The Highschool Years
By: Hotaru
Warnings: possible yaoi laters, depression, language
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Wufei followed Chen into the dojo, and took a fighting stance. Once Chen bowed, Wufei's mind drifted to Duo. :punch: "Pay attention Chang! Your mind is in the clouds!" Chen shouted as Wufei staggered slightly. Wufei shook his head in an attempt to clear it and charged at his father, and as always, his punches and kicks were easily blocked. "So, you're parents let you use swords?" Duo's words echoed in Wufei's mind and once again, Chen knocked him into a pole.
"Ah, Chang. What's wrong today? You're not even paying attention." Chen said, as the dazed Wufei layed on the floor. Taking a deep breath, the dizziness subsided and Wufei stood up. "I'm sorry father. I will try harder." He said, attacking again. Wufei's mother, Ming watched or listened rather from the kitchen as she made dinner. /Chen is winning. Poor boy…/
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Quatre was lying in bed and couldn't sleep. Not because it was only ten o'clock, but because he feared his father. No, he didn't really hit him, it's just that the verbal abuse is just as bad.
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"You're a disgrace to the Winner name! What are you going to accomplish in life with a ninety five average? Nothing! Get upstairs and study, now!!" Niice yelled, sending Quatre out of his office/study into his room, crying again. He had no one to talk to.
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Sighing, Quatre walked downstairs into the kitchen for something to drink. "Quatre! Why aren't you in bed?" Niice asked from his study. "I'm just getting something to drink father." Quatre said, pouring himself a glass of water. Niice sighed and went back to work. The young arabian went to his room quickly and buried his face in his pillows. /Why can't I ever be good enough for him? I try my best, but even that isn't good enough!/
The next morning:
Luckily, Niice was leaving for work before Quatre even woke up. He sat down at the kitchen table and poured himself a bowl of cereal. He glanced at the clock. /Six thirty…/ Once he finished his cereal, Quatre got dressed and headed off for school. Trowa stood outside the large building, apparantly waiting for him. "Morning Quatre." He said, waving slightly.
"Hello Trowa. I'm sorry about the phone last night. My dad—he's an asshole." Quatre admitted. A small laugh escaped Trowa's lips. "I suppose you're right. I know if I was a parent, I wouldn't over work my kid." He said as they went inside. "Yeah, but his father pushed him to work hard, and he wants me to be a success just like him." Quatre replied as they sat down at a lunch table awaiting the bell to ring. Trowa pondered for a moment before saying, "But you are a great student as you are now. But if he keeps pushing you, you'll be more and more secluded from the world, studying in your room all night."
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Wufei sat at a lunch table, staring into a book. His jaw was aching, as was his back. Chen really kicked his ass. /I can't believe how much I lost last night. I have to keep my mind off of Duo./ "Hey there Wufei!" a cheery voice from above said. Wufei looked up and saw the smiling face of Duo Maxwell. "Uh, hi Duo." He squeaked. Duo sat down at the table and grinned. "So—did you get your ass kicked last night?" he asked, still grinning. Wufei chuckled softly, and put his hand up to his face.
"Yeah, you can say that. I couldn't really pay attention." He replied, closing his book. Duo glanced at his watch, then stood up. "Sorry Fei but I gotta go. Coach wanted to see me this morning but I wanted to say hi first." He said, heading off. Wufei's obsidian eyes widened. /He wanted to say hi, to me? He put me in front of his sport?! Oh gods…/ The bell rang, and everyone walked off to their classes. [author intrusion—I don't want to write all about what happens during the day since nothing happens until school gets out so, in order to not waste your time,I'll just skip ahead!]
Wufei heard some laughter coming from behind the bleachers. He turned and saw a group of guys from the baseball team picking on Heero. /Oh no…/ Wufei groaned inwardly as he ran over to help his friend. "Hey nerd why didn't you do my homework?" One of them said, smacking Heero's glasses to the floor. Another one grabbed his books and tossed them aside. "Yeah, we had a deal—you do our homework, we don't kick your ass!" The first one said, pushing Heero into the wall.
"You went against the rules first. I did your homework and you still beat me up! What kind of deal is that?!" Heero spat. The largest one of the group was about to beat Heero's brains out when Wufei stepped in and interfered. "Hey, get the hell out of my way!" the larger yelled, punching at Wufei, who blocked it and socked the guy in the stomach. "Get the hell out of here now!" Wufei shouted, holding up his fists. One of the others came at Wufei with a bat. He swung it at Wufei's head, who luckily ducked before it smashed into the wall. With a swift kick, the kid was on the floor clutching his stomach.
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Quatre and Trowa stopped at the Winner mansion. "Well, here's my house. You didn't have to walk me home you know." Quatre said sheepisly. Trowa smiled softly and looked into the sky. "It's not like I have anything better to do. Would you mind if I hung out here for awhile?" he asked. Quatre, knowing his father was working until six, agreed. "Want something to drink?" he asked, tossing his books on the table. Trowa marveled at the large house with wide eyes. "I've never been in a house as big as this before." He said.
"I have an idea. Want to ride my horses?" Quatre asked suddenly. "Horses? You have horses?" Trowa asked wide-mouthed. The young arabian nodded and led Trowa to the barn where prize winning horses stood. "Wow…they're beautiful." Trowa breathed, admiring the silky coats of the horses. Quatre gathered the equipment and said, "Which one would you like? I always take Sandrock here." Trowa picked a black horse by the name of Allah. Once they were ready to go, Quatre kicked the sides of Sandrock and chased after Trowa.
Trowa wasn't used to riding a horse but he quickly adjusted and he and Quatre ran back and forth going after each other. While they were resting, Quatre saw his fathers black car driving towards the house. "Oh no! Hurry, we have to put the horses away!" he exclaimed, jumping onto Sandrock. Trowa was confused, but he followed after Quatre swiftly. "My dad's home. He never wants me to ride Sandrock cause he's afraid I'll hurt him." Quatre said as they pushed the horses into their stalls hurridly. He sent Trowa to put the equipment away.
"Quatre! What are you doing here?" Niice barked. Quatre gasped and turned around. "Hello Father. I was just saying hello to Sandrock. That's all." He said quickly. Niice crossed his arms and said, "You should be in your room studying. I bet you didn't even do your homework yet have you? Lazy boy, get up to your room and don't come out until you're done!" Quatre's eyes burned with tears at his fathers harsh words. He nodded and stalked to his room, and Niice followed behind. Trowa peered from behind a door and sighed. /You must be strong my dear Quatre…/
Meanwhile, Niice was scolding Quatre up in his room. "I don't understand father! It's not necessary for me to do my homework as soon as I get home! Can't I ever have fun?" Quatre shouted angrily. Niice swirled towards his son and said, "No! You cannot put off your studies! I know this because—because of personal experience! Never miss a day of classes, never skip a homework and never, ever, EVER get below a 95 on a test or you'll never get in!" Quatre tried to stop the tears from cascading down his face, but he couldn't. He was hurting too much.
"You don't get it! Maybe I don't want to be a great scholar! Maybe I don't want to go to U.U.S.! [1] Maybe, just maybe, I want to be the only goddamn person in this family who actually has a job that they are happy with! I don't want to be some big shit satellite engineer! I don't want to work in space and most of all, I don't want to be YOU!" Quatre shouted before running past his father and outside. Niice ran after him, but he was no where in sight.
Quatre ran into the barn and straight into the hay loft and flopped onto the hay, sobbing painful [emotional! It didn't literally hurt to cry!] tears. Trowa emerged from the shadows. "Quatre, what's the matter? Are you alright?" he asked worridly, kneeling beside Quatre. "No! Gods I'm sick of him!" The hurt Arabian replied. Trowa layed next to Quatre on the hay and wrapped his arms around Quatre's smal waist. "I understand little one…go ahead and cry…" he whispered.
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Heero sat in his chair at the coffee shop glumly. "What's wrong Heero? Coffee cold?" Wufei asked, looking up from his books. Heero shook his head and sighed. "It's going to happen again. I don't want to be a pawn in those guys' game. You honesly think they won't beat me up if I do their homework?" he said grimly. Wufei looked down ito his tea for an answer. /Hmm…ya got nothing either?/ "Look Heero," he said, looking up from his tea cup, "Don't let them bother you. You may seem weak but there's gotta be a good fight in ya somewhere."
Heero rolled his eyes and made a muscle. "Yeah, right. Most of the muscle is in my legs from running away all the time!" he said smiling sarcastically. Wufei shook his head and glanced at his watch. "Uh oh. I better get home before my parents get mad. Just hit 'em hard okay?" he said, gathering up his things. Heero nodded and waved as Wufei quickly hurried home. /Okay…it takes ten minutes to walk home from here, and I'm supposed to be home in five, meaning if I run I'll make it just in time./ Wufei thought, quickening his pace.
He heard the roar of a motorcycle come up behind him. "Hey there! Need a ride?" a farmiliar voice called out. Wufei turned around to find a grinning Duo Maxwell. "That'd be great." He said, climbing onto the back of the Kawasaki. "Hang on tight or you'll fly off!" Duo said, roaring off. /Wow…he's built! Wait a minute…do I have the hots for him? Wufei, I think that's already been established ya mook!/ Wufei shook his head to clear his thoughts as Duo's braid whacked him in the face.
"Sorry about that. I should wear a helmet and all but..nah." Duo called over his shoulder. A short while later they stopped a hundred yards from Wufei's house. "I don't know what my parents would say if I came home on a motercycle…but thanks a lot Duo." Wufei said, dusting his clothes off. Duo grinned and made the victory sign. "One day you'll escape their evil clutches. See ya around!" he said, driving off in the opposite direction. A hot blush rose to Wufei's cheeks as he watched that chestnut braid flail in the wind.
[1] University of Universal Scholars
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Hotaru
Well? What do you think?