"Do I look like a slut?" Ally asked me and twirled around in her dress.
"Um...no?" I said.
"Darn! I thought this dress was slutty enough," she pouted.
"Sorry, what? Are you trying to look like a slut? I don't get it," I gave her a puzzled look.
"Do you remember Pete Wallace, my high school crush? Ally asked.
"Vaguely," I shrugged.
"Well, he'd be there, and I am older and hotter, so I'm going to try to seduce him," Ally grinned.
"What if he is married?" I chuckled.
"He isn't. I stalked his social media," Ally remarked.
"You're nuts. But whatever. At least you don't have to face your ex tormentors," I winced.
Ally frowned. "Are you still worried?"
"I know they can't do anything to me now, but still...I don't want to see their ugly faces. Especially Brian's," I said.
"You know...Brian can eat shit. You're doing so much better than him, I bet," Ally smiled encouragingly.
I hope so.
We flew to our hometown a day earlier to join this stupid reunion. Ally and I stayed at the hotel and arrived at the ballroom on Saturday, where they held the reunion. I looked around and recognized many faces, and thankfully, none of them belonged to Brian and his minions.
"I'll go grab some punch for us," I told Ally and headed towards the refreshment table.
"Well, well, well, look who it is? If it isn't our little fruitloop, Corey price."
My heart jumped as I recognized Brian's voice. Great. I slowly turned to face him. "Oh, hi Brian. Fruitloop? Really? You couldn't find a better nickname? What are you, five?" I barked.
"Oh, you grew some balls? About time. Must be because you sucked on enough by now," Brian cackled. He was standing with Bruce and Mike. I had a Deja vu of them taunting me back then. Except now, he was older and fatter.
"Look, Brian. I'm not here to fight or argue. We are grownups now, so we should act like one, don't you think?" I said.
"You're still a fag, so I'm gonna need you to get the fuck out of here," Mike barked.
"I was invited just like you, so I don't see..."
"This town doesn't welcome people like you," Brian insisted.
"I don't see anyone else objecting, Brian," I protested.
"That's because they're a bunch of pussies. If you don't leave, I'm gonna drag your ass outta here," Brian threatened me and took a stepped forward.
"I don't think so."
All of us turned around as Ethan spoke all of a sudden. Great, King Bully has arrived.
"Ethan Miller! Whoa, long time no see!" Bruce gasped.
"Yup," Ethan said and stared at Brian intently. Anger flickered in his blue eyes. I wondered if he heard everything Brian had been saying to me.
"Heard you're a big shot now," Brian commented.
"Never mind that, what were you saying to Corey?" Ethan demanded to know.
"What, to this faggot? I was just putting him in his place. Remember how much fun we used to have to torment this little shit?" Brian laughed. I wanted to punch his stupid face but tried to control my anger instead. Bunch of wankers. Being mature sucks sometimes, I thought.
Ethan looked at them with fire in his eyes. He placed a hand on my shoulder. "Call him a fag one more time and see what happens, asshole," he said in a low and menacing tone.
"What's with you? You've called him that a hundred times before," Brian looked at us with surprise. He squinted his eyes at Ethan's hand, which was gripping my shoulder tightly. "Don't tell me...you are like him too?" Brian suddenly said. Oh look, meathead finally figured it out.
"Corey is with me. So if you have something to say about him being here, you gotta take it up to me first," Ethan announced.
"Shit dude, I don't believe this," Mike shook his head in disappointment.
"You're fucking joking, right? You aren't actually a homo? I mean, we've made fun of him together for Chrissake," Brian said.
"I was an idiot in denial back then. I didn't have the balls to say this back then, but now I do, so I'm gonna go ahead and say it," Ethan's eyes bored into Brian's. "I love Corey, and he is mine. If you try anything to hurt him or try to kick him out, I'll make sure you never get to be happy in this shitty town. I'll hunt you down and destroy your livelihood," Ethan announced.
Hah! Take that, buttface Brian!
Wait a minute...
I froze for a minute. Did Ethan just say he loved me? I heard that wrong, right?
"Whatever homos. I should've known you weren't cool, Ethan. I hope you both burn in hell," Brian said dismissively and walked away.
"I'm sorry you had to listen to his big mouth Corey. I wish I got here faster," Ethan told me, but I was still in a daze. I looked at him like I couldn't understand him. "Corey? Are you okay?"
"You...lo...love...me?" I stammered.
Ethan looked away, and for the first time in my life, I saw him blush.
"Err...oh that...just disregard that. It was just something I said to drive them away," he hesitated and said.
"Liar. Your left eye twitches when you lie, and now you are lying," I declared.
"Fine. I love you, Corey. I always have," Ethan said.
"You've always loved me," I repeated lamely.
"Yes. Ever since high school. When I was making fun of you and beating you, you weren't the only one who was hurting," Ethan said quietly.
"You are kidding me. You almost beat me to death! I had to go to the hospital, remember?" I hissed.
"I wanted to kill myself then. I would've if you died. I mean, I was the one who carried you to the hospital," Ethan hugged me.
"Fuck you, asshole. You don't get to do this to me. You deserve to be hated," I choked back tears. I saw some people staring at us and tried to break the hug, but he tightened his arms around me.
"Don't worry about people watching. I want them to know you're mine," he whispered.