She’s walking out the door and he’s coming in and they bump into each other. “Sorry,” she says. She looks up and then quickly repeats, “Sorry.”

“Sorry,” he says. He meets her eyes. “Um…in a rush?” He reveals a small smile.

She smiles back. “Uh, kind of. I have Ms. Jane and she’ll…kill me if i’m late again.” She continues to stare at him. “Um…”

He moves out her way. “I hope you make it on time. If you don’t, blame it on me. She can’t stand me, so she’ll probably let you slide.”

She shakes her head. “No, I wouldn’t do that to you. I’ll just take my death sentence.”

He chuckles. “Then good luck.”

“Thanks.” She turns around.

“Hey, um…” She turns back around. “…if you are late…which I’m probably making you…” He lets out a small laugh. “…I owe you. Because…this is my fault at this rate.”

She swallows. “Um…ok. I’ll hold you to that.” She bites her lip and turns around and then sprints off.

Brian sits in the empty halls after school, leaning against lockers, his head down and he’s crying.

Chad bends down to him. “Brian? Brian what happened?” Brian looks up and his lip is bleeding, his eye is swollen, and his cheek looks bruised. Chad swallows. “Who did this to you?”

Brian shakes his head. “I bet you’re happy!”

Chad looks at him shocked. “What? Man, someone beat you up! Why the hell would I be okay with that? Who did this to you? W-Why would anyone do this to you?”

Brian wipes the tears from his face and looks at Chad mad. “They knew! They knew like you knew! You ignored me! I haven’t seen you in weeks.” Brian shakes his head. “You ignored me! You didn’t want to believe the truth!”

Chad touches his knee. “What are you talking about?”

Brian shoves his hand off. “Don’t touch me!” Brian curls up. “I’M GAY! THEY BEAT ME UP ‘CAUSE I’M GAY! YOU IGNORED ME BECAUSE I’M GAY!” Brian looks at him hurt. “THEY DON’T ACCEPT ME! …. WHAT’S WORSE…” Brian looks away from him. “My best friend doesn’t even accept me. Won’t even look at me. Won’t even…talk to me.” He turns to Chad. “Why am I wrong?” Tears slide down Brian’s cheeks. “Just get away from me!”

He sits down next to Adam, who’s with Jay, Todd, Louis, James, and Peter. They’re all laughing and talking about some song. He cracks a smile. “It’s such a stupid song,” he says.

“That’s what makes it so catchy dude! It’s pointless…but it’s great!” Louis says, and then laughs.

“I literally listened to that song non-stop last night! During my homework, when I was in the shower, while I was eating dinner! I was just jamming to this song.” Peter says.

They all laugh except him and then James adds, “While I was taking a squirt. You know, no biggie! It’s what I do naturally.” He shrugs and cracks up.

Quickly the conversation ends up on a sophomore girl whose been flirting with Todd.

“And she makes it so obvious! Like, talk about putting yourself out there!” Adam says. “Like she’s cute…but she could chill.”

“She’s so creepy! Cute is texting me occasionally. Cute is her telling her corny jokes. Cute is what she wears! But her? Nah, she’s butt out annoying!” Todd says to them.

Jay laughs. “I love how she’s not just annoying, she’s BUTT out annoying.” He cracks up.

He joins in and lets out a small laugh, but he instantly doesn’t feel apart of their conversation. He feels like he’s around a group of friends who don’t remember he exists or who don’t connect with him what so ever. He bites his lip and nods a few times, but he never truly feels like he can join in the conversation.

It’s 3 days after Prom. She’s walking through the halls when Kyle walks up to her. “Oh hey.” She smiles wide. “I haven’t seen you in a while. It almost feels like since prom…and you were my date…so that needs to change.” She bumps him.

Kyle lets out an awkward laugh. “Yeah…Um…”

She bites her lip and stops walking. She looks at him. “What? Have you been….avoiding me?”

He stops and looks down at his feet and then at her. “Lesley…I just…” He shrugs. “Prom was fun. It’s just…I’m ready for us…to…” He licks his lips. “…I want to break up. It’s nothing against you. You’re so nice and fun. I want to still chill with you…just not date you.”

Lesley bites her lip and tears build in her eyes. She looks away from him and just nods.

“Les…” He reaches to touch her arm.

She steps back and shakes her head. “Don’t You’ve said enough…I get it.” She turns away from him. “I got it…” She then rushes off.

He sits in the hallway on the floor on his laptop, but his head looking up, lost in thought. She noticed he’s always in thought. When he’s by himself, he thinking hard, and she’s always curious about what. She wants to ask him or just make conversation with him so he won’t look so lonely, but she’s too shy.

She walking by him with her friend Veronica. She glances at him and he’s looking at his screen, though his eyes aren’t really into the screen at all, he’s just thinking. She bites her lip and wonders should she just start any conversation with him.

She continues to walk with her friend, but at the last second she finally get the courage to say something. “Hey Peter.” He looks up. “I was…uh, wondering. Do you happen to have your English book with you? I didn’t get a chance to read last night, and I forgot my book at home.”

“Um…yeah.” He digs in his bag beside him and pulls out the English book. “Here.”

“Thanks so much! I’ll come find you and give it back to you. Thanks…sorry for bothering you.”

“No problem.” He shakes his head. “It’s fine.”

“Ok…thanks.” She walks away and Veronica follows. She clutches the book tight and lets out a deep breath.

Veronica nudges her. “What was that?”

She shrugs. “I don’t know. I just…wanted to talk to him…”

He sees her from behind. The way she’s standing and talking with friends. Her hair hangs past her shoulders to her mid back.  He sees she took part in the new in hair style, which dark brown hair fades to a light-ish blonde. He smiles as he hears her laugh. 

He’s been watching their table for a while. He’s been wondering how this mystery girl looks from the front. He watches as she stands up, her back still facing him. Her friends stand up as well. He decides it’s now or never and stands up and walks over to her. He decided he will compliment her to start a conversation.

“Um, hi.” He taps her shoulder lightly. 

She turns to him fully and he meets her face and but as he sees her whole body, his eyes grow wide. The girl, this young, beautiful, fun, skinny, athletic girl he had pictured, was not the reality. In front of him stood a pretty girl, looking confused but pleased because he was cute, yet her body stood out to him. Her body stood out, because her belly stood out. She was pregnant, and she looked only 17 years old.

She’s standing, looking at the board for her track schedule to see if track practice was cancelled. He walks up behind her and begins searching to see if golf practice is cancelled. She swallows and finally finds track.

“Yes,” she lets out. “Track practice cancelled.” She turns to him trying to make conversation.

“Mines better be too.” He finds golf and groans. “Are you kidding me? Who actually feels like doing anything? It’s the middle of the week! Every other practice is cancelled and….” He shakes his head and looks at her. “My coaches.”

“Aw, i’m sorry. That sucks!” She stares ta him.

He nods. “It does suck.” He shakes his head. “Well you’re free at least.”

“Just be positive. You’ll get through. Just hang in there.” She smiles, trying to comfort him.

“Thanks, i guess i’ll survive.” He begins to walk off. She nods and he forms a small smile and nods back at her and then he leaves. 

She lets out a long breath. In her head, she’s pleased with herself because at least they had some type of conversation.