Page 47 of Ours
“No thanks, sir. I’m okay.” Cory had hit a stride in writing his paper and wanted to keep it going.
Derek left the table leisurely, in no rush to return after getting his soda. He and Cory had been in the library a few hours now, electing to skip their fourth period classes—gym for Derek and a programming class for Cory. Their English teacher knew they’d be in here working, as were several other students, and the boys were determined to finish this today, so they kept going even after the final bell had rung.
“They got you doing their homework, too?”
Cory looked up to see who was speaking to him. It was Jackson, that guy from the basketball team from the other day. How long had he been standing there?
“What? I’m not doing anyone’s homework except my own.” It wasn’t the first time someone made that assumption.
“Oh, sorry then.” Jackson looked around the library idly. “I thought I heard you calling him sir. Sounded like he was pushing you around or something, you know?”
Cory felt his facing burning as he immediately turned bright red. Shit. He heard them? Had anyone else???
“Uh… That’s just an inside joke between us,” Cory stammered as he tried to cover. “It’s stupid, really. I don’t even realize I’m doing it sometimes.”Real smooth, Cory.
“Well, you know if anyone is ever picking on you, I’m happy to step in and help you out.” Jackson cocked an eyebrow.
“Thanks?” Cory doubted he’d need it. What he wanted was for this conversation to be over. “I… I’ve gotta get back to work.”
“Right.” Jackson smirked. “See ya around,boy.”
Cory’s breath hitched as Jackson turned to walk away, still smirking. Cory, face still flushed, could only stare down at hispaper, pencil in hand, mind blank. What the fuck wasthatabout? He gripped his pencil tightly.Does he know? Did I say something else he might have heard? Was it just a fluke? Does it mean—
“Hey,” Derek put his hand on Cory’s shoulder, making him jump slightly, “you okay? Did that guy say something to you? You look like you’re about to lose your shit.”
“Yeah… I think… I think I just ate something funny at lunch,” Cory lied. “I’m fine.”
Derek’s look was questioning, but he didn’t press.
“Well, we’re both almost done here,” Derek said as he returned to his seat. “Football practice should be over soon. Wanna finish up and head over to the locker room and see if Nic wants to hang or grab dinner or something?”
“That sounds cool,” Cory quickly agreed, thankful for the subject change. “I only have another page or so to go.”
“Me too, I think.” Derek reopened his book from earlier, setting down his soda. “Let’s get to it.”
It was about an hour later when Derek and Cory walked toward the locker room, happy to be done with their papers. Football practice had ended a short while ago, and Derek had texted Nic to have him wait around if he wanted to hang out. Most of the players had already gone, but Cory spotted Nic’s bag on one of the benches. He and some of the other players were probably still in the showers.
“Alright, I’m just gonna run to my locker real quick.” Derek started to exit the locker room, seeing that they had a bit before Nic would be out. “Don’t need to carry all this around with me anymore. Be back in a few minutes.”
“Sounds good. I’ll be here.” Cory took a seat on one of the benches and pulled out his phone, deciding to try to catch a few Pokémon while he waited.
“The hell are you doing in here, loser?”
Ugh.Cory recognized that voice. “I’m waiting for Nic, Steve. What do you want?”
“Of course, you are,” Steve sneered. “Always following him and Derek around like a little puppy. Pathetic.”
Cory ignored Steve and went back to his phone. He was just about to catch a Chikorita when the phone was knocked out of his hand.
“Hey! What the fuck is your problem?!” Cory stood up and made to pick up his phone.
“Youare my problem,” Steve said as he pushed Cory by the shoulder, knocking him against the lockers. “You don’t belong here, and I’m sick of you getting some free pass outta the loser club just because of who you’re friends with.”
Cory rubbed his sore shoulder. He looked toward the locker room exit, wondering if he could make a break for it, but knowing that Steve would be able to catch up to him pretty easily. Hopefully Derek was on his way back already…
“What the fuck is this?” Nic came walking in from the showers, towel wrapped around his waist. Seeing Cory backed into a corner by Steve, he quickly figured it out for himself. He stormed over and was in his teammate’s face in an instant. Like a knight in … a bath towel. “The fuck do you think you’re doing, McMillan?”
“Get the fuck out of my face, Herrera.”Uh oh, they’re last-naming each other. That can’t be good. “We were just playing around, right runt?”
