****The following story is fiction and the characters are all over the age of 18*****
Brief Encounters Anthology
Chapter 16
Taming the Beast
In life, there are many antithesis--rival factions, oppositions, such as Democrats and Republicans, Cats and Dogs, The LA Lakers and the Boston Celtics, and the classic, Nerds and Bullies---always at each other's throats. However, with the bully, they are the dominant side, oppressing the weaker, more fragile, side. But very rarely do the tides turn. Rarely does the Nerd hold power over the bully. The bully could be substantial, more intelligent, or hotter than the Nerd, but their weakness is always their ego.
An ego that is often as fragile as their victim.
It's funny how life can turn these types of tropes upside down.
This was something I got to experience.
The sound of a fist hitting the metal surface of the locker beside me echoed through the locker room. I felt the ringing in my ear but I refrained from showing any weakness. My bully, Jacob, stood before me, his fist inches from my ear, his body standing before me, emanating angry heat. If this were a cartoon, his face would be cherry red and steam would be coming from his ears. It was my fault, I had tested the beast which resulted in an aggressive reaction. One I was pleased with.
Instead of showing fear, I smiled, which seemed to agitate Jacob further.
His face turned redder somehow. A vein was certainly going to bust.
The locker room was empty. It was just us standing under the illumination of a single light. It was a bit romantic in a way. At least to me, perhaps to Jacob, it was a way for him to intimidate me more. But the thing with me was that I wasn't afraid of Jacob. Over the last four years of high school, Jacob bullied me. He had given me multitudes of wedgies during that time. As well as pouring milk on me, shoved me into lockers, and once he locked me in the basement of the gym.
Because of Jacob, much of my allowance went to buying new underwear.
I always wondered why me? What did I ever do to Jacob Newman? We were both the same age, 18. I never understood why he loved to bully me. I wasn't fragile or nerdy-looking like the rest of his victims. I was tall and athletic, thanks to my years of playing basketball. Jacob was on the football team, rightfully so. The man loved to shove and touch other men after all.
But despite having many victims, I was always the one he loved to pick. A theory of mine was that perhaps Jacob was secretly gay for me. It was common for the bully to turn out to be gay. But this level of hostility was intriguing to me. It almost felt as if he were using this hostility as a way to vent his sexual desires for me.
I'd often laugh at myself for thinking of such an idea.
Perhaps the poor boy was afraid to manifest the courage to come out to me.
Now, you're probably asking why I am standing in a low-illuminated room with my bully, who is possibly secretly gay. Well, let me tell you, it's because I know a secret about Jacob.
A few weeks before graduation:
With graduation on the horizon, I was happy to leave Jacob's bullying behind me. I was grateful to have been accepted to a college different from his. Otherwise, the bullying wouldn't stop at high school.
It was three weeks from graduation when I found out something about Jacob. I was in the library studying when I heard Jacob and his two friends, Joseph and Miguel, walk in. The trio were talking loud and the librarian quickly shushed them. The trio went silent and continued their walk into the library. I sat at the far end of the library; a more private space.
My plan was to ignore them and continue to study, but something told me my plan was going to fail.
From the corner of my eye, I saw the trio of friends sit at the table and start looking at their phones. I continued to read, they hadn't spotted me. Which was good. I didn't want to attract their attention. The briefs I had on were brand new and I didn't want them destroyed by my bully.
Unfortunately, my solitude didn't last very long.
Jacob somehow spotted me and walked down the aisle of books that lead to my location. I raised my textbook in hopes he wouldn't spot me. From the top of the book, I saw Jacob's fingers. He pulled the textbook onto the surface of the table, yanking it away from my grip, "Hey there, Nathan. My favorite little bitch to play with."
I rolled my eyes, "What do you want now, Jacob? If you want this book, I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but I don't think you've attained this reading level."
Jacob's face quickly turned red from anger, "What did you say, shit stain?"
"Such primitive words," I spat out.
Jacob tossed the book and grabbed me by the shirt, yanking me off my seat. Our faces were inches from one another. The anger was intense, I had to admit. However, I kept my composure, refusing to give into his aggressive actions. He knew if he did anything, he would be suspended, especially in Mrs. Berrycloth's library.
"Ahem," the voice of my savior said.
There she stood beside us. The tall thin woman stood there with her arms folded across her chest. Her black round glasses and raven hair in a ponytail complimented her fair skin. She wore a grassy plain colored dress that ran down to her ankles. "Mr. Newman and Mr. Page, what is the meaning of this?"
"Oh, you know, the usual bullying from Jacob," I said.
Mrs. Berrycloth shook her head, "I can see that, but did you agitate him with your comments again? You two settle this now, or I will get the Dean involved."
Jacob's fist softened, "Fine," he shoved me back. The momentum caused me to crash into the chair and onto the floor.
"Mr. Newman!" she nearly yelled, almost breaking the library rule.
"Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm out of here."
