"Sometimes love just isn't enough. Goodbye Link." and with those few short words and tears in her eyes Tracy closed the door on Link and her life with him forever.
She had asked him over and over, again and again the same few words. "Please tell me what is going on?" He heard her say so many times as he made his way back to the car. Opening the door, tears streamed down his face, he watched the silhouette of her through the bedroom window. She was crying too. He could see her wiping the tears from her face. He was the cause of those tears. All he wanted to do was run back there, hold her in his arms and tell her he was sorry. He wanted to explain everything to her but he couldn't. Wiping his eyes he placed his head on the steering wheel just sitting there for a moment. Why couldn't he just tell her the truth? Why couldn't he just say the words? Because he was weak and he was a coward. He never wanted the world to know. Not even her.
It started earlier that day. Edward Larkin caught his son before he headed off to school. Sometimes weeks went by without him saying a word to his son but when he did it never turned out good for Link.
"Lincoln James." He called his name as Link inwardly sighed. Using his full name meant he was probably more pisses then Link thought he could be.
Maybe this time it would not be so bad. Maybe this time he would finally do something about it. Maybe he would find some inner strength or guts to prevent this from happening again. Maybe this time it would just go away. The silent thoughts in his mind quickly faded as he rounded the corner and was directly slammed into the wall in the living room. It caught him so off guard that he had no time to react. He felt his fathers hand reach out grabbing him and throwing him into the coffee table breaking it into what seemed like a million pieces. "You still are with her! What did I tell you? Amber is your future. I thought you had your fun with that thing and was back with Amber. Much to my surprise I ran into Velma today and I was horrified to learn that my son decided that Amber Von Tussle wasn't the one for him. "
Link couldn't say anything as the wind was knocked out of him. Link could already smell the liquor on his breath and knew that his dad was drunk. Before the day even started and he was drunk. His arm was hurting him and he was sure that it would be showing signs of bruising soon if it hadn't already. "I love her dad." was all that he could muster out. After he said it, even though it was true, he wished he didn't say it out loud. Those words just angered his father more so much so that he felt his cold hand to his face. That was going to leave a mark.
"Get your ass to school and fix it. I expect you to be back here right after. Not a minute later." He told his son walking away and into the kitchen.
He slowly got himself up, and made his way upstairs, jumping into the shower. Stepping out he winced at the bruises that were now formed on his back and arm, the purple and black welts, a hidden reminder of what just took place. Grabbing clothes and changing he looked at his watch. He was already so late. No meeting Tracy this morning. She was probably wondering what happened to him. He looked at himself in the mirror, sprayed his signature due with hairspray and told himself he would come up with something to tell her. Walking into Patterson Park High School he made his way to his locker. He didn't even see her there but heard her wince.
"Link, what happened?" Amber looked at him as she moved closer. She had an idea. Her and Link had been together long enough for her to figure out what was going on without him saying a word. His father. She had only met him a handful of times but out of all of those times he smelled of liquor.
"I'm fine Amber." He said simply. He wasn't in the mood to get in a discussion with her about anything let alone the bruise on his face.
She shook her head looking at him. "You are not fine. This is not the first time that this has happened Link."
"Let it go Amber." Gritting his teeth as he growled quietly shoving the books inside the locker door.
Sighing Amber looked at him. Sure they weren't together anymore, they weren't even friends but this. This was something that she could not see go on any longer. "Link stop acting like this isn't a big deal. You have to tell someone Link this isn't your fault. None of this is your fault. Tell Tracy." She wasn't the biggest fan of her but she knew that if anyone could get through to Link it would be Tracy.
"I can't. She can't know. I never want her to know." He looked at Amber with sadness in his eyes. "This will hurt her too much and no amount of physical pain, that I might have to endure, will ever amount to the pain that I feel when she is hurt."
As much as those words stung her she knew they were the truth. Every word came from the heart when he talked about her. Link wasn't just with her because he felt he had to be. He wasn't with her to make a statement. He wasn't with her to get back at anyone. He wasn't with her because he had a momentary lapse of judgement nor was he doing it on a bet or something like that. He was with her because he truly and genuinely loved her with everything in his heart and soul. She was the love of his life. She was his soul mate and Amber would swear to you that Tracy was the girl that Link was going to marry. But she wasn't going to tell them that. "You have to tell someone Link and honestly Tracy is the only one to tell. She loves you Link." She said again as she brought her fingers up touching the bruise on his face. "This just can't keep going on."
Tracy watched them together. She couldn't hear the words that were coming out of their mouth, but whatever it was it was important. She saw the way that Amber looked at him and the way he was looking back. She didn't know that those looks were directed towards his feelings for her. She saw the way Amber's fingers loving moved over his face and he didn't pull back... He didn't pull back. She watched them and she knew. It was hard to miss. He blew her off this morning without a word. She wasn't angry, she wasn't mad. She was hurting beyond words hurt. But she understood. Your first love always meant something to you. It was hard to pull away from that. She knew. He was her first love and what she was about to do was going to break her heart forever. As much as it hurt she just knew. Link and Amber belonged together. The proof was right in front of her face. Gathering herself together she let them have their moment before heading back to her class. Taking a minute she scribbled down a note.
Link,
I think that it is finally time that come to my senses and accepted what the fates have in store for us. Our lives are so different and we are just going through the motions of this relationship. I saw you and Amber in the hallway. I didn't want to bother you because you looked so lost in your thoughts and so deeply involved with each other. Please don't think that I am mad because I'm not. I am just hurt but I completely understand. I know when you love someone it is really hard to get over them. Especially your first love. You guys have shared so much and I hope that she gives you everything in life that you could have ever wanted or needed. These last few months have been amazing and I will never forget them. I want you to know that I love you more than I could ever imagine to have. But sometimes you just know when it is time to say goodbye. I hope you know how much you truly mean to me. Take care of yourself Link.
Love Tracy.
Sighing she left class and took the note placing it in his locker before heading down to the nurse to be excuse to go home. She couldn't stand to see him trying to explain. And she wasn't up for Amber telling her just how happy she was that her and Link were back together. That would be the worst part of the entire thing. Seeing them together, seeing them happy. It was almost more than she could take. It was just best to let it go. She said her peace in that small letter and would never have any regrets in the time that they shared. She could never regret it. The only regret that she had was that she ever let herself be fooled that they would have a future together.
Link spent the day looking for Tracy and it wasn't until almost the end of the day that he found out that she left early. Walking to his locker to put his books away for the days, he dreaded going home. He couldn't tell his father the truth, but why should he lie. Why should he have to hide things? He didn't even know Tracy. He didn't know how happy she made him. He didn't know how much he loved her. He didn't know that her amazing smile could light up a room. He didn't know that her heart was so pure. And he didn't know her outer beauty couldn't compare to the inner beauty she possessed. But he wouldn't even take a minute to even consider that Tracy had feelings. That Tracy had a heart and honestly that was the worst part of it. He simply did not care.
Opening his locker his saw the note fall to the ground. Picking it up he opened it and started reading the words. "No no no no. This can't happening. FUCK!". What is she talking about?" He said out loud his heart racing faster than he thought it ever could. Throwing his books in his locker he ran out of the building down to his car and raced over to her house. He banged on the door like a mad man. He probably would have broke it down if it didn't swing open. '
"Link?" She said softly as she opened the door.
He could tell that she was crying. She misunderstood it all. From the words in the letter he knew she saw Amber and him in the hallway. He was out of breath from running, out of breath from the weight of the entire day now falling on his shoulder. He held the letter up in his hand between his fingers. "You don't get to say this to me. Especially in a letter. You don't get to do this. Not to me. Not to us. You don't get to leave me like this. Not today. Not ever." He watched her looking for something. "What you thought you seen, it was a complete misunderstanding. I swear Trace nothing is going on with me and Amber. "
Tracy looked at him and sighed. "What happened to your eye? Please tell me what's going on?" was really all she could say. By this time it was a black and blue nightmare with the hint of purple madness around it. "Who did this to you? You can trust me. Please let me help you. " She touched his face.
"Nothing." He lied and backed away from her slightly from the pain and slightly because he couldn't tell her.
She knew he was lying. She could tell from his face. It broke everything inside her as he pulled away from her. He didn't trust her enough to tell her what happened and without trust you had nothing. A misunderstanding or not. She now knew what Amber was so intently focused on on his face as she touched him. Amber knew what happened. He let her in without reserve. He let her in when he couldn't let the one person he claimed to love in with the same feeling. Swallowing hard she felt a fresh batch of tears come to her face.
"I said everything that I needed to say in that letter Link. I really do hope that you are happy and that Amber can give you everything you need."
He was stunned looking at her. How could she think that Amber was who he wanted to be with.. Didn't she know how much she meant to him? Didn't she know how much he loved her? "You have it all wrong. I don't want to be with Amber. I want to be with you. I love you."
Tracy did everything she could to fight back the tears that were wanting to come from her eyes. "You don't let someone touch you with that look in their eyes if you don't want to be with them. And you don't lie to your girlfriend and open up to your ex." She said sadly. "I am sorry Link. Sometimes love just isn't enough. Goodbye Link."
He was late. He was so fucking late and he knew it. Pulling up in front of the house he realized all the lights were off. Maybe he would have a reprieve tonight. Maybe he would be lucky and he could slip himself into his bed and his father would be so drunk when he got home, that he would just forget the confrontation that they had this morning. Sighing softly he shook his head. This was all his fault. Everything that happened today was his father's fault. Looking over at the open liquor cabinet the smell quickly came to his head. He hated it with a passion but tonight, after everything, it seemed to be calling his name. Walking over he grabbed the first liquor bottle out of the cabinet. Grabbing a glass from the top of the cabinet he poured the liquid into it. Swirling it around the smell almost made him sick to his stomach but that didn't matter. Not now. Not tonight. He pressed the glass to his lips and allowed to cold liquid to move down his throat. It was horrible and he coughed somewhat as the liquid burning going down. He let the feelings he had slip passed him as he poured himself another drink and then another. With each passing glass it got easier and with each glass the pain sort of faded away. Pretty soon he was no longer drinking from the glass, his lips were locked on the bottle finishing the entire thing. It was helping him escape. Escape his father, escape the pain. Escape missing her and loving her.
He picked up the glass rolling it into his hands. His head was swimming. He heard his father's voice going through his head. "It's Amber. It has always been Amber. She loves you. Leave that girl. She isn't worth it." He tried to shake his head to clear his thought. "She left you. She doesn't want you. She found something more. She needs something more. You can't be that for her. She don't want you to be that for her. She left you." He rubbed his face with his one hand trying his hardest to make it stop. "She will find someone new. She will love someone new. She will be with someone new. You won't hold her hand again. You won't kiss her lips. You won't breath in her scent. You won't touch ever part of her skin. You won't be her first. She left you." He groaned rolling his neck. "Someone else will hold her. Someone else will comfort her tears. Someone else will calm her fears. Someone else will tell her they love her. She left you. " He felt like he was going to be sick. "Someone else will ask for her hand. Someone else will kiss her. Someone to touch every part of her skin. Someone will make love to her, he will be her first and her last and that won't be you. " He heard enough. He picked up the glass throwing it at the mirror.
Heading up to his room he laid down on his bed and just stared up at the ceiling. He was numb so number that he didn't hear the door open.
"I thought I would come up here to find you all over Amber. Where is she boy? Shouldn't she be with you screaming out your name?" Edward Larkin looked at his son.
He laughed slightly the alcohol tickling his stomach. The comments his father said made him feel sick. "I don't know and I don't fucking care. " He had never used that language with his father but he didn't care. What else did he have to lose? "I'm not getting back with her. I don't want to be with her. She doesn't want to be with me. I don't give a shit what you say."
His eyes raged as he looked at him picking him up from the bed, throwing him into the dresser with a loud thud. "When I tell you to do something you do it. I don't care what you think. I am your father and you do what I say."
Rubbing his head he was shocked he didn't feel it. He was sure he probably would in the morning but for now nothing. "No, I'm with Tracy. I love Tracy. I don't love Amber. I don't love anyone else. I LOVE TRACY." He had no intention of giving him the satisfaction of knowing that she left him.
"That fat pig. She is a trash and not worth the pot you piss in." He growled at him walking closer to him. "And if I have to pound it out of you I will do it." He shouted as the first punch connected with his face a second one came rather quickly. "The only thing a fat thing like her is good for is a quick pity lay. She isn't worth more than that."
That was it. Something in him snapped. How could he talk about Tracy like that. Implying that he was using her for sex. Using her out of pity. He didn't know Tracy and he sure as hell didn't know him. Grabbing his fathers hand as he tried to connect with the third fist he pushed his father back . "Don't you ever talk about her like that. You don't have that fucking right. You don't even know her." He didn't know if it was the alcohol taking over or he was just tired of being his father's punching bag. Tonight it was worse than ever and he couldn't do it anymore. Then to treat an amazing girl like Tracy like she was nothing more than trash on his shoe.
"Nor do you even have the right to know someone like her. I don't even have the right to be loved by someone as amazing as she is." He looked at his father who was crazed and ready to attack. As Edward lunged at him Link did the only thing he could do and landed a left hooked right to the jaw. "I am done being your punching bag." He grabbed his jacket and stormed out the door. Looking at his car he knew he was in no form to drive so he just started walking and walking and walking. He had no plan on where he was going but his feet just lead him there. He was standing outside the house.
It was late by time he got there. All the lights were out and they were probably all asleep. Link rubbed his nose knowing that he probably looked like a bloody mess. He didn't care. He wanted to see her. He needed to see her. And he didn't care what he looked like. He looked for a rock to hit the window with. Throwing it up he heard it ping off the side of the building "Damn it." He growled shakly. He didnt want yo wake anyone up. He picked up a rock and did it again. This time hitting the mark. She opened up the curtain and simply pointed to the door down and watched as the curtain closed.
He leaned against the door frame waiting for her to open it up. His head was swimming, faster than he ever thought. He was tired from running but had a rush of something he could not explain. His eyes widened as the door opened.
"Link it's lat..." She stopped as she looked at him. His face was a mess. "What happened to you?"
"Hi babe." He looked at her trying his best to be suave but was failing miserable, not that he would even realize it.
"Are you drunk?" She questioned as she pulled him in the house, locking the door and taking him up to her room.
"Nope not at all." He lied as he followed her up to her room sitting down on the bed. He watched her shuffle around trying to find something. She left the room and quickly came back in taking the chair from her desk sitting down in front of him. Taking the wash cloth and putting something on it she looked at him. "This is going to hurt." She spoke softly. She placed it on his eye watching him wince. "Sorry." She said as she slowly cleaned up around his eye and down to his nose. "Who did this to you?" She asked.
He couldn't but look into her big brown eyes. God she was beautiful and she was here taking care of him. He took her hands grabbing her wrist gently placing them down. He removed them and placed them on her face kissing her deeply before pulling away and looked at her. "I'm sooo in love with you Tracy Turnblad." He smiled at her his eyes locked at her. "You had my heart that day I walked into detention. I just didn't know it then. It's you my love. Forever." His eyes never left hers.
"You're drunk Link." She sighed sadly her hands moving back to his face to clean him up. "Let me make you some coffee."
He pushed a stand of her hair behind her ears, his hand closing her slightly opened robe tying it for her. "I didn't want you to feel uncomfortable so I tied it." He smiled at her taking a deep breath. "My life is yours. You are mine. I can't live without you. I can't be without you. It scares me. Really scares me." He took her hand placing it on his chest. "You feel that? He rubbed the back side of her hand his gaze never leaving hers. "You do this to me. All the time. I have never felt this way about anyone."
She watched him and felt the butterflies in her stomach. She also smelled the smell that was coming from his lips. He had definitely been drinking and drinking a lot. But why? And what happened to him? "Link?"
"Yea babe." He looked at her dreamily. His hands move over hers playing with them. His smile never faded as he looked at her.
She was afraid to ask again. She couldn't see anyone who would want to hurt him. "Who did this to you?"
He looked at her his eyes glazed over. He didn't want to bring her in the middle of all of this but he couldn't lie to her anymore. He couldn't do that to her anymore. He needed her. He hung his head down low. "My dad."