A/N: Sorry this is so late in coming, for those who have actually read this…the more reviews I get, the faster I update.
Chapter 3: Buried Nightmares
Flashback
Bound to this couch I lie in waiting
Watching wind blown memories slip past my window sill
Her steps were slow and steady, deliberate, pensive. Just as the music, her body pantomimed the rhythm and lyric of the song. As the pulse increased, so did her steps.
I can't fall asleep, voice in my head disturbs me
Waking nightmares keep have my cries fallen on deaf ears?
Can you hear me or am I…
Talking to myself again, is there anybody listening
Are you taking this in, am I wasting my breath
Tell me, is the wind in your sails worth everything you give
Are you looking for something? Forgiveness?
In her mind there was only one person she thought of as she danced. Dick Grayson. She was wasting her breath, wasting her time, and her own cries had fallen on deaf ears for fourteen years, and she was tired of that bastard ignoring her, tired of dealing with his new wife who hated her on the basis that she was his daughter by another woman.
I leave it up to you, I guess I'm better off removed
Because the situation's growing too thick, in your hands
Could it have been something I said, or was it something that I did
Did I ruin my chance? Have you written me off?
Tell me where did I cross the line, and can I work my way back this time
Will I always regret this decision?
She had spent too many nights wondering what she had done wrong, that he would abandon her and her mother. It had to be her fault of course, because everyone told her that Dick had once loved her mother very much. Before she came along. No more. Her feet flew and she pounded out her verdict. She wouldn't waste her life wishing for the love he would never give her. She had her mother and she had Sam, who loved her even more than she could have hoped, though she was not of his blood.
I leave it up to you
I hope you find a good excuse because I've given about all that I can give
In your hands
I could try to count the times I've been through this in my mind
But I'm running out of fingers and I don't have that much time.
Her decision made, she exacted the last steps and stopped, breathing heavily.
Then the sound of clapping hands met her ears.
"Bravo."
Josh Newport, otherwise known around school as Benz, was a handsome senior with black hair and brown eyes. He was one of the popular crowd, a jock, and quite rich. What was he doing there?
She turned off the CD player and nodded. "Um, thanks."
"You're really good." He flashed her that million dollar smile all the girls talked about during English class.
Natalie hated to admit it, but he did make her insides a little warm. She flushed. "What are you doing here?"
He shrugged. "Just taking a walk. I heard the music. It's not something I've heard before, but your dancing was well worth listening." He walked over and extended his hand. "Josh Newport. My friends call me Benz."
She took it firmly. "Natalie Gordon Grayson."
"The Commissioner's daughter? Well, I had no idea you were so talented."
Why the hell was she soaking this up like a sponge? She knew he was full of it, but…she liked hearing it all the same. "Look, was there a point to this?"
"A selfish one, I'm afraid. Would you…like to go get some coffee with me? My treat."
That was how it had started. She liked his company, craved his attention. She knew now that it was because she was trying to make up for what she had been missing with Dick. It wasn't uncommon. But she discovered his…after school job of drug smuggling and wasn't about to follow him into that. She refused him, he raped her and beat her, leaving her for Diego and Rab to find outside their hangout on the pier when he was finished.
She hadn't let anyone near her for the next month. That was when she started getting sick. He had gotten her pregnant.
End Flashback
"Come on, Torch! Let's see it!" Twitch's voice brought her back from her buried nightmare. Fine. If he wanted her to dance, she would dance. And she would, as the song said, lose herself in the music.
A/N: Sorry this is so short, but more will come! I figured I'd give a little more this time as far as her background. Oh, and the song in this chapter is "In Your Hands" by Thrice. They rock, if you haven't heard them, check them out! Please! ^_^ My cousin is their manager, so I have to do all the shameless plugging I can!
Chapter 3: Buried Nightmares
Flashback
Bound to this couch I lie in waiting
Watching wind blown memories slip past my window sill
Her steps were slow and steady, deliberate, pensive. Just as the music, her body pantomimed the rhythm and lyric of the song. As the pulse increased, so did her steps.
I can't fall asleep, voice in my head disturbs me
Waking nightmares keep have my cries fallen on deaf ears?
Can you hear me or am I…
Talking to myself again, is there anybody listening
Are you taking this in, am I wasting my breath
Tell me, is the wind in your sails worth everything you give
Are you looking for something? Forgiveness?
In her mind there was only one person she thought of as she danced. Dick Grayson. She was wasting her breath, wasting her time, and her own cries had fallen on deaf ears for fourteen years, and she was tired of that bastard ignoring her, tired of dealing with his new wife who hated her on the basis that she was his daughter by another woman.
I leave it up to you, I guess I'm better off removed
Because the situation's growing too thick, in your hands
Could it have been something I said, or was it something that I did
Did I ruin my chance? Have you written me off?
Tell me where did I cross the line, and can I work my way back this time
Will I always regret this decision?
She had spent too many nights wondering what she had done wrong, that he would abandon her and her mother. It had to be her fault of course, because everyone told her that Dick had once loved her mother very much. Before she came along. No more. Her feet flew and she pounded out her verdict. She wouldn't waste her life wishing for the love he would never give her. She had her mother and she had Sam, who loved her even more than she could have hoped, though she was not of his blood.
I leave it up to you
I hope you find a good excuse because I've given about all that I can give
In your hands
I could try to count the times I've been through this in my mind
But I'm running out of fingers and I don't have that much time.
Her decision made, she exacted the last steps and stopped, breathing heavily.
Then the sound of clapping hands met her ears.
"Bravo."
Josh Newport, otherwise known around school as Benz, was a handsome senior with black hair and brown eyes. He was one of the popular crowd, a jock, and quite rich. What was he doing there?
She turned off the CD player and nodded. "Um, thanks."
"You're really good." He flashed her that million dollar smile all the girls talked about during English class.
Natalie hated to admit it, but he did make her insides a little warm. She flushed. "What are you doing here?"
He shrugged. "Just taking a walk. I heard the music. It's not something I've heard before, but your dancing was well worth listening." He walked over and extended his hand. "Josh Newport. My friends call me Benz."
She took it firmly. "Natalie Gordon Grayson."
"The Commissioner's daughter? Well, I had no idea you were so talented."
Why the hell was she soaking this up like a sponge? She knew he was full of it, but…she liked hearing it all the same. "Look, was there a point to this?"
"A selfish one, I'm afraid. Would you…like to go get some coffee with me? My treat."
That was how it had started. She liked his company, craved his attention. She knew now that it was because she was trying to make up for what she had been missing with Dick. It wasn't uncommon. But she discovered his…after school job of drug smuggling and wasn't about to follow him into that. She refused him, he raped her and beat her, leaving her for Diego and Rab to find outside their hangout on the pier when he was finished.
She hadn't let anyone near her for the next month. That was when she started getting sick. He had gotten her pregnant.
End Flashback
"Come on, Torch! Let's see it!" Twitch's voice brought her back from her buried nightmare. Fine. If he wanted her to dance, she would dance. And she would, as the song said, lose herself in the music.
A/N: Sorry this is so short, but more will come! I figured I'd give a little more this time as far as her background. Oh, and the song in this chapter is "In Your Hands" by Thrice. They rock, if you haven't heard them, check them out! Please! ^_^ My cousin is their manager, so I have to do all the shameless plugging I can!