Tied Together Read Online Free

heard was flattering. Three other guys I didn’t know flanked Ted and obscured my vision of the kid.
    “What’s up, gentlemen?” I said, startling them. Their meaty heads turned in my direction, and I soon realized how big football players got. I wasn’t a small guy, either. I took care of my body and had a major growth spurt last year. In height, I was comparable to Ted, who was the tallest one in the group.
    All four of them glared at me, and I crossed my arms over my chest.
    “What do you want, fag?” Ted sneered.
    “What’s going on with you and my friend here?” I nodded toward the direction of the kid behind them.
    Ted barked out a laugh, and his three companions joined him like a pack of trained puppies.
    “I should’ve known this nerd was a faggot, too. Do all of you homos sit under trees and read poems to each other? Are there fairies prancing around?” He flexed both hands up and down, skipping in a circle. The laughter between the guys increased at Ted’s display. I tried to take in the sight before me and turn it into something ridiculous in my mind, like Ted dancing as a fairy at a pride parade. If I didn’t think happy thoughts, I would attempt to introduce Ted’s mouth to a fistful of grass and dirt.
    “Love the skipping, Ted. Actually…” I rubbed my chin. “Did you do that lovely touchdown dance after the football coach helped you hide the fact that you tried to rape your homecoming date? I bet that was a real cause for celebration.”
    Ted froze and stared at me, his eyes wide and jaw clenched. His face turned crimson and he clamped his fists so tight I swore he was about to pop a vein. His three partners looked at him, gaped, and took a few steps away from him.
    “You don’t know what you’re fucking talking about, faggot,” he hissed through his teeth.
    “Really,” I said as calm as a cucumber and checked the nonexistent dirt under my fingernails. “Because I heard there was audio of a confession floating around. It would be a real shame for that to get into the wrong hands.”
    Before I could say anything else, Ted was nose to nose with me. His breath smelled like nicotine and his brown eyes twitched like a crazed psychopath. “If you utter one more fucking word I will demolish you.”
    “Yeah, see… that wouldn’t look so good on your record since there are four witnesses standing here.” I looked around Ted and wiggled my fingers at his friends.
    “They’d back me up.” Ted thumbed back at his friends. But his friends looked at each other like they’d be more than willing to let Ted take the fall if they were to get in trouble. Oh the joy of having fake friendships.
    Instead of taking the threat any further, he backed away from me, nodded toward his friends to follow, and walked passed me, ramming his shoulder against mine as he went. I watched him and his friends as they walked away, and I made sure he didn’t change his mind and decide to pounce on me after all. When I was comfortable with his distance, I turned back to look at the person who was the target of Ted’s wrath. He stood there looking at the ground, his floppy chestnut hair hanging in his eyes.
    “Hey, you okay?”
    He finally looked up, and I got my first view of what I thought were the most perfect pair of brown eyes. His shaggy hair curled at the nape of his neck, giving him an almost skater-boy appearance. He was also shorter than me and thinner, for sure. I could see where hair on his chin and jaw was trying to make a five o’clock shadow. His thin right shoulder slouched downward, which only made the already loose shirt look like it would slip off this shoulder
    “Yeah, I’m fine. Thanks,” he whispered.
    “No problem. Ted and his friends are assholes, from what I hear.”
    He titled his head to the side. “You don’t go to this school, so how would you know him?”
    “I’ve got a friend on the track team, and I was here watching the meet.” I pointed to the track. “He told me about