My Crush Is My Bully

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**Welcome to "My Crush is My Bully"**

In this heartfelt tale, follow Aiden as he navigates the complexities of love and adversity. Set against the backdrop of high school dynamics, Aiden must confront his feelings for Arthur, his tormentor-turned-crush. Explore themes of identity, courage, and the transformative power of acceptance in this compelling narrative.

Chapter 1.

Here we go again.

Walking through the bustling hallway towards my locker, I stopped at my locker to fiddled with the combination lock, rotating the dial to the familiar sequence of numbers. With a slight twist, the lock's cylinder, already loose, offered no resistance, allowing me to swing the door open effortlessly.

My heart sank as I scanned the small, cluttered space inside-my diary was nowhere to be seen. Frantically, I began shuffling through textbooks and loose papers, hoping it had been misplaced. It was then that mocking laughter echoed behind me, cutting through the ambient noise of the hallway.

"Hahaha," their synchronized laughter reverberated, causing me to turn sharply. There they stood, a group of boys, holding my diary open, their faces contorted with amusement at my expense.

"Give me my stuff back," I demanded, my voice wavering with a mix of anger and humiliation.

Instead of complying, they flipped through my diary with malicious delight, scanning for something to mock. "Hmmm, let's see here," one of them drawled, flipping pages casually. Finally settling on a passage, he cleared his throat theatrically and began to read aloud. I stood frozen, the weight of everyone's gaze pressing down on me.

"Dear diary, I don't know why I'm so lonely, maybe because I'm the..." His voice trailed off, and his eyes widened in mock surprise as he glanced up at me. "You're gay?" He announced loudly, relishing the moment. His eyes darted back to the page. "Look, you've read enough. Give me my book back," I insisted, my voice tight with restrained fury.

Their leader's expression turned serious, looking back up to me, a hint of calculation replacing his earlier amusement. "You have a crush on Arthur?" he asked pointedly, drawing out each word for maximum impact.

Just then, "Aiden, Aiden, Aiden!" The sharp voice of the teacher sliced through my thoughts, jolting me back to reality. I flinched at her call, realizing I had been lost in a painful memory.

"Would you like to answer what we have been learning about since you dozed off?" The teacher's voice cut through the silence, sharp and impatient.

I blinked, my eyes adjusting to the sudden attention. I glanced around quickly, noticing everyone's eyes on me like a spotlight. My palms were sweaty, and I shifted uncomfortably. "Um, yeah... I guess," I mumbled, my voice barely steady.

The teacher raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Fine. For Valentine's Day, we have been talking about the meaning of love. Care to explain what the meaning of love is? After that, I'll leave you alone," she said, folding her arms and waiting.

Before answering, I scanned the room. Some of my classmates wore smirks, clearly anticipating my response. "Love is the bittersweet longing for a connection that often feels just out of reach," I began, my voice steady but filled with emotion. "It's a consuming desire that can lead to heartache, loneliness, and the fear of never being truly understood. It's the ache of investing your whole heart in someone who may never fully reciprocate, leaving you with a lingering sense of emptiness and unfulfilled dreams."

After speaking, I glanced around again. Some looked confused, others surprised, and a few seemed impressed by my words. The teacher gave me a brief, sharp look, but she quickly composed herself, masking any further reaction.

"Well, that's one way to describe the meaning of love," she responded calmly, a small chuckle escaping her. The exhale through her nose was almost like a laugh, subtle yet noticeable. "That is deep what you said. I'll take it," she added, walking back to the front of the room.

Later that day: As I walked down the bustling hallway, I spotted my friends Serena and Kacy navigating through the crowd. When they saw me, they waved enthusiastically, and a smile spread across my face as I made my way over to join them.

"Hey girl, how was class?" Serena asked, her voice warm and inviting.

"It was boring," I sighed, slouching slightly as I spoke. "I've been looking forward to hanging out with y'all all day." A smile crept across my face as I straightened up, eager to hear what they had been up to. "So, what y'all been up to?"

"Well we were making plans for Valentine's Day tomorrow, thinking about buying my boyfriend cute matching jackets." Serena replied.

"Yeah, and I wanna just watch romance movies. I don't have a Valentine right now, but I don't know, I'm not ready for the dating life," Kacy said, her voice tinged with a hint of wistfulness.

Aiden glanced at Kacy with a sympathetic smile, nodding slowly. "That sounds like a cozy plan. Sometimes it's nice to just enjoy the movies without the drama," I replied, my tone understanding.

Serena tilted her head, her expression thoughtful. "You know, Valentine's Day can be fun even without a date. Maybe we could plan something together tomorrow night." she suggested, her eyes bright with enthusiasm.

"So, what are you doing for Valentine's Day?" Kacy asked, her gaze shifting to me.

"Oh... uh, well, y'all might hate me for this, but I wanna buy Arthur chocolate hearts and a note and leave it in his locker," I said tentatively, my voice tinged with uncertainty. I shifted on my feet, nervously fidgeting with the strap of my backpack.

I noticed their concerned expressions as they glanced at me and then at each other. Serena's brow furrowed with worry, arms crossing defensively across her chest. My heart sank a little at her reaction.

"But doesn't Arthur bully you for being gay and having a crush on him? And wouldn't he know it was from you? It'll definitely be obvious, especially since he knows you have a crush on him," Kacy explained, her voice filled with genuine concern. She leaned in closer, eyes searching my face for any sign of reconsideration.

"Well, that's why I'm gonna put on the note that it's from a female, so he wouldn't have an idea," i reasoned, my voice slightly shaky. I nervously tugged at my hair, a habit i had when feeling anxious, hoping my friends would understand my reasoning.

Their reactions were mixed with concern and uncertainty. Serena's expression softened slightly, but her eyes still held worry. Kacy sighed, her shoulders slumping in resignation as she glanced at Aiden with sympathy. Each contemplated Aiden's plan and its potential consequences, unsure of what advice to give him.

"Well... don't get caught," Kacy said, her voice laced with caution. She glanced at me with a mix of concern and uncertainty, silently questioning my decision.

School bells chimed melodically, breaking the tension. Ding-dong! Ding-dong!

"See ya at lunch." Serena said, them both walking off to class.

The bell rang, signaling the start of the next period. Dread settled in my stomach; I dreaded this class because it was filled with people who disliked me. The worst part? Arthur was in that class. After yesterday's incident with my diary, things were bound to be awkward and tense.

As I walked to my class, nervousness gripped me. I couldn't shake the thoughts racing through my mind what could go wrong, and would anything go right? None of it seemed comforting. Finally, I reached the classroom door, students bustling in and out. This felt like my personal hell; here we go again.