Chapter One: Nobody cares.

“Michael!”

My name was called, and it wasn’t a mean thing said after my name like, ‘Michael the retard’ or ‘Michael the fag’, it was just…Michael. As I look for the disembodied voice that called my name, I see her, Amare.

"I just want to thank you for helping me with my homework. You know how algebra can be, hehe..."

then she rambles on, which I enjoyed because I get to admire her body. Her white silky hair, curvy figure, and big breasts, she was truly everything to me.

“Mikey! Are you listening?” She said as she waved her hand in front of my face.

I was listening, but not to the words of her voice, but to the words of her body. It was like her body was saying, ‘Touch me, Michael, touch me!’

“Huh? Oh, yeah, yeah. I’m listening.” I wasn't listening. Her body was making me deaf.

“Look, all I wanted to say was thank you.” She said then put her hand on my shoulder, ecstasy…that’s all it was…ecstasy.

Then…I saw her lean in, I-I don’t if it was on the lips or the cheek, it looked like it was definitely gonna be on the cheek. Then she suddenly made a squeak sound. I don't know if it was me or what, but then I had a suspicion. I checked behind her to see him, her boyfriend, Brad.

“Brad! I told you not to do that while we’re in school!” Amare said.

I agreed with her, he thinks because he is her boyfriend, he thinks he can do whatever he wants to her, like that one time where he caressed her breasts…disgusting.

“C'monn! It was just a little surprise!” Brad says as he gives Amare that stupid cheeky grin.

I hated his face. I wanted to punch it so badly, but if I did that, I'd probably get beaten up by him. Amare just made a “Hmph!” sound, as she should. Then Brad turns his enormous head towards me. He had that smug grin on his face. “

Well‌, if it isnt Michael the fag!” as he said, which made me angry. I clenched my fists because of how mad I was.

“Don't call him that, Brad!”

When Amare said that my fists unclenched and my eyes lit up, she did really care about ME, and not my ability to help her with algebra!

“But it’s true, he is a fag, no actually.. he’s a retard.”

Okay, calling me a faggot is one thing, but a retard? Oh, no no no.

“Don’t call me that…” I said as I clenched my fists because if he got any closer I was gonna beat his sorry ass, when in reality he was probably gonna beat mine.

"I would prefer if you didn't call me that, Brad."

I wasn’t gonna let this punk push me around anymore, especially when Amare was around. I don’t care if they’re dating. Brad doesn't deserve a beautiful girl like Amare.

“Haha, oh really now? Then what should I call you, huh?”

I had a smirk on my face when he said that, I had the most snarky comeback ever.

“Call me Michael, the one that’s gonna kick baby Brad’s ass.” Well, it wasn't all that, but it was something.

But when I said that, he had this scowl on his face that made me smirk, which made him grab me by my shirt. His hot breath was right in my face, almost burnt my face off.

“What the fuck did you say, you little-”

Before he can finish his sentence, the teacher yells, “Mr. Waterwell!” I looked over at the teacher as she yelled Brad’s last name.

“Oh! M-Ms. Michaels, Michael was making fun-”

Ms. Michaels just cuts him off and says,

“Brad, I don’t have time for this. How about you stop being a snowflake and ignore him?” The class laughed at what Ms. Michaels said.

I laughed a bit, too. Amare tried to stifle a laugh, which released a giggle. Brad glared at the class before he glared at me. He had a mean face on him before he had let me go and sat down. Amare sat down next to him. The teacher began to talk about how we did on the chemistry test before giving everyone their results. I got an A. I looked at Brad. He looked mad. He showed Amare his grade, which gave me a window to see it. I looked, and it said D-. I couldn’t help but laugh. Brad looked over and saw my laughter and made a scowl face. I moved my eyes from the paper to his eyes, then proceeded to point and laugh at him. He got super furious, so I decided to leave him be. I turned to face in front of me to see my friend looking at me with a surprised expression, like I just did a crazy trick or something.

“Y-you pointed and laughed at Brad while he was staring at you…”

He looked surprised. I Mean rightfully so, not many people can do that to that smooth brain of a bully.

“Yeah, I did.” I said that with a tone of confidence, I knew what I said. I meant what I said.

“W-what happened? Why all of a sudden do you decide to…grow some balls?!”

When he said that, I had the perfect answer, “Because someone cares about me.”

I said that with adoration in my voice, like after so long, happiness can thrive within me.

My friend snorted, “Oh, so you've finally found someone that cares for you? Is it your parents? Did they finally start caring…”

He began to ramble on as I stared at Amare, the person that cares for me. She made me so-

“No way, Amare?! Really?!”

my friend said as he stopped rambling on and looked where I looked, then realizing it’s Amare.

“Yeah, is there something wrong with Amare caring for me?”

My friend laughed. Why was he laughing? Was he not happy for me? Why was he laughing?

“She’s using you!”

When I heard those words, my heart dropped.

“S-she’s using me?” I said, sounding really devastated,

“Yes man! She’s using you!” I

I couldn't believe it, I wouldn’t believe it, I denied it.

“No, she could- sh-she wouldn't!”

When I said that I didn’t want to believe she was using me, she stood up against Brad for me.

“You're stuttering! You know it’s true!”

I got furious when he said that.

“Shut up! You don't know what you're talking about! She stood up against Brad for me, no way!”

I convinced myself that she wasn’t using me.Can you blame me? She was nice and cute, but she was dating an idiot like Brad.

“Okay, okay. Whatever you say. Just don't come crawling back, apologizing when you realize she was using you.”

he said as he turned around to face the front of the class. But I needed to know one thing,

“How do you even know if she’s using me?”

“You are the company you keep.”

Those words…they silenced me. I mean Amare is with Brad, a big bully that’s probably maniuplati- wait, is she using me…? I had no time to think. Amare came up to me.

“Hey…you okay?”

She asked if I was okay! S-she does care about me, she has to! My friend was wrong! I nodded to her and said,

“I’m fine, everything’s alright!” She nodded while smiling and said,

“Good.”

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

She then put her hand on my shoulder, the same thing as before. When she did, she leaned on my left cheek. Was I gonna get a kiss on the cheek now?! Maybe a peck at least! Instead, she leaned in and whispered in my ear,

"Meet me behind the school after school, okay?"

The things she said had such an impact on me that my body reacted with a mix of surprise, adrenaline, and arousal.

She noticed my excitement and giggled, saying, "Looks like someone is excited."

I was feeling everything. I couldn’t talk, but I managed to get a nod out. Amare then giggles and gives me a kiss on the cheek. I was in heaven. She winked at me, then walked away. My mind was blank. The only thing I could think of was meeting her.

***

Class had ended and Ms. Michaels had dismissed the class. I got up quickly to leave, but before I could, Ms. Michaels stopped me.

“Michael, I need to talk to you.”

Now I'm irritated because I need to meet up with Amare, but, but… I had patience. Hopefully Amare had that too.

“Yes, Ms. Michaels?”

Ms. Michaels looked at me with a smile on her face, like she was trying to reel me in something.

“I’ve noticed you’ve always walked to school and home back, considering you lived far away. May I ask why?” She asked me why I always walked home.

I couldn't- no, I wouldn't answer that, it’s too…I just didn't want to answer it.

“Umm, I don't want to answer that question. Sorry.”

Ms. Michaels Was nice to me, but I don't know if she did because she was romantically in love with me.

“You're fine, you're fine. I just wanted to know if you’d let me…. um…drive you home? Considering we’re technically close neighbors and all.”

Drive me home? She wanted to drive me home. Maybe…she does care about me…

“Michael…Michael!”

She said, trying to make me snap back to reality.

“Huh- oh, oh. I’ve got somewhere to be. Thank you, though!” I said as I backed up getting ready to leave,

“W-wait, can I at least drive you-”

I had to cut her off. Amare was waiting for me.

“Look, maybe tomorrow or something! Bye Ms. Michaels!” I said, running out the door trying not to keep Amare waiting,

“Michael-! nevermind…”

***

I was walking to the courtyard when I couldn’t help but think, does Ms. Michaels really care about me? She’s shown barely any love for any of the Students, why is she showing it to me? She asked to drive me home, but that sounds like a scheme to get closer to me and bring me in….

It doesn't matter anyway because I have someone who really cares for me, Amare. “Amare!” I said waving, going to her.

“Hey, you're late!” I smiled at that for some reason.

“But you didn't make time for us to meet.” I said, chuckling nervously,

“Yeah, I did. I said after school!”

When she said that, it made me smirk and stifle a laugh.

“you know that’s not very specific, right?” I said, letting out a breath of a stifled laugh.

“What you SHOULD know is not to keep a pretty girl waiting.” She said as she crossed her arms and pouted.

“But I'm here, Right?” I said, lifting my shoulders while looking at her with a slight smirk.

“Yeah, but you weren’t here…exactly after school.” I shrugged, saying to her with a smirk,

“Better late than sorry.” Amare sighed saying,

“I guess you're right…”

She got close to me and put her hands on my chest. I blushed because I wasn’t expecting this.

Amare continued saying, “So, are you ready for your surprise?”

I nodded eagerly, which made Amare chuckle,

“Well.. if you're that eager…Well then…close your eyes.” I did as she said.

I closed my eyes and waited for her to signal me to open them.

“Okayyy, you can open them!”

With that signal, I instantly opened it to be expected to be met with a kiss, but instead I was met with a fist, Brad’s fist. I fell to the ground, my nose bleeding. I looked up at them, Brad laughing, Amare smiling. It hurted my heart to see Amare smiling evilly at me while I was on the ground.

There was one thing I wanted to say to her, “Amare…I-I thought you cared for me…”

When those words came out my mouth I teared up and startled sniffling.

Amare scoffed and said, “Cared for you? I didn’t care for you, I cared about if you were gonna help me with my homework, much less do it for me. I don’t care about you. Hell, nobody cares about you! You're just a worthless piece of shit, a retarded shit at that.”

That hurt, no that actually hurted me. All that pent up anger from how my family treated me, to everything else. I couldn’t take it. I yelled and lunged toward Amare, I wanted to kill her, but I was met with Brad’s fist again, he put me on the ground and started beating me. Brad laughed, Amare laughed. It hurted, it hurted alot, physically and emotionally.

***

“Zad, Zad…Detective Kaisen!”

I lifted my head up when my name was called, wondering who's there, calling my name until I laid my eyes on my partner, Ronnie.

“You didn’t join the DPD to sleep on your ass, did you?”

I let out a mumble and a bunch of nonsense words.

Ronnie chuckled and said, “C'mon we’ve got a murder.”

I look up in confusion, still reeling from my slumber, “Murder…?”

“Yeah, now get your ass up and stop wasting time!” Ronnie said, grabbing my slumped over body and making me stand,

“You with me?” He said, I nodded in response,

Then we began heading out to the location where the crime had happened.

***

As the car came to a stop, everybody was there talking, studying, searching the vicinity for any clues.

As me and Ronnie got out of the car, Ronnie started briefly explaining what happened, “All we know is that the body has been there since last night.”

We walked up to the body that’s in an alleyway, the forensic person is already there, she gets up from kneeling over the body,

“So, what’s up?” I said, trying to get information for her to get a good perspective on this.

“Well, it’s a young boy, around 17 or 18. Judging by his face, he’s been punched multiple times as well as stabbed way too many times.”

My eyes and Ronnie’s widened in shock at this. I regained my composure and used the info that the forensic woman had given us and made a hypothesis.

“Okay, obviously the murder had it out for this guy for him to lash out like this.”

They nodded at my hypothesis, then I continued saying, “So considering this boy is still in school, he- well the murderer must be a student at the school he goes to.”

The forensic woman and Ronnie,

but Ronnie, still skeptical, asked, “But, how do you know this for certain though?”

He was right, how do I really know this for certain though?

I don’t, that’s why I shook my head and said, “I don’t. I’m just making an educated guess, for all we know this could be a random act of violence.”

Ronnie made a “tch” sound and looked at the body, “If so, he’s one unlucky bastard.”

I nodded then pondered, “yeah…but something inside me says that there’s something more than what the eye meets.”

Ronnie moved his eyes from the body, then me as he raised an eyebrow. “And what could that something more be, Kaisen?”

I kept my eyes on the body, studying it. “I don't know, but this could be something other than a random act of violence.”

***

I, Michael, have now realized that I was played by the person that I thought cared for me, but she didn’t care. Now I'm walking down the sidewalk, in the night, bruised and battered.

I knew when I got home It was gonna be worse. As I kept walking down the sidewalk, I saw a car drive up to my side of the sidewalk. I stop and look to see the person roll down their window. If It was somebody trying to kill me, I wouldn't mind, nobody cared about me anyway, so I stood there waiting to be “killed.” But instead of a potential murder, it was Ms.Michaels, she looked at me with a sad, sympathetic expression,

“Michael…Look at you, cmon, get inside. I’ll drive you home.”

I didn’t hesitate and got inside her car, I felt more comfortable, more safe. I just stared out the window of the car, I didn’t want to hear anything from anyone. The person that I thought cared about me, didn't.

“Hey, I’m sorry about whatever happened, maybe I can get your phone number… just to keep in contact with you just in case you need help venting to someone.”

She gave me a little reassuring smile when she said that. My eyes widened a bit, I didn’t think she was gonna say that, I didn’t have any girl in my contacts except for my mom. I didn’t get my hopes high after that though. I didn't know if she was pulling a Amare and cared about me only to want something from me. I still nodded and gave her my phone number. After that she dropped me off at my home. There I stood in front of my house, ready for a world of hatred coming my way.

“Here you come in again Michael, reminding me how much of an embarrassment you are.”

I clenched my fists at what she said and tried to stand up for myself, telling my mom, “I’m not an embarrassment.”

Those were the only words that came out of my mouth, I didn’t have much to say.

“Of course you are. You let everybody walk over you, you're naive too. Tch, and you're supposed to be a spitting image of your father.”

I got mad, what was supposed to do? Fight Brad back? If I tried to fight back, I would’ve definitely come home in a body bag. “So, you expect me to be like dad, because I look like him?” I said. She responded with a tone in her voice like what I said was true,

“Yeah, at least he cared about himself, I bet if I gave you my gun right now to protect yourself, you wouldn’t use it, instead you would let yourself get shot. If you don’t care about yourself, how do you expect others to care about you?”

What she said drove me mad, why should people care if I care about myself in order for them to care about me? Shouldn't they care regardless, or is what I said true…do people only care when they want something from someone. I just walked away into my room nearly crying only to be met by my brother, Erl, tackling me.

“Get off of me!” I said as Erl kept holding me in a tight grip,

“Ha! Why should I listen to you? You can’t even stand up for yourself!” Hearing that made me cry, my heart couldn’t bear it.

“Look mom, he's crying! Look at you, you're such a bitch. Dad would be so disappointed.”

After those words came out of his mouth, he released me and got up, not without giving me a kick to my ribs. Mom then laughed at me because of my inability to fight back. Erl spat on me,

“I can’t believe you're my brother, so weak. We might as well put you up for adoption.”

I got mad like I did before behind the school. My body instinctively launched itself toward Erl only to be met with the save punch Brad gave me, only it was from my brother, my own flesh and blood. After my beating Erl threw me into the bottom bunk of the bunk bed.

“Sorry for your beating, the least I can do is let you have your naive pussy rest and dreams.”

He said as he just threw the blanket over my body and climbed onto the top bunk.

“Goodnight, you little bitch.” He mumbled the last part, snickering, all I did was cry silently myself to sleep.