“They think that I’m a slut too?” I asked, realising the slurs thrown at me around school were more than just jealousy of what me and the guys had. They were what people thought of me, that because I had opened my heart up to four guys, instead of one, it meant I had loose morals and was a slut, a whore, and all of the other names I had been given in the last two days in school.
The realisation that the other boys in school also not only agreed, but hoped to gain from it, rather than slander me for it, was even more horrifying.
My mind was racing, trying to catch up with the truth and decide if it was true. Did it make me immoral and slutty to love and have deep feelings for four guys? I knew it wasn’t a normal relationship, but I had never once stopped to think that it was wrong. How could it ever be wrong when it made me and my guys so happy and content? I loved every one of them, and was sure they loved me too. We weren’t sleeping together, but even if we were, would it be so bad? Did it really make me a whore?
“Livy, don’t say that again. I told you, the guys thinking like that are losers who barely have a brain cell between them.” Cole hissed, annoyed, with whom I wasn’t sure though.
“There is nothing wrong with what we have, Mi Amado. Yes, it’s different and people don’t always get it, but that doesn’t matter. We all know what we feel for each other, and that what we have is special. Who and how we choose to love is absolutely no one’s business but ours. Don’t you dare let anyone make you think otherwise.” Matt added passionately.
“But other guys...they’re going to think it’s a free-for-all, right? Like Steve, and that Kurtis guy? They’re going to keep trying to touch me, to harass me?” I asked, my voice trembling.
“That’s not going to happen. Matt and I will make it clear that you are off limits, and we’ll take care of you. Charlie, and a couple of our other friends too. We’re all going to have your back.” Cole said firmly. I took a deep breath and tried to keep calm. Despite everything swirling around school. I didn’t regret being honest and proud of our relationship. I had meant what I said, that I didn’t want it to be some dirty little secret. If I was to start that week all over again, I wouldn’t change that, so now I knew I just had to get through the repercussions of that admission, as best I could.
I made a firm decision in my mind, that there was nothing wrong with the relationship I was very happily a part of. I told myself that having true, deep feelings for all four of my guys did not make me a bad person. I loved them, and they loved me. There was no rule for soul mates, and I was pretty sure I had four. Screw what anyone else thought. I was not letting them go, no matter what I had to endure because of it. They were worth every damned second.
***
It was official, gym class was definitely the worst of all of my classes. Matt and I were in his truck, on the way home, Cole having stayed for football practice.
I was curled up, my knees pressed into my chest as I tried hard not to groan in pain, all of my muscles aching from the basketball we had just played for the last hour. The guys had worked hard to protect me, but the coach kept on shouting at them to get into the game, so I had been knocked down hard to the floor repeatedly, every time the guys moved from my side. It seemed while some of the girls had become bored of harassing me, May and her followers, along with several others were making it their mission in life to taunt me.
I managed to survive that, albeit with what I knew would be some huge bruises later, only to enter the locker room and find those same girls crowding the entrance, waiting for me so they could glare and hiss insults as I passed, all led by May.
Deciding to rise above once again, I bypassed them all with my head held high, and grabbed my clothes from my locker, then slipped into a cubicle to change.
By the time I came out, the room had mostly cleared and I got out without any further grief.
“What is it Cariña? You’re so quiet?” Matt asked as he drove.
“I’m just tired Matt. That gym class is hell, especially on top of what already feel like really long days. I just don’t think I have enough energy for school days yet.” I sighed.
“I’m sure it would help if you weren’t spending gym class fighting for your life.” Matt grumbled. I knew they were both mad about what some of the girls in school were putting me through, but honestly, I could care less. Yes, it bothered me that they thought they could push me around and shame me for who I chose to be with, but the actual attempts at bullying were pretty lame compared to the hell I had been through.
“I can deal with that.” I assured him, hating for any of them to be worrying about me. I caused them enough worry with the things I couldn’t control.
“I’m going to speak to Dad, see if we can use that as a study session instead. It’s not like we don’t all work out enough at home. Even you - you work out with Kyle regularly. We don’t need to be putting you through that
