Milo
“Class, I have a project for you. It doesn’t matter who you work with, but it can only have up to 4 people per group.” Our professor announces before grabbing a paper off her desk and starts explaining what the project is about.
“This is due 2 months from now. As you know, there is no extra time after these two months.
And you will be strictly graded. Here is your rubric.” She hands a stack of paper to the people on the ends, they take on and pass it down until it reaches the other end.
“We should be a group. Since we know each other.” Caleb suggested as he looks at the rubric, adjusting his glasses.
“Can I be in your guy’s group? I don’t know anyone else here.” Noelle whispered, causing the three of us to turn around.
“Sure.” I tell her with a smile, “We can plan this out when we get back to our house.” I continue, and everyone agrees with a simple nod. I continue to stare at the rubric, reading the bullet points.
~~~
“Can we stop by a 7/11? I want a quick snack.” Caleb asks from the back. I simply sighed before pulling into the convenience store.
The two hop out of the car and bolted in the store. I decided to go inside as well to get something quick to snack on and Damien follows close behind me as we walk in. Soon we see Caleb in a aisle seemingly contemplating on what he was going to get. Noelle must’ve been in another aisle.
We both walk down to Caleb, he grabbed two things and hold them up to us. “Which one?”
“What?”
“Which one should I get?”
“Why not get both?” Damien responded dryly as he casually shoved his hands in my pockets, staring blandly at Caleb.
“But I’ll feel fat later if I eat both. Only one.”
“You can’t gain 10 pounds from gummy worms or a king size Hershey.” Damien said, still sounding he’s in a mood. “Just get both.”
“Damien you’re literally not helping.” Caleb sighed before looking at me.
“Honestly I don’t care what you get.” I scan the shelves before grabbing a box of nerds. And see that Caleb was just blankly staring at the two of us before putting both of them back.
“Lets go-“
“Why’d you put them back?” Damien detected as he stopped Caleb from walk by grabbing his forearm.
“Because I can’t choose, and eating both would make me feel fat and unhealthy.”
Damien rolled his eyes in annoyance before grabbing what Caleb had previously with his free hand and shoved them against Caleb’s chest before unhanding him.
“It might be unhealthy, but I’m positive you haven’t eaten anything today have you?” Damien quirked a brow as he stared unamusedly at Caleb.
“Well, no but-“
“Shut up. If you aren’t gonna buy it then I will.” Damien walked passed the both of us, until he was out of sight.
“A rude way to say you need to eat, but he obviously means well. Also why didn’t you eat this morning? I could’ve made you something quick.” I ask with concern and a slight hint of annoyance.
“I-I, um no reason.” He said vigorously, with a small voice crack. I forget how much he sucks at lying. Or did it get worse? But why did he not eat? Maybe he wasn’t hungry.
Just as I was about to walk a guy comes up from behind me. He was taller than me, and just barely taller than Caleb, by an inch probably.
Caleb eyes flashed with fear for a split second before he pulled the corner of his lips into a smile. A fake one as the guy gave him a peck on the forhead.
I felt my eye twitch as I watch the guy. Once again jealousy hits me like a bullet. Must be his boyfriend.
“Hey babe.”
“Hey…” Caleb responded awkwardly.
The guy looked down at what was in Caleb’s hand and glared at him. “You know this shit makes you fat? You’d lose all these muscles that you worked for.”
What the hell is wrong with this guy? Is this where he got the idea that eating it would make him fat?
“It won’t make me fat. It’s just a quick snack. You’re over reacting.” Caleb responded with a groan as he took a step back, but his boyfriend stepped closer and wrapped his hand around his waist.
“I told you stop eating this shit. I refuse to date a fat boy.” He retorted harshly. Caleb looked to the floor as he pushed the guy off himself. The slighter taller man pulled Caleb closer. Caleb looked uncomfortable.
I clenched my teeth, trying my best not to slap the guy across the face and start tussling with him on the ground. He is not a good boyfriend. Nor a healthy relationship if this is how he normally acts.
“Get your hands off him, he’s obviously uncomfortable with how you’re treating him.” I take a step closer, glaring into the guy’s eyes.
“He’s my boyfriend. I know more about him and how he feels-“
“What’s his favorite colors?”
“What?”
“If you are his boyfriend, then you should know this.”
“Um… pink and yellow?”
“Purple and dark blue actually.” I coldly stated as I grabbed Caleb’s hand and pulled him closer to me. “I suggest you leave. You can talk to him later.”
“You think your so fucking smart you little bitch-” He walks up to me with his finger pointed in my face, and pure hatred painting his face, “But in reality you’re probably nothing but a fatherless bitch.”
My eyes widened. I hate when people bring up my father. I could never keep a poker face when he’s brought up. He’s been dead for 4 years now. And it’s still not easy.
“Looks like I’ve struck a nerve-“
“I don’t give a shit what you say or do to me. But if you ever fucking speak to him like again-” Caleb stands in front of me and I begin to get deja vu.
When we were at camp and Brandon was bitching about something as I tried giving him his food, and Caleb stepped in front of me. Like he was shielding me from him.
Caleb shoved the guy away from me, and he stumbled into the shelves roughly,
“-I swear I won’t hesitate to beat your ass. Leave Nathan.” He spat harshly. Nathan stood straight up, and scoffed before storming off.
Caleb quickly turned around to we with worried eyes. “Are you ok? I know your father is a sensitive subject for you.”
“Yea, I’m-I’m fine. No need to worry.” I say with a reassuring smile. His eyes alternating with a worry expression before he looks at me with content eyes.
“Im glad. I don’t like when people talk to you like you’re weak. Because I know you aren’t. And thank you for helping me.” He pulls me into a soft hug and I feel my heart about to beat out of my chest, and my face gets hot as all of the blood rushes to my face.
“No problem.”
I know I’m not weak, but just hearing him say I’m not weak makes me believe that I’m stronger than I think, and that makes me subconsciously smile.
He pulls away. Before i’m able to get a word out I hear Damien shout from the end of the aisle for us.
Caleb attempts to put the candy he had in his hand, away. I immediately stopped him and dragged him to the register. I placed his things down on the flat metal surface along with my things.
The cashier asks if I’m paying for everything, “Yes, I’m paying for all of this.” Once I pay for everything I hand him both of his treats.
“I’m guessing he tried to put them back?”
“Yea, he did.”
Comment