Chapter 1:
I sprinted down the hallway, zooming past classrooms, dodging students just getting out of class. I ran out of the school and right down the block heading home. Maybe I'll beat them. Maybe I'll be okay today.
I ran in with a quick "Hello" to my parents, and zoomed up the stairs to my bedroom. I sunk down into the cushioned chair in the corner, and tears welled up in my eyes. Before I knew it, 15 years of hurt was pouring out of my eyes. I must have been crying for hours.
Hi. My name is Blaine Anderson. I'm 15 years old. I'm gay.
People knew. I never told anyone, but they knew. My parents, my friends, my teachers. Everyone.
I have known for 6 years who I was. I never felt accepted, and lately things have been getting worse, and worse. There's a boy named Drake who has made it his official mission to make my life as hell-ish as possible. Everyday, he and his idiot friends Cam and Joe chase me down and beat me until I can't move. I've managed to escape them recently, but it's so hard.
Maybe I should tell Mom. She'd understand, wouldn't she? I was always very close with my mom. I told her everything. Except for the tiny detail of the fact that I'm gay, and get beat up everyday for it. I don't want to hurt her feelings.
I walked over to my computer. I looker at the polished monitor, and saw that I had left the website for Dalton Academy open. I clicked around the page, and stared at the $550 entry fee, plus the $1050 yearly tuition. I was saving my money, but I only had $200. I wanted to go to Dalton more than anything.
I would often stay up in the late hours of the night, scrolling through photo after photo of the smiling Warblers from Dalton. Oh how I wish to be one of them. So forgiving. So content. So…accepted.
That night, I had made up my mind. My mom deserved the truth.
"Mom?"
"Yes, dear?"
"Can we talk? This is really important. It can't wait."
"Of course, sweetie. What's up?"
I took a deep breath. We were sitting at the kitchen table. Dad was at work still, so I knew that now was a good time as ever.
"I need to tell you something. I've tried to keep it hidden and cover it up forever, and I just can't anymore. If I do, it'll bubble up like a volcano, and it'll explode all over the place."
"Oh, you drama queen," she said smiling. I had my mom's hair. Messy, but somehow pulled off.
"Mom, you are the most important person in the world to me," I continued, "and we have always been honest. I have always told you everything, and I'm not letting that stop now. I'm going to tell you a secret, but you can't tell anyone. Not dad, not Mr. Vallhorn next door, not even that stray cat that wanders the streets. No one."
"I promise, dear."
"Mom…I'm…I…MomI'mgay."
The words fell out of my mouth in a heap on the table in front of me, but the message landed. I looked into my mom's big brown eyes. They went from light to dark, until the disappeared under her eye-shadowed eyebrows.
She didn't say a word. She picked up my hand, and pulled me to my feet. She wrapped her arms around me, and just hugged me. She didn't pull back until I felt something warm and wet on my shoulder.
"Mom!" I said loudly, pulling back, "Mom, don't cry! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I never meant to hurt you!" My eyes were tearing up, and my voice was rising in pitch.
"Blaine. Look at me." My mom said, staring at me with her big brown eyes. "Blaine. You are amazing. You are smart, talented, funny, and very handsome. I love you. So much. You are the reason I get up in the morning. You will never, ever be a disappointment to me. I will always love you."
My eyes filled with tears. Joy? Sadness? I don't know. I never will. I just felt like at that moment, everything was okay. Like a weight was lifted off my chest, and I could breath again. I hugged my mom again. Both of us in tears, and that was the best moment of my life.
