Crimson : Bloody Life
Dusk til Dawn... .. .

Chapter II

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"PLEASE!! Just one more chance -- please!!" pleaded Alex, his hands out.
"Sorry, sport, we have to put our foot down on this. Your grades have been...horrible of late -- and I won't even get into your...attitude problems," Alex's father shot back. He shook his head, and Alex rolled his eyes. Alex's father stood up out of his chair, his temper rising.
Alex and his parents stood in their house's living room, and Alex was having a hard time convincing his parents about going out with his friends for a night. "Alex, your father and I just want what's best for you. You need some time to settle down, get your attitude together. It's not healthy to be so angry all the time. Alex, these mood swings..." his mother paused, "oh no, you not taking drugs are you...!?"
"NO! God, mom...d'you think I'm stupid as well as a baby!?" Alex yelled. His fists curled up involuntarily.
"Change your tone," his father snapped, as he pointed his finger at his son.
"And I don't have an attitude problem! I just get kinda down once in a while! Happens to everyone!! God..." Alex said exasperated. He brushed his hair out of his face with one hand, and continued, "my grades are low 'cause senior year's tougher than I expected...it's no big deal! I'll make the marks up. I'll pass, I'll pass!" His parents gave him a crooked stare. The look of disappointed disbelief that they had perfected over the years. It no longer worked on Alex. "I'm telling you, they'll be up. So would you please cut me a break, huh!?"
"Not tonight, son-- " his father started, but was interrupted by the ball of hormonal rage that was his son.
"All I want to do is to go to one goddamn party!!! Gimme a chance-- !" yelled Alex, and his mother's eyes widened. She took a step back.
"ALEX ELDER -- how DARE you use that language in front of your mother!?! You can forget going anywhere, now, mister! I ought to..." his father yelled. He pointed at his son with ferocity.
"Ought to...what, dad? Hit me? Come on!" Alex yelled, unfairly. His father had once accidentally let his anger get the better of him after a few drinks once, and Alex rarely let him live it down in times of argument.
"Go...to...your...room!!!" said his father slowly, conveying his anger with all his power. Alex scoffed and rolled his eyes. "NOW!" yelled Mr. Elder.
"You know what? Stick it! I'm gone!!" shot his son. Alex stormed to the front hall, grabbing his coat. His sister, Pris, was sitting on the stairs, listening the whole time. She had a sad look on her face.
"Alex...?" she said in her high voice that should belong to a seven year old, rather than a 11 year old girl. Priscilla Elder was Alex's little sister, and she idolized him, even when he caused his family grief. She got up from the stairs.
"Not now, Pris! I'm not letting dad treat me like a prisoner -- I've got to get out, and very far away for a while. I'll...I'll see you later, sis," grumbled Alex as he put on his coat in mid-stride. He patted her once on the leg, and she smiled worriedly.

Alex opened the front door, and was greeted by one of his father's associates. He put on a fake smile and nodded at Alex, then knocked on the door. Alex stormed to the end of the driveway, where his friend Louis's minivan was waiting. Michael Daws opened the side door, and his friends all looked out at him. Julie Ryder, Alex's girlfriend of more than a year and a half, smiled, then frowned at Alex's expression. Alex looked at Louis and snapped, "what're you guys waiting for? Let's get outta here."
"Yes, sir, mister Alex, sir!" chuckled Mike, who sat in the back seat next to Julie. He gave a three fingered salute. Alex lingered outside the minivan for a bit.
"C'mon, boss -- the meter's running..." he snickered, and Alex hopped into the van and plopped down into the back seat. Louis let out a whoop and started driving.
"Damn, man, thought we'd be waiting out here all night! What was the hold-up?" asked Gordon Campbell, who sat in front with Louis.
"Parents were the hold-up. Parents are always the hold-up," grumbled Alex. He ran his hand over his face, trying to release tension. Gordon nodded sympathetically.
"So how'd you get out?" asked Mike. He scratched his head and adjusted his knit-cap.
"Simple. I just made my parents hate me," muttered Alex. He had a depressed look on his face. Mike rolled his eyes and nodded his head. *Alex's in a mood again* he thought. Alex continued, "way I left it, I don't think they ever want me back. Now let's drop it."
"S'okay if you want to talk about it, Alex -- I'm here," said Julie as she moved to the very back seat of the minivan. Alex shifted in his seat, and looked at her.
"Julie...I said..." he started, then stopped, gathering his thoughts, "listen, I don't really want to talk about it -- don't even want to think about it, so thanks, but no." Julie nodded slowly. She took a deep breath and looked out the window, feeling rejected. Alex looked at her for a bit, then put his arm around her. "Hey," he said. She looked at him with a hint of hurt feelings. He whispered to her so only she could hear, "I appreciate the offer, Julie. You know me, I get like this. Just how I am. I'm not mad at you, you know it. Come on," he smiled, "who's my girl?"
Julie let out a small smile and put her head on his shoulder, "aww." He rested his head on hers, and for the rest of the drive they sat like this. Two teenagers in love.

It wasn't until the drive home that it came up again. The party had been boring, the music lame, and the drinks bland. But they had had a good time amongst themselves. At around twelve o' clock at night, they decided to pack it in and leave the party.
They had been driving for nearly half an hour, and were almost at the Ryder house. Gordon had nodded off in the front seat (as long drives often made him do), and Louis was humming a tune to himself while Mike sang the words quietly. Alex and Julie sat in the back seat sharing kisses, but Alex's heart just wasn't in it.
"What's wrong, Alex?" asked Julie, pulling back. Alex shook his head, his hands loosening their grip on her shoulder and breast. Julie shrugged and moved forward for another kiss. Alex put his arms further around her, and she smiled and gave him a deep kiss. Alex kissed back, their tongues darting back and forth, but soon he started slowly pulling back. "Alex, sweety, are you upset about your fight with your parents? Do you want to talk about it?"
"No, sorry Julie...no," he said. He kissed her on the mouth, then slowly stopped. He kissed her on the cheek and then turned to look out the window, his hands settling on her hips. She frowned and placed a finger on his chin. She guided his face back to her, and looked deep into his blue eyes. She gave him a worried look.
"Alex, something's really bothering you, and you need to get it out," she said, a tone of seriousness in her voice. He sighed, and closed his eyes.
"I said, no. I'm goin' through...a...bad time right now," he stumbled over the words. He was uncomfortable sharing these feelings, even with the love of his young life. "Julie, no one understands what I'm going through, not even me. I don't thing it's smart to try and get close to me right now, 'cause I'm just pissing everyone off. It'd be best for everyone if I was just...just left alone, ok?"
"But...Alex, honey...you don't..." she stuttered, utterly taken back and hurt by what he had just said. She felt a sting in her eye. *Probably just tired* she thought, trying to deny how deeply Alex had hurt her feelings.
"Alone means alone, Julie," Alex said, feeling a similar stinging feeling in the corner of his own eye. He looked back out the window, as she got off Alex's lap and onto the seat. He sighed, "that's how I want it."
Julie crossed her arms, and looked out the other side of the van, breathing shakily. Louis turned his head to the back of the minivan. "Awright, Julie! G-g-g-gah rouse!" he said in a bad german accent. She moved past Alex, careful not to touch him, and got out. She waved to them, then ran back to her house, a single tear going down her cheek.
*Now, I'm really am alone, aren't I?* thought Alex...

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