Don't worry, I'm not giving up on Winter Creates Summer Love. I just had this idea and I wanted to make a short story with a couple chapters.
And this is another inspired story...the story was inspired by No Voice by atasfan16. I hope you read this, because I really loved your story and this is a different version of it, and no copying intended.
Blossoming
Chap. 1 I Don't Care
I don't care. It was always those 3 words that Carlos Garcia heard so frequently. When he asks to try out for the hockey team because he's been practicing, the coach says, "I don't care." When he apologizes for getting straight D's in school, his mom says, "I don't care." When he tells the clerk at the minimart that he forgot his wallet but he really has to buy the food, the clerk says "I don't care." Always these 3 words that bruised Carlos' self esteem so much, but he didn't show it. Now, it was Luke Craig, the football team captain's turn to say those words.
Luke pushed Carlos against a wall. "I said, give me all your money!." Luke shoved him against the wall harder this time.
Carlos whimpered. "I-I don't have any money, Luke." Carlos shielded his face just in case Luke tried to hit him. Fortunately, Luke just kicked him in the shin and started walking to the lockers.
"You got lucky, stupid." Luke sneered, walking away with his posse. "And next time, call me Captain Luke."
Carlos nodded and groaned. He was still sore all over from all of the previous beatings. Every day, Carlos would sneak some make up out of his mom's bathroom and hide the scars. When he got home he would always wear his hood or hat to shield his face, or wear a scarf to conseal his bloody nose or swollen lips. This was just a general routine. Carlos was so small, alone, and helpless that he was the perfect target for a bully. And the high school was crawling with the football jerks that hung out with Craig, so there was always someone to torment him.
Carlos sighed and nervously walked past the lockers where Craig and his friends were standing, eyeing him suspiciously. Carlos kept his eyes downcast so he wouldn't draw attention to himself. As Carlos quickly walked with his eyes on the floor, he hit somebody and dropped all of his books. Carlos looked up to see James Diamond, a star hockey player, looking at him. Carlos looked away and mentally prepared himself for the pounding he was about to get from Diamond. Carlos had watched him play hockey before, and he was strong. But when Carlos looked up, James wasn't preparing to hit him, he was bending over to pick up Carlos' books. James stood up and offered the books back to Carlos, giving him the prettiest smile. Carlos blushed and took his books.
"I-I'm sorry." Carlos stammered, his face growing redder by the minute.
James smiled again. "It's alright, uhh..." James looked confused, trying to remember Carlos' name. Carlos jumped in.
"Carlos. My name's Carlos." he said, looking down at the floor again. James nodded and started fixing his hair.
"Well, bye Carlos. Gotta run!" James called to him, jogging to the steps. Carlos gave him a small wave and continued walking.
Carlos was mesmerized. James Diamond talked to me, Carlos thought. Someone who actually cares. But part of his mind was saying, Yeah, he cared enough to pick up three books. He wouldn't give a crap if I were about to die. Carlos' thoughts conflicted him so much, and when he got upset he usually just ran. So that's what he did. Carlos ran up the steps, through the hallway and out the school door, not even thinking or caring about other people. It was his turn to say "I don't care."
Carlos panted and stopped running until he was at the entrance of the park. Carlos walked to the swing set and just sat there, slowly swinging back and forth. It was his favorite way to just think and be alone. He was always alone. Carlos was deep in his miserable thoughts when he heard someone behind him.
"Carlos?" he heard an excited, yet familiar voice ask. Carlos turned his head to see James Diamond jogging towards him. His heart skipped a beat. He was shirtless.
"James." he said without emotion, nodding in approval. James smiled and sat on the swing beside him.
"What's up? Is something wrong?" James asked, stopping the swing to look at him. Carlos stared into James' beautiful hazel eyes. He wanted to say, Yeah of course something's wrong, look at me I'm a pathetic mess. My life is a piece of crap.
But instead he said, "No. Just kind of tired." Carlos muttered breaking his eye contact with James. James stood up from his swing and held out a hand.
"Well, would you like me to hang out with you? I go here everyday, so I have plenty of time." James said, still holding out his hand. "Come on, I'll race you to the woods!" Carlos smiled, but he didn't take James' hand. He didn't want to mess this up. James grabbed his wrist and pulled him up from the swing, then he started running. And he was fast.
Carlos had a fun time racing to the woods, they were laughing and whooping in delight, something Carlos never really did. They made it into the woods, but they started running farther and farther, getting faster as they ran. Carlos was having a great time, until he tripped. Carlos just stumbled over his own feet and fell, hitting his head on a tree and feeling sore and miserable again. Then he saw James looking at him with his eyebrows furrowed. He was like a big giant looking at an innocent little puppy. Carlos recognized the situation. James was probably going to beat him up and tell him he's a loser for tripping on his own feet.
But instead, James, or the blurred figure towering over Carlos, knelt by Carlos and shook his shoulders.
"Carlos. Carlos!" James yelled, frantically shaking him by the shoulders. "Are you okay? You just...fell." Carlos' vision cleared and he felt butterflies in his stomach, seeing that someone actually cared for him.
"Yeah." Carlos murmured softly. "Like I said, I'm really tired."
Carlos chuckled to lighten the mood, and it seemed to work. James beamed down at him and patted himon the shoulder.
"Good" James said. "If you were hurt, it would've been all my fault." Carlos felt guilty on the inside. James was feeling that way too, all because Carlos was being a stupid klutz. Carlos shook his head.
"Hey, James? Can I ask you something?" Carlos asked curiously. James nodded silently. "Why are you hanging out with me? Is this a prank, are you being bribed or something, do you just feel sorry for me...or what?" James looked at him quizically as Carlos gazed at the beautiful blossoms falling from trees.
"No, of course not." James said, leaning closer to Carlos, pushing him against the tree slightly. "It's because I like you." But instead of kissing him or saying "I love you" like Carlos prefered, James added on to that. "You're really cool. I think we can be great friends."
And James just beamed at him, not knowing that he just crushed Carlos' one wish and one dream for that day. Carlos stood up and James followed. They walked through the flower covered woods, slowly going back to their homes, when Carlos stopped.
"James, don't you think this is a little dangerous?" Carlos asked, picking up apple blossoms absentmindedly. "People might be mean to you if they see you with me, your reputation might get ruined." Carlos badly wanted to say, You'll get beaten up by the football team.
James picked up his own apple blossom and handed it to Carlos. "You know what," James said. "I don't care."
And that was the first time those 3 words did not hurt him.
Note: Well I hope you liked it! Please R&R! Really, most of this basic idea was not my thinking, I just thought of the different version while I was reading No Voice, so...Anyways, this is my second fanfiction and this will not be increasingly continuous (big people words :D) like W.C.S.L. I'll have about 3-5 chapters.
