James slowly walked home from school with the worst cases of bruises he ever got from Alex. He didn't know if it was because he looked at his bully wrong or something. Whatever it was didn't matter. He hated Alex regardless.
But James feared him more than he hated him. Even when they met for the first time, he knew instinctively he didn't stand a chance. There was fundamentally something about Alex that screams 'not to be messed with'. The way he walks into a room and everyone takes notice. His large frame, his jacked body, his pleasant deep-toned voice; which makes anyone instinctively listen to him, even if he was whispering. His grades are top of the school--which was both funny and insane because he's the ace of the elite college's football league. Where does he find the time to study and rank consistently on top in an institution known for their very competitive academics? James didn't know, but he did it.
A smart, charming, athletic jock. Perfect through and through. He'd be an idol for James if he didn't start bullying him. Regardless, he didn't try to resist the bullying at first because he knew for sure telling the school would only make it worse. There's no way the school would punish a high-performing athlete for a nobody like him.
But he fought back once 2 years ago and James wished in the world he hadn't. His mom raised him to never take shit from anyone, never take injustice lying down, never to compromise his principles
Because all of these make up the better version of him tomorrow. And being the best version of yourself, where you're truly happy and fulfilled, isn't that the true purpose and meaning of life? She always described that kind of unswerving, unrelenting way of living strong. Beautiful.
Lily told James when he was young that she's lived it ever since the moment she first saw him at his birth. And that she wanted the same kind of feeling for him in the future. But god, he regrets it. His stomach churns just thinking about it. Fighting back earned him Alex's focused ire for months on end until finally, even the people around him were targeted. He let down his mom and dad. He let down everyone and it's all his fault--
"James! What happened to your face?"
He heard his mom ask as he arrived. Guilt, shame and sadness all blended and surfaced his mind when he turned to look at her. Apparently, it showed on his face.
"Did he do this to you again?" she asked in abject horror.
His silence said it all.
"That can't be right. I-I made sure he was in a good mood. Honey, d-did you do anything to piss him off...?"
His stomach sunk lower. How could she say that? Does it matter? Was he going to live his life somehow making sure he didn't do anything Alex wouldn't like? He was the one who got beat up. How was it his fault?
He looked at her with a hint of resentment and hurt. She was taken aback, also realizing how she misspoke. Her hand immediately held his as she whispered guiltily, "I'm sorry. That's not what I meant." James saw her eyes begin to tear up and got mad at himself. None of this was her fault. If anything, he let her down 2 years ago. Why was he getting mad at his strong, selfless, beautiful mom when she was only trying to help?
"No, I know what you meant. It's okay. It's not your fault. And maybe it's not mine either, because I don't know what I did. He just saw me in the hallway and started b-beating me up. I was just minding my own business. And I didn't want to fight back b-because.....of you. I don't know what he would do to you."
She went silent and slowly said after a pause, "Don't worry about me, kid."
She smiled like she always did.
"I know how to take care of myself. I'll get through just fine. It's good that you didn't fight back, honey. I know how strong Alex is...." she continued after a pause, "he..... probably held back."
"Mom, does this mean--"
"You know it does, honey." She interrupted as she looked at her son, almost....annoyed at the recurring question whenever this happens. Which immediately shifted into an expression of sympathy and sadness, as if it never existed.
James was perplexed. Did he just imagine that split second of irritation? Why would she be annoyed at him? Maybe he was being paranoid. Or probably a concussion. God knows Alex slaps hard. He snapped back from his thoughts.
His mom needs to fix whatever mess was made with Alex. Again. His hair raised almost instantaneously with the thought; the corners of his eyes, threatening to drip with tears.
"Maybe you don't have to, mom? Can't you just stay? Please. Please, mom."
She said firmly, "You know we can't, sweetie. The beating starts and it gets worse. If I don't do this right now, he'll keep beating you tomorrow. You don't want that, do you?"
James looked at his mother, something stuck in his throat. He doesn't even want to think about how all this started.
A phone rang in the small window of silence in their home. They both knew who it was.
"What about dad?" he asked.
His mom looked at him gently and whispered, "He doesn't have to know. Just as usual, alright?"
Dread sank under the corners of Michael's temple, drizzling down to his throat and chest as she picked the phone up.
"Hi, baaaby," she greeted in the sickeningly sweet voice she always used exclusively since the past two years when talking to his bully, Alex. He couldn't hear anything Alex said over the phone except "bitch boy," and "the nerve".
And there it was again. The strange sensation he felt while looking at his mom, chronically unable to recognize her whenever he sees her talk to Alex. As if she wasn't the woman who raised him. As if she didn't care about anything but--
James didn't want to say it.
She talked through the phone with motherly understanding, "Oh, I know. Listen--what?"
A slight pause visited the room. He couldn't hear anything but the constant static over the phone.
"Don't make me say that, baby." She said, slurring unconvincingly. Like a bitch in heat. She coyly continued in a bit, "I know it was the faggot's fault. He shouldn't have been too relaxed when he saw you. I'd have him prostrate every time he sees you, but we can't let people find out, can we? You were right to beat his pathetic little face up."
James stood there, shocked by the induced verbal thrashing.