End Anti-Gay Bullying (Andley)

I gazed down at Ashley as we walked home. He smiled up at me then abruptly stopped walking, taking my hand in his. I glanced around nervosly then said softly, "Not here, Ashley."

"Why not? There's nobody around." he replies, gazing into my eyes, "Just trust me, ok?" I hesitate, then slowly nod,

"Ok."

He smiles at me and is about to lean in to kiss me when laughter sounds from the end of the walkway, "And what's this?" a voice questions. I turn my head to see one of the many assholes from my school that bully me along with his "friends".

Ash let's go of my hand to stand between me and the group of guys, staring them down menacingly. But the guy, I think his name is Sam, doesn't notice and looks over at me. "Gonna give him a kiss?" he asks tauntingly, puckering his lips at me. I turn and quickly start walking away.

- - - -

I turn my music up on my iPod as I walk down the hall the next day at school. I shove my hands in my pockets and try to make myself as small as possible (which is pretty damn hard when you're six feet tall) as people stare. I can practically feel the judgement seeping off of them as I go to my locker, opening it to grab my books.

As I shut the locker door, I see the guy a few lockers down from me giving me a disgusted look. I shake my head and turn away, swallowing back the lump that has formed in my throat. I will not let these people see my cry.

- - - -

As I sit on top of a chest in drama class (no idea what made me want to take theater honestly), I take out my headphones as I begin to go over my lines as the most minor character in the entire play.

I turn my head as I hear a whistle from behind me to see Sam's smirking face from on the stage, "No one to hold your hand today, fag?" he calls, and there's a few soft chuckles from around the room. I just shake my head and turn back around as him and his friend laugh at me.

I look back up from my paper to see a guy from the school orchestra, Jeremy (or Jinxx), standing beside me, holding out his hand, "I'll hold your hand." he says, voice carrying throughout the now silent room. I slowly reach out and take his smaller hand in mine, giving him an uneasy smile.

Next thing I know, everyone in the room starts joining hands with someone of the same gender, getting to their feet and smiling at me and Jinxx. I gaze around in amazement, feeling especially amused by Sam's look of pure shock. I catch Ashley's eye through the crowd and smile as he grins at me.

- - - -

I lace my fingers with Ashley's as we walk down the same walkway from the day before, passing multiple kids from our school, earning a few polite nods before they go back to their conversations. A smile breaks out over my face as I lean into my boyfriend, gazing down at him to see an equally bright smile on his face.

"I'm glad we don't have to hide anymore." he says, and I nod in agreement.

"Me too." I say softly before pressing my lips to his with a smile.

Things are going to turn out for the better, I just know it.