A Boy

Where was my mind these days? Fantasizing about other men? First, I have a wet dream about some rando sub, then I'm checking out warlock priests in the parking lot, and now my best guy friend? I breathe in deeply, trying to clear my thoughts. I just need to not think about it. Just take all these emotions and feelings and stuff them in a box for one week. Yep, that's healthy.

I give David a quick peck on the lips before we part ways to first period. I don't have any classes with him this year. I hardly ever do. Not only is he a year ahead of me, but I also am in all honors classes, while he is… not.

I do share English and History with Taylor though, which is a little surprising. Not that I think Taylor isn't smart enough to take honors classes—despite his cavalier attitude about the benefits of "human schools"—just that Grandville High is not exactly a "small school". With a student body of about two thousand, only about fifty of us are supernaturals. So, even though Taylor and I are both Juniors, we rarely see each other outside of lunch. Luckily, all four of us share first-block lunch this year, and, of course, I will see Ellie during second period for volleyball.

First period English was a drag, mostly covering the syllabus, which, much to my chagrin, included three whole weeks of poetry! If there is one thing I hate more than rereading old literary "classics" for the upteenth time, it is reading poetry.

During second period, Coach Yukiya complimented both Ellie and I on the improvements we made over the summer. Ellie is the team's libero and a damn good one at that. I am mostly a blocker, because of my height, but over break I had been trying to improve my spikes. All summer the two of us roped Daisy and Nico into helping us practice. One of them would set a ball to me and Ellie would practice picking up the spikes I sent her. While it was nice bonding with my siblings through volleyball, it feels so good to be back with the rest of the team; especially with a setter who actually knows what they are doing.

Third period is study hall, so I don't have to be anywhere in particular. I decide to take an extra long shower in the locker room to compensate for my morning negligence, telling Ellie not to wait up for me and that I'll see her at lunch. As I make my way from the showers to my gym locker, I run into my three least favorite people.

Ditching class in favor of smoking what appears to be a joint, Deron, Luke, and Barrett spot me wearing only a towel. "Well, well, well," Deron leers. "If it isn't our favorite bitch. What are you doing in the boys' locker room, fag?" I try to ignore their taunts as I begin to put my combination into my locker.

"Lookie here boys! She thinks she's better than us just because she is some future queen of the dogs," Luke joins in, setting Deron and Barrett into a laughing fit. "Your little Alpha isn't here to save you this time, though I doubt he would be much good against us anyways." I clench my hand at my side, trying to block out their taunts.

"I wonder what is under this towel. Do you even have a dick, fag? Or just two holes? Including your mouth there'd be enough holes for us all to have some fun with you." Deron breathes against my neck and suddenly I see red.

I know it isn't a good idea to try to take on three warlocks alone, but that doesn't stop me from ramming my elbow into Deron's face, before I turn around and knee him in the balls. He doubles over in pain and as he is still struggling to recover, I palm strike Luke in the nose, hearing a satisfying crunch.

Before I have time to land another blow on my would-be assailants, thick vines wrap around my throat and pin my arms to my side. Suddenly I'm choking on air. I can feel the vines beginning to sprout thorns that prick into my neck painfully. Hot blood drips down my chest. Barrett smirks at me, his eyes shining a vibrant forest green as his magic continues to suffocate me. Luke recovers first and my eyes widen in fear as I see rocks manifesting from Luke's fist, creating a stone gauntlet. I double over as he punches me in the gut, making me feel suddenly nauseous. My towel falls from around my waist and now I'm naked on the locker room floor.

Deron finally recovers, "Looks like he really is a boy. Shame." He smirks, bending down to meet my eyes as my vision swims, my breathing still cut off. "You're going to regret not taking the easy way out, boy." I feel even sicker as he trails his fingers down my face, his touch scalding against my skin. I see flames in the corner of my eye, dancing from his fingertips, burning my cheek. I try to scream, but no sound comes out. I'm about to pass out. From the pain or from lack of air? I'm not sure.