Simon stared blankly at his computer screen as he felt his last bit of sanity leave him. He never felt more alone. Everything was so tense with his family, his friends abandoned, and the guy he grew to love just broke contact with him. How did things fall apart so fast and it felt like he had no control over his life anymore? He doubted Blue would ever reveal himself to him or want anything to do with him, especially where he'd been stupid enough to try to send an email while at school.
Everything was just too much all at once, Simon had felt the need to cry when his friends basically abandoned him. He knew he did the stupid thing of trying to get Abby to like Martin, but couldn't they understand he didn't do it because he wanted to. Did his friends think he wanted to be outed to the entire school? He had already witnessed the bullying that Ethan got, and it almost terrified him. Blue was wrong, he wasn't strong, nothing close to it.
Simon was still starting at his laptop screen, it was like a full minute before he finally broke down sobbing. He put his face down on the wooden desk and it was like all his frustrations were let out. Eventually Simon closed his laptop and dragged himself to his bed. He didn't know how long he laid there but he eventually drifted to sleep with dried tears on his cheeks.
But it was the next day at school that felt like the worst day in his life.
Simon wished he could hide from the world when Aaron and his buddy Spencer had gotten up on the cafeteria table. Trying to cosplay the only two known gay students in the school. Simon felt so embarrassed and ashamed. He didn't want to come out like this and felt the tears well up in his eyes. Simon didn't bother to pass a glance at his old friends or the bullies. He darted from his seat and ran out the cafeteria to the nearest empty classroom. What Simon didn't notice, was he had a supporter. It may not have been his friends or former friends at that point.
Garrett Laughlin couldn't believe what he was seeing. It was cruel the way Simon was being humiliated. Though Garrett couldn't see Simon's facial expressions, he caught a glimpse of pain. What made him furious was the lack of concern on his friends' faces. Why did they suddenly abandon Simon? It made absolutely no sense. Yet it was no surprise when Simon ran out of the cafeteria. Garrett was mad, no pissed off. He wasn't sure on exactly what; maybe what Simon was going through, Aaron and Spence, or that nobody stood up for a kid being bullied.
Garret refused to sit and let everyone play things out. He stood up and walked to where Spencer and Aaron were still doing their display.
"You think this is funny!?" was Garrett's harsh remark.
The two boys were a little caught off guard, they never seen Garrett so mad that they froze.
"You think you're really all that cause you think this is all funny!? Well its not. Do you see anyone laughing? No! Because they think you both are just a bunch of assholes that get off on hurting everyone around them."
Spencer finally unfroze after a minute, "hear that Aaron? They're mad cause we showed where a fag rightfully belongs."
Garrett would have launched at both boys if he hadn't heard Ms. Albright's shout. A fact that Spencer and Aaron knew if their face was anything to go by.
"Mr. Laughlin, I can take it from here. If you do see Mr. Spier let him know to go to Mr. Worth's office."
"Yes, Ms. Albright, but I don't think he'll be wanting to face anyone right now."
Garrett almost swore that he saw Ms. Albright's expression soften before it was gone. Though Garrett didn't want to, he sat back in his original seat with Abby, Leah, and Nick. Garrett was not very happy how those three didn't do a thing. Though he didn't really know Simon, he wanted to see how he was doing. And yet the image of Spier sobbing came to mind and almost cringed, nobody deserves that cruelty for being who you are.
Garrett's thoughts were cut short when Bram sat next to him.
"Sorry I was late, Garrett. Talking to Mr. Wise before running into Ms. Albright. She was asking if I knew where Simon was. Told her I hadn't seen him since English."
Though It wasn't very noticeable, Bram had a blush on his face when he mentioned Simon. But then his tone got worried, "did something happen?"
Garrett didn't want to lie to his best friend, but to say the words on what just happened didn't want to come out. And Garrett didn't want to explain why his old friends didn't do a thing to help. "I'll tell you later, Bram. It's bit of a story."
Garrett saw that Bram was wanting answers, but he also knew it wasn't because of concern for a friend. He knew that to Bram it was more than that. Probably why he got so angry on what happened to Simon.
The following weeks didn't get any better for Simon and it didn't help he was nearing the play's production. He knew that it was going to hurt to see Abby, but never wanting to talk to speak to him. Simon was still on no speaking terms with his friends and it was killing him most days. He was sort of on talking terms with Garrett who he knew was friends with Bram. Who was also best friends with Nick and the fact they were all on the same Soccer team. It was the circumstances around the reason that made Simon want to disappear. But he never heard a word from his former friends, so either Garrett never said a word, or his friends didn't care. Simon didn't want to think of the thought that his friends just completely abandoned him.
And if he thought it was bad when he was being mocked for being gay, he didn't imagine the day he would be physically targeted. Simon didn't want to ponder when he just grew used to it. But then Garrett came across him after the jocks left him on the floor in the hallway.
"Simon!" Garrett almost shouts.
"Not too loud," Simon barely muttered.
"What happened to you," Garrett crouched down to the cold floor.
"What do you think?" Simon bit out harshly.
Garrett flinched back from Simon's bitter tone. It was so different than the boy he knew that loved Oreos and Harry Potter and was so carefree at the lunch table. True he seen Simon sit alone at the lunch tables and that his old friends never communicated with him anymore. Something he hadn't noticed it was like the life was draining out blonde. Garrett wanted to sit beside him and show that he still have a friend who cared.
"Sorry that was insensitive. Are you being bullied, Simon. For being gay?" was Garrett's hesitant question.
Simon almost seemed to curl into himself, "why do you care? Nick, Leah, and Abby haven't in while. So why would should you? Not like it matters, I deserve it anyways."
Garrett almost stepped back in shock, it was like the words that Spencer and Aaron said, 'we're just showing a fag's rightful place'. What had happened that broke Simon's friendship? Despite that Garrett didn't really know Simon that well, he couldn't believe he thought so low of himself. Garrett's thoughts stopped for a moment, he couldn't blame Simon, after all he doubted that anyone paid attention.
"Simon, you don't deserve any of that. If anything, those assholes that did this to you deserve a beating. I may not know you very well, but everyone needs a friend."
Simon gave a small smile, a hint of his former self.
Simon didn't really know what to think when Garrett found him the first time, he honestly expected him to walk the other way like the rest of the school did. Yet Garrett stayed and helped him. Simon had lost hope that someone would care enough to help him. It still hurt to think about any of his friends. 'What would Bram say?' Simon thought. He faintly blushed, he knew Bram was Garrett's best friend. Surely Garrett would confide what happened to him.
The next time Garrett finds Simon its when he's leaning against the wall in the hallway, hold a hand to his bruised lip. It wasn't as bad as being used as a punching bag, but it stung and hurt to touch.
"Simon, what happened?"
"Bruised lip," I muttered. "I'm fine."
Garrett gave Simon a disbelieving look.
Trying to change the subject, "why do you still help me? Everyone else just walks the other way."
"Because you're my friend and you shouldn't be going through this."
Simon started at Garrett for a minute before he smiled softly, "thank you."
Garrett just ruffled his hair, though he was still angry that Simon was still dealing with the aftermath of being outed. He wanted to tell Bram, but he didn't think it was his place. He knew Bram would help and look after Simon, after all he's had a crush on him for years. It was slightly amusing to see Bram get so tongue-tied around the blonde. The mood turned sober when he thought about the bruises he seen Simon carrying. Garrett knew he couldn't avoid telling Bram, but that didn't mean he wasn't mad at his friend Nick along with Leah and Abby. He couldn't understand why they would abandon their friend, especially when he was going through so much.
"Bram," Garrett whispered in his friend's ear.
As funny as it was, Bram almost fell out of his seat. "Garrett!" he hissed. "That wasn't funny, you almost gave me a heartache."
'You're about to get one,' Garrett thought.
"Come on, we need to talk."
Bram looked at his friend puzzled for a moment before following him. They chose an abandoned classroom.
"Bram, I know you still have a crush on Simon," Garrett's words were blunt and to the point. He could see Bram starting to blush and stammer. To save his friend some embarrassment. "I'm not saying this for you finally to tell Simon you like him. But he needs help."
Bram had started to stammer and try to deny his friend's words, then froze when he heard Garrett's next words. 'He needs help.'
"What happened?" Bram finally asked when he pieced his words together.
"You remember when he was outed? And what I told you what happened in the Cafeteria the day you were late?" Garrett asked.
Bram nodded, though he had a dark look formed on his face as if remembering.
"He's been struggling with it, he's been bullied bad. God, Bram, there were bruises all over him. He doesn't even have his friends to go to anymore. They abandoned him when he was outed," Garrett felt so stressed, but it felt nice to tell his friend what was going on.
"How did I not notice?" Bram's voice started to crack.
"I didn't either. I thought it was odd that Simon never sat with us again for a few weeks. But I didn't think of why. I can't help Simon by myself though. I needed to tell you, I need your help."
Bram didn't even hesitate, "Of course I'll help."
Though Garrett had wanted to scream at Simon's former friends, he refrained. Last thing he knew Simon wanted was a further split between them. Though he knew Simon tried to push away the thought that his friends didn't care, he had never stopped.
Which led him to the further discussion with his friend, Bram.
"Why do you think that there are more incidents about Simon than Ethan?" Garrett whispered.
Though Garrett knew that Bram still liked Simon, it didn't surprise him to see the usual blush on his friend.
"I don't know," was Bram's soft voice.
Bram was always soft spoken, though Garrett. Then a thought hit him.
"Bram, do you remember every time you passed Ethan. Was he always with at least one of his friends?" Garrett almost sounded excited.
It took a moment for Bram to think, then he realized Garrett was right. At least one of his friends had always shared a class with Ethan.
"That could be why Simon is targeted more, sorry" Garrett said before apologizing.
Garrett knew it might be hard to talk about your crush and especially when you know they're getting hurt.
It was Bram's next question that caught him off guard. "Why was Simon outed?"
It was a question that Garrett had no answer to, even his friend Nick never told him anything about Simon being outed until Creeksecrets on Tumblr.
"I don't know, I guess that more of a question to ask Simon. We need to find him though. You share most of his classes, right?"
"Yeah…" was Bram short answer. But he was thinking, he knew Simon was Jacques and that he was outed. But he never knew why. But what made him feel even guiltier was deleting his Gmail account when he found out Simon was outed. It was not the smartest move and he knew it probably hurt Simon all the worse. He knew Simon said something about his emails being leaked, but he didn't know how or why, and he never asked.