Date: Thu, 31 May 2001 01:26:45 -0700
From: Alex Bright <adisoc007@msn.com>
Subject: Broken Facades chapter 5: Knight in Shining Armor

Alex

Joe, Mark, and Tony quickly turned around to face me and looked surprised
as hell to find out it's me who interrupted their beat down of,
of..."Brad?" I said, not believing it was him.

Oh my God, I thought as I stood there in shock

Brad just smiled, then looked like he blacked out.

Joe was the first to say something. "What the fuck, Alex man!"

Mark then piped in "You better turn your ass around."

He stopped what he was saying after Tony gave him a look. Tony stepped
forward "Alex, my man, what's up dog?" as he tried to slap me five.

"Joseph and Marcus, tut, tut, lets not be so rude, Alex here is our
friend." He smiled as he looked at me.

I just gave him a contemptuous look. I had always disliked Joe, Mark, and
Tony, mainly because they came between Justin and me. But now, dislike
could not describe what I was feeling. I had just walked in on them beating
the living shit out of Brad...Brad my best...er ... former best friend.

When he stopped hanging out with us I couldn't figure why and never tried
to. It was mainly because I was having problems of my own. Then, when the
rumors, started I quickly distanced myself from him and never saw what he
was dealing with. Like I said before, I had problems myself that I was
dealing with. But now, seeing him bloody and beaten, it hit he. Was this
what it was like everyday for the past three years?

Tony putting his arm around me brought me back to reality. He started to
walk with me slowly to the door "Yo, dog, me and my boys are just teaching
a lesson to the fag." He paused after I gave him another contemptuous look,
then said " To Brad. I just need you to leave, so we can finish...ok bro?"

Joe then said something to add to my building anger "Yeah, my nigga."

Then he and Mark started laughing and high fiving it up like they just
scored a touchdown or something. Tony turned and shot them another look
"Chill, guys, Alex is our dog. He understands, don't you Bro?"

Just as we reached the door Mark said, "He better understand. What's he
doing here, anyway?"

"Bout to get his ass kicked," Joe said, and started to laugh again.

At that point I think Brad started to come to as he tried to stand up, but
the pain was too intense and he looked over at me for the first time in
over three years. He had a look in his eyes; a look of unadulterated terror
and pain. When I turned my head to look at Brad and saw that look of pain
and terror, that was it, something snapped. I had enough. There was no way
in hell I was going to leave him alone with these assholes.

"First of all, this is my classroom," I said as I slowly removed Tony's arm
from around my shoulder like he had some sort of disease on it. I then
turned and got right in Tony's face.

"Secondly; I am not your bro and I'm not your dog. I'm not even your
friend. And I'm definitely NOT YOUR NIGGA," I continued as I started to
smile. As a matter of fact I have never ever... and I mean ever ... liked
your PUSSY ASS!" I said as I poked him in the chest with each word "PUNK
ASS!" Another poke in the chest as Tony started to back up "BITCH ASS,
ANYWAY!"

By now Tony had backed up all the way to Joe and Mark and was shocked that
I was standing up to him.

"FUCK YOU! YOUR ASS IS MINE," Tony screamed.

"Sorry.... I don't do guys," I said with a smile.

At that point Tony lost it. He was so irate that he couldn't even speak,
and started to shake.

Tony turned to Joe and Mark and screamed, "NO NIGGER IS GOING TO TALK TO ME
THAT WAY! I WANT HIS ASS NOW!"

Joe and Mark just stood there shocked. They had never seen Tony like this
before. He was always the cool one who never lost his temper.

I looked over to Brad, who was now standing with his mouth open, and said,
" I think your boyfriend just asked me out."

Brad was now trying to smile and laugh seeing me get under someone's skin
again after a long time. However, laughing now obviously hurt him "Arrghh!
Remind me not to laugh. Ouch that hurt. Don't worry you can have him, he's
not my type," Brad said with a smile "Besides, I'm not into three ways."

I didn't start out a big guy. I was always the runt of the group and was
always picked on. When I was little I learned how to defend myself in other
ways. I learned to crack on people and how to get under their skin. The
only person who could beat me at it was Brad. After two and a half years, I
finally started to grow. I went from 5'3" to 6'1", seemingly overnight,
between the beginning of my junior year to this year, from 80 lb soaking
wet to 180, then I added fighting to my arsenal.

After the shock wore off, Joe and Mark said, "Bitch! You're fucking dead!"
I just looked at them, and with my best Scott Hall impersonation, (I love
wrestling...the Rock, Scott Hall, and Kevin Nash are my favorites) said,
"Don't sing it.... Bring it". Just as Joe and Mark started to move towards
me, the door opened. Everyone froze.

"Oh Shit," Brad and I said after we saw who walked in to the room. Tony,
Joe, and Mark, after seeing who walked through the door, looked at each
other smiled. "Justin!"

Brad

Alex and I looked at each other and about shit ourselves when Justin walked
in to the room.

Justin looked around. "What the fuck is going on, here"

Alex started to walk over to me to help me stand and Joe, Mark, and Tony
walked over to Justin.

I said, " Oh nothing, Just." I had not talked to him or called him that in
a long time" I mean Justin"

Justin started to smile when he heard my voice but quickly remembered where
he was.

"I was on my way to class when my face ran into their fists." I tied to
smile. "Then this lovely knight in shining..."

Alex then said, "don't push it ...Brad"

Right about then Tony looked at Alex and me and said, "My man
Justin.... Well, Well, Well, Looky here, it looks like its now four on 1
and a half."

Justin looked puzzled and asked, "Could someone please tell me what the
hell is going on?"

I looked at Justin and started to tell him everything that happened up to
this point "Well, Neal and Bob wanted to know if I did threesomes, then
Phony tried to turn our little threesome into a foursome."

Alex smiled and said, "Don't you ever quit?"

I just looked at him and giggled. "Oh. I forgot my Black Knight..."

Alex interrupted. "Don't push it."

"Don't worry Just...We were just talking to Fag boy, then I guess his new
boyfriend here got jealous and wanted to join in."

"Oh,, that was a good one Tony, I'm going to have to write that one
down. And to think you didn't even need Joe Bob or Bill Bob to help you
with it," Alex snapped back.

"Oh you and your boyfriend are just so fucking funny, but guess what? Now
that my best friend Justin is here, you and your boyfriend are
through. Right Just?" Tony was smiling smugly.

Alex and I were in a daze, and Alex looked crushed. He and Justin never
fought, I mean never. Come to think of it, I never had either. Alex looked
really pissed off when it seemed that he would have to fight Justin, his ex
best friend.

Alex

I could not believe Justin was going to take their side, and it totally
pissed me off. "Well, I guess the can, just turned into a six pack...Let
dance!" Maybe a good ass kicking will finally knock some sense into him.

"Tony, this isn't a good time. I just saw Mr. Shore coming down the
hall. If we get caught it means no football," Justin said as he looked at
me and Brad. I think he saw that Alex was pissed off and was ready to
fight.

"Shit...thanks Just...thanks for looking out," Tony said as he and his
cronies left. Before he went he said, " This is far from over Fag.... you
and your boyfriend had better watch your backs."

I looked at Brad and asked, "Did you hear something? I though I heard
something?" We laughed together and looked at Justin. He looked like he was
about to crack up.

Tony regained his composure left quickly after staring at me for a
moment. I had a smile on my face when he went.

As he was walking through the door he stopped, and with out turning around
said "Yo Alex, I wonder what are the brothers are going to say about your
new boyfriend." He then turned around and started to smile. My own smile
disappeared with the realization that my troubles were far from over and
that I was alone again. "See you around, O," was all I heard as the door
closed, then laughter. Justin had an 'I'm sorry' look on his face at what
Tony had said. One thing I learned about Tony was that he had to always get
the last blow, and with that last jab he had met his goal. It stung, and
stung deep.

After Brad was sure it was safe, he gathered his stuff and walked to the
door. He stopped, turned and smiled, then walked out the door. I yelled to
him, "You're welcome." Brad turned, still smiling, and said "You're not a
very good dancer. Two left feet."

"See Ya Later?" I asked. Brad just smiled and walked out of the classroom.

Justin then turned to me and said, " Damn! Why won't he fight back? Why
does he put up with all that shit?"

I turned my head, looking around the room to see where that voice was
coming from. "Is someone talking to me?" I walk over to a seat. Justin
follows as he says, "You know I was talking to you Alex, " with a smile.

I again look around the room "There it goes again. That voice sounds
like...shit I know I've heard that voice before just can't place it."

Justin's voice is now a little agitated "Come on Bro..."

I snapped back coldly. "I'll tell you like I told your, Friends,
I... am...not...your...Bro!" Then under my breath, "You stopped being my
bro along time ago."

Justin was furious. "Me? Fuck you! You're the one that stopped hanging with
me. What, did the brothers keep asking why you were always hanging with
that white boy? Is that it? Is that why?" He got in my face.

I was still pissed at the incident, so I got right back in his face and
shouted, " YEAH ... AND YOUR FRIENDS NEVER ASKED YOU WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS
HANGING WITH THAT NIGGER?" I pushed Justin in the chest. I wanted to fight
him. I was still looking for a fight. I wanted to hit him ... hit him for
all the pain he caused me the past three years, for not standing up for
Brad, for choosing to protect that asshole, Tony and his goons instead of
kicking their asses for what they where doing to Brad.

"Isn't that right, Just? Just and the good old boys...RIGHT... BRO?"

Justin just looked at me, shocked.

"Just like I thought," I said softly and turned away.

Other students started to enter into the classroom, and I start to walk
away when Justin gently reached for my arm to stop me. He gave me a wounded
look and quietly said, "I would never ever say that about you, or be around
anyone that would say that about you Alex."

"Well, then I think you need to take a long hard look at your current
friends, bro." I continued to move to the back of the room. When I got
there the teacher, Mr. Shore, walked in. He saw me and smiled. "Mr. Nelson,
I'm glad to see you back in class after a week off." The class laughed as
the late bell sounded, and the beginning of hell started all over
again. "Mr. Nelson, I would like to see you after class, please." Mr. Shore
finished putting his books down on his desk, then pulled out his lessons
for the day.

"Great. Just perfect." I slouched into my seat, feeling everyone's eyes on
me.


(c) 2001, Alex Nelson
Posted: February 5, 2001.