Sympathy

It was the first day of February and many people had their lockers decorated with valentines decorations as Valentine's Day is in two weeks. Although the holiday is in two weeks, it didn't stop other student's romantic relationships.

On the bleachers of the gym, Scott and Bryan were enjoying their lunch as they looked at the basketball team sharing the gym with the gym class next to them. 

"Yo Bryan. Trade you my mom's homemade brownie if you trade me your green apple." Scott shows Bryan his brownie in a sandwich bag.

"Sure." Bryan and Scott then traded each other's lunch.

Before they traded however, Bryan somehow tended to hear a conversation from two girls below them.

"So Kate, are you ready for Valentine's Day in two weeks?" 

"Sure Stelle. I can't wait to buy you a box of chocolates."

"Oh, oh, oh! Can you get caramel, I love the taffy sticking on my teeth!" Stelle getting excited.

"Of course! Anything for you!" Kate then cheek kissed Stelle.

After the cheek kiss, they both left the gym happy as Stelle carried Kate out of there.

"Aw! How sweet!" Bryan holding his hands as he's holding the brownie.

"What was?" Scott taking a bite out of his apple.

"Those girls are dating below us. It's so lovely that they can be happy together."

"Yeah that's great." 

"Hey Scott. If I told you I was gay, how would you react?" Bryan being a bit nervous.

"Doesn't matter. You're still you. I like to respect everyone whether it's religion, race and even sexuality." Scott took another bite of his apple.

"However, I don't respect those who insult others. That's what my mother taught me."

"Okay Scott. I'm happy to hear that because I have something to confess."

"And what's that?" Scott looked at Bryan.

"I'm scared to confess my feelings in this town because sometimes I fear John will come after me because of my homosexuality." Bryan looked around.

"That's just stupid. Why would John be homophobic towards gay people?"

"Because in one of his assemblies in the theater last year, he told the whole school that people who don't date those of opposite gender are considered abnormal. As a result, he would send those to reeducation classes and you can't leave until you are considered 'normal' in John's eyes."

"Damn." Scott finished with his apple.

"I remember a student who was a drag queen came to class and when John noticed him, he wasn't there the next day."

"Where did he go?"

"Nobody knows." Bryan is now in fear.

"I'm always scared that if I reveal my sexuality, I don't know if I'll be killed, tortured, or missing." Bryan started curling into a ball.

"Bryan, don't worry. Me, Jim, and Dwayne will try our best to protect you. We'll be in this mess together." Scott patted Bryan on the back.

"You think so?" Bryan started to uncurl his body.

"Yeah." Scott then stood up.

"I have to get back to class. I'll see you around Bryan."

"You too Scott."

As Scott walked out of the gym, Drake saw that he was leaving the gym. As a result, Drake then followed Scott.

In the hallway, Scott thought to himself, "So not only is he a narcissist but also a homophobe. What is going on in that dumbass's mind?"

Suddenly, Scott crashed into somebody holding a ton of books. Feeling bad, Scott helped to pick them up.

"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry!" The person in front of Scott said.

"No worries. Let me help you with that." Drake helped the students pick up their books.

As Scott picks up the books, he notices a book that he's familiar with.

"'My guidance in poetry, by Natalie Simpson?!'" Scott then faced his head up.

"Thank you for picking up my books Scott!" Natalie smiled at him.

"Yeah. No problem." Scott blushed a bit.

"I never got to see you around besides the poetry club."

Natalie then giggled, "Oh Scott, you know I'm a student just like you right."

"Well yeah I knew that." Scott scratched his head.

Hiding behind the locker, Drake saw them both as started to get jealous as Natalie was talking to Scott, but not him

"So Natalie. Are you excited about Valentine's Day?"

"Not really."

Scott was in shock. "Really, but I thought Valentine's Day can help you with your passion for poetry."

"It does, but something really bothers me when thinking about that day." Natalie looked disappointed.

"What day?"

"The day where I had to break up with Drake because of his obnoxious behavior."

"Oh. But isn't that better because Drake is such a dick. I mean he and his teammates assaulted me and my friends."

"I don't care what he does now with his stupid team. I'm scared that I used to be like him."

Scott, feeling bad, wanted to sympathize with Natalie. "Hey, let's sit at the stairs and maybe we can talk about this."

"Okay." Scott and Natalie both walk towards the stairs.

"You think you can take my girl and flirt with her?!" Drake started to get angry.

On the stairs, they both sat down as the stairs were empty due to class still being in session.

"So Natalie, you taught me how to express and sympathize with others. Now tell me more about your relationship with you and Drake and why does he like to harm others?"

Natalie sighs. "Well, it all started three years ago as I mentioned in the club. When I lived in Minnesota, I came from a ghetto neighborhood. I was taught that me as a black woman will always be seen as a criminal as many people will give the black community a bad name."

"What?" Scott raising his eyebrows.

"I used to believe that people won't respect me because of the neighborhood that I used to live in as well as my race to the point where I don't have a choice but to become a criminal."

"Natalie. How come you never told me about this and how did you know about Drake?"

"Well that's where I'm going to explain that."

"After tipping over a portable stall with a construction worker in it, I decided to lock that man in while sitting on the door so he wouldn't get out. Suddenly, I met him."

"Ha! Tipping over a portable toilet! Classic!" Younger Drake vaping while he was laughing.

"Who the fuck are you white boy?" Younger Natalie giving an angry stare at Drake.

"Who am I? Just a white boy named Drake and I like the way you trapped that man. That guy is probably drowning in his own piss!" Drake then walked forward towards her.

"Step back Drake or I'm going to knock your ass out!" Natalie threatened Drake using her brass knuckle.

"Relax gorgeous. I want you to be my partner in crime. I've seen what you've been doing and fell in love with that behavior of yours. I think you can fit in with me and my crew." Drake then stuck his hand out.

"Will you stick with me and my crew?"

"Well, although you a white boy, I think you are pretty handsome boo thang. Let's see how much destruction we can do in this shitty state." Laura held Drake's hand.

"But first let's take care of that loser in that toilet you're sitting on" Drake thought something devious to the construction worker.

"After me and Drake's crew threw the worker in the river while he was trapped inside the portable stall, we decided to terrorize every town and neighborhood of Minnesota as we seek pleasure in seeing other people feel pain." Natalie started to look upset.

"Natalie. Why would you want to hurt others? It's not great for other people."

"I was only fifteen and I didn't know any better. I guess it was at that age where my angst personality had the best of me."

"But how did you become the person you are today?"

"Well it all happened in a public library. And it was the same day where I made a big mistake." Natalie then went back to the past.

"We were in a public library knocking down book shelves and throwing books at people. Some people tried to fight us, but our forces were stronger as we had weapons and all they had were books and chairs. However, something had happened when I saw this one family."

In the library, younger Natalie used her brass knuckles beating up a father who tried to defend his family. "Oh yeah you like that! Let's see how much brass knuckles you can take from my fist!"

Suddenly, Natalie felt like someone threw a book at her. "Leave my daddy alone!"

When looking behind, it was a child who threw a book that was about poetry. Being angry, Natalie held the kid on the collar pushing him on the wall.

"You dare throw a book at me you stupid brat!" Natalie is ready to punch the child.

"Don't hurt that kid!" The librarian shouted at Natalie.

As Natalie looks behind at the librarian, she also realizes that many people besides Drake's crew were looking at her as they were terrified that she was going to hurt the kid.

"Please mam. You're so young in this world. You have so many things waiting in your life. You don't have to be this way." The librarian tried to calm her down.

In a calm state, Natalie put the child, still terrified, down as she then felt bad for herself.

Suddenly, Drake used his chain to choke the librarian until she fell unconscious leaving her body to the ground. "Wrinkly ass bitch."

"Come on Nat! Let's get the fuck out of here!" Drake and his crew left the library.

As she was about to leave the building, Natalie saw a book on the floor that the child threw at her and took it on her way out.

"When I had a realization in that library. I noticed that I've done something wrong and till this day, I'm regret what I did." Natalie pulling something out from my bag.

When she brought it out, it seemed like a brass knuckle with a bit of rust on it.

"Is that what I think it is?" Scott pointed at the brass knuckle.

"Yep. I used to have this with me all the time. However, back to my story." Natalie went back describing her past.

As Drake, Natalie, and his crew were on the road, Natalie was still feeling guilty about what happened an hour ago.

"Hey Drake. Can I have a word with you?"

"Yeah what is it babe?"

Natalie is a bit hesitant to talk. "I think we should break up."

Suddenly, Drake stopped his bike as the other crew followed him. "What!"

"Drake. Don't you think what we are doing is wrong and we are just causing a ruckus in Minnesota?"

"Hell no! We're just having fun. What's so wrong with that?"

"Well about that fun, I had a realization and I was thinking whether we're having 'fun' or are we hurting innocent people."

"What has gone into you Natalie? I thought you like this stuff? And now you're regretting it?" 

"I mean I almost hurt a child today because he threw this book at me and I think even as a fifteen year old, hurting a six year old feels wrong."

"Are you saying that we should break up because of a little incident in a public library?"

"Well maybe, but I think…"

"I think you should get off my bike." 

"What?" Natalie looked at Drake.

"I said get off my bike!" Drake threw her off his motorcycle.

"I thought you were my girl. But you're just a pussy this whole time." Drake and his crew left Natalie behind as some were close to running her over.

"After he left me, I spent hours on the road walking. I had nowhere to go as my father spent life in prison and I've never heard from my mother for a long time." Natalie talking back in the present.

"Oh my God. Natalie, I'm so sorry. I didn't know you and Drake's relationship was that harsh."

Scott then wondered another thing. "But how did you get to Sunshine Valley and why?"

"Well I met someone on the road." Natalie once again went back to her story.

"It was really late at night where I was suffering from hunger as well as dehydration. I felt like I was about to pass out as my eyes were about to close by themselves as well as my body collapsing."

As younger Natalie only saw nothing but darkness on the road, her body then passed out leaving her on the side of the road. Suddenly, a truck approached her and when it came to a stop, the truck started honking.

"Excuse me mam? Are you okay?" A man in the truck, having a southern accent, coming out of his vehicle.

After the loud noise, Natalie then seemed to get up slightly as she only saw a truck and the guy with a red hat. However, her body was again about to collapse.

With a quick reaction, the man caught her in his arms. "Better be careful, miss. You were about to hit the pavement again."

"W-Who are you?" Natalie spoke in a rough voice.

"Just a guy heading to Iowa to deliver some packages." The guy then tries to let Natalie stand.

As Natalie got to stand up on her own, the trucker wanted to ask her something. "So what does a young girl like you doing on the road?"

"My ex boyfriend broke up with me." Natalie looked upset.

"Aw jeez. I'm sorry about that." The trucker scratched his head.

"It's fine. He's a total asshole."

"So mam, where were you heading to? I believe your parents are worried about you."

"My parents don't mean anything to me. They both neglected me. I'm trying to escape Minnesota. I feel so bad for terrorizing the residents in my home state."

The trucker, starting to get serious, wanted to help Natalie. "Hey. Why won't you come to my truck? We can order some food to go and see how we can solve this situation."

Natalie, with some hesitation got onto the truck as they drove out of the state of Minnesota.

"So what's your name?" The trucker kept his eye on the road.

"Natalie."

"Why do you want to leave Minnesota Natalie? It looks like you were running away from something that you felt ashamed of."

"I was running away from the people that I hurt. I've caused a lot of pain from many people from my old home to the many residents living in Minnesota."

"And what makes you want to hurt other people.?"

"Because I'm a black woman. Many people would give us a bad reputation for having degenerate behavior."

"Excuse me?!" The trucker then stopped the truck.

"What are you talking about degenerate behavior? And what does race have to do with you hurting people?"

"Because I lived in a neighborhood where it's mostly black people. I tried to tell myself that the beliefs of black people being degenerates aren't true, but my ghetto neighborhood says otherwise. With the amount of violence and just messy lifestyle that I was raised in, I thought there wasn't a choice, but to become a degenerate."

"Hold on Natalie. I'm a black person myself and what you see or believe doesn't truly represent the black community. The place you grew up in wasn't about race, but more of the people themselves. And unfortunately, you grew up with people who didn't have the opportunity to be a better person."

"So it isn't about race?"

"No! There are so many good things that black people have done. Like the invention of jazz music. Or even Martin Luther King Jr.! So many black people have contributed to this world and I don't want your life going to waste."

"Now I feel so bad." Natalie putting his hands on his face feeling disappointed.

The trucker sighed. "Look, it's not fully your fault. You're in that angsty teen age and discovering who you are."

"Yeah. Being a teenager can be a struggle."

"How about this, since you don't have a home in Minnesota and we're already in Iowa, maybe I can take you to a place called Sunshine Valley."

"Sunshine Valley?"

"Yeah. It's a town where many people seem to move to and it's very popular. I was thinking you might like it with their small town and nice people. I also have a place there so you can stay with me as long as you want until you are able to get your own apartment. So what do you say?"

"Sure. I have nowhere else to go." Natalie smiled a bit as she looked at her book taken from the library.

"When we got to Sunshine Valley, he officially adopted me as his daughter and applied to this school to have a better education as well as pursuing my new interest in poetry. I now like to share my interest in poetry to others not as a hobby but to help them find their true selves. And Scott, I think I'm making some progress in helping you." Natalie now back in the present day.

"I think so as well. I feel like I can manage my anger by the time we graduate and hopefully maybe head back to Des Moines to show that I'm a different person."

"I hope so, too Scott." Natalie then hugged Scott.

Meanwhile behind the corner, Drake started to get angry as he started envying Scott of Natalie giving more attention to Scott than him.

"Also, it was so nice to talk and get to know you more. I just felt a bit alone and used poetry to cope with my emotions. But talking to someone makes things a lot better." Natalie then handed Scott her old brass knuckle.

"Wait. You're giving me your own brass knuckle?"

"Yeah. Since I'm different now, I don't think I would want to touch something that I did in the past. Also, consider this a gift as this might be handy." Natalie then went to Scott's ear.

"For self-defense just in case Drake starts going on his rampage." Natalie then got out of Scott's ear.

"But anyways, I need to head to the school library to help the librarian with these books. So I'll see you later." Natalie left as she was carrying all those books.

"See ya." Scott put the brass knuckle into his pocket.

As Scott was happy to meet Natalie in the hallway, he felt as if someone was watching him. However, he ignored it as he then headed back to his classroom. As he was about to come back in, he then was grabbed aggressively by someone.

[And that person was Drake Triborne]

"Hey Scott." Drake being aggressive on Scott.