November, 3 years ago. 8th Grade

Nothing was making much sense at this point. Between the fact that they still had to practice when it was so close to winter didn't seem logical, and the fact that he had more homework than he could deal with wasn't helping him keep track of his schedule whatsoever. Granted, these assignments weren't difficult for him to complete. It was the fact that it was so much work.

That's what I get for taking some AP classes...

What made things even harder was that he no longer had the same classes with his two best friends; Nicolette and Thomas. They only saw each other once throughout the entire day, and they were in separate instances. Alan saw Nicolette in Algebra I, while he saw Thomas in Geography and volleyball practice after school. Even meeting after school was an issue. Besides volleyball, they had other outside activities. Nicolette was becoming more interested in photography, Thomas was not only in volleyball, but also trying out for rugby, to Alan's surprise. It was just as Thomas stated back earlier in the year: they were starting to separate.

Alan was making his way towards the gymnasium once the final bell had rang, replying to a text message from Nicolette as he made his way down the hall.

So, are you not going to be free this evening?

No, I have a group project I need to finish for photography, and then I have homework. Sorry :(

It's cool. Maybe we can all hangout this weekend like we planned...

I hope so! I haven't seen you guys since last Thursday night. I hope nothing happens to ruin the plan.

Yeah, me too...

Their time together was incredibly infrequent, which Alan didn't think would affect him in such a way. They all seemed to be branching off into their own little buckets. Nicolette was becoming more involved with the photography group, Thomas was becoming more involved with academics, leadership and sports activities, while Alan was incredibly lost. At this point, the only thing he had going for him was volleyball and his academics, which he was starting to get teased about. Volleyball was his saving grace for not being lumped in with the nerds, and that was strictly due to the fact that he knew Thomas, who was the captain of the team. But, connections aside, he had earned his respect from teammates and other students alike, because Alan was their ace, as his serves were like no other. The only other player who was on par with him was Thomas, and another player named Jonathan.

Jonathan was a teammate that Alan didn't really get along with, to put it bluntly. He was this physically fit, tall guy that was mixed (white and Spanish, to be specific). He was a great guard and wonderful at setting up volleys, but for some reason he had a tendency to just tease Alan every time he saw him. He often called him "nerd," "lanky" and "clingy," since he began to assume that Alan was using Thomas as a clutch to appear "cool." Thomas would of course defend Alan when it came to that last insult, but would often laugh along with him when he called him anything else. When Alan would call Thomas out on it, Thomas would calmly reassure him that Jonathan, "Didn't mean anything by it. He teases everyone he likes."

However after practice today, there was one insult that Alan just couldn't tolerate from Jonathan, and this is when things went downhill.

Several of them were in the locker room getting cleaned up before heading home one day. Alan was changing out of his uniform, removing his shirt over his head before he heard someone laugh loudly. Curious, he looked around for the source, only to see that it was Jonathan with 3 other teammates that Alan never really socialized with outside of volleyball. To his surprise, they were looking in his direction and laughing, before looking back at Jonathan's phone.

A nervous, uncomfortable look came to his face, and he couldn't help but try to figure out why they were laughing at him.

"What... what's so funny?" Alan asked, his voice uneasy.

"This is hilarious and fucking nuts at the same time!" one of the boys said through laughter.

"Where the hell did you find this, Jon? This is gross!" another one stated, moreso in shock.

"The internet is powerful guys! Alan has a fucking doppelgänger!" the last boy said, staring between the phone and Alan, a smirk on his face.

"Doppelgänger? Fuck that.... This has to be Alan. What are you doing over there, lanky? You have a side job as a fucking moonlighter or something? Need to control those hormones!" Jonathan said with a grin on his face.

Alan was completely lost and it showed on his face. "I don't... I don't know what you're talking about..."

"I always kinda figured he swung that way..." one of the boys stated with a chuckle, before looking away entirely and getting his gym bag unpacked.

"I mean, he looks like he would be the bottom one anyway." Another stated with a smirk.

At this point, Alan was incredibly uncomfortable, his face heating up and turning red in embarrassment.

"Look at his face! He knows what we're talking about!" another teased, pointing at him and laughing.

"I don't know! What is it?" Alan spoke once again, his voice raising in frustration.

Without warning, Jonathan tossed Alan his phone. "Take a look at yourself..."

Alan fumbled to catch the phone in his hands, before he took a look at the screen in confusion, yet his expression soon turned into utter shock and surprise. It was a rather pornographic image of two men engaging in a sexual act, and even he couldn't deny that one of them resembled him very much, save for they were much older.

"Seems like you're enjoying giving the BJ there, Alan..." Jonathan teased with a laugh, only to hear the other guys laugh with him.

Alan's face was incredibly red beyond his control, his hands shaking in anger and confusion, before he launched the phone back at Jonathan as if he was lobbying a volleyball. Jonathan wasn't expecting it and it hit him in the chest rather hard, as he gasped from the impact. They all got silent at that and stared at Alan in shock.

"Fuck you." Alan hissed out with utter disdain and bitterness. He quickly threw back on his uniform shirt, slammed his locker door shut, grabbed his bags and began to walk out, not looking over to them as he did so.

"No thanks, you fucking fag." Jonathan firmly shot back as he saw Alan walk past him, a look of pure hatred on his face.

That word alone stung Alan more than anything else and once he exited the locker room entirely, he couldn't help but make a mad dash down the hall, wanting to exit as fast as possible.

"Whoa, the hell, Alan?!" a voice said as he ran past them, but Alan refused to stop, for fear that he would break down right there in the hallway and that was something he refused to do.

If he did, however, he would've noticed that it was actually Thomas, who at this point couldn't figure out why he rushed out of the locker room so quickly. Unsure of what was going on, Thomas walked into the locker room, wondering if something had happened in there. He then saw Jonathan with a few other guys from the team, who obviously looked rather unsettled.

"Hey guys... what's up?" Thomas asked as he walked over.

"I could fucking punch that little shit. My phone could've been destroyed." Jonathan cursed out as he began to change.

"He threw your phone like he was serving one of his powerful volleys. I thought it was going to hit you in the head." One of the guys stated in shock.

At this point, Thomas knew they were talking about Alan.

"Yo... what happened?" he asked once again, growing concerned. He saw Jonathan turn to him, a look of annoyance on him.

"Alan is being a little bitch because I teased him a bit." Jonathan said bitterly as he looked at Thomas. "Why the fuck do you hangout with that wannabe?"

"I've been friends with him for years, Jon. What does that have to do with what just happened? Why'd he throw your phone at you?" Thomas asked, calmly and cautiously.

"I teased him a bit and he got hella defensive and pissed. It was fucking unnecessary." Jonathan shot back.

"What did you tease him about?" Thomas asked, his face growing a bit pensive. Jonathan gave him his phone once he asked without a second thought, showing him the same image he showed everyone else.

"He got so fucking sensitive over a joke. I was just messing with him because one of the guys looked like him and he just fucking freaked." Jonathan proclaimed in annoyance.

Thomas took the phone in his hands and looked at the image calmly, not seeming to be particularly phased by it at all. However, he did see the man that did resemble Alan and a slight smile couldn't help but come to his face very briefly. It faded as he handed Jonathan back his phone.

"Alan can be easily embarrassed by stuff like this... he's pretty innocent minded. That's just how he's always been." Thomas stated with a sigh. "I'll talk to him, alright? He probably didn't mean it."

"You better get your friend to chill before I do." Jonathan stated tensely, only to feel Thomas pat him on the shoulder reassuringly.

"I got it, ok? But lay off the teasing, alright?" Thomas stated with a smile, only to see Jonathan roll his eyes before nodding.

Good... because I'm the only one who can tease Allie in that fashion.