And with that she ran off as if she was never there before… It was all so quick I could barely even comprehend what happened in the first place… But I did remember that there was no way, I would be able to ask for the time… So just took the initiative to walk towards the school… Replaying what had just happened in my head… and how I may have just committed myself to death in the process…
(AND)
Her words were few… but they meant so much… How did they manage to keep something like this from me for so long? Why were they so worried? Why the hell did the Universe decide for them to tell me now? Now while John was staying with us? All this information burst through my blood stream, swimming like a new type of adrenaline. My eyes widened so far I thought they may permanently stretch my skin. My mind was fuzzed and I could barely comprehend anything other than this…
The Universe has really bad timing…
Chapter 6- Don't Resist…
(Lafayette's POV)
The Universe has really bad timing…
"Look Gil…" Martha started, but not in her usual confident voice. She reached her hand out to my own though instead of transferring a calm sense to me, all I felt was nerves… I didn't like this one bit… "When you first came to live with us, George and I both agreed that you would be the only child we would have in our care… Because of your background, we both thought it would be best to only adopt one child… so you had the best possible upbringing…"
"…Okay… Where are you going with this?" I asked wanting them to just get straight to the point…
Martha again. "Well… Something has come up so we cannot keep to our original plans…"
What?
"Gil… We're Fostering another child."
What?!
"I… I don't understand…" I squeaked a little unsure of myself. "How come I never noticed this? Aren't we meant to have visits? A talk with the family? Aren't these things meant to take years to happen? I'm so confused…"
"Yes dear, but the thing is that this boy isn't like most of the foster children…"
Boy. So I will be having a brother…
"She's right Gil…" George spoke up for the first time. "The reason we haven't had chance to tell you is because this was a very quick placement. This boy was needed to be moved fast because of something that was happening in his home… He won't ever be going back there… but that's another thing we need to talk to you about…"
"Okay… But what's this boy's name?" I asked and I could tell that they mentally winced at the fact they hadn't even given me his name.
"Alexander Hamilton. He's your age and comes over from the Caribbean. He was separated from his family when he was twelve and taken to America. I wouldn't want to give you everything about him because I hope he would feel comfortable around you when he arrives with us…" George replied with a deep gulp.
"Alright… But what was the other thing you needed to ask me?"
"Well when Alexander is placed with us, it will only be a temporary placement. A few days… A couple of weeks at the max… But, only if you're comfortable, we were hoping to make it a long-term placement."
"What? You mean adopting?"
"Not exactly… Take John for instance… We are his short-term placement until we can reach his brother or his father recovers. But if we were to keep Alexander in a long-term placement. It would most likely last until he was over eighteen." I let out a silent, 'oh', after Martha had finished her statement. But then another question began to dawn on me…
"But if it is to last until he's over eighteen, then why don't you just adopt him?"
"Because Gil, adopting is a big commitment. There could be many bumps in the road like, Alexander may not feel comfortable with us or… you and him may not get along with each other… George and I are fully committed to this, but this time, it's not just us we need to think about. You need to feel fully comfortable with this as well."
"I… err…" I couldn't get my words out. This all was way too much to comprehend. It was my choice whether we gave a boy a loving home or not. I was the final decision maker to bring this boy some happiness back. And, no, I wouldn't mind at all if someone new came to live with us. I was just scared that things wouldn't be the same again… If Alexander has come from a broken background, there's no doubt he would need extra care and attention from everyone as a family… It might be too busy… Or something that would be too hard to handle… Despite all my optimism towards everything I came across, I couldn't deny that things were bound to go wrong in some aspect or another… But that was life, wasn't it? A roller-coaster of problems that can rise and fall within seconds… and there was nothing to prevent it… So with that final thought, my decision was made… "I feel fine about inviting Alexander to live with us long term. Jeter il à moi."
"That's great!" Martha launched us all into a hug. It was so tight yet comforting… Everything was going to change after this but hopefully for the better. Yes, it was going to be strange. Yes, it was going to be hard. And yes, I would do my best to make this life better for Alexander and for us all. I hadn't even met the kid yet, yet I already felt connected somehow… Something told me we were going to get along just fine… Alexander Hamilton… Alexander Hamilton...
"Did we tell you when he would be arriving?" George question after we finished our laughs of joy form the embrace.
"No…"
"Ah… Well… That's quite short notice too…"
"He will arrive late Friday night… We're so sorry for how short time this is…" Martha trailed off with apologies etched to her eyes…
It was always the eyes…
"No, no. It's fine just… When are we going to tell John? Can I let Aaron and Herc know too?"
"We are fine if you want to tell your friends but, if you wanted, we could talk to John too… Or you could talk to him if you wanted to." George answered looking through the dining room.
"No, it's fine… I'll tell them…" I sighed and let out something underneath my breath, "L'univers à vraiment un mauvais timing ..."
"The Universe has really bad timing…"
Mary ticked away sharply, sending ringing vibrations along the walls through the living room. If I had been counting correctly, she should chime the arrival of 13:00 anytime soon… Aaron and Herc had awoken over an hour ago so John and I just chatted or watched a film. George offered us some lunch at half twelve but we both declined. Actually, come to think of it, I hadn't eaten anything today… But I just wasn't hungry… I haven't had anything to drink yet either… Wait… No. Coffee. Jesus. That must be some kind of record for me.
You're really out of if today Laf.
Though the reason wasn't a mystery… I still hadn't told them about Alexander… I wanted to but, there was never a right time… Aaron and Herc were asleep when I had to go speak to Martha and John was never one to pry. All he simply asked was, "Is everything alright?", and left the rest of the questions to burn off in the back of his mind. The time skipped by too fast to remember what happened. I was just sitting there aimlessly for hours not realising how fast the time zipped away from under my nose… None of us ever really moved from the spots we woke up in for the whole afternoon. John stayed silent for the most of it. I tried to contribute to talking though Aaron and Herc were the ones to start off conversations more frequently.
The time wasn't showing any signs of slowing down as each hour flipped by after the other. Netflix began to seem a little boring by early evening as we all became much more restless. John never stopped clutching or fiddling with his bag on his lap though I would most likely do the same if I was in his situation… Other than the clothes he wore, the contents of that bag were all he had left…
Damn…
"Well boys," George broke through on the silence. "What do you want for tea?"
"Tea?" I exclaimed darting around to look at Mary.
18:23
Wow.
"I… I'm not too hungry… thanks…" John mumbled not making eye contact.
"None of you have had anything to eat all day. You have to have something…"
"Okay, Papa… Erm… Does pasta sound good to you guys?" I question looking at the others who nodded their head in agreement.
"Okay then, pasta it is! And Gil, could you help me get started please?" Papa smiled from the door way.
"Of course!" I smiled back to him, bounding off the sofa. George and Martha barely asked me to any jobs around the house other than putting away my clothes, keeping my room tidy, hoovering and occasionally washing dishes. So whenever they asked me to help out, I didn't particularly mind.
I entered the kitchen to where Papa was reaching out for the pans and filling them up with cold, tap water. Instinctively, I reached for the pasta along with a pot of cream sauce, some tomatoes, cucumber and carrot. Then, again, time skipped forward to where the pasta was boiling amongst the pan and I was making drinks for everyone. Two black coffees for Papa and Aaron, two mint teas for me and John, a coffee with one and a half sugars for Maman and just a water for Herc. As the kettle boiled I stood back against the wall where Papa joined me and got the first word in…
"You haven't told him yet, have you?"
I just shook my head down to the floor, "No… I… I haven't had a chance…"
"I see… Are you sure you don't want me to talk to them instead?"
"No I'm sure… I… I will talk to John later… Break the news to the others tomorrow…"
"Alrighty then. Only if you're sure?"
I smiled back up to his tall build, "Yes, Papa, I'm sure."
And with that the kettle whistled around the room with the click signalling the correct temperature. The cups were poured, delivered, though instead of sitting back down on the sofa, I took my cup and sat outside.
The sun set was beautiful. Especially behind the silhouettes of the autumns falling array of red, gold and yellow. Peeping over the edge of the tree's, the sun dribbled its vivid juices down upon my own tanning skin. Though the immensely bright orb in the sky was too bright to stare at, it wasn't warm… In fact, the breeze carried calming shivers down my spine with a need for miniature bumps to form a place upon my limbs. Clouds that should have been white, turned out blushing against the vibrant glimmers of the golden beams down to the blood bathed grasses below. These floating balls of watery fluff shifted around the lava pit smoothly without a fixed script. The heavens and hell had completely merged turning the sky into a calming, fiery lair and despite its intensity, I couldn't help but feel at home underneath its large, consuming cage.
"Are you alright?" A weak voice softly spoke from the reflective glass doors behind me.
"Huh? Oh… It's you…" I smiled weakly as John who came down next to me against the red etched sky.
"The one and only." He gave a weak laugh, still holding the tea in the grasp of his curling fingers. "But you didn't answer my question… Are you alright?"
My breaths paced up slightly and sharply though his expression never changed… not noticing my nerves… "I don't think I'm someone you need to worry-"
"Please, Laf…" I dared to look back up at his eyes and… my god I wished I hadn't… The sunset rippled against the glossy surface of his green speckled iris. The forest deep jade formed heavy rims around the umber soil sparked with amber flecks… almost embers… Each paint fused to the next with sharp shards, weaving together at uneven lengths towards his pools of pitch black pupils that sunk deep into their sockets. A replica of the blazing furnace above soldered together in a mirrored image against the tones ruminating about his eyes. The light from the rich inferno was still shimmering a vivid projection of the swirling embers cascading amongst the deep shining array of too much colour… These embers only seemed to glow hotter by each beat of the heart rhythming in his chest. I tried to gulp down his beauty… There was no point… I couldn't wash away the sunset with the flick of my arm, therefore, there was no point to brush away his eyes pure beauty… "You don't need to stop worrying about yourself to look out for me too…" He breathed above a whisper, his eyebrows narrowing in concern.
"It's… I needed to tell you this this morning really… I just… I never really new how to bring it up…" I shied away. I couldn't risk being lost in his deep pools again…
"Was this about your talk with Martha?" He placed his hand to my shoulder sending shocks to pleasure my spine.
I nodded sheepishly.
"What did they say to you?" He had moved closer now. His fore arms now gently brushing my chest.
"I… I'm not sure how else to put it…" My French accent was much thicker at this point. "I'm getting a new brother…"
"You… What?" His eyes widened fully trying to process what I had just said. "When did this happen?"
"Apparently, it was quick notice… He had to be pulled from his original home fast. They wouldn't tell me why… All I know is his name is Alexander Hamilton, he is the same age as us, were going to be his long-term foster family, he came from the Caribbean and he'll be here late Friday night…"
"Friday?! That's only three days away!"
"Yeah… They needed to move him fast…"
"I… I see…"
At this point I expected us to just stand in silence and gaze to the distance, just over the tree tops against a burning horizon… but next was just unexpected. His hand leant over to grasp my own quickly as if that if he waited any longer, he would have lost the guts. My frame was completely and utterly tensed with shock. I hadn't seen this coming not one bit. Though… I didn't mind it. I grasped his hand tighter and gently tugged him closer to my warmth. As he stepped closer to me, I heard the clonk of the mug being placed on the glass table, thinking it was a good idea, I followed his actions. His chest was forced against my own along with his soft, curly head buried between us both. He wrapped his arms around my tall figure and we stayed like this for a while. The breeze kept tickling us both with its soft licks though each other's comfort was more than enough to scatter away the chilling frost. As every minute went by, he started to squeeze me tighter. Words would have ruined the moment far too much so silence took its place in the grasp of time. Becoming a little braver, I played with a few loose strands of his thick hair underneath the floating, fire-pitted sky. Our tea had most probably gone cold while we were busy lost in the embrace though I couldn't care less… He was in my arms… I was in his… Nothing could change the fact that the caged butterfly inside of my chest was cracking my ribs with its furious beatings… and the reason for this was him…
"Laf I-" His silky voice vibrated against my chest but was quickly cut off my a much deeper, raspier voice echoing from the kitchen…
"Tea's ready!"
"I… err… I guess we should head off…" He stuttered with a little frog in his throat. So it seemed that just as quickly as it happened… it was gone… His warm escaped my tight grip to hurry off towards the kitchen as if it never happened… Though as he turned away, I might have been wrong but… as he turned away… it could have been the tones radiating from the vibrant artwork above but… as he turned away… I might have been able to swear that a saw a slight blush, swim about the freckles across his cheeks…
(Alexander's POV)
I loved school. Though not for the reason you'd expect… Yes, the lessons were interesting and added new knowledge to the book growing inside of my brain cells. But that wasn't the only reason… I was able to escape him… If I stayed quiet at school, stayed invisible and never spoke a word, I would be able to stay alive a little longer… If nobody knows me… nobody will harm me… because they'll have nothing against me… If nobody knows me… they won't get close to me… and they won't get hurt… because I won't let them in…
That boy never showed up for history today (the lesson I was currently sat in- fourth period) though I didn't expect anything less. Plus I guess his friends never showed either… didn't see them too…
The morning actually went without a hitch. I never saw Maria again or was spotted noticeably by anyone else. Of course I couldn't afford lunch so I just headed to the school's library for that pointless hour. I rushed over to History with Mr. Pendleton as soon as the bell ricocheted around the halls… though as half the lesson skipped by… something terrorful happened… something of a nightmare…
"I'm sorry Sir, but can Alexander Hamilton report to the office please?" A secretary, must have been in her mid-twenties, called through the class door.
She said my name. I have to respond.
"Of course. Alexander?" Mr. Pendleton looked slightly aggravated though carried on the lesson aside. But he looked at me. He looked at me.
This is the part where you walk out the door, Dumbass.
Clumsily, I had my shaken hands shiver and stumble over my equipment. I daren't look up. Everybody's eyes would sear through me, stab at my sole… if they weren't already… I daren't look up…
The heart thud from my chest beat all the way to my throat, my ears, my eyes… My vision pulsated against waves over my darkening eyes, letting the internal panic set in…
The funny thing about this situation was the fact on how the only outer layer of alarm was either my rapid breathing or wide eyes. No one gad a clue who I was and what was happening to me. They probably wouldn't even care. Why should they? Besides, even if someone did know me. They'd hate me. Everyone did… would… should…
"…ander? Ale…? Alexander? Are you alright?" Turns out that during my scattered pools of messed fear, I had walked out of the door and closed it behind me…
When did this happen? Jesus Alex, you're even more messed up than you thought.
"Alexander? Are you alright?" The same female voice repeated in sympathy against my ear. She didn't care if I was alright. She was just being polite. She had to say that if she wanted to keep her job. A false carer. "Alex?"
I answered with a painful nod, still not looking her dead in the eyes. Not many people could see through me, but I wouldn't take the risk…
"… okay… Could you follow me please." This wasn't a question.
I had been too focussed of my survival and invisible identity to actually let the infinite steams of questions swamp the boggy marshes of my cranium. I hadn't taken a good look at the major picture here…
Why the hell was I being removed from lesson? What the hell was going on? Who the hell wanted me? When the hell would I return?
I didn't want to cause suspicion… Rumours were oxygen to a place like this… Sooner or later somebody will pretend to know what's wrong… spread it. And pass it along the row like Pass-The-Parcel at a six-year-olds Birthday party.
The office wasn't that far away from Mr. Pendleton's room so I thankfully didn't need to hold my weight any long on my closely shattered bones. The office was how you would imagine it to be. Six blue chairs with metal frames, a cheaply tiled meant to be white flooring, big oak doors, a large desk with the same material as the doors and a few ladies sitting behind the counter.
So stereotypical. I spat in my mind.
"Alexander," A blonde haired woman from behind the desk spoke with a smile she was paid to have, "we're sorry to drag you out of lesson but your father will be here soon to collect you early. Okay?"
Crap.
She didn't emphasize the word. My mind did. I wanted to scream. I wanted to run. I wanted the panic to set in but I… I couldn't… He'd kill me… I would give him away for what he really was… This was not good.
I didn't give her an answer I just sat down. I couldn't risk to move my head or speak… I couldn't risk anymore pain to my shattered being if that's what I was going to get anyway at home… It was almost guaranteed… Too many thoughts, memories and remembrances came flooding past my vision as if they were all playing again before me. Each bruise, each scar each bone erupted in agony throughout me with every innocent yet devil-horned tick the clock echoed around the room in. Many people passed by not giving my blank expression a second look… and I am so glad they didn't…
"Ali…" He didn't spit it or snarl. He didn't hiss or growl. He spoke softly and sweetly but we both knew what was behind that bitter syrup… Appetising at the first layer but rotten below all the others… I may even say poisonous… But the outer coat always had to be the strongest… "We need to head home… Something's… Something's come up."
I swear to god he must have had some sort of experience in acting. The perfect stutter. The shying eye. The nervous shuffle. Nobody was just this good by chance. Well… he'd had practise before…
"Thank you, ladies!" He waved and held my back (unbeknown to others that he was purposefully pressing in just the right spots to cause me hurt) … He made subtle shoves with his elbow towards the bus stop which unfortunately arrived just as we stopped. The hiss from the wheels tensed and shuddered me but I had to keep limping towards the tall steps. He even let a woman with a pram on before us to be polite… Yeah right. It was just an act. It all was. We took our seats at the back of the bus making sure to be out of sight. Every time I huddled next to chilling windowpane he would blindly huddle closer to me. His face expression never changed. Not even when he poked me or traced all around my scars. Not even when he entwined our fingers between the seats while was bending them back onto themselves… I could hear my stomach flip with all the spectrum of fear and pain… I couldn't do anything…
"Now Ali, don't resist." He hissed between the minimum distance our faces shared. Nobody could see. Nobody would care. Why should they?
By the end of the journey, I was completely numb, my face was blank. I never had a chance to brace before he tugged me from the bus to a littered street, with bottles of alcohol shards from different places in the polluted pavement. Around here, he didn't need to be careful. People were that wasted that they wouldn't care or even remember what happed.
"Now Ali… Don't resist!" The floor came extremely closer. Those glass shards began to look like giants. The dagger like gravel became boulders to my falling figure. Even before I hit the shards in the pavement, I could already feel the blood sting past the barricade of my flesh… until it happened… and then it was much more excruciating than I imagined…
My knees and palms stabbed themselves despite the glass shards drawing blood away from them. Each cell they pushed through created a new- excruciating sensation- individual but just as noticeable. My hoarse screeches vibrated along the floor and ruptured my almost broken throat bones. It eventually pinched (but not pierced) the oversized hoody slouching against my back. The world spun intensely with my vision fuzzing away from the afternoon sun glaring down above. "Don't resist!" Tightly gripping the hood at the frayed fabric, he yanked up my light weight letting a couple of spiked glass fall from my limbs (most of it still remained).
I did try to thrash away from his tug but the blood flowing in rapids away from my kneecaps restrained it. I had to give in and let him drag me down the streets like a ragdoll. From what I could pick up, the fence to our door came into a blurry view. He clicked it open and slammed it shut before I had a chance to catch myself from the floor… a floor which was now red… This time it was different. In his black eyes, I could tell it was more deadly… murderous… monstrous… I didn't expect such a bad beating until Thursday…
I was wrong about many things…
"Do you not realise how much trouble you've got me in?!" He yelled so loud I could feel the ground shake… or was that just my quaking figure? "Your social workers are already on to me! And guess what?! It was because of how much you are a wuss! That you can't take a few hits without screaming out or making a scene in the street! People notice little things that don't seem right Ali! They get suspicious! And sooner or later, they trace it back to me!"
I could now smell his breath was laced, thick with alcohol… How did he hide that for so long? Jesus Alex, you're even more stupid than you thought!
"I was going to wait until the night you were actually supposed to leave but it seems you need an extra telling before something else goes wrong… Now I'll show what you really should cry for… you won't know what hit ya'…"
With slow, heavy, ominous thuds, he trampled his weight closer towards my sweating body… There was nowhere to go… I was trapped… cornered… defenceless… and he was coming closer… closer… closer… More furious with every step… closer… closer… closer…
"Now… Don't resist Ali!"
"N… no… No! Please! No! Please!"
Slap. Punch. Kick. Burn. Cry. Scream. Crack.
Now, I never fell asleep that night… but that doesn't mean I never saw darkness…
Authors Note: Told you would be introduced to Alex soon ;)
Okay, so I need your honest opinion on this… You know Alex's POV? Please tell me if I should edit it and how I could edit it… Because I don't like it. But I'm not sure how to edit it…
I will edit it if you tell me to! So yeah… Leave that!
Now I know I promised this would be a Lams Fic and IT IS! We just need that Laurette at the start… It will get fluffier with Laurette but A LOT FLUFFIER with Lams! LAMS IS THE MAIN SHIP!
So tell me what you thought and like always I will get back to you soon!
:D
-L.E-Rae _x_