A/N: Special thanks to islashlove and an anon. known as Ina B for reviewing^^
To Ina B: Keep in mind it's really only AU in the sense that I changed the time. Considering the show aired in the '90s, he would have been in high school in, like, what? The early '80s? It's just easier to write it as if it were more recent. If I kept the same time frame, he wouldn't have had a cell phone in the previous part; nothing major is really going to change though. Everything was simply bumped back a few years.^^
Just one more thing: I'm sincerely sorry if I portray the school he attends poorly. I'm from Iowa; therefore I know nothing of the school he's attending in Minnesota.
Again, read, enjoy, and review if the notion strikes ya. ^^
Part Two – Moving and Mates
Jesse knelt next to a marble gravestone with a sigh. "It's been three years, Kylie. Funny how much things change in such a short amount of time, huh? We both thought we'd get to walk across that stage together at Commencement, now neither of us will. I'm moving, Kylie, leaving in just a few minutes for Maple Grove. My mom got a job offer at a private practice, and, since that's kinda what she always wanted, she couldn't turn it down. It's definitely gonna be different there, in a big city. Nothing like here. ...Just one more thing that didn't turn out like it was supposed to..." He paused, sighing.
"Jesse? We need to get going!" his mother called from her position standing next to the car.
"Guess this is it. Guess I'll see you someday, Kylie." He slowly stood, took a step back, then turned and walked away from the stone.
"You okay, kiddo?"
"Fine. Let's just go." Jesse shuffled around to the passenger side and climbed in as his mother climbed into the driver's seat.
The majority of the long drive was passed in an almost palpable silence. Jesse was long lost in his thoughts; his mother didn't interrupt, sensing he needed time to think and probably wouldn't respond with more than he had to, anyway.
She had known from the start that the seventeen-year old certainly wasn't thrilled about changing schools - especially not half way through the first semester of his senior year. When he had first started school, he had been exceptionally shy. Even though as he grew older he became more outgoing, he still certainly hadn't made an abundance of friends in such a small town where everyone was either your best friend or your worst enemy. And the death of his best friend hadn't helped matters at all; in fact, it had simply made it all the worse. After the accident, Jesse had pulled away from everything and everyone. He had stopped running altogether - for both his school's cross country team and its track team. One by one, his friends had given up and walked away. By the end of his junior year, only Brent was left of his old gang, refusing to just let Jesse alone as he had eventually requested. She sighed inwardly. The coming months weren't going to be easy on either of them.
Especially since Jesse never wanted to talk to her about anything anymore. Yes, she realized and acknowledged that this was typical teenage behavior. But his silence still worried her to no end. He had, after all, used to talk to her all the time about everything; unfortunately, that was before Dane walked out and his best friend was killed in front of his eyes - when she hadn't been quite so busy with her work at the hospital. Those two events, within a week of each other, had taken their toll on the young teen. Hence why when they had left, Jesse had had only one friend left and had never taken back up the sport he had loved most. But, perhaps, with this move, it would allow both of them to leave the last few years behind and move forward.
As they entered the city limits, she finally broke the silence. "Have you given any thought about joining the track team at your new school?" Jesse shot her a funny look. "Could be a good way to make new friends..."
"Except that track isn't until the spring. And don't say cross country; the season's pretty much over. Not to mention the fact that I haven't run since freshman year..."
"I still think you should..."
Jesse scoffed. "Not a chance."
"Why not? You were so good!"
"Ever think that maybe I just don't want to? 'Cause I don't want to."
"And why is that? You used to love to run..."
"Yeah. I used to. Past tense."
"So why don't you now?"
Huffing, he turned back to the window. "I. Don't. Want. To. End of story."
"Alright, it's your choice." A moment later, she pulled the car off the interstate, and, after a few more turns onto steadily growing-quieter streets, pulled into the driveway of a two-story, brick house, a lake faintly visible through the trees on the opposite side of the street. "Here we are. Home."
"Yeah," Jesse mumbled to himself sarcastically. "Home..."
She didn't force him to go to school the remainder of the week, allowing him to get settled and help unpack the rest of the house as well - a fact that Jesse was immensely grateful for. For the first four days, everything seemed to be so much better than it had been previously. Maybe this move had been a good thing after all; his mother didn't seem nearly so distant, lost in her work. Jesse felt that the first night the two of them had had an actual, real conversation - something that hadn't happened since his so-called father walked out on them. Everything had been so strained after the divorce that every conversation had somehow managed to escalate into an all-out argument. It had come to the point where the two of them had eventually stopped trying. But now? Now maybe everything could go back to the way it had been before - well, as much as was possible, anyway.
But then came Monday morning, and Jesse had to get back to school.
Jesse sighed, staring despondently at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. His shaggy blond hair refused to cooperate - not that it ever really did - and stayed a mussed mess on top of his head. He sighed again. Who really cared anyway, right? He turned and left the bathroom, heading for the stairs. If he didn't hurry, he'd be late for his first day at this rate - even if it would take less than ten minutes to get to there.
A little over five minutes later, Jesse pulled into the student parking lot at Maple Grove Senior High School and cut the engine, gazing around at the other students milling about. Taking a deep breath, he opened the door and stepped out into the chilly, autumn air. A few students cast a glance in his direction, but it was instantly clear they had no intention of approaching him; and, he figured, the glances were probably more at the sight of the car he pulled up in - his black, '96 Ford Mustang GT Coupe stood out like a sore thumb among the older, beat up cars and pick-up trucks. 'Great,' he thought. 'Just great. I look like a stuck-up, rich kid... How am I supposed to talk to anyone when they're already forming opinions against me? ...I don't even know where I'm going...' As he entered through the main doors, he got lucky - straight in front of him was the office.
"Uh, hi," he spoke softly to the woman behind the front office desk. "Uhm, I'm new here? I was told to report to the office when I got here..."
The woman sighed, and, in a none-too-kind tone of voice, answered, "Name please."
"Uh, Jesse Travis."
"Have a seat," she returned uninterestedly, all the while returning to something seemingly more important on her computer screen. "The principal will be right with you."
He smiled slightly in thanks - though he was sure she neither saw it nor cared - and took a seat. Ten minutes later, the warning bell for the first class of the day rang. Twenty minutes after that, he was still waiting. That was when Jesse realized it was going to be one long, first day.
Jesse collapsed onto the living room sofa with a sigh. Sure, he got out of classes earlier here than at his previous school, but he would have much rather been back there! At least there he had still had one friend; here, no one wanted anything to do with him. By the time he had gotten to class, word was already out that he was some stuck-up, rich kid. Having a sporty little car did nothing to help him when everyone else was driving old, beat up Chevy's from the '70s. He had gone the entire day with people whispering behind his back about 'the new, rich kid.' No, the remainder of the year was certainly not going to be easy.
And it certainly didn't help any that the school itself felt like a prison. At first, he'd thought maybe it wasn't going to be so bad. As the day wore on, however, the stark, bare walls and mostly windowless rooms started to feel less and less welcoming - just like the students who inhabited them and wandered the halls. Jesse wasn't sure he would be able to stand eight whole months in this school.
With another sigh, he pulled himself to his feet and wandered into the kitchen to grab a Coke. There, on the bulletin board next to the fridge, was something he had dreaded to see. Pinned to the cork was a note written on light blue stationary. Pulling it down from the thumbtack's grip, he slowly read the message.
'Jesse: I'll be working late tonight. Yes, I know it's my first day, but it simply couldn't be helped. Make sure to get yourself some dinner. Love, Mom'
It couldn't be helped... 'Yeah,' Jesse thought bitterly, reading those words for a third time. 'That's what you always say...' He crumpled the note and tossed it down on the counter top. 'So much for things being different here... I was such a fool to believe that anything could ever change! Her job has always meant more to her than I ever did!' He desperately pushed down his feelings of despair and anger as he exited the kitchen, grabbed his school bag, and took the stairs two at a time up to his bedroom. For once in his life he was actually glad to have an abundance of homework.
The week passed rather uneventfully, the other students in his classes basically ignoring him. Really, he supposed, that was better than being bullied by them. He hadn't seen much of his mother all week, either, her work at the clinic, once again, overshadowing his existence. He would have thought that by now he would be used to it, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt any less than it had before. Between the two circumstances, he had, by the end of the week, resigned himself to the fact that he was going to be alone for the remainder of his high school days. But, unfortunately for Jesse, Fate had a cruel sense of humor.
Physical Education had just ended for the day, and Jesse, along with the other students in his class, were back in the locker rooms changing back into their normal clothes. Jesse was just pulling his grey t-shirt over his head when another student came up next to up him, leaning against the lockers.
"So, Travis. Where ya from?"
Jesse was stunned to silence for a moment. Anyone had yet to say two words to him thus far. "Uhm. Small town. 'Bout three hours north of here."
"Really. How'd ya get that fancy car then? What did you do? Steal it?"
The hair on the back of Jesse's neck stood on end. They'd been talking for all of half a minute, and he already didn't like this guy. "No. I didn't," he spoke evenly; getting defensive would only make them think he was lying. "My mom's a doctor. Even in a small town you get paid a hefty salary."
"So you really are just a spoiled rich kid, then."
Jesse struggled to keep his anger in check for a moment. After all, he'd had to work hard for that car – for everything he'd ever gotten really. "Hardly. I had to pay half for that car." He picked up his bag and made to start for the door when an out-stretched hand stopped his advance.
"Whoa, slow down, Killer. I'm not done with you yet."
"Yeah? Well, I've had quite enough of you. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to get to class."
"You can go when I say you can go, squirt. And I haven't said you can yet, now have I?"
Jesse clenched his teeth. Just when he thought things couldn't possibly get worse, it seemed he was back in junior high again. Being small certainly had its disadvantages – including people thinking he was the perfect target for bullying. He didn't know why he had thought it should be any different here; every year he'd always had someone wanting to push him around. "I have nothing to say to you."
Andrew thrust his fist into his other hand. "Oh, really. I think you'll change your mind in a hurry…"
"Cut it out, Andrew," a deep voice spoke harshly from behind. Jesse and his tormentor – Andrew, he now knew – turned to face this new comer. Muscularly built with dark hair cut in military fashion, the guy was at least ten inches taller than Jesse and looked like he belonged on the defensive end of a pro-football team.
"Really, Riley?" Andrew sneered. "You're really gonna stand up for this little punk?"
Riley. Jesse recognized him now. He sat in the row to Jesse's right, two seats in front of him in his Literature class. And he was on the football team's defense – first string varsity, he'd overheard.
"Just get out of here," Riley sneered back. "You know going up against me is a losing battle. Move on out, you and your little posse, before I decide to tell Coach Anderson what really happened to the new track hurdles last spring."
"You wouldn't do that!"
"You wanna bet on your practically promised varsity spot this spring?"
Obviously Andrew didn't as he and his posse grabbed their bags and hastily exited the locker room.
Jesse sighed in relief. "Hey, thanks…"
He shrugged, picking up his bag. "Don't mention it. Andrew and his little gang… They like to prey on people they consider 'inferior' to themselves – which is pretty much everyone. But a little blackmail can go quite a long ways."
The two boys walked out of the locker room in silence, but, a few paces down the corridor, Jesse's natural curiosity got the better of him, and he couldn't help but ask. "So, uh, what exactly did happen to the new track hurdles last spring?"
"So, you run track?" Riley asked over lunch later that day. Somehow all of his buddies had ended up in either the lunch before or the lunch after his, so, up until that point, he had travelled from table to table, wherever there happened to be an empty spot and people he knew. Now, though, he and Jesse were sitting at an otherwise unoccupied table in the corner of the cafeteria.
"Nah. Well, not anymore, anyway."
"Why's that?"
Jesse shrugged. "I used to love it, but… I don't know. I haven't run since my freshman year –even then it was just cross country; I dropped track that year."
"Oh." Riley seemed to take Jesse's answer for what it was and left it at that. After a moment, Riley spoke again. "So, you told me earlier that you moved here because of your mom's job, right?" A nod in response. "What did your dad think about that? Having to find a new job and all…"
Jesse scoffed softly. "I'm sure he couldn't care less."
"Why's that?"
Jesse fidgeted uncomfortably. How much did he really want to tell this person, whom he'd only met a couple of hours ago? Then again, Riley had stood up for him; that hadn't happened since he was in the third grade. "He's not exactly around to care… He walked out on me and my mom three years ago. Haven't heard from him since."
"Boy, that's rough." Riley paused, taking a bite out of his chicken patty sandwich. He chewed thoughtfully on it for a moment. "So that would have been during your freshman year…"
Jesse shrugged. "So?"
Riley shrugged back. "Just thinking out loud." Another pause. "You should go out this spring."
"Why?" Jesse asked incredulously. "I just told you, I don't run anymore…"
"We could always use another good runner, and don't say you aren't fast enough – I've seen you sprint in P.E. And you can't tell me you just don't love to run anymore. It's just one of those things where either ya still do, or you never did."
Jesse sighed again, averting his gaze. "I just… don't want to. That's all. I… I really did used to love to run, but…" He shrugged, his words trailing off. "I'm just not motivated to anymore, I guess."
"And this happened the same year that your dad walked out. Don't suppose there's some kind of connection, huh?"
Jesse almost laughed. "What are you, some kind of shrink?"
"Nah," Riley chuckled. "My dad is, though… Me? People say I'd make a good one 'cause I'm observant and can make connections between things and such…"
"That what you wanna do after graduating?"
Riley shrugged. "Don't know. Maybe. I've already committed to play ball for UCLA, though, so anything and everything is an option, but I have been thinking about being a lawyer. You?"
Jesse shrugged. "I'm not sure yet. My mom keeps pestering me about going into medicine, but…"
The two ate in silence for several moments, before Riley returned back to the original topic of conversation. "You don't run anymore because of your dad, don't you?"
Jesse was taken slightly aback. "You just don't give up, do you?"
"Nope. Now answer the question."
"Look," he sighed, clearly agitated. "A lot happened freshman year, okay? I don't wanna talk about it."
"More than just your dad walking out?"
"Yeah, so? What's your point?"
"You ever talked it through with anyone?"
"What does it matter?"
"It matters 'cause whatever happened caused you to stop doing something you love. I know enough from my dad's line of work that that's not a good thing."
"Yeah, well, I think you would, too, if your dad walks out after he promises to take you to a game and then a week later, you witness your best friend's death, alright?"
"You witnessed your best friend's death?" Riley asked quietly, a note of concern evident.
Jesse glanced away nervously. He hadn't intended to say anything about that. After an awkward moment, he finally answered quietly. "Car accident. Got hit by a drunk driver."
"I see," Riley answered hesitantly. "I'm sorry…"
"No, you don't see," Jesse retorted almost before the other teen had finished his sentence. "She was the reason I joined my old school's cross country team in the first place. I decided I loved to run after that and joined track. Dane – my dad – he was actually really proud of me, made an effort to make as many meets as possible. After what happened, I had no reason left to stay on either team… Dane obviously didn't care as much as he made it seem, and, well… I already told you what happened to Kylie… Look, I don't need your sympathies or your pity, alright?" He stood up to leave.
"I'm sorry if it seems that way." Jesse stopped dead in his tracks but didn't turn back to face Riley. "I just… You seem so lonely and depressed whenever I see you. I'd like to help if there's any way I can."
"Yeah? Well, there's not. So just keep your nose out of my business." Jesse turned and walked away, dumping the remainder of his lunch in the garbage before heading to his next class upon hearing the bell ring. That certainly hadn't been a conversation he'd wanted to have, but what was done was done. He just hoped that Riley wasn't like another friend he'd had at one point – one who had learned a great deal about him and then turned around and stabbed him in the back with that knowledge.
He survived through the remainder of his dreary classes and stopped by his locker to discard his text books before heading home. As he opened the small, metal door, a piece of folded paper fell out, landing at his feet. Jesse shoved his books inside and closed the door again before bending down to pick up the wayward sheet. It had only been folded once and had nothing written on the outside. Unfolding it revealed a messily scrawled message.
'Jesse: Keep the faith. It may not seem like much is going right, but, when you hit rock-bottom, the only way to go is up! "Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars." –Khalil Gibran…. Riley'
Jesse sighed as he pocketed the note. The football player was the second person to tell him to have faith. The other had been three years ago, told to him by someone very near and dear to his heart while she was on her death bed. Perhaps there was something to what they were saying. And, just maybe, he wouldn't be spending the rest of his senior year alone after all.
