'Pray' For This Dude

Chapter Eleven

Ray -

I am now back from spending time with my uncle and aunt. They lectured me about disrespecting my father and blah blah blah. It was only a short visit, I had already missed a couple days of school and my dad didn't want me missing anymore so I came back late Sunday night. There is a lot of tension between my dad and me, he took me to school today and tried having a conversation with me but I kept giving him the cold shoulder. He seemed a little worried about something like something had happened and he didn't know how to handle it. He usually got this way when he got himself into some s**t.

"Dad, is everything okay?" I finally decided to ask. "Yes son, everything is splendid, have a good day at school." I raised my eyebrow at him but he just smiled at me in return. "Um, okay then, bye." I got out of his truck and entered the school building.

I got a few weird looks as I walked over to my locker, but I brushed it off. It's probably because I've missed so much school. I put the combination in the lock and grabbed my geometry book then slammed the locker door shut. I looked up and jumped back, holding my chest. Bethany stood right by my locker with her big creepy green eyes and devilish vampire teeth, drooling over me.

"s**t Bethany, you scared the f**k out of me!" She giggled unattractively. "After school come with me to my house, so I can show you my ball dress."

"I have something I need to do after school, so I can't."

"Whatever it is, it can wait, I'm more important."

"That's what you think." I walked passed her, shoving her to the side. I ignored her callings from down the hallway, she chased after me and pulled me back. "What!?" I yelled at her.

"Are you treating me this way because of the rumors?"

"Rumors?" I questioned. "Yeah, your dad got into a fight with some guys dad and your dad said some pretty crazy things and now everyone at school is saying things and I understand if you're ignoring me because you feel ashamed, or something like that, but I just wanted to tell you personally that I know nothing else is going and it's all fake."

"What? What are you even talking about? You're a crazy girl." I walked past her and slid right into my next class before the tardy bell rang.

"What's up, Ray?" I shook my head, laughing. "Do you guys know that girl Bethany?"

"The church girl?"

"Yeah, she's so creepy and clingy. I don't even like her and she continues to bother me."

"Aren't you suppose to take her to the ball?"

"Yeah, but it's not like I want to. My dad wants her dad's cash and me doing this is the only way he's getting it and now she's talking about some bullshit to try and get me to go to her house or some shit."

"What kind of bullshit?" They asked, "I don't really know, something about my dad getting into a fight." Their facial expressions changed and they looked away. "What?"

"Well, she's not wrong."

"What do you mean?"

"This man confronted your dad after church and went off on him because I think he disrespected his son, your dad did a heavy anti-gay person speech and people made a video of it and now there are rumors being spread, saying that the kid is forcing you to be with him." I froze and I could feel the anger in me building up. "But we don't believe the rumors, we know that if someone was forcing you to do stuff with them you can just beat their ass."

"I have to go." I grabbed my things and headed out of the classroom. "Mr. Smith where do you think you're going?" The teacher said. "I'm sorry, I have to take care of something."

I walked out of the building and called my dad, he wouldn't pick up the phone which irritated me more. I called an uber and made my way back to the house. My dad’s truck was in the driveway so he was home. I busted in the front door and my dad looked up at me. "Why are you home from school?"

"Why are you getting in fights with Craig's dad?"

"How did you know that? Has Craig been talking to you?"

"No, my whole school knows about it and there are rumors going around saying that Craig is forcing himself on me."

"Oh, Heavens no, they think my son is, is an abomination?"

"I am!"

"Wait, what?"

"Uh, nothing dad, it's just the rumors don't make me look good and they don't make Craig look good either, him or his father, why would you pick a fight with a marine?"

"He started it, he punched me and I didn't even fight back, so there."

"Oh my God, what did you say, I heard that you were preaching about anti-gay things, why would you do that?"

"I got really upset, I don't want Craig rubbing his gay on you."

"That's not how it works!" I yelled at my dad. "Just stop, Jesus doesn't want you ruining the reputation of someone, it's not fair that you constantly feel like you need to hurt Craig and his family, how would you feel if someone's dad kept picking on me for something I can't control?"

"Well you can control being gay, son, he can change."

"If he can change don't you think he would have already? Do you think he likes going to church and having his pastor ridicule him in front of everyone? People have stopped being friends with him over this, give him a f*****g break."

"Rayan!"

"I'm serious, he has had enough humiliation, fix this mess!" I shook my head at my father and headed up to my room. I can't believe him and I can't imagine what is going on in Craig's head right now. My dad knocked on the door and I let him in.

"Look, son, I am sorry, I will have a meeting with a few people and they will put the rumors to rest and I will personally apologize to Craig and his family. I don't want you angry with me anymore."

"Okay, but you really need to work on not trying to control my life, I'm my own person."

"Fine, I will work on it, but I would still appreciate it if you took Bethany to the ball, her father is really excited she has a boyfriend."

"But, I'm not her boyfriend dad."

"Okay whatever you kids call it, just be sweet to her and you're going to her to buy accessories for the ball. " I rolled my eyes and agreed.

My dad called the school and told them that the video of my dad and Craig senior was a big misunderstanding and the school took care of it. I stayed home the rest of the day and some of my friends confirmed that it was taken care of. The principal made an announcement stating that if the video and rumors continued, kids would be suspended. One thing has been taken care of, I just hope nothing terrible has happened to Craig, I really need to talk to him soon and my dad still hasn't given me back my phone. He is the next thing to take care of on my to-do list.