The rest of the day actually wasn't too bad with Colton gone. Yeah, there were still people who gave me a disgusted look or spat out hateful words to me, but I just ignored them.

As the last period bell rang, I go to my locker and try not to focus on the horrible word that was faded, but still noticeable. I sigh and open my locker, stuffing the textbooks I don't need into it.

"Hey," Grayson walks up to me with his killer smile.

After shutting my locker shut, I look around the hallway real fast to make sure no one is watching then grab Grayson's shirt and pull him into a quick kiss.

"What was that for?" my boyfriend asks when we break apart but my hands don't let go of his shirt.

I smile shyly at him, "I just really needed to kiss you."

Grayson's smile warms my heart and all seems well in the world.

"Reid!" Someone shouts. Startled, I turn and see my brother running up to me. He stops when he reaches us. "Where the hell have you been?! You weren't at school yesterday, you weren't at home last night, and you didn't show up in the morning! Do you know how worried I've been?"

I almost roll my eyes. "You don't have to worry, I'm fine."

"Well when I see hundreds of pictures around the school of my brother and his boyfriend kissing in a car and don't hear from you in over twenty-four hours, I start to freak out! Jesus, Reid! And you know I couldn't contact you cause my phone got taken away!"

Mom found a condom in Peter's trash can and grounded him, granting him a week with no phone. Plus, the unforgettable, firm talk about how sex is sacred and for after marriage only. Blah, blah, blah.

"I know, I know," I sigh. "I'm sorry. But please don't ever bring those photos up to me again. It was traumatizing," I shiver at the horrid thought.

"Do you know who did it?" Peter asks wildly, looking bewildered.

"No—"

"But I'm gonna' find out," Grayson steps in.

"I can't believe someone would do that to you," Peter says, shaking his head. "Like honestly, what psychopath would creep on you guys like that, then print out so many—"

"Stop talking about it. I'm actually going to throw up," I announce, and Grayson rubs my back in comfort.

"Right. Sorry," my brother utters, scratching the back of his neck. Then he looks over my shoulder at the faded word on my locker before pushing me and Grayson out of the way. "What the fuck?! Who did this?!" Peter exclaims, drawing attention from the students scattered in the hall.

"Shut up," I seethe through gritted teeth right as Grayson says, "Colton."

I hit my boyfriend in the arm. "What?" He questions. Does neither of them understand that I never want to think nor talk about the shity things that have happened to me in the past forty-eight hours?

"Colton? Is that, that super homophobic guy you told me about?" Peter says in utter disgust.

I nod while Grayson confirms with a "yup."

"Where is he? I'm about to beat his ass," my brother threatens.

If I wasn't annoyed right know, I would have laughed at the thought of my scrawny, sixteen-year-old brother trying to beat up Colton Rivers.

"Where have you been?" Grayson asks my brother. "He's been suspended for vandalizing Reid's locker and for getting into a fight with Preston."

"What?! When did this happen?!" Peter asks incredulously.

"This morning."

"How have I not heard about this?"

"Honestly, I don't know. It's been the talk of the school and on most people's Snapchat Stories," Grayson says and I nod once more.

Peter groans in frustration, "I'm grounded! I don't have my phone!"

Grayson shrugs. I'm about to say something like; I told you mom always looks in our trash cans, until I see Trevor, another homophobic dickhead. He walks up to the helpless and only other outed gay boy at this school and shoves him to the ground.

I gasp, making Grayson and Peter turn to look at where I'm facing. I can't tell what Trevor says to Kurtis- the one shoved- or why the hell my legs decide to move towards them. But before I know it, I'm shoving Trevor away from Kurtis and into a locker. I didn't even know I was strong enough to do that. I think I caught him off guard.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?!" I yell. Everyone around us looks shocked and honestly I am too. Who am I right now? I would never be brave enough to do this, yet I continue. "Stop fucking bullying everyone! Do you think you're cool or something? 'Cause really you're just an asshole!"

Trevor scoffs, "Now I know you didn't just push me 'cause if you did I'd beat the-"

"Touch him and I'll kick your ass into next Thursday," Grayson threatens, pushing Kurtis and I behind him and suddenly my brother and even Alex are at our side. Where did Alex come from?

"Awe, how sweet of you to defend your faggot boyfriend and his queer friend," Dylan joins Trevor in mocking me and Grayson, making my blood boil. Fuck, why are there so many assholes at this school?

"He's not a faggot," Alex defends me through gritted teeth.

"Yeah, he is. He's a fucking cocksucker," Trevor spits out.

"Hey, Reid," My brother chimes in with a devious grin. "Wanna know something super gay?" He asks causing all of us to give him a confused look.

"Uh..." I don't know how to respond. What is he doing?

Peter continues even though I haven't spoken anything. "What's gay is a boy bothered by what another boy does with his penis. Isn't that gay?" He asks.

Alex laughs, "That's pretty fucking gay if you ask me." Grayson snorts from beside me and I can't help but laugh at my brother's comment. Many other people in the crowd we've acquired laugh as well.

My heart stops when Trevor gets in my brother's face and grabs him by the collar, "You callin' me a faggot?"

"I'm not calling you a faggot for being secretly gay, but you are a faggot for picking on my brother and other students!" Peter spits out, fuming.

Oh my God! Did my brother really just call Trevor a faggot and insinuate that he's gay? I shouldn't be laughing at that, right?

Trevor raises his fist, "You fucking little—"

Before I can do anything, Grayson yanks Trevor back, "Get off of him, asshole. You and your bitch-ass friends should leave before I brake my promise." I've never been so attracted to my boyfriend in my entire life. "In case you haven't noticed, it's four to two right now."

Trevor looks us over, contemplating as if he could actually win a fight between all four of us... and possibly Kurtis, but I'm not sure how much help he'd be. Considering, he looks like a frightened, helpless puppy.

"Just wait till Colton comes back," He says threatening us and starts walking away along with Dylan.

"Yeah! I'm sure you'll need his help, Pussies!" My brother shouts at them.

We all turn to Kurtis. "Are you okay?" Grayson asks him.

"Yeah, thank you guys for stepping in," his voice still shaky. The students have vanished after realizing no fight will occur that will be Instagram worthy.

My brother claps him on the shoulder, "No problem," his smug grin appearing.

I roll my eyes, "ya' know, I'm the one who defended him. You just made things worse."

Kurtis chuckles, wiping his tears. He lets out a sigh before uttering, "I probably missed the bus."

"I thought your boyfriend drives you home," I speak.

Kurtis scratches the back of his head, uncomfortably, "yeah, uh we broke up over winter break."

"Shit, I'm sorry, I didn't know that."

"It's all good," he shrugs as if it doesn't bother him, but I can see that it does. "I can just walk home."

"I can drive you," Alex offers swiftly with a warm smile, taking his car keys out.

"Uh, y-yeah sure. Thank you. If- if you don't mind," his cheeks tinting a light blush pink.

Grayson and I share a knowing glance.

"No worries," Alex tells Kurtis, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. Then he turns to all of us. "We'll see you guys later," he says then walks in the direction of the exit with Kurtis following close behind.

Once they're out of sight, I turn to Peter with a glare. I grip Peter's arm, "you," I seethe. Do you have a death wish?" I question bitterly.

"What? They're not going to do anything knowing they'll lose the fight." My brother shakes his arm free.

"Yeah, maybe not now, but me, Grayson, and Alex aren't around you throughout the school day, so we can't help you the next time you run your mouth to them," I tell him. Though I know I'm being a little hypocritical considering I'm the one who came at Trevor in the first place. But I'd die if something happened to my younger brother.

Peter shrugs like it's no big deal. "Whatever," he speaks nonchalantly.

Switching subjects, I pull out my key and hand them to my brother. "You can take the car home. Grayson will drive me."

"Oh sweet!" He gladly takes the keys from me. "And by the way, a 'Thank you' for all this would suffice," Peter tells me as he walks off, leaving me and Grayson alone in the hallway.

I roll my eyes. Thank you for what? For calling Trevor a faggot? (Which I don't condone or approve of even though it made me laugh, you over zealous readers).

I face Grayson and give him an impish smile. I know I should be a mess right now with what just occurred, but watching Grayson defend me and my little brother was hot as Hell.

"What?" He asks with a chuckle.

I laugh, grab his hand, and drag him into the boys' bathroom at the end of the hall. I lock the door then push Grayson up against the counter. "What are you—?" Grayson starts to ask, but I cut him off by crashing my lips to his.

I slide my tongue into his mouth and savor his taste. Grayson kisses me back just as eagerly as I am and tangles his hands in my hair. I grip his waist, pushing my groin up against his, and slowly grind my body, gaining a moan from both of us. I kiss the corner of his mouth down to his neck.

"Watching you protect me like that really turned me on," I whisper to him breathlessly. "This is me thanking you," I explain then suck on his neck, leaving my mark on him.

He groans, unable to respond when I palm his crotch through his jeans. I slip my hand inside his pants then continue stroking him from outside his briefs. "Fuck, baby, you're gonna make me cum just by touching me."

I smirk against his skin then grab the nape of his neck and kiss him again, my tongue colliding with his. Grayson's breathing becomes uneven and I know he's close, so I remove my hand from his jeans. My boyfriend whimpers from the lack of contact.

"Not yet, baby," I tell him before kissing him more, my hands on his ass.

He breaks our kiss. "If you start it, you finish it," Grayson says seriously.

I laugh and shake my head. "We're playing by my rules, not yours."

"You really want to do this? In a public bathroom?"

"It's locked," I shrug. "Besides, it's after school, people are leaving. And do you really care where it is we're doing this?" I'm doing all sorts of risky stuff today, aren't I? But, I couldn't care less.

"No, good point."

"That's what I thought. Now stop talking," I demand and kiss him more fiercely.

Grayson pulls into my driveway and puts it in park a little after 3PM. My car is in the driveway which fills me with a tad of relief knowing my brother didn't destroy it.

I do, however, notice my parents car, but my mind doesn't take note of it.

"Thank you for standing up for me and my brother today," I tell Grayson with a smile.

My boyfriend's hand goes to my cheek and he kisses me sweetly. He pulls back but only by an inch. "You're welcome," he tells me. "And I'm not promising to not fight for you ever again if it means I get rewarded like that."

I blush and push him away. "That was a one-time thing," I joke, but my heart beats a little faster.

Grayson chuckles, "we'll see about that."

I peck him on the mouth one more time, "I'll see you later." But, right as I am about to open the passenger side car door, the lock sinks into the door, preventing me from opening it. I turn to my boyfriend with eyebrows raised, and give him a questioning look.

"Reid, I know you want to forget about it..." Grayson starts off cautiously as he takes my hands. I relax back into my seat. "But you can't just let whoever hung up those photos get away with it."

I sigh, "Grayson—"

"No. I've never seen a school that tolerates bullying as much as yours does. It's infuriating! I didn't see a single fucking teacher attempt to tear down those photos at school, like they didn't give a shit!"

I don't think I've ever heard Grayson so enraged.

I'm taken aback while he speaks on the matter. "Why the fuck haven't the teachers or Principal, Vice Principal, anyone! Why hasn't anyone done anything about those photos?! No assembly about bullying, or speech over the intercom telling students they're not allowed to hang up photos unauthorized? No questioning students to see if anyone witnessed someone putting up the photos?"

"Putting all the students through a bullying prevention assembly, won't change the assholes at our school. Plus, we all know it was Colton and he's suspended now— for a different reason— but still suspended," I shrug.

Grayson takes a deep breath, then tells me, "Baby, that photo was taken on a Saturday night. I've talked to a few people today and they said Colton threw a party that night. We were an hour away in a completely different town. No way it was Colton."

Shit... I didn't think of that. Now I'm stumped. Grayson makes a solid point, but does it really matter? "What's done is done," I say simply. "I'm over it."

My boyfriend's head collapses into his hands with a vexing groan falling out of him. Grayson looks up from his hands and back at me with a discombobulate expression, "Can't you see I'm pissed about this? I was in that photo too, Reid! I didn't like being showcased like that. Fuck, stupid shit like this is what made me move in the first place. Stop brushing it off!" He exclaims with animated hands.

I'm stunned at his outburst, but soon guilt drips down my throat. "I'm... I'm so sorry. Fuck, I'm sorry. I didn't think about how you felt about it." I say feeling horrible. Grayson's always so calm and collected, I didn't even stop to think if those photos bothered him. How selfish am I? "That was so shitty of me," I whisper, shamefully.

Grayson sighs and takes my hands again. "I totally get why you'd just want to forget and move on, but I know that photo wasn't taken by Colton or his psycho clan. Honestly, by him or not, it was still really creepy. What if they have other photos and were just being generous in only showing that one? I mean, we didn't just kiss that night, Reid."

"I know, I know. God, this is so messed up," I groan, releasing Grayson's hands so I can drag mine down my face feeling jaded. I look back at Grayson. "Okay, tomorrow let's ask more people. See if anyone saw someone put up the photos. Okay?" I really don't know what else we can do.

Grayson nods nonetheless.

"I'm sorry I was being selfish," I whisper.

"You've gone through a lot of shit in the past couple days, you're entitled to some selfishness."

I shake my head. "Not with you. We're together. No one's feelings are more important than the other."

"I didn't mean to yell at you, by the way. I'm not angry at you, I'm angry at the situation. I don't know why the fuck we choose to move to some hick town," he laughs, but it's not the beautiful laugh that normally flows out of him. This laugh is sardonic. "I should've know," he shakes his head.

"Well, I'm glad you did move here... I mean, other than what happened, don't you think it was worth it? That... we were worth it," I ask, almost scared that he'll say no.

Grayson leans forward and kisses me. "Totally worth it," he voiced softly. "I'll FaceTime you tonight."

I nod, wanting to tell him, I love him, but decide against it.

🤭