Page 9 of Bend Him, Break Him
“Thank you again for sharing your story,” Jazz said, reeling Isaac from his memories as she led the applause that everyone quickly joined in on. Everyone except for Isaac, who glared at Colton’s smiling face as the jock basked in the flattery of the audience.
Isaac hated Colton so much and hated the pedestal of Pride they threw him on. Yes, everyone deserved to come out on their own terms, their own time, but bigots didn’t deserve to be praised for finally owning up to the sexuality others around them were brave enough to accept before them.
It wasn’t fair.
But Isaac remembered nothing in his life had ever been fair. He cut out of the meeting early without a single word and went back to his dorm to finish grading papers. Mostly, he wanted to inspect Colton’s paper more.
If it was really plagiarized, then Colton would be automatically failed from his Comp course. If he tanked this class, he’d be in violation of his academic probation. If he violated his probation, he’d be kicked out of the university. And if he was kicked out, Isaac could finally breathe easy again without the constant reminders of the man he loved to hate and hated to love.
Knowing Colton cheated was easy, proving it took more work, but Isaac had spite to motivate him, hate to fuel him, and a vindictive mind to help him search for answers. He worked tirelessly through the night until he found the answers he was looking for and could easily out Colton’s actions. He just couldn’t decide how he wanted to go about it. Destroying Colton required a level of savoring. Isaac would only get to play this hand once before he ignited Colton’s world, so he wanted to make sure he had the right seats to enjoy the flames.
Isaac composed a very formal email to Colton, requesting he meet him in the auditorium tomorrow evening. What better way to destroy Colton’s life than by presenting a farewell lecture he’d be forced to finally pay attention to?
Chapter Five
Coltonarrived at the English building and swiped his card to get in with no luck. Of course, the building had timed access to ensure whoever wanted inside couldn’t just waltz in whenever. He went to respond to Isaac’s email, the one requesting his presence, the curt message that’d made Colton’s stomach twist with curious and confused knots. When a small group of students exited out of the automatic handicap door, Colton tucked away his phone and slipped inside unseen. He made his way through empty hallways and toward the auditorium.
It was an unsettling feeling, being summoned by Isaac to meet so late. Colton’s mind couldn’t help but pop with ideas, believing perhaps an olive branch was going to be extended. Perhaps something would be extended. While he was certain Isaac hated him beyond measure, Colton’s ego grew along withanother part of him, believing this might be Isaac’s attempt to bury the animosity between them. And yes, there was so much hatred after everything that went down before the winter formal. But it’d been three years.
Maybe Isaac had finally moved beyond what happened in high school. Maybe Isaac listened to Colton’s speech during the GSA meeting, and it roused some feelings, reminded him what they had, what they could have. The last time Colton attended the club meeting, Isaac stormed out for an indefinite smoke break. This time, he stayed close, even if he pretended to grade papers while Colton shared his coming out experience. Colton often assumed the best because no matter what hurdles he was thrown, most situations worked out in his favor, so it was difficult for him not to assume.
Besides, this definitely wasn’t a standard meeting. He would’ve gone to an office, not a classroom. He would’ve gone during office hours, not on the cusp of night, and if it was course-related, Professor Howard would’ve set the meeting, not her grumpy goth TA.
Alarm bells never really rang for Colton, always considering himself too strong for any potential threats, so while he strolled up to the auditorium doors, he shrugged off the sketchy vibes crawling on his skin. Instead, he favored the intrigue of possibility. After all, Isaac hadn’t directly spoken to him without hurling a backhanded insult on classroom etiquette since he started college. Part of him always missed Isaac, missed what they had before he screwed things up. Now that they’d escaped the tiny conservative town of Straight Arrow, perhaps they could pick up where they left off, explore each other the same way they used to. Isaac used to love servicing Colton, and he missed that absolute authority.
Thepossiblyidea was easy to circulate, thanks to the drinks he’d had prior to this meeting. A little liquid encouragement because while Colton often remained optimistic for the best outcome, Isaac had certainly changed. Besides, his roommate Tim was throwing a party, and there was no way he’d slip out without having a few shots beforehand. If he tried, Tim would’ve asked him a thousand and one questions. Colton didn’t exactly have any answers to tonight’s whatever this was…he simply had his own questions.
Isaac had gotten creepier since they parted, since he got into college, so Colton ignored the flair for mystique and wondered if Isaac missed the fun they used to have together. Wondered if Isaac could wash away the sour past between them.
Isaac stood in his usual spot, off to the side of the main desk and podium where their instructor set up. “You came.”
“I often do.” Colton smirked, gauging how flirty to make his face based on Isaac’s reaction.
No stern scowl, but also no half smile. It was neutral, but Colton could work with neutral; it was already an improvement to the daggers Isaac usually shot.
Isaac focused on his laptop, retrieving a controller, and turned on the projection screen. He worked silently, not seeming to pay Colton much mind, despite having called him to the auditorium at this hour.
Since this wasn’t class, Isaac didn’t wear his standard gothy casual suit-style outfit. Instead, he had on short sleeves that exposed his arms. His left arm was bare, aside from the butterfly tattoo on his hand and the finger tattoos. But his right arm had an exquisite sleeve tattoo that Colton had never seen before.
A wilted black rose was inked on the inside of his forearm while vibrantly colorful petals fluttered around like they werecaught in a breeze. Colton didn’t know much about the countless queer flags, but he recognized the bi flag, the trans flag, and maybe the lesbian one too. The president of the GSA wore a similarly colored pendant during the meetings Colton rarely attended. It seemed Isaac had tried to get every possible queer flag as a rose petal.
Above his wrist, which Isaac kept covered with dangling mesh stockings, was a barbwire tattoo serving as the roots of the black rose. A quote was etched in the inked blood dripping from the sharp spikes: ‘Learn to Thrive Without the Roots.’ Poetic and morbid and a little fascinating.
“You know, you’re lucky I’m resourceful,” Colton said, unable to bear the silence much longer and hoping to ease the tension with some humor. “You realize the building’s locked, right?”
“Oh, yeah.” Isaac continued clicking away at his computer. “Resourceful. Hmmm. That’s one way to put it.”
This was as awkward as the very first time Colton flirted with Isaac, doing his best to remain subtle about his interests while blunt about his desires. No, this was much harder. Isaac hated Colton now—and for good reason. Before, despite all the years of bullying, Isaac hadn’t hated Colton, merely loathed the jock. Colton knew that and managed to wedge himself into Isaac’s thoughts.
He began to think the same scenario hadn’t occurred a second time.
“Why’d you call me here?”
“I summoned you so that I could personally congratulate you on such an amazing essay.” Isaac tapped a button on his laptop and pulled up Colton’s final exam.
His stomach dropped, immediately nervous but curious about the minimal red markings.
“It was so spectacular,” Isaac said with a big smile, a phony smile.
