R.J Forever?

Chapter 26: Questions, Answers, and Confusion

E.J's POV:

Yesterday, actually wasn't that bad. I thought that having a one day suspension would be bad, considering that I'm a Caswell, and a good student but the worse thing that I had to deal with was my dad yelling at me when I got home about missing lacrosse practice and my mom babying me because I got injured.

I spent most of the day reading random articles about LGBTQ+ students in high school. I also did a lot of homework and studied for the Great Gatsby quiz that we have on Friday. It was a pretty relaxing day since both of my parents work and I'm an only child.

To be honest, I was just researching LGBTQ+ articles yesterday so that I could better understand what Jackson is going through since he's my teammate.

"E.J people are staring at you," I hear my cousin whisper to me as we walk in school side by side since I had to walk to school with her today because my aunt and uncle couldn't drive her today since they had a doctor's appointment.

"I don't care Ash," I brush off the weird feeling I have in my stumach and start to head to my locker to drop my stuff off and my lacrosse bag for practice today.

I'm hoping that we can still win the next lacrosse game even though Chris and I aren't currently talking since the fight.

Lacrosse games mean a lot to me since I can get my exercise and my frustration and emotions out on the field if that makes any sense.

It's more than just a game that makes my dad happy. It makes me happy but at the same time it also makes me mad because it's more of a status thing then 'oh, let's have fun and play the game as a team' thing.

"I gotta go to class. See you at lunch cuz," I quickly wave to her after I've closed my locker and grabbed my notebooks and English book.

"Wait, what happened to your eye and lip? How bad is it? I saw what happened the other day in the cafeteria but I'm not going to ask you to tell me the full story. I just want to make sure that you aren't walking around in pain cuz,"

"I'm fine. Bye Ash. Don't baby me like my mother does," I roll my eyes at her then head to my first class alone while glancing across the hall for a glimpse of Ricky's curls but I still don't know where his first class is.

Throughout my first three classes, I can't help but think about what Ricky's dad said to me in the car the other night about him really liking him me and for me to protect him.

I am not sure about what his dad meant by 'protect the kid' but I will try my best to look out for Ricky's well-being even though we are in different grades and classes.

He's honestly my favorite person in the world right now. Chris is my least favorite person in the world right now.

I really want to be friends with Ricky in school, and talk to him, and have lunch with him but at the same time, I'm scared of what people may think of me if I hang out with Ricky and my teammates at the same time.

It's a lot to think about since I'm the most popular student in my class and I am seen as a stereotypical athlete.

"Hey cuz, you want to eat with the dance team today or do you feel comfortable facing your teammates after you know what?" I feel Ash nudge my shoulder as I'm walking to the infamous East High cafeteria.

I call it infamous because the cafeteria is the best place for gossip to be spread in school.

"I'm just going to sit next to you if that's alright. I can't face Chris today literally or physically. Haha you know because of my black eye? Ok, I'll shut up now,"