XashXdawnX - Here's the newest chapter. Hope you all enjoy!
Leaf ran until she was back to her car. She hastily unlocked her door and got in, slamming the door. She leaned her head against the steering wheel as tears fell from eyes.
She had just slapped someone she had known her whole life. Someone who was once her closest friend. The guy that was suppose to be her boyfriend to everyone at high school.
He had only been trying to help and what did she do? She slapped him and yelled at him.
She wiped at her face and took a shuddering breath. She had to get home, it was getting late. She didn't need to be late.
She looked towards the direction where the path was, no lights. Gary hadn't followed. Why did she think he would have? He looked so hurt when she finally made eye contact with him. She hadn't even been able to apologize for what she had done. She just ran away from him.
She sighed and shifted her car into drive and headed towards her house.
... ...
Leaf flopped down onto her bed and stared at the ceiling. She couldn't believe what had happened in the last few days, especially earlier.
As she stared at the ceiling her mind began to drift to when she had her best friends in her life. A time when she had to be there for Gary, like he was trying to be for her.
Leaf walked out of the school, heading towards the bleachers where a lone figure sat. She waved as the figure noticed and quickened her pace.
"Hey Gary!" she cried, climbing up the bleachers.
"Hey Leafy," he greeted, flashing a smile, but it was forced.
"I didn't think you were going to be here today..."
"Gramps didn't want to let me come...but the midterms are today."
"You and your grades." Leaf joked, trying to cheer him up.
"I want to make them proud..."
"You are Gary. They're so proud of who you've become."
"I miss them..." he muttered, his voice cracked.
Leaf grabbed his hand.
"They're always with you."
"I just wish they were here still."
This day was always bad for Gary. Eight years to this day since his parents had been taken from him. Eight years ago that he woke up to the news that his parents were gone because of a drunk driver.
Leaf shook her head. She didn't need to think of that. She glanced at her phone and saw the date. It was approaching to ten years soon.
She sighed. How was she going to face him at school? What could she even say? There wasn't anything she could say. She just needed to avoid him for a bit and then maybe confront him. Hopefully, he wouldn't try to confront her again.
... ...
To her surprise, at school Gary stayed away. Serena and Shauna were questioning Leaf about his actions and Leaf just kept saying he was busy. That they were perfectly okay, just both very busy. She lied and said they had been meeting after school to catch up on lost time.
... ...
Leaf yawned and grabbed her phone to silence the alarm. She dressed herself in a pair of skinny jeans, an oversized hoodie that was black, and her combat boots. She pulled her hair into a messy bun and headed downstairs to the kitchen. She grabbed a granola bar before she left to head to school.
As she walked towards her friends, a familiar voice called out to her.
"Leaf!"
She stopped walking and turned around. Dawn was running to catch up to her.
"Can I help you?" Leaf asked, trying to be cold.
She was also confused as to why Dawn was talking to her at school.
"Have you seen Gary?" Dawn asked.
There was concern in her voice.
"I haven't seen him. I just got here. I'm sure he's at the bleachers or something."
"Ash just checked there and he isn't. Usually he's here,"
"Maybe he's sick. Now if you'll excuse me,"
Leaf turned on her heel and started walking off.
"It's ten years!" Dawn called after her.
Leaf's steps faltered. She removed her phone from her back pocket and looked at the date.
He could be skipping today because it's the anniversary. Leaf thought.
But then she remembered that there were tests today. Gary wasn't one to miss tests. He hadn't missed the midterms on the anniversary. Ash and Dawn had searched the school and hadn't found him...so where was he?
"I come here from time to time..." Gary's words echoed in her head.
"I know where he is..." Leaf muttered.
She hurried back to the parking lot. She got into her car and stared at her keys.
"What am I doing?"
You don't need to do this...
Leaf shook her head. "No, I need to make sure he's okay."
She started her car and pulled out of the parking place and headed away from the high school.
Leaf pulled off on the side of the road and cut her car off. She sat staring out of her windshield.
"What am I doing?" she asked herself.
Why was the better question. Hadn't she wanted to avoid him after everything that had happened?
Sighing, she got out of her car and headed towards the path. She only hoped he was here, because if not she wasn't sure where he was at.
She walked along the path until she came to the clearing with the river. There he was, sitting next to the river, staring straight ahead.
"Hey..." she greeted as she walked over.
He glanced at her.
"Didn't expect to see you." he greeted, not looking at her.
"Ash and Dawn were worried...they didn't know where you were."
"Of course they were. So why are you here?"
"I know what today is, Gary. I know it's hard. I miss your parents, too."
"Oh really? Well at least you still have your mom, Leaf! I don't have my parents anymore. I lost them when I was seven! I lost them so long ago, but it still hurts! It still hurts!" Gary cried, turning towards her.
Pain was in his eyes and his voice.
Leaf frowned and a choked laugh escaped her mouth.
"You don't know me anymore, Oak. Why don't you think about things before you open your mouth next time. Think about something I never told you. Why I came back here. You don't know me anymore, Oak and you never will." Leaf said, coldly.
"Maybe I would know if you would open the hell up, Leaf!"
"Fuck you, Gary Oak! I just came to see if you were okay because I knew what day it was and that it was ten years now. I wasn't here for the last few years and I know this day is always hard for you. I figured today would be the worst day yet."
"I didn't ask for you to check on me."
Leaf laughed. "Then be alone, Oak."
With that she started walking off.
"Oh! There you go walking away like always! When things get tough you always walk or run away!"
Leaf stopped and glanced over her shoulder.
"You better shut up, Oak. You don't know anything anymore."
"Then tell me."
Leaf turned around and walked off.
Leaf sat in her car, now parked in the parking lot of the local park. The conversation had brought up unpleasant memories for her. Memories that were still fresh in her mind and something she liked to keep locked away. But now the lock had been broken and the memories were about to come full force.
"I can't..." she muttered.
She shook her head and forced her mind to rid the memories. She didn't need to think of it. She couldn't.
"I need to take the edge off." she muttered.
She started her car and pulled out of the parking lot. She was heading to the one place where she was able to lose herself and forget about everything. The one place that even as this new Leaf helped her the most when she had no one there for her.
She pulled into the empty parking lot and looked at the building in front of her. The dance studio. The one place she was able to lose herself and forget.
She got out of her car and walked to the trunk, grabbing the gym bag that was there. She locked her car and walked into the studio, heading for the changing rooms. She changed into a loose fitting crop top that was neon pink and black short shorts. She then found an empty studio and walked over to the speaker.
She hooked her phone up and blasted some of her music. She stretched out her muscles and then she started dancing, putting everything she had into it.
She was right in the middle of doing pirouettes when the door opened.
"Excuse me!"
She ignored the woman and the black spots that were starting to appear. Leaf finished right as the song ended and she heard the woman yelling at her, but everything sounded muffled. Leaf went to move, but when she did she felt her legs give out and she collapsed on the ground.
Please R&R