6A/N: Thanks to CatProducttore, Freag, and JD- Kirkland KH for reviewing.
Sorry it took so dang long! I have so much on my plate and want to write another story. Sigh.
Note: Includes suicide, self-injury, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and a few other things. The language will be quite vulgar as well. If you are uncomfortable with these, don't read it.
Raindrops
by SavannahX
Chapter Two: Gym Class Heros
Nothing in this world was real. You can't trust anybody in this world but yourself. And really, what's the point in trusting others? They're either going to break your trust or leave in the end. Everyone leaves.
Maybe that's just me, but I've never had anyone I could consider close. I don't trust people because I know I can't. I mean, Lindsey doesn't know a thing. I see her day after day telling me things that other people have spilled about her. I think that's part of what makes me not trust others. Why should I?
They're just going to leave in the end.
Ethan is the closest thing to a trusted friend I've ever had in my life. We grew up together in some respects, but in another, we hardly know each other. I don't necessarily trust him, but I don't not trust him at the same time. I just can't trust people.
It's impossible.
They're just going to leave in the end.
Everyone does. My mother did. She was my best friend. She was the person who I told everything to. She was kind and caring, but I always knew something was wrong with her. She wasn't happy with something in her life and now at this age, I've realized what that something is. She missed my father. And that's what killed her in the end and left me with Alan.
Ethan was no different. He would be moving here, yes, but he would just leave me in the end.
It is inevitable. Why should I even try to thwart destiny? I'll just be alone in the end.
Ethan did indeed move to our wonderful, little town. I was actually thankful for his presence. Being around Evan made Alan more at ease. When Alan was more at ease, he didn't flip out on me. And Ethan was a comfort to be around. I found myself enjoying his company for awhile, but I didn't want to get too close. I knew what would happen in the end.
And I can't handle that kind of pain.
Evan and Ethan spent quite a few evenings at our house which led to Alan being quite content with life. They would leave late at night which left me plenty of time to slip into bed before Alan began to drink. Those first few days were blissful, peaceful. I didn't have to be on guard. I had the peace of mind to breathe easily.
On the Monday after Ethan and Evan arrived, they had an apartment landed and Ethan was supposed to start school. I had no idea how that would go for him. I was more of a loner than anything and if he associated with me, things would not go well for him. I wasn't really well liked. To be honest, I don't even think Lindsey liked me, but who could blame her? I never wanted to hang out and when she used to try and communicate with me, I would push her out.
As I sprawled across my bed, I thought about the how he would like it at Central High. I was ready for the day, but I tried not to leave for school until the last second unless Alan was on the rampage. He usually slept in until after I had left so I didn't have to deal with him.
However, on this morning, I was not that lucky. I heard him tromping up the stairs and he pushed my door open.
"Noelle, why the hell didn't you clean the living room up?" he asked me and I could tell he had already been drinking this morning. That was wonderful. It wasn't even eight o'clock and Alan was drunk. Scratch that. Alan hadn't even gone to bed yet.
"I'm sorry, I haven't been up that long," I told him apologetically. It was the truth. Generally, I did a quick pick up of the living room before I left or I knew I would get it. Alan always stayed up until the crack of dawn and there was no way in hell I would disturb him.
"Go pick it up now!" he thundered at me. Spit hit me in the face and I held my composure. Alan then lunged forward and rammed me onto the bed. "Damn it, you stupid whore, pick it up! I do everything for you so you can have a place to live. I should have shipped your ass off to an orphanage when I got landed with you! The least you could do is to pick up after yourself!" I felt his fist collide with the side of my face and my head hit the wall.
My phone started to ring in my pocket and I was thankful for it. Alan then got off me and stumbled out of the room.
I quickly answered, "Hello?"
"Hey, will you grace me with your presence and show me around the hell hole I'll be spending the next two years of my life?"
Ethan, how predictable. "Yeah, uh, I'm almost ready. Do you want me to pick you up?"
"Yeah, call me when you get close."
"Kay," I told him as I hung up. I quickly glanced in the mirror and realized that I would never pass. I had a bruise beginning to form on my cheek. I quickly grabbed my compact and smeared as much makeup as I could onto the bruise. I couldn't be seen with it, but I sure as hell didn't want to be caught by Alan again.
When I thought I would pass, I ran downstairs and shoved all of the beer bottles into a plastic bag. I would sort them later. I had no idea where Alan was and didn't want to find out. I quickly glanced at the clock and realized I didn't have much time to go to school. And if I was late, well, I really didn't want to fathom what would happen. I did a brief survey of the room and then ran out, my feet crunching on the snow.
Ethan hopped into my car when I reached where he was staying. "Hey Elle," he greeted me with a smile. "How are you this morning?"
"I'm great!" I exclaimed with an exuberant voice.
It's amazing how stupid people are.
"Good," he smiled again and I felt myself shiver. "Will you be my tour guide mademoiselle?"
"Of course!"
We reached the school a few minutes later. I parked the car and we got out to walk toward the place where we were forced to spend seven hours a day, five days a week. I was lucky and had the ability to leave midday and come back, but not many had that privilege.
"We're not going to get a good tour," I told him as we walked in. "We have about four minutes to get to class. I'll walk you there."
People were looking at us as we walked by. In such a small town, someone new was huge news. Especially if they were cute like Ethan.
We reached his classroom. "This teacher's a bitch," I told him with a grin. "I'll meet you here after class. Have fun!"
I started to turn and walk away, but felt his arm around my waist. He pulled me in and hugged me tight. "Thanks Elle. I really appreciate it."
The one minute bell rang at this point and I found myself running down the hallway. I ran into the classroom right as the bell began to ring.
"Hello, Noelle. Good to see you could join us," my teacher, Mrs. Sanders commented.
I didn't respond to her. I'm not exactly the most talkative person in the world. To be completely honest, I would rather not talk my whole life. Talking just generated problems and drama. People would misinterpret things and then as they cannot keep their mouths shut, they spread whatever they misconstrued around the entire student body.
The lesson dragged by as usual. I don't really care much about my schoolwork. It's something that I generally breeze through and don't give a second thought to it. School is something mandatory for me and it's literally a chore. People always ask me how I have a 4.0 all the way through my junior year. I just shrug and tell them I actually do the homework. I never want to brag and seem like I'm better than everyone else because I have a stupid 4.0.
In between each class, I met Ethan at his class and walked him to the next, never saying much the whole way. Don't get me wrong, I talk a lot around Ethan and I still did talk a lot, but none of it had any sort of meaning. They were just words that I used. No sentimental value whatsoever.
Gym class was probably the pivotal point for me. I actually shared this one class with Ethan and I wasn't too thrilled. I'm not exactly the athletic type and generally make a fool of myself. As I do not participate in any sort of sporting activity, they force me to be in the joy of physical education.
We were playing kickball and the gym was sweltering hot. I knew I was sweating, but didn't pay it any mind. People were giving me funny looks, however, and then I remembered. The makeup was probably rubbing off and I was exposing myself for all to see.
The class finally ended and the teacher called me up to see him. "Noelle, what happened to your face?" he asked me, concern on his face. I was shocked. This was the man who had no compassion for anyone. He could care less about me when I fell on my face or I was holding the bat the wrong way, yet now he seems to care because there is a bruise on my face.
"Oh, I just fell down. You've seen me fall many times. This time I collided with a wall, however."
He didn't seem convinced and I realized this could change my life. This one incident.
"Alright, you go get changed now," he told me and I could tell that he felt bad for me. His eyes sparkled with concern and compassion.
The other girls were staring at me as I quickly changed and checked my bag for a compact. Nothing. I was foolish enough to forget my makeup at home. A tear rolled down my cheek and I knew they all felt sorry for me. However, no one had any idea who had done it. I didn't have a boyfriend, so it couldn't be him.
It had to be my step-father, but of course, no one suspected perfect Alan.
Ethan met me after that class and I didn't say anything.
"Elle?" he muttered after a minute or so. Everyone who walked by me was staring at me and the bruise.
"What?" I said, barely a whisper.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," I told him. "Here's your class. I'm leaving."
And I walked out of the school, leaving him staring at me, sadness enveloping his eyes.
A/N: I have a thing with gym class. Maybe it's because I personally hate it so much.