Stutter Boy

Nate's POV

" M..Michael Clark.",

I say to the tired looking secretary sitting in front of the computer as I finally reach inside the hostel office of Westview high after standing in the enormous queue for almost an hour.

Tomorrow is the school reopening day and currently it's Sunday evening. That is the reason for this big crowd. Most of the people decided to come on Sunday evening like me and are now impatiently waiting in the queue to get their new room keys.

The secretary hurriedly types something on her computer. " Michael Nate Clark ?", she asks after a second and I nod. " New admission ?", I again nod. " Dorm B, 69 ", she then calls out to the other lady who was standing by the cupboards, fiddling inside boxes of keys. Soon enough the lady expertly tosses a key to the secretary's desk.

"Michael, you'll be staying in Dorm B, room no 69.", The secretary says in an extremely fast pace, handing me the key with 69 written on it.

" oh..o..okay.", I nod seeing her hurry and quickly take the key from her hands, hastily walking out of the queue.

I take my suitcase and bags from where I had placed it outside the office, before I stood in the line. Then I walk in direction of I don't actually know where. Because I am new in this boarding school and I don't have any idea where I'm going. I am supposed to be finding my dorm room now. After that I just have to unpack my stuff and rest till tomorrow morning. Tomorrow is my first day in this school.

If you are wondering why I'm in this school, then it's because, unfortunately last year I wrote a scholarship exam. I was one among the three people who got selected to this highly qualified boarding school in Texas called ' Westview High ' where I'll be studying for free along with scholarship for next one year as now I enrolled as a senior student. But I'm certainly not looking forward to this new high school experience.

At a point during last year, I had honestly thought to drop out of school when things became too difficult for me. I barely survived my previous high school which was only a few blocks away from home. And I honestly had no plan to enrol into this school, which is five hours away from my home in Oklahoma.

It was my parents and my older sister, Anna who forced me to this. Of course I tried to protest but there was no use. The fact that I'll get a good sum of scholarship amount every month didn't help me.

My life has always been trouble. It was never easy for me. Of course it was to a little extent. But that was until Alex left.

Alex was my big brother. He was nice, caring, protective of me. He was always there for me. He once even punched a boy from my middle school and broke his nose for making fun of me. Alex loved me so much. I loved him too. But he left me alone all of a sudden. I was 15 then and he was 19. It was a car accident. Now it's almost three years since that but I am barely out of shock.

I was always called and referred to as the stutter boy and it makes me feel sick. I can't get used to it or stop minding it. It really hurts me. Okay, I agree I stutter while speaking. I tried a lot to stop stuttering. But I couldn't do anything about it. And it worsened after Alex's death. I don't really know what to do about it anymore. But I am not stupid or anything. Why do I have to be called the stutter boy when I have a name ?

Only a few people in my previous high school knew my real name. I was like a toy to all those bullies in school, who would call me ' hey stutter boy, c'mere. Go buy us a soda and some snacks from the vending machine' or 'Stutter boy, have you finished the assignment I gave you yesterday ?' or ' M..m..mi..michael..w..w..what's up ?'

Now you might have got an idea about how horrible my school life was. But I don't actually stutter that much. I don't really know what satisfaction they all get by making fun of me and following me behind, fake stuttering. Sometimes I even gets punched and kicked around. But still after everything, I managed to somehow maintain my grades.

Anyway I have made a decision for this new high school. I'm not going to talk to anyone. I am going to stay mute, so that they won't find I have this speech deficiency and won't call me stutter boy again. I can't take it anymore.

I am here just to study and I am not going to indulge in any other things. I don't look at this school as a place to start new beginnings or a place to make some nice new friends. Because I know that won't happen. I know, at the end, I am just going to make a fool out of myself. People aren't nice.

Hmm..now I need to go and find my dorm. But Where's it ? I look at the key in my hands and at the number written over it. I am not even going to make a dirty comment about the room number but looking at it, I feel like I'm walking my ass into some new trouble.

After walking around for about ten minutes, I'm finally able to find Dorm B. I walk up the stairs, struggling with my big suitcase and bag.

Finally I reach in front of room 69. I take a deep breathe before pressing the key into the hole. I just only have one wish that my roommate is someone nice. After taking one more breathe, I slowly push open the door.

But there's no one inside the room. The room is almost empty. I mean there are furniture but there isn't any other luggage bags or anything. Seems like my roommate hasn't arrived yet. Good ! I can unpack my stuff in peace and afterwards rest peacefully.

Or it's really good if I don't actually have a roommate. But I have one another big problem. I am afraid to be alone in the dark. At home, I usually sleep with my bed lamp on. But if there's someone in the room, I am okay to sleep without light.

This fear also came to me after Alex's death. We used to share one room and I used to sleep hugging him. When suddenly he was gone, I was scared to be all alone. Anna moved to my room and stayed with me for an year. But then she was married off and was gone.

I start panicking unnecessarily, if suddenly the lights go off. But it's okay. I can quickly reach to my phone and turn on the flash. Besides I have a lamp and a lot of candles with me. So I don't mind if I don't have a roommate.

I look at the black clock sitting on the wall opposite to me. It shows 5: 10 Pm. I look around the room and it looks not bad. It's actually larger than I expected. And it looks pretty elegant and fresh. The floor is tiled white and the walls also are a clean white. I guess they paint every year.

There are two beds both wrapped with clean white bed sheets. There's a little space in between the beds and a small bedside table sits in the end, leaning to the wall. I can place my bed lamp there I guess. To the left corner is a big black table and two black fibre chairs. On the other side, there are cupboards and shelves to place our things. I smile looking around. I actually like the room.

Then I walk towards the bathroom. It has a cheep black fibre door but it actually looks good and matches with the black and white theme of the room. I open the door and inspect the bathroom. It's really clean and nice for a dorm bathroom.

I walk back and start unpacking my stuff, one by one. I guess I can take the cupboards and shelves on the right side as my roommate hasn't arrived yet. Hopefully he don't mind talking the one on the left.

It took me about two hours to unpack and arrange everything. I did it slowly as I had enough time and I didn't have anything else to do. After I am satisfied arranging the things, I place my empty suitcase and bags in a corner and take a t-shirt and shorts from the cupboard, walking towards the bathroom to finally take a shower.

I close the door and look at the bathroom mirror, smiling at my reflection. I have long and slightly curly light brown hair with baby blue eyes and a dimpled smile with prominent cheek bones. If I didn't stutter, I think people would have called me cute or handsome. But I stutter and I am nothing but a weird nerd to people.

But my Mom still says I am cute. And Alex used to call me cutie. Like when he comes back from school, he would yell ' Hey ! I'm home. where's my cutie ?' and I would run down the stairs, giggling. I really miss it all.

I step into the large stainless steel shower after taking my clothes off and turns it on. I shiver a little as cool water flows down my hair, forehead, chin and down my bare untanned chest with barely noticeable abs.

After about twenty minutes, I step out of the shower and throw on the t-shirt and shorts I earlier took from the cupboard. I step back into the room and look at the bed on the right. I had already picked that bed and my phone was lying on it. So I walk to it and sit on the edge. I take my phone in my hands and lie down with it, deciding to watch some movie on Netflix as I have nothing else to do. And I end up watching Avengers again.

Sometime later, a bell rings out of nowhere, almost startling me. I look at the phone and see the time 8 Pm. That might be mess bell for dinner. Anyway I'm not going. I'm not hungry.

An hour later, I'm bored. I put my phone aside after setting alarm at 6. I turn my night lamp on and the lights out before lying back again and pulling the cover up, shifting to my side and curling up, waiting for sleep.

Tomorrow won't be that bad. Maybe it's actually time for new beginnings.

Ethan's POV

" C'mon..Ethan ! Wake up. It's already 6:30.", My Mom yells in my ear whilst shaking me hard.

" Ahhhh...! Go away Mom.", I groan yanking away her hands and digging my head, deep into the pillow, closing my both ears with my palm in order to block her loud, high pitched voice. Why the hell is she yelling in my ear ? Stupid Mom.

"Ethan ! It's 6:30 already. Even if you start from here right now, you would only reach there at 9. And taxi's already waiting at the gates since five minutes. "

" What !? 6: 30 ?", I instantly jump up from the bed, suddenly becoming aware of why she is yelling. There's almost two and a half hour journey to my school and I need to reach there before 9, then get my new room key and place my luggage in my room before going to class.

" Yeah, 6:30.", My mom points at the alarm clock.

" Oh heck ! Didn't I tell you to call me at 6 ? Where were you Mom ?", I ask in exasperation whilst brushing my unruly hair backward.

My Mom leaves a sigh of disdain. " Didn't you tell me you'd set alarm at 6 and I don't need to call you ? I thought you were taking a shower.", she says furiously. I look at the alarm clock. I had in fact set the alarm yesterday night. Maybe I unconsciously turned it off.

My Mom continues angrily. "Now, how are you gonna reach school in time ? You need to first get your dorm key from the office right ? Didn't I tell you to go yesterday itself. Now look what happened. Why are you so irresponsible Ethan ?"

" Ahh..okay okay, stop. I would reach there in time. I just need to change.", I say and rush to my wardrobe. " Don't worry Mom. I would just place my luggage in the office or somewhere and go to room, evening.", I say whilst hurriedly taking out a shirt and jeans. My Mom just rolls her eyes at me.

" Quick ! It's your first day of senior year.", she informs me before walking out of the room.

I quickly brush my teeth and change into the shirt and pants I took. Good that I had already took a bath yesterday night. Then I hastily pull my luggage out of my room and rush out deciding to comb my hair in the taxi.

I look at the room near me. My little sister's room. How could I go without saying Goodbye to her ? But if I go to say bye now, I would get more late. I don't actually mind getting late to school as I haven't been so good at discipline from the beginning itself. Last year I usually went ten or fifteen minutes late to class. But now the thing is, taxi is waiting for me downstairs.

Damn ! Let him wait. I would pay him more, if he insists. I quickly rush into Eveline's room. There's no way I am going without telling her. Or she is gonna punch me hard when I come back this weekend. I don't really wanna turn into her punching bag.

" Hey Eve ! ", I yell rushing into her room. She was peacefully lying asleep on her bed in a cute ball. She is just 6.

Eve slowly flutters open her eyes as I shake her. I smile at her as she opens her eyes and smiles at me. " Good morning Eve. Look, your big bro is late for school on the first day itself."

" Oh..! ", she gasps looking at the alarm clock near her. " okay then rush ! I don't wanna g..get you late.", she says. I smile and kiss her on both her cheeks. " Bye Eve. Have a good day at school."

" Bye Eddie.", She says and kiss my cheeks.

" Oh..Ethan ! Enough Rush ! ", My Mom says from the doors, holding a lunch box in her hands. I quickly turn and rush out of the room

" Here..I made you sandwich. Have this in the car.", she says and hands me the tiffin. " Don't skip breakfast.", she warns with a threatening gaze.

" Thanks Mom.", I smile taking the tiffin from her hands and quickly planting a kiss on her cheeks before rushing down the stairs, yelling 'Bye Mom.' I didn't have time to turn back or observe her reaction but I bet she was standing there, smiling at me.

I get into the taxi after throwing my luggage inside the trunk. Soon enough the driver turns the key in the ignition and starts up the taxi whilst heaving a sigh, pulling it off of the sides, driving in direction of my school, Westview high in Texas.

The driver, Mr John is familiar as he is the one who takes me to school after weekends. I actually have a car but I don't need a car at school since I am staying at dorm. So my Mom alternatively use my car and when I come back on weekends, I use it to go and meet old friends and also to take Eve to park and shopping and stuff.

My Mom is a lawyer, one of the famous lawyers in our place. I don't like to talk about my Dad. But let me tell a bit. It's three years since he left us and married an other women. He sometimes calls and texts me and visits me at school, once or twice in a year. So my Mom and sister is all I have.

Between I'm studying in Westview with an athletic Football scholarship. There is absolutely no fees. Tuition and dorm stay are all free. I got the scholarship while I was in sophomore year and I was of course not a fool to miss the golden opportunity that came to me. Westview is such a reputed school with excellent faculty and infrastructure. Also we have a highly skilled Football coach and we get excellent football training.

I lean back in the seat and close my eyes, deciding to take a nap as it takes almost two and half hours to the university.

I wake up to Mr John calling my name. I look out of the window and see we are almost near Westview. It would take only fifteen more minutes to reach there. Mr John always calls me fifteen minutes before so that I can have my breakfast.

I quickly open the lunch box Mom gave me and have the sandwich. By the time I finish it, we are in front of my School. I look at my wrist watch and see the time 9:05.

" Shoot ! I am late.", I say taking my wallet out of my back pocket. I quickly pay Mr John for the ride and then get my luggage out of the trunk.

After saying bye to Mr John, I rush towards the dorm office where our secretary Miss Rose is sitting on her chair in front of the computer, reading a book. She looks up from the book and looks at me, probably on hearing my fast footsteps.

" Oh Ethan, you are late again.", she states. She knows me very well as I am in the football team and I am popular in school and dorm.

" Yeah.", I nod with a grin. " Hey, can I leave my luggage here and go to class now ? I will come and collect them along with my room key evening."

Miss Rose leaves a sigh. " Okay.", she nods. "Now rush to class."

" Thanks.", I smile at her and quickly rush out of the office. My first class starts at 9:15 and It's already past 9:15. So I quickly run in search of my class, not wanting to be late on my first day itself.

Ethan's POV

I have Geography for first hour and within five minutes I manage to reach the class. As expected Mr Henry is in the class. He sighs on seeing me at the doors but doesn't say anything and motions me to get in. Good he decided not to lecture about discipline on the first day itself.

One hour went by quickly. Mr Henry just gave an intro about the syllabus and introduced himself to the new students. There were a few new students in our class. Every year our school conducts scholarship exams in various schools across the country and gives admission to the students who come in top ranks.

During the break, I walk towards the cafeteria to meet with Kevin, Tony, Sophia and Amelia. The five of us comprises one of the popular gangs in college. Both Tony and Kevin are with me in Football. In fact it's from there we became friends. Sophia is Tony's girlfriend. Both Sophia and Amelia are in the cheerleading team.

" Hey Ethan ! ", Amelia shouts on seeing me walking into the cafeteria. I frown a little at her clothing. She is only wearing a thin fiery red camisole and a very short white skirts, freely exposing her body to everyone in the cafeteria. Anyway she doesn't notice me frowning as I am at some distance from them. I am sure she is definitely going to try something with me today. I shake my head in displeasure.

But I admit she is hot. She has curly blond hair and bright blue eyes. I've even hooked up with her a few times. That was at parties during the first few months after I joined this school. I'd probably have got hooked up again if only I didn't know she slept with most of the guys on the football team. Not only football team but also basketball and volleyball team. That's when I understood the girl is a total slut. But then we were already a team and I couldn't suddenly leave.

Sophia is a little bit nice girl though, not completely. But I really want her to break up with Tony as he is a total slut. He cheats on her ever too often but I can't understand why Sophia doesn't break up with him yet. Maybe the girl is so in love with him and his money and popularity or she is too liberal to not mind her boyfriend sleeping with other girls. Maybe she also cheats on him but I haven't heard any such news yet. I think she at least has some respect for her body unlike Amelia.

Kevin too is a bitch. He is extremely intimidating and his main fun activity is bullying weak people and making fun of them. Tony, Amelia and Sophia too enjoy it. Kevin almost got suspended last year for cyberbullying two girls but he somehow got out of it. Probably with money and influence. He is incredibly rich.

You might now be wondering why I am talking like this about the people I said are my friends. Actually I don't see them as my friends and I hate being with them. But I can't leave the gang as they are too dangerous and won't hesitate to go to any extent if I go against them. I will have to eventually leave the football team and I can't let that happen. So I am just going to pretend to be their friend until I graduate. Just one more year.

" Hey..! ", I say and sit down beside Tony with a fake smile plastered on my face. Amelia is opposite of me. She lean a bit forward exposing her cleavage to me. I look away chuckling awkwardly. "So Ethan, how was vacation.", she asks in a seductive tone.

" Good. ", I respond, not really looking at her. I know this girl has a special something for me. She is trying hard to seduce me since the last time we got hooked up. But sadly her efforts doesn't work.

" So what shall we order ?", Tony asks.

" I am not really hungry.", I respond.

Kevin then claps his hands loudly and calls out to someone. " Hey..! "

" Me ?", a tiny girl with glasses and hair braided into two fish tails asks pointing at herself. Looks like she is a freshman.

" Yes you !", Kevin says staring at her intimidatingly. " come over here.", he motions his hands and the girl walks to us nervously. I leave an inaudible sigh. This poor girl is our today's prey. " Go buy us five orange juice and some snacks from there.", Kevin points to the counter.

" Why should I ?", the girl frowns.

" Oh why should you, hmm ?", Amelia stands up from her chair and grabs the girl's round glasses from her face in one swift motion. The girl surely didn't expect that coming.

" My glasses.", she stutters in fear. Amelia laughs and hands the glasses to Kevin.

" Go buy us the things we said or I am going to crush this thing under my feet.", Kevin says dropping the glasses from his hands but quickly catching it with his other hand.

" No..! Please no..I'll go and buy.", the girl says in panic and rushes towards the counter. On the way she stumbles on a few chairs and people. Seems like she can't see properly without those glasses. Every time she stumbles, the monsters beside me laugh out loud. In fact I also laugh along with them. I know I am no better than them.

The girl comes back struggling with hand full of juice and snacks and place them on the table in front of us. " Good.", Tony says, already sipping on a juice box.

" My glasses.", she whispers.

" Amelia, don't you think this glasses are a bit too old fashioned?", Kevin asks looking at Amelia.

" Yeah, I think so.", Amelia replies with a mischievous smile.

" That's it.", Kevin says and drop the glasses on the floor. The girl gasps and bends down to pick the broken glasses but Kevin steps on it with his spiky sneaker and crushes it into pieces under his feet.

"Go buy a new model one. That was too old.", Sofia chirps with a smile while a tear slips out of the corner of the girl's eyes. I had to fight hard to control myself. My fist was clenched tightly under the table. If someone did something like this to my sister, I would have beaten them up into a pulp by now.

The girl then runs away, crying. I don't know how long I'd continue like this without reacting. To everyone I am just one among the monsters when I don't really want to be one. And this year I'm sure they are gonna be really harsh as we are now seniors.

The bell rings and we stand up from our chairs. This hour is Calculus for me. Unfortunately Kevin and Amelia are also with me in this class. Amelia tries to cling to my shoulder as we walks towards the class. I try to discreetly shrug her off but the girl can't take a hint. She remains clung to my side. Her perfume and everything makes me sick inside. I don't really know what I should do. Nowadays I feel myself a pathetic person. I can't tear off that girl's teary face from my mind. Hope I won't have to see another girl crying today.