DISCLAIMER: Even though it IS my birthday, i still don't own LWD. Maybe next year's gift?
Two reviews? I'll take it!
It's my birthday today, for about the next half hour, and here's my gift to you;
a fresh new chapter.
Enjoy, and don't hesitate to tell me what you think!
I woke up the next morning in sheer agony
I woke up the next morning in sheer agony. I didn't want to do this anymore. I wanted it to be over and back to normal. If there were any day worth skipping school, today would be it.
Yet, after a few seconds of thinking it over, it would mean not tutoring Hayden and missing hockey practice. I couldn't do that.
I walked down to the basement, to get Nora up, like daily routine.
Moving the covers, I whispered, "Come on, Nora. Time to wake up. Liz and Case and Derek are coming home today."
She began to turn over.
"Maybe even Edwin'll be up. If not today, he might be here tomorrow."
She looks up at me, and quietly said, "But they aren't George."
It took a lot of strength for me not to walk out of the room then and there. Instead, I dismissed her comment, and walked her over to their bathroom.
I went upstairs as soon as I heard the shower running, and took a shower myself. The normal routine: shower, hair, makeup, and then downstairs to breakfast again.
Hoping to snap Nora out of it, I was wearing an outfit that was completely different than anything Liz or Casey wore back then. There was no way that I was wearing a skirt with all the bruises from hockey, so I stuck to skinny jeans on that part, and a red quarter length sleeved top, which shown the tiniest bit cleavage.
As Nora and I sat and ate our cereal, she didn't even seem to care about my outfit, or care when I asked where my black converses were.
I gave Nora a list of what to-do and she only nodded in response.
I walked the long walk to school, missing when Liz and Ed drove, and causing me to think more about the last thing George said when he dropped me off.
First mod class started, and then second mod class, more monotony.
Dillon pulled me over by my locker between third and fourth and wrapped his arms around me. "Marti bear. I'm here for you, no matter what goes on. I want you to know that. I think I might talk to Lenning today about letting up on you at practices."
I look up at him, and I'm suddenly angry.
"No, Dillon! You can't do that! I'm perfectly capable of handling him on my own. You can't just go ahead and stick up for me when every little thing goes wrong!"
He just nods, not phased, and kisses my forehead.
"My offer still stands." He says, walking away.
My fists are clenched, and I'm shaking. I don't get what's got me so worked up about the whole situation, the fact he kissed my forehead or the fact that he decides that he wants to be my protector.
I decided on both, but didn't want it to make another worry in my life.
Everyone seemed concerned about me. Whether it was Krista's notes she passed me, or Dimi's small talk, they all wanted to "be there for me". I was a little sick of it.
"Venturi!" An arm grabbed me and pulled me to the side.
"What is it with you people and wanting to talk?"
"I'm sorry if I took the wrong approach, maybe I should've checked you into the lockers instead. Anyways, I decided we should stop the tutoring at the rink. Too many interruptions, you know?"
I let out a small sigh, aggravated by him and his wants and his needs.
"Where do you want to work at, huh? If you don't want to at the rink, and I can't have you at my house, then where?" I was getting impatient.
He mimics me and I stand waiting for his answer.
"My house. Where else is there? My brother will drive us there. Make sure you have all your gear."
The rest of the school went by rather slowly. I was criticized for not paying attention and astonishing teachers for not knowing the correct answers to everything. I had plenty of projects to do during holiday break. Today, though, my goal was to help Lenning so he could pass his Spanish test he was retaking the next day, a Saturday.
I was midst a history lesson while I kept zoning out.
"Miss Venturi, will you please step out of the room with me for a second?"
My eyes grew wide, and I hesitantly walked out.
"Marti," Mr. Quintin began, "This past week your performance has faltered. I have to ask, is there a problem at home? Is your athletics wearing down on you?"
His kind old eyes were looking at me with compassion, and pity in a sense.
"Much of both. I'd rather not discuss it…" I say, my eyes studying my feet.
He sighs, and writes on a piece of paper.
"I'd like you to discuss it with the guidance councilor, if you are comfortable with talking to him…I do hope things will get better."
I mumble thanks, and carry my books back into Paul's office.
"Marti? Its mid eighth mod."
"Yeah," I say quietly, "I know."
"Just wanting to talk before holiday?"
I shake my head no, and hand him the pass.
"Oh. What's been going on?"
I put my head in my hands for a while. By the time I raise it, tears are streaming down my face.
"It's all going wrong." I sob, grabbing a handful of tissues.
"I'm afraid I don't understand."
"My dad left us, he's not coming back. Nora's become a basket case, and all us kids are overstressed. I had to break the news to Liz last night, and that was really tough. I might have to tell Edwin too. Derek's taking it hard, and its tough on Casey too. I don't know what to do. I'm trying to keep myself busy, with all this schoolwork, which hockey. But Hayden's gotten me real frustrated, I mean. I've been helping him, or trying. The first day was at my house, and then Casey came home early with Nora, and she thought we were up to other kinds of studying. So we studied for the past few days at the rink. But my guess is that all of the team's remarks about how I should be tutoring him in a 'different' way. So today we'll be at his house. And I'm so afraid of another breakdown or a panic attack like last night and-"
"Marti. You're taking on the world right now. Lets start with your dad."
"He left Monday. Didn't tell us where to, and cut off all communication with us. He really thought it all out. It wasn't just an impulsive move. He packed up his things, and circled back to the house after we were gone to get it all."
"How do you know it was for good?"
"He wrote a letter. He told us not to contact him."
"And the family is taking it hard." Paul looked
"Really hard. Derek picked me up from school the first day, and he started yelling at me. Derek never does that. Ever. Casey drove here as well, stayed with us. She had a hard time reaching mom. Them and Lizzie will be home tonight, I take it. As soon as hockey practice is over and Casey's done, they'll rush to get here. Edwin… I don't know."
"Do you think he'll want to come up after the whole Lizzie ordeal?"
I nod. "I know he still has feelings for her. You can sense those kinds of things, after these last years."
"Okay. Now, schoolwork is something you can keep in check. So lets talk about mister Lenning, okay? How's that going?"
"I'm trying to help him and I guess he's doing better because of it. He retakes his Spanish test tomorrow. But the team teases him a lot of it. I guess that's cause I'm a girl and he's a guy. Still, he's gotten really harsh about the drills and everything, checking me into the boards all the time, barking out orders. It's kind of hard to handle. I wanna freak out on him, but I can't. Not only because he's captain, but because he shows a different side when we're working together."
"Best advice in that field? Be friends."
I scoff at him. He gives me a look like I should know better.
"Paul, I don't know what to do here."
He shakes his head. "The family thing seems much more dire of a topic to discuss with a family councilor. This is a very life altering thing, it takes time to sort out."
I nod, and see the time. We talked past eighth, and were near the end of ninth mod, the end of the day.
Paul gives me the ok to leave, and softly tells me his door is open anytime.
I walk out to Tristan's car, and wait patiently.
"Marti! Glad to be seeing you again. I hear you'll be a guest at our house for a while this afternoon?"
"Why yes," I say, playing along, "I will be."
He laughs, "Well, you're in for a real shock."
I was about to ask what he meant, but Hayden walks up to us.
"I had to get something after school from Miss Grayson. Sorry guys."
Shrugging, I head off with them to their house.
The car pulls into a paved driveway of the Lenning's brick-style house. It was a two-story home, with a few flower patterns around, and a basketball hoop on hold. The two guys lead me in through the back patio entrance.
"Hi!" A little boy, about the age of five or six pops out from the hallway. His blonde hair and light dusting of freckles gives it away that he's Tristan and Hayden's little brother.
"Hey there! What's your name?" I ask, as he stands in front of me.
"Charles Nathan Lenning. But you can call me Charlie!"
"Okay, Charlie. I'll stick to that."
I walk into the kitchen and sit down, taking out my books.
Charlie mimics me, sitting down and pulling out crayons and a coloring book.
"Whatcha coloring, Charlie?"
"Spiderman! I used to color when I was little, but I ran outside of the lines and it was all messy. Now that I'm way older, I color perfect!"
"Can I color with you?"
The little boy's eyes lit up. "Yeah! That'd be awesome!"
I sat around, waiting for Hayden to come into the room to stop me.
After ten minutes, I ask Charlie where he was.
"I dunno. Cleaning, probably."
My eyebrows knitted together. Hayden? That's a silly thought.
I walk away from the little boy's delight, and walk upstairs to see where he was.
Sure enough, Hayden was in his room, making his bed.
"Hayden?" I say, from the doorway. He jumps.
"Oh, hey Marti." It seemed like the first time in ages that he actually called me Marti instead of "Venturi".
"What are you doing?" I tended to be very curious when people acted out of curious.
"Uh, cleaning before my dad and Kate come home." He said, nervously picking up things to make his room ideal.
"Okay. Um, when you're done, come to the kitchen. We need to get to work if you're gonna get a good grade on your test tomorrow."
He tells me he'll be down in a second, and then keeps vacuuming. I pass Tristan's room where he's doing the same.
I walk back into the kitchen where Charlie's still sitting quietly, coloring a Spiderman and MJ picture.
"Charlie? Can I ask you something?"
"Uh-huh." He doesn't even look up at me.
"Why are Tristan and Hayden cleaning so much?" It was starting to bug me now.
"Cause daddy will get real mad if it's dirty anywhere." This only made me more curious.
"What about you, Charlie?"
"I put my clothes in my drawers and picked up stuff and made my bed."
"Oh." I didn't know what else to say.
It was about fifteen minutes later, and page after page of Spiderman that Hayden finally sat down next to me.
"I'm sorry I left you here. Charlie keeping you entertained?"
"We're coloring!" He grins.
"Make sure not to get crayon anywhere. If you do, tell me."
He turns and places his Spanish note cards on the table.
"I'm gonna be looking over these for a few. Then you can quiz me, okay?"
He starts looking over them, and the back doors open.
"I'm so sorry I'm late, guys." A woman with long blonde hair walks into the room, dropping bags of groceries onto the counter.
"Mommy!" Charlie squeals, jumping out of his chair and going over to hug her.
"Hey Kate. This is Marti, you know?" Hayden introduces me.
"Hello Marti. I appreciate all that you are doing right now for helping out Hayden."
I shrug, and kindly say, "It's not a problem. He's getting better, actually."
She smiles, and turns to put the groceries away, the bags in a certain drawer, and wipes the countertops off.
I'm frustrated now. Why the heck is this family so OCD about cleaning?!
"Here," Hayden shoves the note cards into my hands, "quiz me."
The rest of the time I was there, I helped him out. I hear vacuuming in the background, or several things being put away.
I was itching to ask about it, but trying to keep my boundaries.
Surprisingly, Hayden was doing better. His pronunciation and vocabulary were only wrong on one or two things, but other than that I could thereby say he was ready.
My phone starts to ring, and I jump, not expecting it.
I walk into their spotless living room, to not distract Hayden.
I open it immediately, without even looking at the name.
"Hello? Marti?"
"Edwin." I nearly whisper.
"I checked my voicemail after class. I'm headed to work in about a half hour. What's up?"
"You haven't talked to anyone, have you." I said it as a statement, not a question.
"No, Marti. Now tell me what's going on."
"Where are you?" I said, trying to gear him up.
"Uh, back at the dorms. Why?"
"This is big, Ed."
I can hear his breathing pick up. "How big?"
I sigh, hating having to do this. "Dad left."
The line goes silent. I don't hear his footsteps, or anything.
"Did he say how long?" He has hope, and I wish I did too.
"Indefinitely. He… he might not come back at all."
"I'm on the next available flight." Click.
I'm running my hands through my hair. Trying to let the tears not fall.
"Marti? Coming back soon? We have to go to practice in like a half hour."
I walk back in the room, holding back everything, biting my lip.
He sees me, and his eyes get big. "What happened?"
"N-nothing." I try to choke out. Trying to keep something like this bottled up was tough.
"Don't lie."
And that's how I ended up crying right in front of Mr. Big-Shot Captain, Hayden Lenning.
Okay, this story officially went in a different direction than I planned. I just added another mystery, I guess.
Tell me how you think it was; be honest. I rushed it a little, trying to get it out today.
I don't even know where it's headed yet, so maybe help me out and tell me what YOU want?
REVIEW, and I'll be happy!