Thank you for all your responses. This is Chapter 2. Everyone has been asking where I got the story idea's from and honestly it was one of my fantastic dreams I had. So once again all the copy right stuff applied. Love to get more feed back, however mainly enjoy this adventure.
Chapter 2:
I couldn't focus on what the teacher was saying. All my thoughts were about Brendan and what he had told me. My daydreaming was rudely interrupted by a student sitting next to me.
"Psst" he whispered, I looked over annoyed to see what he wanted. He was blonde, lightly tanned, blue eyes, buff `clearly a jock' I told myself. "Oi! Check out the footage."
He passed me his phone which had a clip playing, the time dated today, just after 11am. The video footage shocked me. It was of Brendan kissing some guy. At first I thought we had been caught out, however when I took a closer look, it was of someone else. I couldn't stand to watch it any more, I was fall of range. I asked to be excused to go to the bathroom. I couldn't believe it. How could he have done that to me after what he said to me in the locker room? I walked into the bathroom and locked myself in a stall. I sat down and started crying. Tears streamed down my cheeks. I pulled my ipod out and listened to some Evanescence and Linkin Park. They were my two favourite bands I liked listening to when I was sad or angry. It helped me ease my crying and passed the time. I didn't think I could face going back to class. I sat in the bathroom, listening to my ipod until the final bell rung for the day.
I pushed myself from off the floor and unlocked the stall door. I walked over to the sink and checked myself over. I could see my eyes were red and puffy, obviously from crying too much. My shirt had wet patch on it to mark where my tears had fallen. I went over to the hand dryer and turned it on, so I could try and dry the wet patch. I figured that most of the students must have left by now and it would be safe to come out of the bathroom. I exited the bathroom with a sigh, relieved that I saw no students. I made my way down the hall way with my head down, looking at the floor. I still had my ipod playing. I turned it up so if someone called my name out, I wouldn't be able to hear them.
I made my way out of the double doors and into the fresh air. Taking in a deep breath of fresh, clean air and slowly letting it out again. I looked to see if my bus had arrived but it hadn't. So I made my way over to a bench and take a seat. Out of the corner of my eyes, I caught two tall guys pushing around a younger kid. I ripped off my ipod and shoved it into my pocket. I could hear them calling the kid names. I was so angry, how dare they pick on a defenceless younger child. This caused my anger from before to boil over. I ran down to the bullies. Standing only a couple of meters away, I could clearly see what was going on. The bullies both had black hair, both slim, stood around 5"9, one had a pair of blue jeans, a red polo top and the second one had a green stripy shirt and long black jeans. The kid looked a lot smaller up close. He was about 5"3. He had brown hair, blue eyes, a blue shirt and jeans. He looked familiar, I couldn't place where I new his face from. He must have been in one of my classes but he was too short and looked too young to be my age or in my class.
"OI!" I yelled to the bullies. They automatically stopped and turned around to face me. "Leave the kid alone and if you want to bully someone, pick on someone your own size." I stood in front of the kid. "Better yet, pick on me!" The bullies had a puzzled look on their face.
"I haven't got all day, it's free, and I'm not going to fight back, some and bash the crap out of me!" I demanded. With saying that, they both jumped me, punching me in the face and stomach. I fell to the ground in pain, tears running down my face along with something warm running from my nose and lip.
"William!" I heard someone scream my name. I couldn't feel the bullies kicking or punching me any more. Yet someone was standing next to me. I didn't want too look up and see who it was. I was afraid that they were going to punch me in the face. A hand grabbed mine and pulled me from off the ground. I looked into the face of the person who had come and helped me. My stomach hurt even more when I looked into his eyes. I was about to start crying again. The guy who had come to save me was the same guy that who had hurt me previously.
"Are you ok?" Brendan asked with a concern look on his face.
I was so angry with him. I wanted to scream and yell at him. I pulled my hand away from his. He pulled a puzzled look. "I got bashed Brendan." I snapped. "Standing up for some kid, though the bashing didn't hurt as much as the video I saw of you kissing some guy."
I grabbed my bag off the ground and started waking towards the bus area. I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned around to see Brendan with a sad look on his face. "Save your apology Brendan, do me a favour and don't talk to me ever again, just leave me alone!" I turned around and hopped onto my bus.
Walking up the steps I heard a voice call out. "That's the guy that stood up for me! He let them bash him to save me!" people were clapping and cheering as I made my way down the narrow alley of the bus. I was embarrassed, I didn't deserve this. I didn't understand why they would be doing this. I took my seat and listened to my ipod. I new the bus trip would be long, just like this morning's trip. We will have to stop every now and then to let some kids off. I new listening to my ipod would kill the time and ease my pain.
As the bus came to a stop, the kid that I stood up for got up from his seat. He turned around and gave me a warm smile and a wave. I smiled and waved back, I watched him run off the bus and to a black car that had a woman standing next to it. Her hair matched his. However it was a lot longer, just past her shoulder and slightly wavy. She was wearing a black suit. The kid was talking to her and he pointed to me on the bus. She had a look of horror when she was my face which was swollen and had blood across it. She looked back the kid with a concern look on her face. He was talking to her. I assumed that he was explaining what happened this afternoon. She then turned and looked at me again with a huge smile on her face. Although I couldn't hear her, I could read her lips, she said thank you. I smiled and waved as the bus drove away.
By the time I reached my apartment I was staying in over this student enhance program. It was 4pm according to my mobile, which also had two missed calls. Before I could check the number, my mobile rung again. "Hello" I answered with a puzzled look on my face. No one had my number here in America. `It must be someone who dialled the wrong number' I though.
"Hello." A warm woman's voice spoke. "This is Taylor's mother. You're the guy who stuck up for my son today."
"Err... yeah, that would be me." I said confused as to how she had my number.
"Taylor explained to me what happened this afternoon at the bus stop and on the way home." Taylor's mother told me. "I'm extremely thankful for what you did and I don't know I can ever repay you for your kind actions."
"No problem." I told her "don't worry about it. I'm fine" I lied. I was in so much pain.
"I know its short notice. But would you like to come over for dinner as a thank you?"
I wasn't sure if I should say yes or no. If I said no, would she continue to go on about how I saved her son from being bashed and felt that she had to repay me somehow? `The dinner should put her mind at ease.' I told myself.
"Ok." I told Taylor's mum.
"Great" she seemed excited. "I'll send you a text message of our address and time for dinner."
"Ok then"
"Thank you once again, see you soon, bye"
"Bye" I said, hanging up my mobile.
I unlocked the front door and dumped my back onto the floor. My mobile beeped indicating that I received a text message. I walked into the kitchen and grabbed packet of frozen peas and placed them on my eye. I winced in pain as I could feel it sting slightly. I decided to relax on the couch and watch the afternoon programs on television. I read the text message and got details on how to get there and if I could catch a bus there. I had luck finding a bus that went near by, the next one was in 45mins.I pushed myself off the couch and walked into the bathroom. I noticed that my swelling had gone down a bit. I stripped down and had a long hot shower. I dried and dressed into a black button up collard T-shirt and dark blue jeans along with brushing my teeth slowly due to my lips being tender and also spiking up my hair with some hair spray..
I walked out of the house walked down the street to the bus stop. I didn't have to wait long to hail the bus driver and hop on the bus. I wasn't sure how long the trip would take. I looked out the window at street signs and also watching the different style of houses. You could notice that we were slowly entering the rich and posh area of the neighbourhood. It was now twilight as I stepped off the bus. I walked down the street and to the house number that was sent on my phone. I was nervous as I walked up to the front door. The house had two big white polls and a massive wooden door. Not to mention it was the biggest house I'd have ever seen. I rung the door bell and was felt a sigh of relief when the door opened and the kid that I stuck up for appeared from behind the door.
"Hey" Taylor spoke.
"Hey" I replied with a smile.
"Come on in" he gestured me to enter the house. I stepped into the front hall observing the massive paintings hanging in golden frames.
"Hello" a familiar warm voice spoke. "I'd like to formally introduce myself in person" the lady from the bus stop extended her hand. "I'm Taylor's mother Christina Woods."
I extended my hand and we shook. "Yes, hello, nice to meet you, I'm William."
"Why don't you take a seat in the lounge room and tell me a little about yourself, I heard you're an exchange student."
I followed her and Taylor into the lounge room, it was massive, the lounge itself was the size of my kitchen back in the apartment, and they had a projector and a scream the size of the ones in the cinema on the wall. I took a seat near Mrs. Woods and Taylor.
"Yes I am" I smiled. "I'm from Australia. I lived on the Sunshine Coast in the state of Queensland." I felt a little home sick talking about where I cam from.
"It's in on the east side of the country, on the sea side. We have amazing beaches and coast lines, mountains, rainforest and a lot of wildlife such as kangaroo's"
"So you like it here?" Taylor smiled. Mrs. Woods gave him a stern look.
I simply smiled. "It's been good so far. It's exactly what's portrayed in the cinema."
A sound of a car pulled up out the front of the house. Mrs. Woods hopped off the seat. "That must be out oldest son Brendan." She told me as she walked to the front door.
Brendan.' I though. It couldn't be the same Brendan I know.' I started to panic. `There must be loads of kids called Brendan at the school.'
The front door opened and all I could hear was. "Hey mum and Taylor, I'll be down in a second, I'm going to have a shower."
`Crap.' I told myself, it was the same voice as the Brendan I new.
"Ok honey" Mrs. Woods called out. "Dinner is almost ready and we have a guest, so please hurry." Mrs. Woods made her was back into the lounge room, I followed her into the dinning area.
"Mrs. Woods, would you like some help with dinner?" I asked politely.
"No, no, no" she reassured me. "You are our guest." She smiled. "It's the least I can do after what you did for me son. And please, call me Christina."
Taylor grabbed my hand and took me over to the dinning area, we sat down and he was full of questions about how different my life was in Australia, what saying we say and how much different our school were. Mrs. Woods entered the dinning area and served our meals for us just as Brendan entered the room.
"This is my oldest son, Brendan." She pointed at him.
"Nice to meet you." I said softly, the anger from today was starting to burn on the inside of me.
Mrs. Woods took a seat next to Taylor and Brendan sat opposite me so I could look at him while I ate. `God does he have to make this even harder?' I asked myself. We began eating our beautiful roast lamb and roast vegetables. It was served on big while plates. The cutlery was silver and shiny. There were flowers and wine glasses on the table. I could tell Mrs. Woods must have spent a while setting up for this meal. The roast potatoes were delicious. I moved onto the roast lamb covered in grey. I cut a small piece and placed it into my mouth.
"Ouch!" I yelled while covering my mouth. The roast lamb burnt my mouth. I was in so much pain because my mouth was already saw and swollen from the bashing previously from today.
"Quick, Brendan." Mrs. Woods called out. "Take William to the bathroom and get some burn cream."
`No" I though as Brendan got up and moved around to the side of me. I couldn't look at him. He gave my hand a tug and I got up and followed him out of the room. We made out way into a massive bathroom. I still had my eyes on the floor. I couldn't bear to look at him. I could hear him open a draw and move things around. Soon something cold was on my lips. looked up to see Brendan applying some cream onto my lips.
"William" Brendan broke the silence.
"Please Brendan." I begged. "I just want to get through this dinner and go home without crying." Brendan looked hurt. He moved his arms around me and pulled me into his chest. "I'm...sorry." He apologised.
I began to cry. "no." I said while pushing myself away from him. I wiped my eyes and left him standing there. I made my way back down the stairs and back into the dinning room.
While taking my seat, Mrs. Woods asked "are you ok?" with a concern look on her face that enhanced her look from me to Brendan and back to me again.
"Oh I'm fine." I lied. "I have sensitive skin, so my eyes water if it's a face related injury." We went back to eating our meal. I was extremely hard for me to sit there and look at Brendan. The anger and the hurt I was feeling was begging to grow larger and larger by the minute. In new I couldn't bear being in the room for much longer. I had to escape without crying or making it looked like I was being totally rude. I looked at my watch while Mrs. Woods was looking over at me.
"Do you have to be somewhere?" she asked
"I didn't want to be rude." I lied "But my mum was going to call me in thirty minutes."
"Oh I understand." She sighed while getting off her seat.
"I'm truly sorry." I spoke softly while leaving my seat. "Dinner was amazing, I'm sorry I have to dash, I would love to catch up some other time." I smiled. Mrs. Woods and her family escorted me to the door. I smiled and waved back as I walked down the long concrete driveway.
I was just down the street when a single tear rolled down the side of my cheek while listening to a car from behind me slow and roll beside me. I was scared. Was someone going to try and kidnap me, I prepared myself to fight and also was building up a scream just in case I couldn't fight this person off. The car came to a stop, I could hear someone opening and closing the door. This was it. I could hear the footsteps coming towards me. I wasn't going to look back now, I was in fright mode. I had the choice to fight or flee. I new I couldn't fight anyone especially with the injuries I already have obtained from earlier today. `Now' I told myself, making my feet move faster and faster. I could hear the footsteps behind me not slow down but pick up to my pace.
"Stop, William, It's only me." A familiar voice called out. I new it was a safe voice but also the voice I feared most. I came to a stop realising I wasn't in immediate danger. I turned to face him. I was surprised to see him standing so close to me.
"Please let me drive you home." Brendan pleaded while grabbing my hand.
I couldn't say a thing. My mind said no but my body said yes. I wanted to scream at myself as I watched my feet take steps towards the car. I couldn't believe my body would portray me like this. My body led me in the hands of Brendan to the passenger side of the car. I couldn't believe myself. I was sitting not only next to the person that hurt my feeling but I was riding in his car. We sat in silence the whole way back to my apartment. The drive was a lot shorter than taking the bus. Brendan pulled up in my driveway. I had mixed emotions. This was the same guy who had hurt me by kissing someone else. Yet here he is now driving me home. I mumbled a small "thank you" as I hopped out of his car and to my front door. I stumbled with my key to the door and dropped it. I wasn't in any rush to pick it up. I was at the break of crying. I looked down to see where they had fallen but they weren't where I expected them to be. They were not on the ground but in the hands of Brendan. He was leaning against the door holding my keys out. I looked at his face and he pulled his gorgeous smile revealing his beautiful perfect set of white teeth.
That smile made me lose control. I broke down crying. I could feel Brendan grabbing me and pulling me tight against his warm chest. All my anger seemed towards him was now slowly being erased. It was slowly being replaced with love again. I was falling in love again with the same guy that had cheated on me. Yet it didn't matter because I felt safe, warm and loved inside his arms.
He broke our hug and kissed me on my forehead. "I'll never stop caring about you William. I am here for you when ever you need me."
I was speechless. Brendan moved away. My eyes followed him as he made his way to his car. He turned and smiled before hopping inside and reversed out of the driveway. I was upset yet happy at the same time. I new I had to sleep on this. Could I give him a second chance? Or was it too late?
So what is going to happen between William and Brendan in the next chapter? Please feel free to email me. Joel_Dark15@hotmail.com