Finding love - 3. Chapter 3

“Hey buddy, any plans tonight,” Noah asked while fixing his hair.

“Nope, just staying home tonight; Mark has a date,” I replied plopping down on his bed. “So where’s the big party at tonight?”

“Alice’s parents are out of town and she’s throwing a ragger. It’s going to be epic.”

“When will you be home?”

“I’m going to be out late. Mom lifted my curfew,” he said and turned and smiled at me.

“Lucky. It’s not like I have that many friends anyhow,” a tear escaped my eye.

“Hey, don’t be down on yourself. You’ll make new friends soon enough.”

“I miss my friends.”

“Look Mattie, they obviously weren’t your friends if they couldn’t handle when you came out. A true friend wouldn’t run away, a true friend like Mark.”

“Yeah I guess.”

“The guys should be here soon, why don’t you stay in here and use my X-Box and big screen.”

Noah picked up his phone as it chimed “The guys are here. Will you be alright?”

I nodded my head but I wasn’t really sure.

“Mom and Dad are out and Nathan is with his friends and Nick is who knows where. You got the house to yourself… just no porn.” Noah said and ruffled my hair, kissed my forehead and left.

I played X-Box for a bit but it sucks when you’re the only player. I left the room and went downstairs and sat in the recliner with the TV on a cooking channel. I was startled awake by someone pounding on the door.

“Jesus Nathan, did you forget your keys again,” I said while opening the door.

“Young man, I am looking for Mr. or Mrs. Jacobs.” The officer said.

“They aren’t home. Is there something I can help you with?”

“Can you get a hold of them? We have an urgent issue that needs their attention.”

Right on cue Dad’s F-150 came roaring up the street and into the driveway and mom jumped out of the car at sight of the police car.

“Is something wrong?”

“Are you Mrs. Jacobs?” mom nodded in the affirmative and dad walked over.

“There is no easy way to say this but your son Noah has been in an accident and didn’t make it.”

I heard mom scream and start crying and I felt my whole world falling apart.

“Mattie, wake up,” I heard mom say while shaking my arm.

“What… what’s going on?”

“You must have had a bad nightmare; I was in the kitchen when I heard an ear piercing scream.”

“I was dreaming about the night Noah died,” I said and broke into tears.

“I thought as much,” mom said as she sat next to me on the bed and held me. “He was your world.”

“Is everything ok?” Dad asked coming into the room.

“Yes honey, it was just a bad dream.”

“You might consider the Olympics dear. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone move like that. I don’t even think you touched the stairs.”

“Mom! Dad!” Nick yelled from downstairs.

“Come downstairs and let’s talk.” Mom said and the three of us descended the stairs.

“Hello Nick,” Dad said taking a seat in his recliner. “Why is the TV paused?”

“You got to see this. Matt made the news.”

“He what?” Mom gasped looking over at Nick.

“Watch.” He replied as he unpaused the TV.

“I’m Tracy Wilkins here at Bowie High School, where a video was posted this afternoon showing a student being bullied and the teacher joining in. I’ll have more on the student and local reaction from some of the parents coming up.”

Nick blasted past the commercials and the news segment resumed.

“Bowie High School has been in the news for the past few years with various issues surrounding the school,” Jim Handley the news anchor said. “The school has been through 10 principals in the past 5 years.”

“From fights to bomb threats, no one has been able to control the school. Earlier today on TikTok a video was posted showing a young man being bullied by his peers and the teacher,” Doreen Genzler the news anchor said. “Our Prince George’s County Bureau Chief Tracy Wilkins has more.”

“Thanks Jim and Doreen. The student was identified by multiple people as Matthew Jacobs a sophomore here at the school. We understand from talking to some students and from the video that the bullying was over the recent loss of Noah Jacobs.”

“Noah was Matt’s older brother, his hero,” Brody Andrews said. “It devastated the whole family, me included.”

“Were you friends with Noah?”

“He was like a brother to me; I am friends with his brother Nathan.”

Off camera came the angry voice of Brody’s mother “Brody what are you doing?”

“Ok, looks like we have a bit of an issue here,” Tracy said as the camera focused on her. “Let’s take a look here at the video.”

It wasn’t just a short TikTok video, it was the whole clip that included me wetting myself. I tried to bury myself into my mother.

“Son of biscuit eater” Dad shouted.

“This whole generation and video everything; I know it was Mark.” Mom fumed. “Turn this crap off.”

Mom and Dad’s phone’s started to go nuts with messages and calls. I just hung my head as mom and dad paced around talking to their parents. I don’t know what I am going to do now.

“Turn off all your phones,” Mom said. “Where in the hell is Nathan?”

“Let me text him,” Nick said.

“Matt, are you ok?” Dad asked coming to sit next to me.

I shook my head no and he pulled me into him and I started to cry all over again. There was a knock at the door and it was my Uncles Ron and Tony.

“Ron thanks so much for coming over,” Mom said and kissed his cheek.

“Anything for family,” He said and smiled.

“Mom sure works fast,” Dad said looking at his brother.

“Considering we live close to you and were watching the news too. Is it true they suspended you?” Ron asked

“Yeah they did.”

“It was uncalled for and if anyone should be suspended it should be the teacher and that damn principal.” Mom said

Uncle Tony had been rather quiet and was observing the situation.

“I’ve been asked to come out of retirement,” he said.

“For what?” Dad asked.

“You remember I was a principal in the south part of the county. I turned that school around and ran a tight ship. Laura asked me if I would consider coming to Bowie and using my iron fist.”

“You did make a big difference.” Uncle Ron said. “Why am I just hearing this for the first time?”

“I met with Laura today actually and didn’t get the chance to talk to you. I did give her one condition though. I want you to be one of the assistant principals.”

We were interrupted by Nathan and Brody coming in the door.

“Dad, the front yard is filled with media people,” Nathan said placing his football gear by the stairs.

Dad walked over to the big bay window and drew the privacy curtain and sure enough the media was out front.