they mocked him humiliated him pushed him around but they had no idea who they were messing with the bus ride to Lincoln Heights Missouri was long and quiet Dorian leaned against the window watching the scenery shift from crowded streets to suburban neighborhoods where every house looked like a copy of the last it wasn't his first time being the new kid but this move felt different his mom had taken a better job and his uncle had told him to see it as a fresh start but fresh starts didn't exist when you look like him in a
town like this the moment he stepped onto Richmond High's campus he felt it the pause in conversation when he walked past the way some of the students glanced at him then looked away like they hadn't just been staring the teachers were polite almost overly so their smiles a little too tight their voices just a bit too careful Dorian didn't react he'd been here before the first few periods went by without much issue he took his seat answered when called on and kept his focus on the work but by lunch the feeling of being watched had
settled in like an itch beneath his skin tray in hand he scanned the cafeteria for a place to sit most tables were already full groups locked in conversations that didn't include him a few students exchanged looks whispering then he spotted an empty seat near a guy who seemed too busy scrolling through his phone to care it wasn't ideal but it would do Dorian had barely set his tray down when a voice cut through the noise you lost he turned a blond guy with an easy smirk and too much confidence leaned back in his chair a
few others at his table watching with amusement Dorian exhaled slowly didn't know I needed a map the guy chuckled shaking his head just making sure not a lot of new faces around here Dorian caught the hesitation in his voice the unspoken part of that sentence he met the guy's stare his expression unreadable guess I'm the exception the smirk widened but there was something else behind it amusement interest maybe something else welcome to Ridgemont man Dorian didn't say anything just sat down and picked up his fork the message was clear this was just the beginning but
what started as a few looks and whispers was about to turn into something much worse at first it was just little things a few side comments in the hallways whispered loud enough for him to hear didn't know they let guys like him in here wonder how long he'll last nothing he hadn't heard before Dorian ignored it he wasn't here to entertain their ignorance but Bryce wasn't the type to let things go unnoticed Bryce Tanner had the kind of confidence that came from knowing no one would ever check him his dad owned half the car dealerships
in town and his crew followed him like he was some kind of royalty quarterback student body golden boy the kind of guy who got away with anything and for whatever reason Bryce had decided that Dorian being at Ridgmont was a problem the first real test came at Dorian's locker he was swapping out his books when a sharp bump knocked him forward his shoulder hit the metal the sound echoing down the hall oops Bryce said his voice all fake innocence didn't see you there Dorian didn't react he finished grabbing his notebook and shut his locker kept
his movements slow controlled if he gave them nothing they'd get bored Bryce laughed you're quiet huh that's cool real cool Dorian turned looked at him not angry not scared just looking for a second Bryce's smirk flickered then one of his friends Nick or maybe Kyle they all blended together muttered something and Bryce grinned again catch you later new guy Dorian watched them walk away the hallway noise returned that was the first time the second time it was in the cafeteria Dorian was heading toward the trash cans when a foot shot out it wasn't subtle it
wasn't meant to be his body jolted forward but he caught himself before he could fall laughter Bryce held up his hands relax man it was a joke Dorian didn't say anything he didn't look at him he just stepped over Bryce's foot and kept walking more laughter someone muttered too easy Dorian clenched his jaw his uncle's voice echoed in his head a lion doesn't flinch when the hyenas bark he exhaled let it go but that wasn't enough for them because the third time the third time Bryce made sure it wasn't just a joke and that's when
things changed it was after school and Dorian had just finished up in the library most of the students were already gone the parking lot half empty he wasn't in a rush his mom wouldn't be home from work for a few hours and he didn't mind taking his time as he stepped outside he heard voices too familiar hey new guy Dorian barely had time to react before something smacked against his back hard he staggered forward catching himself before he hit the pavement laughter he turned slowly Bryce stood there flanked by Nick Kyle and a couple of
other guys whose names didn't matter Bryce was still holding his drink cup the last few drops dripping from his fingers damn my bad Bryce said not even trying to sound sorry didn't see you there Dorian glanced down his hoodie was splattered with soda ice cubes scattered at his feet silence stretched between them other students lingering in the lot had stopped to watch Dorian inhaled through his nose steadying himself Bryce smirked come on man say something Dorian didn't he just started to walk past him that's when Bryce shoved him it wasn't playful it wasn't just a
joke it was forceful meant to provoke Dorian stumbled back a step his breath was calm his fingers flexed at his sides Bryce laughed what you scared Nick stepped forward grinning nah man he's just soft Dorian had spent his whole life hearing walk away he could hear his uncle's voice in his head keep your hands in your pockets don't give them what they want but right now Bryce wasn't looking for an easy laugh he wasn't just playing around he wanted a reaction he wanted to prove something Dorian took one last deep breath then he set down
his backpack Bryce raised an eyebrow oh you got something to say now Dorian didn't answer he just rolled his shoulders back Bryce chuckled man you that was as far as he got Dorian moved one step in quick clean a left faint just enough to make Bryce react then a sharp right hook straight to his ribs the sound was sickening Bryce's breath shot out in a choked gasp as his body folded but Dorian wasn't done a pivot an uppercut perfect form Bryce's head snapped back and before he could even think about staying on his feet his
legs gave out he hit the pavement hard silence Nick and the others stared mouths open Dorian stepped back adjusting his hoodie his breath steady controlled Bryce groaned rolling onto his side Dorian finally spoke you done Bryce didn't answer he just coughed Dorian looked at the others anyone else no one moved Dorian grabbed his backpack and slung it over his shoulder he walked away without another word but what happened in that parking lot wasn't over it was just the beginning by the next morning the entire school knew Dorian didn't have to check his phone to figure
that out the way people looked at him said everything the stairs weren't just curiosity anymore they were different some were impressed some were nervous a few looked at him like they were seeing him for the first time Bryce wasn't in school that part didn't surprise him taking a hit like that in front of half the parking lot wasn't something you bounced back from overnight Nick and Kyle they kept their distance Dorian walked into class like nothing had happened sat down pulled out his notebook business as usual but that didn't mean people were done talking at
lunch as he moved through the cafeteria conversations quieted when he passed people whispered a few nodded like they suddenly respected him some freshmen kids who hadn't even spoken to him before acted like he was some kind of legend and then there were the others damn didn't know new guy had hands someone muttered as he walked by Bryce had it coming another voice added heard he's not coming back for a week Dorian ignored it he wasn't here to be a hero he wasn't looking for validation then as he sat down he heard something else he's just
another violent thug the words were soft but not soft enough Dorian turned his head slightly a couple of girls at a nearby table one of them a brunette with expensive looking jewelry and an expression like she smelled something bad looked away when she realized he'd heard her his stomach clenched that was the thing about moments like these no matter how justified you were no matter how right the situation felt someone always found a way to twist it but he didn't regret it Bryce had gone looking for a fight Dorian just made sure he got one
still the weight of it all sat on him he had spent years training years controlling himself years walking away that wasn't weakness that was strength so why did it feel like no matter what choice he made people had already decided who he was but Dorian was about to learn that real strength wasn't just about throwing a punch it was about what came next by the next morning the entire school knew Dorian didn't have to check his phone to figure that out the way people looked at him said everything the stairs weren't just curiosity anymore they
were different some were impressed some were nervous a few looked at him like they were seeing him for the first time Bryce wasn't in school that part didn't surprise him taking a hit like that in front of half the parking lot wasn't something you bounced back from overnight Nick and Kyle they kept their distance Dorian walked into class like nothing had happened sat down pulled out his notebook business as usual but that didn't mean people were done talking at lunch as he moved through the cafeteria conversations quieted when he passed people whispered a few nodded
like they suddenly respected him some freshmen kids who hadn't even spoken to him before acted like he was some kind of legend and then there were the others damn didn't know new guy had hands someone muttered as he walked by Bryce had it coming another voice added heard he's not coming back for a week Dorian ignored it he wasn't here to be a hero he wasn't looking for validation then as he sat down he heard something else he's just another violent thug the words were soft but not soft enough Dorian turned his head slightly a
couple of girls at a nearby table one of them a brunette with expensive looking jewelry and an expression like she smelled something bad looked away when she realized he'd heard her his stomach clenched that was the thing about moments like these no matter how justified you were no matter how right the situation felt someone always found a way to twist it but he didn't regret it Bryce had gone looking for a fight Dorian just made sure he got one still the weight of it all sat on him he had spent years training years controlling himself
years walking away that wasn't weakness that was strength so why did it feel like no matter what choice he made people had already decided who he was but Dorian was about to learn that real strength wasn't just about throwing a punch it was about what came next the rest of the week passed in a blur Bryce still hadn't shown up his friends didn't bother Dorian anymore the stairs faded a little the whispers got quieter but something still hung in the air Dorian could feel it one afternoon as he left the gym Coach Harrison called him
over got a minute Dorian hesitated he wasn't in the mood for a lecture but something in the coach's tone made him stop they walked outside standing near the track where the football team was finishing practice I heard what happened coach said figured you had your reasons Dorian nodded he wasn't about to apologize coach studied him you a fighter Dorian shrugged been boxing since I was a kid coach let out a low whistle yeah that much was obvious you're good but let me ask you something did that fight change anything Dorian looked at him unsure where
this was going coach crossed his arms you think Bryce Learned something think the rest of them did Dorian exhaled running a hand over his head he knew the answer Bryce wasn't the type to reflect and as for the others some respected him now some feared him and some would always see him the way they wanted to no matter what he did coach nodded like he could see the thoughts running through Dorian's head thing is people like Bryce they don't really lose not in a way that sticks he'll come back he'll run his mouth and the
cycle starts again but you you're different you have control Dorian frowned what are you saying coach tilted his head toward the field I've been telling the boxing coach to send me a few kids for wrestling you ever thought about putting all that skill to better use Dorian blinked wrestling coach grinned look I know you can handle yourself that much is obvious but there's a difference between winning a fight and learning how to own your power I've seen too many kids like you get boxed into a reputation they never wanted you already proved you're not to
be messed with now prove there's more to you than that Dorian didn't answer right away for so long fighting had been about survival about standing his ground but the way coach was looking at him the way he spoke it wasn't about proving something it was about being more that night Dorian sat on his bed staring at his uncle's old boxing gloves he thought about all the times he had held back all the times he had walked away and the one time he hadn't coach was right Bryce wouldn't change people would think what they wanted but
Dorian still had a choice and maybe just maybe this time he'd make a different one because real strength wasn't just about knowing when to fight it was about knowing what to fight for if this story resonated with you hit that subscribe button life's full of choices and sometimes the hardest one is deciding who you want to be let's talk about it in the comments have you ever been in a situation where you had to stand your ground how did you handle it let's keep the conversation going
