SEBASTIAN AND DANIEL
A semi-autobiographical LGBT coming-of-age story about a pair of social outcasts who find peace within each other’s company. May contain uncompromising real-world situations.
CHAPTER SIX
Daniel sat demurely in just his underpants, on the row of child-friendly seats in the headmistress’ office, the rest of his clothes having been taken to the janitor’s ramshackle sanctuary for washing. Daniel had asked why the school had a washing machine, being assured the many cookery class aprons and PE team bibs and drama costumes needed a once over on a fairly regular basis. And for the uniforms of the poor-family kids who stank, Daniel correctly assumed.
In his physical shyness, the boy kept his knees locked together and arms coiled in tight, so as to shield from view as much of himself as possible. Next to him sat his classmate, Izzy, who tried her best to steal a glance every now and then.
“So why are you in here?” Said Daniel, sniffing disinterestedly.
“I puked in the changing room.” Said Izzy, slapping her lips at the lingering taste of vomit.
“Oh yeah, I heard about that.” Said Daniel, with a derisive snort. “What’s wrong with you?”
Izzy, frowning at her classmate’s mocking attitude, chose to remain civil.
“I think I ate too much for breakfast.” She said, stealing another glance at the boy’s wilting form. “How about you?”
Izzy was something of a large girl, which Daniel guessed was easily explained by her apparent-overdoing her intake at meal times, but he felt his disrespectful snort had already punctured a hole in their amiable acquaintance, so he decided not to comment further on that matter.
“I smell.” He said instead, shuffling as far as he could on his seat away from the florally-scented girl.
“I’ve never noticed anything.” Izzy said, moving in for a perfunctory sniff.
“Thanks.” Said Daniel. “Mum doesn’t wash my clothes much.”
Izzy nodded and covered her mouth, clearly holding back another round of humiliation.
“Is that because of me?” Said Daniel standing up and moving across the room, more to avoid backsplash than to distance his smell from the convulsing schoolgirl.
“No, I’m alright.” Izzy said, wafting cool air towards her reddening face. “Just a false alarm.”
Daniel hopped his backside up onto a corner table, which was littered with his bohemian headmistress’ icons to alternative gods. Miss Savage, the irony of such a name being pinned against such a gentle hippy not being lost on Daniel, certainly went that extra mile to solve the lack of romance in her life. Daniel picked up two of the outlandish-looking deities and began enacting a battle for supremacy, complete with well-honed sound effects.
Izzy giggled, the weight of recent events lifting from her shoulders.
“You’re cute.” She said, standing up and shuffling over to examine the theological statues herself.
“Do you want to go out with me?” She said, grimly expecting the usual negative response and burst of hurtful laughter.
Daniel had no strong feelings towards his classmate, but he felt this was not the time to keep either of them in a position of loneliness. They had been friendly, in a casual way, towards one another at times, so a strengthening of their bond would not, with any luck, affect Daniel’s comings and goings all that much.
He was a naturally-passionate soul, as the reader can probably discern.
“Can we wait until after you’ve brushed your teeth before we kiss?” He said, daring not to look up from his miming an epic battle for control of the Earth.
Izzy clasped an embarrassed hand to her mouth.
“Yes.” She said, in a muffled whisper.
“Then sure.” Daniel said, shrugging apathetically.
“You don’t have to.” Said Izzy, another frown passing over her face. “I just thought you liked me.”
Daniel said nothing, the pagan icons within his grip hanging indecisively in the air. Now here was a delicate situation. Daniel felt he did not not like her, but perhaps stepping over into a romantic entanglement was not really his scene. At least not at this point in his young life. He had a lot of toys to play with, which took up much of his private time.
Izzy broke the silence with a snort of her own.
“Some of the kids say you don’t even like girls.” She said, slamming a figurine down and stomping back to her seat. “So which boys do you fancy then?”
“Fuck off.” Said Daniel, throwing the stuffed help gods against the wall.
“Pick those up!” Said Izzy, folding her arms in a furious show of dominance.
“Go fuck yourself!” Said Daniel, rummaging through the lost and found box for a t-shirt and a pair of shorts and some plimsoles.
“Is it Stewart?” Said Izzy, a mischievous grin spreading across her freckled face. “You’re always looking at him, I’ve noticed.”
Daniel was now clothed and striding defiantly towards the door, ready to cause as much emotional distress as he possibly could. This one was for his bitch of a sister. His pathetic drunk of a mother. All the gossiping bastards in his class. His parade-float of a headmistress who just wanted to help. Fuck every last one of them, he thought.
“Shut up, you fat pig! Go stuff your fat-fucking-face with more shit and puke up some more!” He yelled. “I wouldn’t kiss you, even if you were Wincey Willis!”
He then stormed out of the office, slamming the door weakly behind him.
Izzy sat there in stunned silence. Apart from passing quarrels in the playground over petty game rules, she had never witnessed such a dramatic outburst. Children their age were usually trained to reel in their stronger feelings, and concentrate on more adult-friendly pursuits, such as sitting quietly not making any noise.
“Smelly gaylord.” She said, with a dismissive shrug of her own.
