"Great Practice you guys." I said as I began to push the baby grand piano back into the band closet. Sidney put his arm around my shoulder after shouldering his upright Bass. We walked into the hallway.
"Wasn't it though? It feels so good to get back to the roots." He said and I shook my head at him.
"It really is, are you going-" I was pushed into a locker and my breath left me.
"Milton, are you okay?" Sidney asked, trying to help me to my feet.
"Get out of here Nerd." Flint yelled and Sidney looked up at him.
"No."
"Go!" He yelled, pushing Sidney down. He landed on his bass and scampered up before he could get hit again. He scrambled down the hallway.
"Oh look, your little boyfriend just ran out on you and you're all alone." Flint said, pushing me back against the locker.
"He's not my boyfriend." I bit back and he rolled his eyes.
"Come on Nerd, I know what you are." He said and I took a deep breath.
"You're delusional Flint. Now, leave me alone." I said, trying to push past him. He threw me back against the locker and punched me in the stomach.
"You're a little faggot, and you stole that competition from me." He said, grabbing me by my hair.
"Are you still mad about that? It's been three months. Come on." I said and he punched me in the mouth.
"You see, when I get done with you, I'll make sure you never sing another song again." He punched me in the mouth again.
"And you never play another fucking note." He grabbed my hand and shoved it into the locker.
I struggled against him as I heard him open a locker door.
"What are you doing?" I asked and he shoved my hand to the edge of the locker before slamming the door hard. I screamed out and he did it again.
"Stop! Please Stop." I screamed out and he shut the door again on my hand.
"Please." I whined, feeling saliva collect in my throat.
He slammed me against the locker again and reeled his fist back. I closed my eyes, drawing my body closer to myself. I was not ready for that hit.
The hit never came and I slid down onto my butt before looking up.
"Don't fuckin' touch him. Not fuckin ever!" I heard Jerry yell as he kicked him in the stomach. Flint curved into himself and Jerry grabbed his hair and slammed his head into the floor until his eyes slipped into his head.
"Jerry! Stop!" I yelled and he let go of Flint before looking over at me.
"Shit, are you okay?" He asked, rushing over to me.
"M-my hand." I said, holding my shaking hand up to him. My knuckles were purple and bloody.
"Shit." He swore and I looked back to see Principal Funderburk.
"What is going on in here?" He asked before looking down at Flint.
"Martinez, do you know how much trouble you're in?" Funderburk asked and he looked back at me.
"He hurt Milton." He said simply, looking down at my hand.
I took a deep breath to even out my gasping. My hand hurt so much.
"Look, suspend me later, Milton's hand is probably broken and we've got to get him to the nurse." He said, wiping away a tear that mixed with blood.
I sat on my bed, my hand wrapped in a cast as I stared down at my phone.
"Hello?" I heard Kim say into the phone.
"Hey, it's Milton. Are you busy?" I asked, pushing my good hand through my hair.
"Of course not honey, what's wrong? Are you crying?" She asked and I wiped at my tears futilely.
"Yes." I whispered.
"Hold on." She said before I heard rustling.
"Alright I'm back. I had to go to another room. What's wrong?" She asked and I wiped my eyes.
"I got into a fight today." I said.
"You got into a fight or someone beat you up?" She asked.
"Someone beat me up." I answered back, ashamed.
"What did they do? Who was it?" She asked.
"They broke my hand Kim. Like bad. Like I can't train anymore and I can't play." I whispered and she swore.
"I swear the god I'm going to kill Frank." She said and I found myself shaking my head even though I knew she couldn't see it.
"It wasn't Frank. It was Flint. From the Gutter Rats. Frank would never be this cruel." I said picking at my bedspread.
"Why?" She asked. I could hear her anger bubbling in her throat.
"Because he lost battle of the bands to a faggot." I spat out and she shushed me harshly.
"Don't say that. Don't ever say that word. You're not a faggot. When did you come out?" She asked and I swallowed.
"I didn't. This is why I told you I couldn't." I said and she hissed.
"If I were there, no one would touch you."
"He cornered me when no one was there. If Jerry hadn't have shown up, I'd be even more messed up." I said into the phone.
"Jerry saved you?" She asked and I tucked my legs under me.
"He almost killed him. He was so mad, and he wouldn't leave until I got treatment." I said and she made a noise.
"Aww Milty…" She said softly and I scoffed.
"Yeah right, he doesn't want me. He was just taking care of me. I mean, we've been best friends for seven years. Of course he was going to fight for me." I said and I could hear her huff.
"Whatever you say. Maybe he likes you. I mean Jerry's a great guy, but he wouldn't kill anyone over a 'friend'. But from my understanding he was about to kill this kid for you Milton. He obviously cares about you." She said.
"Yeah, cares enough to drive me back into the arms of Julia. Cares enough to make out with Grace at Matt's Party." I spat back.
"He cared enough to try to make you happy. And I said that he cares about you. Not that he's smart." She said and I rolled my eyes.
"Whatever, I don't even want to talk about it. I just want to lay down and start this whole day over. I'm going to have to go it all alone tomorrow. Jerry got suspended for the rest of the week. Funderburk said he's lucky nothing was too wrong with Flint. Apparently he would've gotten jail time." I said, flopping back onto my bed gingerly.
"Dang, it was that bad?" She asked and I stared up at my ceiling.
"Yeah." I whispered before taking a deep breath.
"I miss you so much." I whispered.
"I miss you too Milty." She breathed back and I sighed.
"How's the Dojo? How's everyone." She asked. I wasn't stupid. She was really asking how Jack was doing. She'd never admit it, but she had never gotten over Jack.
"Rudy sold the Dojo and bought a new one in the mall complex and Phil now has a bowling Alley. Rudy's doing really good. He's looking into adopting Sam. And Jack's a sensei at the new Dojo, he's there so often he never has time to hang out with girls. Also his hair is super long. Like Dave Grohl status." I said and she giggled.
"Yeah, he even wears it in a Ponytail." I said and I could hear her click in disgust.
"And how's Milton?" She asked softly.
"Hopelessly and pathetically head over heels in love with Jerry Martinez and missing his best friend every second of the day." I said softly and she chuckled.
"I'll be visiting soon Milty. And if you two aren't together by the time my plane lands." She threatened emptily.
"Then I guess I'll have to take whatever you give me." I said and she chuckled.
"I always knew you were a bottom!" She cackled into the phone and I scowled.
"I am not."
"Milton, honey?" I looked up to see my mother standing at the door. She was wringing her hands nervously.
"I've got to go, Kimmy. I love you." I said and she said it back before hanging up.
"Hey mom." I said softly and she sat on the edge of my bed.
"How'd you feel?" She asked and I shrugged. My hand was still numb from the anesthesia but I knew it was only going to hurt worse.
"I'm okay right now." I said and she stroked my hair softly.
"That's good. I'm so sorry this happened." She said and I shrugged.
"I'm kind of tired." I said and she nodded.
"Alright, you don't have to go to school tomorrow. If you don't want to." She said and I shook my head.
"I'll be fine." I said and she sighed before leaving the room.
