"Tele what, what?" Freddy questioned.
"Telekinesis," Ariel repeated, seating herself at the foot of Elliot's bed. "The ability to move things with the mind." She looked to her son, who was staring at her in wonder, confused. Why hadn't she told me? he thought. "He was born with it, couldn't control it. Not like everyone with it could, but it got worse when he was upset or angry."
"I didn't mean it! They were nearly strangling us!" Elliot pleaded.
"Its okay, honey. No one blames you," she told him with a warm smile. Then she thought it over, and added grimly, "No one in this room, anyway."
"Wha'da you mean?" Freddy asked, genuinely curious. Him and Elliot didn't know what had happened OR what was happening at that very moment. Even though Freddy was awake, talking, and moving before Elliot was, both of them were completely as clueless as the other.
"We all know why Elliot acted out like he did," Jordin began, thumbing him. He sighed, closing his eyes restlessly.
"It was for defense," Ruby chipped in. "If the two idiots didn't try to kill you guys than El wouldn't've had to try to kill THEM and we wouldn't be in the Hell hole in the first place!"
"No need to get so upset, Rube," Jordin told her. "But it IS technically THEIR fault, not yours."
"The principal and vice principal think you're the reason they're under emergency care," Ariel spoke up. "Which is halfway true, but beside the point."
"They're under emergency care?" Freddy asked, a delighted grin on his lips.
"Oh, yeah," Ruby confirmed with an impish smile, causing Freddy to laugh and Elliot to smirk. Serves them right, he thought.
"YES! The supposed freaks of the school take down the biggest douche bags ever created!" Freddy cheered.
"Oh don't YOU feel special, huh?" Elliot said, readjusting his glasses.
"Dude, you have NO idea," Freddy said, Jordin grinning deviously. She snatched his cap off his head, pole-vaulting (- no clue how to spell) herself over his bed and to the other side.
"Sonovabitch, gim'me back my hat!" Freddy demanded, glaring. He threw the covers back, heaving himself out of his bed, carefully as to not injure his neck more. He clambered over to her, his dark gold bangs falling in his eyes and slightly obscuring his vision.
"No!" Jordin said playfully, shoving it on Elliot head with slight difficulty. The brim was down low, and he sat up, trying to look around.
"I can't see," he said flatly, Ruby giggling. Freddy took it off Elliot's head, putting it back on his own backwards.
He growled at Jordin, "My hat. NO ONE touches, my hat. Not you or anybody. EVER."
"Why not? Are you gunna marry it when you turn eighteen?" Ruby joked.
"Oh ha, ha, that was so funny I forgot to laugh," Freddy said sarcastically, green eyes rolling.
"Oh ha, ha, that was the oldest line in history," Elliot retaliated with a smug smile.
"Shut up," Freddy said, unamused. This just caused Elliot to laugh.
"Um... excuse me, Elliot's mom?" Ruby spoke up shyly. Ariel looked to her. "D'you know why he has pins in his head?"
"Actually, no," Ariel admitted. "He came home from the park one day when he was seven with them, but he said they didn't hurt. And that he didn't see who did it."
"Its a mystery," Elliot said in a specter- like voice.
"Its a mystery of how amazingly creep-tastic you are," Freddy said in a 'you so lost this argument' tone.
"Look who talking, Crispy," Elliot shot back. making the two girls burst into a fit of insane giggles, Jordin clutching her stomach and Ruby falling to the floor.
Freddy's cheeks turned bright pink, and he clenched his fists, stammering out in embarrassment, "A- am not! I'm just..."
"Fried," Jordin cackled, Ruby howling with laughter. Freddy's blush got hotter.
"Its not funny!" he said loudly, sadness and humiliation in his tone.
"W- we're sorry, Freddy!" Jordin sniggered. She then exploded back into a fit of laughter.
Freddy just crossed his arms, pouting a little. It was then Elliot took notice of the massive amount of clumsily stitched together scratches and scars hardly visible on his scorched skin. Most were deep, and Elliot knew they would never heal; the cuts had never been treated.
Elliot looked to his mother, who was expressionless. "Can Freddy and I have a conversation alone?"
Freddy glanced at him, confused. Ariel smiled. "Of course, sweetie." She got to her feet, and motioned for the girls to follow. Laughter dying out they obliged, and soon Ariel had closed the door to their room.
Elliot looked to Freddy in sympathy from his sitting up position as the burned boy rearranged the ice pack still kept to hi bruised and slowly healing neck, merely making him more confused. "What?" he asked, impatience in his voice.
"Where'd you get the scars?" Elliot questioned firmly, getting straight to the point. Freddy's eyes widened.
"Erm... I haven't the slightest idea what'chur talking' about..." he trailed off nervously, hiding his hands behind his back and trying to make his way over to his bed. Elliot grabbed his bandaged arm, keeping him at bay. He felt the stickiness of the blood beginning to stain his palm.
Elliot stared at it, then up to Freddy, who was wincing in pain, trying to pull Elliot's hand from his injury. No luck, but his grip significantly lessened in fear of hurting Freddy further.
"What happened?" he asked softly.
"Why should I tell you?" Freddy snapped, wrenching to get free. The scratch dug deeper into his covered skin, blood seeping out. He cried out in pain.
"Because I'm listening," Elliot answered. Freddy glanced at him, and quit struggling.
"Can you let me go?" he asked, and Elliot did as he was told. Freddy carefully ran his fingers over the gauze, gasping in pain and retracting his hand.
"Sorry," Elliot apologized.
"Its not your fault," Freddy said, cracking a weak smile. It was gone as soon as it came. "Its my stepfather's."
"What d'you mean?" Elliot asked, eyes narrowed. Freddy didn't look up, rubbing the bandaging as he stared at his socked feet.
something in Elliot's head finally clicked. "He ABUSES you?" he questioned incredulously. Freddy still didn't look up, nor answer. Elliot looked closer at the scars, seeing some that looked years old, others that looked new and still bled droplets of blood.
"Good God..." he muttered. Freddy breathed out heavily, looking to him.
"I'm used to it," he admitted quietly, shrugging as though nothing was wrong.
"It stills hurts you, though," Elliot commented, knowing full well it was true.
Freddy shifted uncomfortably, and Elliot took that as a cue to bug off. Considering asking anymore on the sore subject would most likely make Freddy feel even more uneasy he said with a slight smile, "I could tell you my idea now."
That caught Freddy's attention immediately, and he brightened up almost right away. "Yes. I'd never be able to wait till Saturday."
*Yes, I did feel the need to put the 'Freddy's stepfather's a dick' thing in here. Elliot's mom kicks ass. But what is El's idea? Why should I tell you unless you review? Really?*
