“Valentines day! Ughh, valentines day.”, I told myself while walking at the school corridor and watching everyone exchange gifts, smiles and numbers. What a way to ruin the-

“Uhmmm. I wanted to give you this. But I was a little shy and my friends kept making fun of me. I hope you still accept it though.”, a girl who seemed to be in a lower class than mine, confessed as she gave me a box of assorted sweets and a red rose.

She kept on fidgeting until I grabbed the gift from her hand.

“Thank-“, she RAN! SHE RAN AWAY WHEN I WAS JUST ABOUT TO SAY THANK YOU! What the hell is wrong with the young generation of today?!

“That was just stupid!”, my friend kid then grabbed the treats out of my hand.

“Dude! Give it!”, I scolded him and grabbed the treats back.

“Wow you actually liked a girl, and she made you blush. Is Damian finally defeated? Will he be left begging on his knees, again?”,

“That’s not funny dude.”, I simply spoke out and left him.

“Ok class, to solve the equation, you need to-,”

“Psst. Damian. Dude. Damian. *Groans*,” he got tired of calling me and finally kicked my side.

“Damn it! What is it Stephen?! I’m not ok. Can’t you see that I’m moping? Is it not that obvious?”,

“Yes, it IS obvious. I just wanted to cheer you up man. Want to hang out later? We’re going skateboarding again.”, he told me then slipped the adress on my desk.

“Uhmm. I think I’ll pass today. I still need to do something when I get home.”, I replied and went back to laying my head on my desk.

“Totally understand. Did you know though, that underclassman who gave you a little gift. Is a new member of our senior’s little gang. Just-just wanted to let you know. The address’ there if you happen to change your mind in any way.”, he whispered as he leaned in closer.

“Haha. I know it’s an all boys gang stupid head.”,

“I know. Don’t you know who that guy is? His name is Noah Ford, you idiot! He’s a cross dresser. What? Did he make your heart flutter? That’s natural, the first time I met him I totally blushed. He’s a pretty boy.”,

“What?”, I refused to believe him as I turned my head slowly towards him.

“Man, you have got to meet him now that you know.”,

I was internally screaming knowing that the second ever person to give me valentines gift was a guy! A DUDE! MAN! BOY! Oh man!

“D-dude. I’ll probably think about coming with you later.”,

“Nice. Don’t you even worry, he’s such a nice guy. You’ll love him.”,

I already thought I do! You insolent ****! Why did you have to ruin that for me?! No-no. He can still be a friend. Yeah, phew. A friend.

I stretched my arms and prepared my things for when the bell will ring.

“Dude-dude-dude. They said Noah will definitely come with us later! Aren’t you excited?!”, he whispered to me then laughed.

“Leave me alone.”, and then it was finally time for me to face total humiliation.

“Alright class. That’s it for today just make sure-“, the teacher advised everyone as the bell rang.

“Hey Damian. Want to head to Noah’s homeroom?”,

“Shut up, Stephen. Go if you want to, I’ll head home.”, I told him and picked up my bag.

“I thought you’ll come with us!”,

“I said I’ll think about it. Probably.”, I said and closed the classroom door on his face.

While walking home, someone “bumped” into me.

“Oh sorry-hey there Damian. Nice to see you! Are you coming to my brother’s meet up later?”,

Who the hell is this guy? With that, silky skin, well taken care of blonde hair and blue eyes that got me hooked. Wait-what?! He kinda looks like-shiiiiit!

“Noah, right?”, I frowned while saying his name.

“Why do you look so sad seeing me? You liked the gift I sent you right? *Laughs* “,

Is this guy fucking kidding me? Does he want me to pluck out his beautiful blue eyes-what was I just saying? Oh yeah...

“Look here you little shit. If you’re here to mess with me, just don’t. Because I will knock you out and throw you at the middle of the halls and kill you myself in front of everyone.”, I threatened him as I was backing him into a wall.

“You sure you can handle me? Let’s see how long you’ll survive.”, he smiled mischievously and did something so nasty, satan must be prasing him for what he just did to embarrass the shit out of me.

He started moaning and repeatedly screamed “No not here. Is what we do at home not enough?”, to every set of girls that walked past us.

I was frozen from embarrassment, but was definitely embarrassed enough to run away from there. I was sweating in fear thinking “What if one of my classmates saw me?! No-no-no!”,

“Dude! Damian, you alright? It looks like you’re running away from a crime scene.”, my sister stopped me, while in the middle of running away.

“No I was just. Uh-I was-“,

“Baaaabe! Babe where did you go now?”, Noah screamed as he was running in my direction, wearing a wig with a face full of make up, and a squeaky voice to make it sound like he’s an actual girl.

“There you are!”, he said then grabbed me by my left arm and looking at my sister head to toe.

“Who are you might I ask?”, my sister immediately quetioned him.

“Me?! I should be asking that to you! Clinging to my boyfriend as if he’s yours-“,

“Hold the heck up girl, did you just say boyfriend?”, my sister interrupted.

“Yes, now would you mind answering who YOU are?”, he repeated the question.

“I’m his sister. Wait-wait-wait. When-when did THIS started.”, she suspected.

I was just standing there, I was still processing the events that happened. AND DID MY SISTER REALLY JUST BOUGHT THAT?! THE HELL IS WRONG WITH HER?!

“No-SIS! Look she-he isn’t my girlfriend! He’s not even my friend! We just met a while ago.”, I vented out.

“Are you seriously doing this again? You’re denying US again! I told you if you’re not proud of who I am, just break up with me!”, he pretended.

“We aren’t in a FUCKING RELATIONSHIP DUDE! GET OVER IT!”, I yelled at his face.

“Woah, ok-ok. Did you just say “she” is a “he”?”, my sister asked.

“I am.”, Noah mocked her by answering in a deep voice.

“Look I don’t know what gender you are into Damian, but please don’t fight in front of me ever again because I will knock you both out right here right now. Also, if you aren’t ready making THIS public. I’ll shut my mouth.”, my sister tried and processed everything then left.

“Oh, now I see where you got your extreme anger from.”,

“LET GO OF ME ALREADY! Dude, just don’t do this. If my parents found out about this little joke of yours, I-just don’t know. Just please. Don’t. If anyone, anyone finds out about this, you’ll be responsible for the things I’ll do to myself.”, I told him and walked away.

“Do you want me to feel guilty or something?”, he yelled then laughed.

“No, just know that my parents aren’t accepting of THAT kind of relationship you just pulled off. I don’t want you to feel guilty. Just want you to know!”, I yelled back at him.

Definitely not coming to that stupid skateboard thing.

“For the hundredth time, Stephen. No I am not going with you to any of that get together after school.”, I argued.

“And I’m asking you, again and again. Why? Is it because of Noah? Look I’m sorry for teasing you to him. But please come with me! I-I need you man! If I don’t bring you at least once this week, I’ll get kicked out. If you want the worse outcome, I’ll get beaten!”,

“Then why don’t you leave too, if you’re so afraid?”,

“That’s worse than not showing up! If I run away from the group. They could possibly hunt me down and.... *Gulps* you-you know.”,

“Fine, I’ll come with you. Then I’ll say goodbye or something.”,

“Dude, I told you! You can never leave! It’s a secret club-thing that nobody can know about. If you leave they’ll cut you off, and every connection there is to the club that got out.”,

“Dude stop overreacting! It’s just a skateboard club.”,

“It’s a “gang” stupid asses. If you aren’t aware what the meaning of that word is then why did you join it, in the frist place? Stop calling it a club. A club is for extra curricular activities and is done inside of school grounds.”, a guy in one of the cubicles started to explain.

“Dude. I think someone heard us.”, Stephen started to whisper.

“Yeah, I know.”, sarcastically, I said.

The guy who heard us, slowly opened the door and came out. Crap, it was Noah.

“Sup, babe.”, he said to me as he was caressing my shoulder.

Stephen was holding in a laugh, but suddenly bursted out.

“Dude, you didn’t tell me you’re already together. Look-look. It’s a beautiful relationship, really. But aren’t you two rushing it a bit?”,

“We’re not in a RELATIONSHIP! We never are, and we NEVER WILL!”,

“Geez, man. I was just messing with you. My hands were just dirty, that’s why I was wiping it at your sleeves.”, he explained and walked towards the sink.

“Hold the **** up though. Aren’t you in that club-gang?”, I asked.

“Of course I am, and it’s not just about skateboarding. Sometimes we get a “friend” out of danger. And if necessary we use drastic measures for said “friend” of ours.”,

“Like a client? I’ve never experienced it like that though. Is it because were just new?”, Stephen also wondered.

“I guess it’s like that. Once you’ve warmed up to the group or something. Then you’ll have a chance to fight or “help”. The skateboarding thing, is like our cover.”,

“I never see you there all the time do you some special mission or something?”, all terrified, Stephen still asked.

“I’m not an agent you idiot. I just tend to be a freeloader sometimes. Sometimes I hang out with another gang.”,

“What if you get caught by our senior.”,

“Well, if that gang’s founder was your brother then you wouldn’t have such a bad time.”, Noah again explained then left.

“Our senior. The founder. Is his, brother?”, Stephen asked himself.

“What if I get in his good side or something? Noah’s.”,

Our heads slowly turned from facing the door to each other. We instantly thought about the same thing. We nodded, knowing we understand what we needed to do.

We dashed out of the bathroom, and quickly followed where we thought Noah went. But instead of bumping into him, we saw our senior.

“Well, why weren’t you in our meet up yesterday?”,

“You didn’t attend?”, I whispered to Stephen.

“No. I didn’t know how to explain why you weren’t there.”, he whispered back.

“Answer.”, our senior persisted.

“I bumped into your brother yesterday then he asked me to hang out.”, I lied.

Stephen grew more nervous since he didn’t have a proper excuse.

“Mm-hmm. Let’s ask Noah just to be sure.”, he told us then dragged us from our shirts to Noah’s classroom.

“Noah! Out. Now!”, he called out.

Noah came out looking irritated since he saw us being dragged by his brother.

“What? And why the hell are you carrying those two like that?”, agitated, he said.

His brother stood us up, and asked.

“Did he, Damian. Hang out with you yesterday?”,

He looked at me then gave a little smirk.

“He did actually. Stephen was with us, but something came up at his home. That’s why he left early.”,

Our senior loked at us, judging Stephen and I silently. He sighed and replied;

“Just-just don’t bring them there ever again. Just-you guys are out.”,

Stephen celebrating and started shaking me and shaking Noah’s hands as well.

“What are you so happy about?”, Noah asked him.

“What do you mean, Damian and I are free!”,

“Yeah-yeah. So what are you both going to do to repay me?”,

Ah, Noah does seem to be that kind of person.

“Well, what do you want, man?”, Stephen quickly wondered.

Noah hurriedly approached Stephen, and whispered in his ears. Stephen bursted out in laughter, but got all serious asking if he really meant it. Noah nodded.

“Yes, I am serious. So are you going to agree, Stephen?”,

“I-I think. Damian is the one who’s supposed to answer that. While-while, I’m going back to my classroom.”, he instantly left in a hurry.

“What was that all about?”, I asked myself.

“Damian. Hello!”, Noah woke me from my daydream.

“Ugh-yeah. What was that favor?”,

“I simply asked for his support. But with you, I’m going on a date with.”, he responded and approached me.

“No.”, I answered and left still in shock.