Date: Thu, 5 May 2022 10:33:00 +0100 From: Andrew Passey Subject: Coming Out Part Six (Young Friends) By morning the swelling of my face had gone down but I had a big black eye. There was no way of hiding it. Would it evoke sympathy for me or would the boys at school think I deserved it? Of course once I walked into my form class before lessons started everyone looked at me and I saw a few smirks. Jorge and Olly were outraged and very angry at what Henry had done which made me feel better. Olly was in the same form as him but said at breaktime that Henry hadn't been in that morning. Had he been suspended maybe? I didn't know but answers were soon forthcoming. Maths was just finishing with lunchtime fast approaching when our Head of Year, Mr Franklin, came into the classroom. "Can I borrow Mr Robinson please?" He asked although as always his questions seemed more like statements rather than questions! I packed my bag up and followed him to his office. I sat down opposite him and felt my anxiety rising. Was I in trouble for what had happened yesterday? Was I going to be blamed for it because I'd been outed? It was a catholic school after all and not all the teachers were like Mr Johnson. "So Sam, first of all I want to say it was very brave of you to embrace your sexuality and come out at school despite all the many problems that will cause you. Very brave, but perhaps foolhardy." "It wasn't deliberate sir! Oscar Fellows heard me telling Olly, I mean Oliver and he then told everyone. Oscar outed me, I had no desire for the school to know or to cause any trouble!" "Hmm that is unfortunate but it doesn't really change anything. You're going to go through a tough time. However much we try to prevent bullying we know it goes on. It might get tough for you in the coming weeks. We'll do what we can but us teachers can't be there all the time. You need some allies. So that brings me to why we're talking. Henry Patterson has been suspended for a week. He's also lost his place as the Year 9 representative on the SPB." I looked at him in confusion and he sighed loudly, "The School Pupils Board. Honestly sometimes I wonder why we bother. You don't remember him trying to get boys in your year to vote for him? You boys elect a representative from your year to work with the school to hopefully improve things. I represent the head of years and of course it's chaired by the Head. Henry somehow got voted for by enough boys in your year that he got on the board. Now after yesterday's incident he's losing that privilege and I'd like you to replace him for the rest of the year." "Er why me sir? Most of the boys hate me!" "Maybe, maybe not. I think you'll find that there are a few very loud boys who will cause you trouble but a lot more who are just grateful it's you not them in this position. In any case, as I said you need allies. Other boys who can stand up for you. Popular boys. The sort of boys who their year group elect as the representative to the SPB. Really it was only Year 9 who elected someone less than...desirable I guess is the most diplomatic way of saying it. Anyway we meet after school on the first Monday of the month. Luckily that means your first meeting is this coming Monday." "If I accept it?" I asked as this seemed a fait accompli. "It's not really negotiable, Sam. See you there on Monday. Now go and have some lunch." I told Jorge who couldn't quite believe that I wasn't in trouble (why would I be as I was the one being punched!?) and that I'd been chosen as our year 9 representative. "But you shit yourself when you're asked a question in class! How are you going to cope in a meeting with other people?!" "Fuck knows but he made it clear I have no choice." "I guess you're doing wonders for the SPB's diversity!" "Ha fucking ha," I said but I had to admit it was a pretty good joke. But I still felt awkward about all of it. Jorge was right, I liked to stay in the background. That was due to not wanting people to know who I was in case they worked out I was gay, I guess it was too late for that now anyway. So that's why after school on Monday I found myself sitting around with boys from every year group, the head teacher and Mr Franklin. There was a spare seat next to me for I guess the Year 10 representative. By a process of elimination I'd worked out reps were here from every other year and that we sat in year order. So I wasn't exactly Sherlock Holmes for working it out. The door then flew open and a very attractive looking tall dark haired boy came in looking flustered. "Sorry I'm late," he said before he plonked himself down on the chair next to me. He smiled at me, "Hi, I'm Jamie." He had dark hair with green brown eyes and the merest hint of dimples when he smiled his lovely smile that made his whole face light up. I was instantly smitten. "Hi, I'm Sam." "I know, I think we all know who you are! But don't worry, the SPB is here to sort out problems like boys being arseholes to you!" Well not the best introduction but it slightly eased my nerves. Mr Franklin then introduced me as the new Year 9 rep and the meeting started. I didn't really think I'd have much to say but it soon turned on to bullying and Mr Franklin threw it over to me, "Sam has some very recent experience on bullying and I'd like to hear his opinion. Sam why don't you explain what's been going on?" Talk about being put on the spot! Hmm what to say? Well fuck it, the truth. If as Jamie said they all knew me I might as well own it and try and get them onside.. "I guess you all know that I've been outed by Oscar Fellows spreading lies about me. Yes I'm gay but I didn't want everyone to know, just a couple of friends. However Oscar overheard, spread it around the school and everything else he said was made up. But it doesn't seem to have stopped people bullying me over it. As you can see by this," I said pointing at my eye. A couple of the other boys asked me questions about what happened and what sort of things boys were saying and doing to me. It felt really good to get it all off my chest and to my surprise I actually had quite a lot to say about it. It was probaboly the most talking I'd ever done in public! I'd sort of finished explaining everything when Dwayne, the tall black sixth former spoke up . "Don't worry Sam, we'll put a stop to this. We'll spread the word around each of our year groups that the bullying of you stops or else. I'll get all the sixth formers to watch your back." I felt an immense wave of relief, THAT is why Mr Franklin wanted me involved. Allies. He was right after all. But I found some self confidence and wanted to speak out. After all not every boy got to get the SPB on board, what about other boys getting bullied? "Thanks, that would be amazing! However while everyone knows I'm being bullied there are other boys suffering in silence. The school could do more to help boys who are being bullied." Mr Rowley, the headteacher, interjected, "I'd like to say we have a very robust anti bullying policy. Any boy who reports he is being bullied receives support. We have zero tolerance for bullies." The way he said it suggested that was the end of the matter but I felt I had more to say. An idea had come fo me that might help other boys like me. And those not like me. "But sir, if you're being bullied it can be hard to tell a teacher. Or if you see someone being bullied then it's seen as grassing if you tell someone and no one likes to be a grass. What would be good is some sort of anonymous reporting procedure. Where if someone is being bullied they can let teachers know without it being obvious. And if someone else sees bullying happen they report. Maybe a confidential drop box or some sort of online reporting form." "It sounds like more work for teachers to be honest, and it would be open to abuse. I could see it being flooded with boys logging false claims," Mr Rowley didn't sound sure. "Actually I this could definitely work," Jamie interjected to my surprise. "We just need a system to get the bullying logged. Then each of the year representatives can subtly investigate and keep an eye on who is being bullied to see if it's true. A quiet firm word in the ear of the bully might be enough to make it go away without it being seen that someone has grassed them up. What a great suggestion Sam!" Jamie smiled at me as he said this and my heart leapt every so slightly for some reason, I guess I wasn't used to boys I didn't know being nice to me apart from my few friends. The other reps agreed and so did Mr Franklin who offered to go away and work on a system. The rest of the meeting was taken up with talk of Christmas arrangements and I didn't have much to contribute. But I felt really pleased with what I'd said on bullying. Then it was over and it was time for me to head home. With a sigh of relief I picked up my school bag and hotfooted out of there, "You spoke really well earlier!" Jamie said as he ran up to catch up with me in the corridor. I was surprised, usually nobody wanted to talk to me apart from my friends. "Uh thanks, it was a bit nerve wracking. I don't like being the centre of attention." "Ha well that's something Henry definitely wouldn't say. Thank fuck he's no longer involved. Which way you walking?" He asked as we came out into the playground. "Nunhead way, you?" "Bus to Camberwell, so I guess this is where we say goodbye. It was really nice to meet you though Sam, I'll see you tomorrow." With that we went our separate ways. "See you tomorrow" what did that mean? When would he see me? Ah I guess it was just a polite way of saying goodbye. Still I felt good about things. I couldn't exactly say I'd made a new friend but I had actually spoken to somebody new. Mr Franklin insisting I join the SPB had actually been a great thing for him to do. I got home, rushed up to my bedroom and felt the horniest I'd felt for a while. I stuck my hand down my pants, closed my eyes and imagined I was kissing Jamie. Not that I knew what kissing felt like but I could pretend I did! Then I thought of Tom's hand on my dick and imagined it was Jamie and I was doing it to him at the same time. Luckily I remembered the tissues so once I'd had a pretty amazing climax I was able to clean up without getting any on the sheets. Suddenly maybe life wasn't quite as shitty as I thought it was.