Matt's Story Part 4

Matt’s Story Part 4

Awaking with the sun streaming into my eyes, my thoughts instantly fixate on my conversation with Jade last night!

I honestly couldn’t believe the stuff I told her! It’s like a living nightmare!

Yawning and rubbing my eyes, I couldn’t help but feel an unshakable deep-seated worry that she’s going to tell someone. Nathan’s going to hate me forever!

Consumed by that worry at the back of my mind, the morning washed past me. All I could think about was my concern for Nathan and his cross-dressing secret that I’d potentially let slip.

Just as I throw my backpack over my shoulder, readying to leave the house for school, Jade appears like magic right behind me.

“Matt,” she says, sliding her feet into her checkered slide-ons.

I turn to face her and give her an awkward smile. I haven’t yet said anything to her this morning. I’ve been almost paralyzed with the fear of having my relationship with Nathan ruined by her loose tongue.

“Please do not say anything today,” I say softly, ensuring that only she can hear.

Jade looks up from her shoes, and her mouth drops.

“I said I wouldn’t,” she moans in disbelief. “I’d never gossip like that—you dork.”

“I’m not a dork,”

“Hmm I dunno about that…,” Jade playfully giggles, pushing on my back. “Can I join you on the walk to school this morning?”

“Why….?” I ask, concerned as to her motives.

“I just want to…,” she smiles, reaching around me to open the door. “I feel you’ve become so much more interesting since yesterday.”

Opening the door and pushing me out of it, I stumble onto the porch. “More interesting?”

Giving me a big smile as she closes the door behind her, she nods. “Who knew…right?”

As odd as this is—my older sister walking me to school, I don’t mind it as long as she doesn’t let on to Nathan that she knows.

That doesn't stop me from being concerned. I wonder what her motives are.

She’s either digging for more gossip or she’s waiting for an opportunity to make fun of us.

“Are we meeting Nathan?” she queries, stepping out in front of me and off the porch.

I walk past her to lead the way. “Yes…so behave yourself.”

I hear Jade clap her hands and scurry up behind me. She’s acting so different since I told her. If I wasn’t so worried about her outing Nath—I’d probably be super thrilled how good she’s being about me coming out last night.

Eventually, we walk through the park on the way to our school and we see Lara and Nathan waiting for us by a bench. We’d agreed to meet here rather than at the skate park for obvious reasons.

“Ooooooooh,” Jade quietly giggles, nudging me as we walk towards them. “Never thought a girl like Lara would be interested in hanging around with you dweebs. Look, she’s actually talking and laughing with Nathan. That’s so weird!

“Shut up Jade,” I hiss, nudging her back with my shoulder. “Please don’t.”

Jade doesn’t reply, she just smirks. That look on her face just makes me nervous. So nervous in fact, I feel a little sick.

“Hiya!” Lara shouts, waving to me as we approach.

As we get closer, I see Lara’s friendly expression turn sour as she catches a glimpse of Jade walking with me.

“H-hey,” I nervously reply, as we stop and stand in a circle together. I could see Lara giving Jade a menacing look.

Worried, I can only wait for the eventual moment that Jade says something stupid.

“Hi…,” Nathan happily chirps, poking me playfully in the side. His cheeky little face makes the worry quickly disappear. He’s all I’ve been thinking about recently.

Wanting to throw my arms around his waist and kiss him, I’m reminded of who’s with us when Jade speaks to Lara. They don’t know that Jade knows. Probably best I don’t say anything!

“Soooooo…..,” Jade awkwardly laughs, breaking the tension between her and Lara. “I hear you broke up with that Barry jerk.”

Nathan steps closer to me for safety. I think we are both thinking the same thing. Are they about to have a fight!? From the looks on their faces, I’d say so.

“That’s right,” Lara replies, putting a hand on her hip. “What's it to you….nark?”

“Erm…Lara,” I interrupt pointing at my sister’s now frowning face. “This is my sister—Jade.”

Lara snaps her attention to me. The daggers in her eyes are extremely terrifying. Remind me not to get on her wrong side!

“I know who this is!” she blurts out in reply, turning her nose up.

I look at Jade and she looks offended. Oh god…are they actually going to fight!?

“You’re not still mad about that are you…!?” Jade innocently questions, folding her arms tight. “I said I was sorry!”

Lara huffs then looks me directly in the eyes once again. I wanted to step back from her furious-looking face, but Nathan was almost hiding behind me.

“This is your sister Matt!?” she asks abruptly.

I look down at Nathan for help. His eyes wide open, she just forces a smile and nods.

“Errmm….,” I mumble, as both Jade and Lara stare daggers in my direction.

What had I done!? Why are they both looking at me like that? “Yes, unfortunately, Jade is my sister Lara.”

“What do you mean ‘unfortunately!?” Jade barks, pushing at my chest. “You dork.”

I hear Nathan giggling behind me in reaction. So much for help from the boy I love!

Sticking my tongue out a Jade as she pushes me, she flips me off. Not unusually for my sister if I’m honest.

Jade quickly turns her attention back to Lara, who at this point is looking down at her phone. She clearly isn’t comfortable around Jade at all. I wonder what happened between them?

“Look, I’m sorry Lara,” Jade says in earnest, reaching to touch her arm.

Lara looks first down at Jade's hand touching her. “Sure…ok,” she replies with a vacant expression, looking her in the eye.

Jade, then steps closer to her. “Should we go talk about it away from the boys?”

Lara looks confused and curious at the same time.

“O…kay….,” Lara answers reluctantly.

I could almost see a sparkle in my sister's eyes as she pushes Lara forward. Lara looked completely unimpressed by it, but she didn’t fight her off. The two girls walk off in front of us.

“What was that all about?” Nath asks, having gone very shy.

I scratch my head and look at the two girls chatting as they walk away from us. “No….idea. “

Nathan then pushes himself close to me and looks in all directions. Reaching up to my face, he tiptoes up and kisses me softly on the cheek. I go bright red as his unexpected kiss sends fizzes down my spine.

“I’ve got something to show you later,” she says cheerfully, also blushing like crazy.

“Oi Nathan!” a whiney voice in the distance shouts, making us both quickly back off and look away from each other.

Approaching us from behind is Nathan’s little sister Kayleigh. I really hope she didn’t see that kiss just now!

I’d never noticed until just now how similar Nath looks to her when dressed as Sonya. It’s a little off-putting. Kayleigh is like the younger version of Sonya—maybe with slightly more natural-looking hair. Still, Nathan is the cuter of the two. I know Kayleigh can be quite the little brat.

“Nathan…!” she shouts out again, now almost jogging towards us. “I’ve found you!”

“What?” Nathan asks, still red in the face with embarrassment from our earlier kiss.

Kayleigh stops and flicks her long brown hair. I can see the mischievous look on her face.

“Mom said for you to come home straight away after school,” Kayleigh explains, clearly a little smug about being able to relay this message to Nathan in front of me.

Nath groans. “Why?”

Kayleigh pulls a face and pushes past us both. As she confidently struts off, she looks over her shoulder.

“Cos you didn’t come home last night and now you’re in big trouble!” she giggles, mocking Nathan with a cheeky smile.

He didn’t go home!? Does that mean he spent the night at Lara's…??

I feel my good mood sink as Nathan’s face scrunches up. As Kayleigh moves off into the distance, he turns to look at me and I see fear in his eyes

“Y-you didn’t go home last night…?” I ask, dreading his answer.

I think I already know the answer and the look of fear and terror in Nathan’s eyes tells me everything I want to know. He likes Lara more than me….

“Erm….,” Nathan squeaks, now looking past me. “We should go!”

I lower my head and sigh. Can’t he even be honest with me?

“No come on Nath,” I say, almost pleading for him to tell me the truth. “Where did you stay last night…?”

No answer, Nathan just glares over my shoulder as he slowly backs away. I look at him seriously confused.

“GRAB HIM!”

Within seconds, two boys have my arms held behind my back making it impossible to move. Fighting desperately to break free, I watch Nath almost shaking with fear as a rough hand grabs my face.

I struggle some more and fight with every ounce of my strength, but I can’t move. Nathan must have seen these guys coming up behind me—that’s why he looked so scared!

“Time for some sweet revenge…,” a very familiar voice cackles beside me as the hand gripping my face tightens.

That’s when I feel a hard and swift hit to my stomach. Coughing and spluttering as I regain my breath, I see Barry standing directly in front of me with a sinister grin.

“G-go…a-away…” I cough, reeling from the pain of a direct punch to the gut.

“Not until I’m finished with you!” Barry laughs, causing the two guys holding me back to chuckle.

“Leave him alone!” Nathan shouts, standing up as tall as he could directly behind Barry.

“Go away shrimp…,” Barry mockingly laughs, taking a single look at Nathan before pushing him back with little force.

“You dare touch him!” I growl, fighting hard to break free.

Barry swiftly turns and he looks at me with hate. I can see it in his eyes! “I’m not here for your little boyfriend!”

Wrapping his greasy fingers around my neck, he clamps down. The pain is so intense! Adrenaline was now surging through my veins.

Struggling to breathe and violently shaking, I feel the blood being cut off and my senses failing. I have to do something before they hurt Nath!

Holding me tighter, I splutter as I struggle to suck in any air. Terrified, I see the fury burning in Barry’s eyes. This guy’s gone completely psycho!

A creepy wide smile forms across his face as I try one last time to break free.

“I’m going to hurt you, Matt,” he laughs, gripping my throat tighter once again. “I’m going to enjoy this!”