Everything Else
A/N Hello, this is a new story written by myself, with a bit of input and editing by Captain Symmetry. This is very loosely based on the song Everything Else from Next To Normal.
If you could review, that'd be epic as then I'd know you actually like it and continue it. :)
Enjoy, x.
Chapter 1 ; Sanctuary
She couldn't take it anymore, she had to leave. Just leave baby, you don't need to see this, those words echoed in her head. Her mother had spoken them, helpless and guilty. She couldn't bear to see her children see them fight. Images of her parents fighting flooded her mind, smothering her conscience. The same conscience that was full of cliché self-questions that a teenager would ask themselves - was it my fault? Did I cause this? Could I have prevented it? Of course, Jane blamed herself even though she knew that it wasn't her fault. Either way, she had to keep herself composed, be strong for her brothers and her friends. She wouldn't show how much it actually affected her, how much her heart ached.
-x-
20 minutes earlier.
Her brothers were still asleep, somehow sleeping through the uproar. But then again, Jane was a light sleeper. She had woken to a sound she presumed was some sort of dish or glass cup smashing on the kitchen tiles. Crawling out of bed, she cracked the bedroom door open slightly, peering out into the kitchen. She could see both of her parents, waving their hands and shouting like typical Italians. She didn't believe what she was seeing; no, she didn't want to believe it. Her parents' marriage was rock solid; they were perfect for each other. Jane's mother paused, glancing at her daughter's bedroom door during her heated discussion, stopping and staring, realising that they had woken and upset Jane.
"What the hell Angela? Don't ignore me; you can't just stop in the middle of this!" Frank Rizzoli followed his wife's stare, finding the hurt and confused face of his beloved daughter. Angela spoke up again, this time directing her words towards her daughter, her voice no longer holding the sharp, poisonous qualities of before, but shaking and cracking.
"Just leave baby, you don't need to see this. Go get ready for school, and then leave, ok?" Her mother spoke slowly, through her anger and tears. Jane simply nodded, and closed her door to get ready as quickly as possible for school.
-x-
Jane was briskly walking to school, hands shoved in her hoodie's pockets. Rain was pelting down, and Jane could've sworn it was hailing. Her shoes, clothes and school bag were slowly getting drenched, but she didn't care; she was almost at school. I'm never this early for school, school starts in like 40 minutes, and I'll be there in 5… fuck my life.
Jane entered the school's gates and quickly sought to seek refuge in her safe place until classes started. She walked, head down, earphones in ears and blocking out the world. Jane made it to the school auditorium; it was unlocked. She made her was up the isles and onto the stage, checking the time. 8:25am - still got 35 minutes. Taking her earphones out and letting them hang out her shirt, she dropped her bag down on the ground next to the stool. Jane sat down at the piano - it was a Kawai RX7 Grand Piano; ebony polish. Lifting the lid, she took a deep breath.
Such a safe place this is, a place where I can be whatever and whoever I want, and where everything else goes away.
Reaching into her bag, Jane pulled out a score and placed it on the sheet holder. Fingers to keys, Jane played the sonata presented in front of her. Piano sonata no.6, Mozart. They say he was crazy.
When Jane finished performing for an imaginary audience, she flexed her arms and hands, which ached severely. She checked the time on her phone - 8:50am. Shit. As Jane gathered her sheet music and packed it away, a noise was heard. She looked in its direction, towards the auditorium door. Was someone in here? No, maybe someone just accidently knocked it, it could have been the wind, or maybe it wasn't the door at all… Oh gosh, I'm going crazy. She made her way up the isle towards the door. Just like Mozart. I hate Mondays.