NEPHY'S WORLD: Wednesday Brief Cyan Ch 10

Well what do you know, another Wednesday and another flash. This week I chose the prompt

It's in less in the sense of time flying but more the past catching up. I also have a character jogging

The day passed in relative peace, except that Gillian wouldn’t leave Robin alone.

When her initial attempt to persuade him that he hadn’t really meant to break up with her didn’t work, she tried to wheedle her way into friendship. That was harder to get out of.

“Nothing good will come of it,” Aivah warned him, and he knew she was right, but what could he do?

It certainly seemed that Gillian was making more of an effort to be civil to Cyan, but she still couldn’t help little barbs shooting out. It was clear she didn’t like him, and was only suffering him because she knew full well she would be out of the group once and for all if she didn’t.

On the up side, Gillian’s re-inclusion into the group, and her civility toward Cyan did a lot to influence the general mood of the school toward him.

Once he realized he was no longer the focus of negative attention, Cyan began to relax and his whole personality seemed to change. He morphed from someone who was polite and pleasant, but quiet and reserved, to someone who was eloquent, funny and academically brilliant.

If Robin had enjoyed his company before, he now hung on every word and gesture. It seemed as if the light in the classroom, which had been dimmed by the gloomy weather outside, had suddenly got a lot brighter. Even Gillian seemed to forget her animosity for a time.

The pattern continued over the next few days, and Robin began to think things were going to be okay. Now he’d relaxed and was showing his true character, Cyan was beginning to charm everyone.

The little group of friends grew and. Robin knew he should be happy that Cyan was making so many new friends, but there was something bitter about the fact Cyan’s focus was no longer entirely on him. That wasn’t t say he didn’t still stay close to Robin whenever he could, or that his eyes didn’t light up every time Robin came into the room. It was just that he didn’t seem to need him anymore, not really.

Having examined his feelings, Robin decided they were entirely selfish. Why shouldn’t Cyan have his own friends? Why should he always rely on Robin for his security? Objectively, he could see he was being unreasonable and unfair, but that didn’t change a thing. He still bristled whenever anyone else dominated Cyan’s attention or dared to lure him away for some activity that didn’t involve Robin.

Part of the feeling, Robin decided, was that he still wasn’t entirely certain they weren’t sitting under a sword of Damocles. He was absolutely certain that Gillian had something up her sleeve. He couldn’t tell whether it involved Cyan or not, and she was doing her very best to hide it, but something was definitely up with her.

On Friday morning, Robin met Cyan at the gate as usual and walked down into the school side by side. They were surrounded by the usual morning bustle, and no one really paid them any mind. Cyan was excited about something he’d read the night before, and was talking non-stop. He didn’t notice the atmosphere change, but Robin did.

By the time they entered the school building, almost every eye was on them, and there was a lot of whispering going on. Robin groaned inwardly. Oh no. What had she done? He had no doubt whatever was going on had something to do with Gillian. Neither did he have any doubt that it was going to be real trouble. The only thing he was unsure of, was whether it was directed at him or Cyan. He prayed it was him. He was

wrong.

As they walked along the corridor toward the sixth form common room, Cyan caught on that something was wrong, and looked around him at the silent, staring children.

“What’s going on?”

“I have no idea. Hey, what are you staring at?” The girl Robin had shouted at stared at him with wide eyes, then turned and fled.

Then they passed a little knot of boys and one of them said, loud enough to be heard. “Got what he deserved. Fag.”

Robin was going to stop and have it out with the boy. To tear a strip off him for using that word and to find out what was going on when a call from ahead drew his attention.

“Robin.” It was Alex. He jogged down the crowded corridor toward them. “Get him out of here. Now.”

“What the hell’s going on?”

“I’ll tell you later. He looked around nervously, then dragged Robin through the nearest door. Cyan followed, looking scared.”

“Alex, we can’t go in here,” Cyan said. “It’s a teacher’s room.”

“Don’t worry. None of the teachers will mind today.”

“What’s going on?”

“This.” Alex handed Robin a piece of paper. It looked like a copy of a newspaper article.

“What—?”

“Read it. They’re all over the school.”

Robin frowned, puzzled, then glanced at the heading. His heart stopped and he was almost too afraid to read on. He tried not to look at the picture that accompanied the article.

When he’d finished reading, he scrunched the paper into a ball and squeezed it in his hand, too angry to speak.

“What is it?” Cyan asked, nervously. “What have I done?”

“It’s not what you’ve done.”

“Let me see.”

“No way.”

“I’m going to find out soon enough,” Cyan said reasonably. Robin knew he was right, and wasn’t it better it happened here, with friends to support him? His common sense told him it was the right thing to do. His heart told him Cyan was about to be destroyed and he couldn’t bear it to be by him.

“What is it?” Cyan insisted.

Robin thought of the words that screamed from the paper in his hand. The heading that read –‘Schoolboy Raped and Beaten in Brutal Anti-Gay Attack’

“Gillian,” he spat with venom.

Now, why don't you go ahead and read the rest of the flashes. You'll find them all, with a teaser of their work at

Rob Colton