"Lean On Me"
Lyrics by Bill Withers
Marco opened the bathroom door. When he opened it, he saw a bunch of boys in a circle. He didn't pay much attention, until he saw Ellie lying in the center, with a boy named Boyd sitting on top of her. Marco realized what was going on. Boyd got up, zipped his pants and marched over to Marco.
"Why hello, fag." Marco's face turned red. He helped Ellie up and took off his shirt. Ellie's shirt was ripped to shreds, and so he put his shirt on her. Marco pushed Boyd up against the wall with surprising strength. "You leave Ellie the hell alone!" Marco yelled. The boys were astonished at Marco's strength, and his bad language. Marco helped Ellie out of the bathroom, and together they walked to the guidance office. On the way to the guidance office, Marco stopped for an explanation. "Why were they doing that to you?" he asked, his voice full of concern. Ellie sobbed. "It was just that boy. They know that I'm gay." Ellie said, crying. Marco looked surprised. "You're gay too?" Marco asked quizically. Ellie nodded. Marco understood completely. They continued their walk to the guidance office. Ellie couldn't believe that she let that boy do that to her. Marco was repaying her for all the good she did him. Ellie was so appreciative.
Sometimes in our lives, we all have pain. We all have sorrow. But if we are wise, we know that there's always tomorrow.
The guidance counselor looked alarmed. "And who did you say did this to you?" Ellie looked at Marco. Marco nodded. "His name is Boyd Fresco." Marco said. The guidance counselor wrote down the name, and gazed at Ellie sadly. "I am so sorry that this happened to you." She apologized. Ellie knew it wasn't the counselor's fault. It was the boy's fault. "I want to go home," Ellie replied. The guidance counselor picked up the phone, ready to dial Ellie's home number. "Wait. No. Home isn't good for me either. My father, he's been hurting me. He killed my mother. I can't go there." The guidance counselor put down the phone and glanced at Marco. Marco understood. "She can go with me. This is something I need to get out of school for too. If I don't, people are going to ask." Marco replied.
Lean on me, when you're not strong and I'll be your friend. I'll help you carry on, for it won't be long 'til I'm gonna need somebody to lean on.
Marco and Ellie went to Marco's house. Marco didn't even have to explain to his parents. They knew something was going on. That's all they needed to know, and they stayed out of his way. Marco sat on his bed, and Ellie sat beside him. "So what's with your dad?" Marco asked pointedly. Ellie gazed at Marco. "I told my parents about me being gay. He freaked out and he was beating me. He was really drunk, and he pushed my mother. She cracked open her skull." Ellie answered dully in a monotone. "Oh," Marco replied, not knowing what to say. The telephone rang, and he picked it up. "Hello?" Marco nodded and handed the phone to Ellie. "I'm glad that Boyd kid raped you. Maybe that will knock some sense into you and teach you to be straight. Do you hear me you fucking whore?" Her dad was screaming at her, and even Marco could hear. Ellie hung up the phone. "I'm sorry." Marco said. The phone rang again, this time Ellie answered it. "What?" Ellie asked, thinking it was her dad. "Ellie?" It was Manny. She sounded extremely confused. "I am so sorry. My father had just called and I thought it was him again." Ellie explained. "Oh," Manny's sweet voice toned. "I am really sorry about earlier. We're cool, right?" "Of course, Manny." Ellie said. "Ellie. I can't believe what that jerk did to you. Just over something like that. It's okay that you think I'm hot, or anyone's hot. It doesn't matter, you're different that's all. But you're still Ellie." Manny pointed out. "Exactly. Thank you. Listen, I'll see you later ok? I have to go." Ellie was ready to hang up. "Alright. I love you, Ellie." Manny's cooed, and before Ellie could say anything else, she hung up. "Now what was that all about?" Ellie asked aloud. Marco laughed. "Maybe she digs you." Marco answered, grinning. Ellie threw a pillow at him.
Please swallow your pride if I have things you need to borrow. For no one can fill those of your needs that you don't let show.
"Why did you hang up the phone with her anyway?" Marco questioned. Ellie poked him. "I have to call Craig." Ellie picked up the phone and dialed Craig's number. "Hello?" A voice came out of the reciever. "Craig, hey it's Ellie. I wanted to tell you I'm at Marco's so I'm safe." Ellie replied. "Oh, okay. Thanks. I'd talk to you right now, because I really want to. But Joey says I have to get off here. You call me if you need anything, okay?" Craig's voice exclaimed. "Definitely." Ellie said, and hung up the phone once more. Her and Marco decided to get some rest. Marco was so nice as to let her have the bed, and he took the floor with his sleeping bag. Ellie closed her eyes, and images flashed through her mind. Her mother boozing it up, her father hitting her, her mother lying dead, Boyd on top of her. These couple days had been brutal. Ellie slowly drifted into a dreamless sleep.
Lean on me, when you're not strong and I'll be your friend. I'll help you carry on. For it won't be long 'til I'm gonna need somebody to lean on.
When Ellie awoke, Marco was reading out of a poetry book. It was Emily Dickinson, one of her favorites. Marco noticed that Ellie was awake, and he began to read aloud. Ellie was soothed by his voice, and she glanced at the clock. It was 6:45 AM, and Ellie looked around frantically. Then she realized it was Saturday. Ellie wanted to go to the Dot to hang out with her friends. She had to get a social life. Maybe it would ease the pain. Of course, she could invite Paige, Manny, Craig, and Marco! Ellie jumped out of the bed and onto Marco. "Let's go to the Dot! Call Paige, Manny, and Craig and tell them!" Ellie exclaimed. Pleased to see Ellie in a better mood, Marco obeyed. Ellie borrowed some suitable clothes from Marco's sisters closet, and off they went to the local teen hang-out, the Dot.
If there is a load you have to bear hat you can't carry. I'm right up the road, I'll share your load if you just call me.
At the Dot, Paige was sitting beside Manny, and beside Manny was Craig. When she saw Ellie, Paige got up quickly and hugged her. "Hey Elz, how you feeling?" Paige asked softly. "Pretty good." Ellie answered confidently. Manny walked over towards Ellie. She put her hand on Ellie's shoulder. Ellie felt a tingle go down her spine. Manny looked so hot. Oh, man. Craig also stood, walking towards Marco. "Hey Marco," Craig began. "What's goin on?" Marco nodded. "Not much." Marco looked over at Spinner, who worked at the Dot and laughed. Spinner was staring at Marco, because for some reason Spinner thought Marco had a crush on him! Manny was staring at Ellie, but not in the hating way. Ellie smiled, and so did Manny. Manny's dimples were so cute. Manny touched Ellie's hand lightly and her eyes flickered. "Come on, let's go get some sodas for these guys." Manny was saying to Ellie. Ellie grinned. "Okay." Ellie was starting to have loads of fun. If she was here with Manny, how could it not be fun?
So just call on me brother, when you need a hand. We all need somebody to lean on. I just might have a problem that you'd understand. We all need somebody to lean on.
Manny ordered the sodas, and her and Ellie carried them away. Manny excused her and Ellie from the rest of them, because she wanted to talk to Ellie alone outside. Ellie and Manny sat on a bench outside, and Ellie was completely staring at Manny. Manny didn't mind. "Ellie," Manny started. "I think I like you." Ellie looked mega-confused. Was this Manny she was talking to? Ellie gazed at her. "No way you are being serious with me." Ellie didn't believe her. Manny just grinned. "You don't believe me, here's the proof." Manny planted a soft but minimal kiss on Ellie's lips. Ellie looked stunned. What the heck was going on? Ellie said what she felt. "What the heck is going on?" she asked. Manny laughed. "Don't ask me. I have no idea. Here I am thinking I just like you when I notice, hey I LIKE you." Manny replied. Ellie's eyebrows were raised. "I don't understand." Ellie said. "Me neither. Just know I'm here for you. I know what you've been going through, and I am so sorry that it's been so awful."
Lean on me when you're not strong and I'll be your friend. I'll help you carry on. For it won't be long 'til I'm gonna need somebody to lean on.
(( DO NOT yell at me for making this happen!!! I was not meaning to make Manny do that, but it is what made the most sense to me as I was writing it. Now I think, WHAT THE HECK, just like Ellie and you! ))
Lyrics by Bill Withers
Marco opened the bathroom door. When he opened it, he saw a bunch of boys in a circle. He didn't pay much attention, until he saw Ellie lying in the center, with a boy named Boyd sitting on top of her. Marco realized what was going on. Boyd got up, zipped his pants and marched over to Marco.
"Why hello, fag." Marco's face turned red. He helped Ellie up and took off his shirt. Ellie's shirt was ripped to shreds, and so he put his shirt on her. Marco pushed Boyd up against the wall with surprising strength. "You leave Ellie the hell alone!" Marco yelled. The boys were astonished at Marco's strength, and his bad language. Marco helped Ellie out of the bathroom, and together they walked to the guidance office. On the way to the guidance office, Marco stopped for an explanation. "Why were they doing that to you?" he asked, his voice full of concern. Ellie sobbed. "It was just that boy. They know that I'm gay." Ellie said, crying. Marco looked surprised. "You're gay too?" Marco asked quizically. Ellie nodded. Marco understood completely. They continued their walk to the guidance office. Ellie couldn't believe that she let that boy do that to her. Marco was repaying her for all the good she did him. Ellie was so appreciative.
Sometimes in our lives, we all have pain. We all have sorrow. But if we are wise, we know that there's always tomorrow.
The guidance counselor looked alarmed. "And who did you say did this to you?" Ellie looked at Marco. Marco nodded. "His name is Boyd Fresco." Marco said. The guidance counselor wrote down the name, and gazed at Ellie sadly. "I am so sorry that this happened to you." She apologized. Ellie knew it wasn't the counselor's fault. It was the boy's fault. "I want to go home," Ellie replied. The guidance counselor picked up the phone, ready to dial Ellie's home number. "Wait. No. Home isn't good for me either. My father, he's been hurting me. He killed my mother. I can't go there." The guidance counselor put down the phone and glanced at Marco. Marco understood. "She can go with me. This is something I need to get out of school for too. If I don't, people are going to ask." Marco replied.
Lean on me, when you're not strong and I'll be your friend. I'll help you carry on, for it won't be long 'til I'm gonna need somebody to lean on.
Marco and Ellie went to Marco's house. Marco didn't even have to explain to his parents. They knew something was going on. That's all they needed to know, and they stayed out of his way. Marco sat on his bed, and Ellie sat beside him. "So what's with your dad?" Marco asked pointedly. Ellie gazed at Marco. "I told my parents about me being gay. He freaked out and he was beating me. He was really drunk, and he pushed my mother. She cracked open her skull." Ellie answered dully in a monotone. "Oh," Marco replied, not knowing what to say. The telephone rang, and he picked it up. "Hello?" Marco nodded and handed the phone to Ellie. "I'm glad that Boyd kid raped you. Maybe that will knock some sense into you and teach you to be straight. Do you hear me you fucking whore?" Her dad was screaming at her, and even Marco could hear. Ellie hung up the phone. "I'm sorry." Marco said. The phone rang again, this time Ellie answered it. "What?" Ellie asked, thinking it was her dad. "Ellie?" It was Manny. She sounded extremely confused. "I am so sorry. My father had just called and I thought it was him again." Ellie explained. "Oh," Manny's sweet voice toned. "I am really sorry about earlier. We're cool, right?" "Of course, Manny." Ellie said. "Ellie. I can't believe what that jerk did to you. Just over something like that. It's okay that you think I'm hot, or anyone's hot. It doesn't matter, you're different that's all. But you're still Ellie." Manny pointed out. "Exactly. Thank you. Listen, I'll see you later ok? I have to go." Ellie was ready to hang up. "Alright. I love you, Ellie." Manny's cooed, and before Ellie could say anything else, she hung up. "Now what was that all about?" Ellie asked aloud. Marco laughed. "Maybe she digs you." Marco answered, grinning. Ellie threw a pillow at him.
Please swallow your pride if I have things you need to borrow. For no one can fill those of your needs that you don't let show.
"Why did you hang up the phone with her anyway?" Marco questioned. Ellie poked him. "I have to call Craig." Ellie picked up the phone and dialed Craig's number. "Hello?" A voice came out of the reciever. "Craig, hey it's Ellie. I wanted to tell you I'm at Marco's so I'm safe." Ellie replied. "Oh, okay. Thanks. I'd talk to you right now, because I really want to. But Joey says I have to get off here. You call me if you need anything, okay?" Craig's voice exclaimed. "Definitely." Ellie said, and hung up the phone once more. Her and Marco decided to get some rest. Marco was so nice as to let her have the bed, and he took the floor with his sleeping bag. Ellie closed her eyes, and images flashed through her mind. Her mother boozing it up, her father hitting her, her mother lying dead, Boyd on top of her. These couple days had been brutal. Ellie slowly drifted into a dreamless sleep.
Lean on me, when you're not strong and I'll be your friend. I'll help you carry on. For it won't be long 'til I'm gonna need somebody to lean on.
When Ellie awoke, Marco was reading out of a poetry book. It was Emily Dickinson, one of her favorites. Marco noticed that Ellie was awake, and he began to read aloud. Ellie was soothed by his voice, and she glanced at the clock. It was 6:45 AM, and Ellie looked around frantically. Then she realized it was Saturday. Ellie wanted to go to the Dot to hang out with her friends. She had to get a social life. Maybe it would ease the pain. Of course, she could invite Paige, Manny, Craig, and Marco! Ellie jumped out of the bed and onto Marco. "Let's go to the Dot! Call Paige, Manny, and Craig and tell them!" Ellie exclaimed. Pleased to see Ellie in a better mood, Marco obeyed. Ellie borrowed some suitable clothes from Marco's sisters closet, and off they went to the local teen hang-out, the Dot.
If there is a load you have to bear hat you can't carry. I'm right up the road, I'll share your load if you just call me.
At the Dot, Paige was sitting beside Manny, and beside Manny was Craig. When she saw Ellie, Paige got up quickly and hugged her. "Hey Elz, how you feeling?" Paige asked softly. "Pretty good." Ellie answered confidently. Manny walked over towards Ellie. She put her hand on Ellie's shoulder. Ellie felt a tingle go down her spine. Manny looked so hot. Oh, man. Craig also stood, walking towards Marco. "Hey Marco," Craig began. "What's goin on?" Marco nodded. "Not much." Marco looked over at Spinner, who worked at the Dot and laughed. Spinner was staring at Marco, because for some reason Spinner thought Marco had a crush on him! Manny was staring at Ellie, but not in the hating way. Ellie smiled, and so did Manny. Manny's dimples were so cute. Manny touched Ellie's hand lightly and her eyes flickered. "Come on, let's go get some sodas for these guys." Manny was saying to Ellie. Ellie grinned. "Okay." Ellie was starting to have loads of fun. If she was here with Manny, how could it not be fun?
So just call on me brother, when you need a hand. We all need somebody to lean on. I just might have a problem that you'd understand. We all need somebody to lean on.
Manny ordered the sodas, and her and Ellie carried them away. Manny excused her and Ellie from the rest of them, because she wanted to talk to Ellie alone outside. Ellie and Manny sat on a bench outside, and Ellie was completely staring at Manny. Manny didn't mind. "Ellie," Manny started. "I think I like you." Ellie looked mega-confused. Was this Manny she was talking to? Ellie gazed at her. "No way you are being serious with me." Ellie didn't believe her. Manny just grinned. "You don't believe me, here's the proof." Manny planted a soft but minimal kiss on Ellie's lips. Ellie looked stunned. What the heck was going on? Ellie said what she felt. "What the heck is going on?" she asked. Manny laughed. "Don't ask me. I have no idea. Here I am thinking I just like you when I notice, hey I LIKE you." Manny replied. Ellie's eyebrows were raised. "I don't understand." Ellie said. "Me neither. Just know I'm here for you. I know what you've been going through, and I am so sorry that it's been so awful."
Lean on me when you're not strong and I'll be your friend. I'll help you carry on. For it won't be long 'til I'm gonna need somebody to lean on.
(( DO NOT yell at me for making this happen!!! I was not meaning to make Manny do that, but it is what made the most sense to me as I was writing it. Now I think, WHAT THE HECK, just like Ellie and you! ))