"That's all for today class. Ohh before I forget, tomorrow all classes will be cancelled for Visiting Day." Ms. April finished just as the bell rang. I stood up, collecting my books in my arms. I glanced at Ben, his face emotionless. Well that's odd. Usually he says something rude before leaving class. He walked past me, ramming his shoulder into mine. Nevermind, he always finds a way to be a dick.
The hallways are always crowded after the last period but for some reson it seems more crowded today. A few girls bumped into me, causing me to stumble into someone. I looked up to a red haired boy. Almost instantly I recognized him. "Sorry." I muttered. He's that guy that Ben hangs around with sometimes. I walked away, not wanting to associate with him.
"Hey!" I heard him call out. Before I could even turn to look at him, he was right next to me. "Keith." He held his hand out for me to shake, which I did. I continued to walk, trying not to pay any attention to him. "Are you going to tell me yours?" He asked, looking at me strangely.
I considered this for a second. "Not if you tell your friend." I stated plainly, keeping my eyes trained forward. He nodded his head. "Alright. It's Summer."
"Nice name." He smiled. I scoffed. "Look, Ben has had it real rough. He was abandoned at a real young age and he got in with the wrong crowd when he came here. Things started to get better but when you showed up, he started acting strange. He says he feels like he knows you from somewhere. But whatever its from, it wasn't good." My eyes widened. I knew it. "I guess the same goes for you. Hey, hows about you come to the little get together the school is having tonight. It will give you a chance to meet some new people." I began to protest but he insisted. In defeat, I agreed. "Great hopefully I see you tonight." Keith walked off, meeting up with a girl with brown hair in a spiky pony tail.
Maybe he is right. Going to whatever this thing is tonight might help me. What Keith said bothers me, though. If Ben had a rough childhood and was hurt, he should know what it feels like and not want to treat other people the same way. Maybe if I could just remember where we met, I could get him to open up to me. I want to help him but not if he is going to continuously put me down. I'll try to talk him tonight. Hopefully he will be there.
The spring air was somewhat chilly, blowing against my skin as I walked through the woods. Where the hell is this place supposed to be. Sooner or later, it'll be too dark for me to see anything. As I walked deeper in, a light became more apparent. Loud chatter could be heard in the distance. An all too familiar scent burned my nose, sending chills down my spine. Wood burning. Why didn't Keith tell me this was a bonfire!? I would never have come if I knew. But I have to face my fear sooner or later. I'll stay for a few minutes and then leave. Yeah, that sounds reasonable.
There was a clearing in the trees. A huge bonfire sat in the middle while practically the entire school surrounded it. I leaned on a tree, feeling my nerves creep up. Keith spotted me and waved. I waved back. Sven, the girl Wendy, and the girl he was with earlier smiled at me. They all seem so nice. Hard to believe Ben hangs out with them. Keith jogged over to me, his friends returning to their conversation. "Hey! I'm glad you made it." He smiled. "C'mon, I wanna introduce you to my friend Kate. She is in Ms. April's class with us." To be honest, I didn't even know Keith was in that class with me. Probably best not to mention that. He grabbed my hand and tried to lead me to his friends. Instead, I pulled my hand from his. "What's wrong?" He asked, furrowing his eyebrows.
I looked from him, then to the fire. His friends are a little too close to it for my liking. "I'm not exactly comfortable with being that close to that.. huge.. fire." I gulped, trying to keep bile from rising from my throat.
Keith looked at me funny. "You're afraid of fire?" He chuckled. I nodded. "Wow.. I never would have guessed." He said looking at his friends. If he knew what happened.. he would understand why. But he doesn't need to know.
"Listen, I'm actually kinda tired. I'll see you to-" I was cut off.
A cold hand rested on my shoulder. "Leavin' so soon, aye Babe?" Jack's bitter voice rang. "Ya know, it's gettin' kinda cold. Maybe we should go warm up by the fire." Before I could even register what he said, Jack slung me over his shoulder. I could feel myself begin to panic. My breaths quickened as I looked to Keith for help.
"Put her down!" Keith yelled. Jack scoffed shoving him to the ground.
His friends looked over at us, the girl with the brown hair, I think her name is Kate, yelled Keith's name, running over to him. Jack laughed, walking closer to the fire. Everything was becoming blurry as I panicked. Jack spun around laughing. "Why don't we teach this girl how to have some fun?" He asked. People within hearing range cheered. I could see Kate run over to Sven and whisper something in his ear. Jack got incredibly close to the fire. The heat burned my face. I can't hold it in anymore.
A small panic scream escaped my mouth. Tears collected in my eyes. He spun me towards the fire and people cheered. I screamed again, only this time it was louder. I flailed my legs, trying to make him let go. The tears finally fell from my eyes, streaking down my cheeks. Jack laughed, making the people think it was innocent fun. They can't see my terror stricken face. I screamed again, visions of that day clouding my mind. It's suffocating me and I can't breathe. Sven stomped up to Jack. "Put 'er down now." He commanded.
Jack scoffed. "Or what, country boy?" I whimpered to myself, struggling against Jack's grip. In a final attempt to get away, I drove my elbow into Jack's back, hitting the soft spot next to his shoulder blade. He grunted in pain, dropping me to the ground. I fell inches away from the fire. Jack was yelling at me but I couldn't hear him. The crackle of the fire and my heartbeat pounded in my ears. He yanked me to my feet like I was a rag doll. I look at him, fear filled in my eyes. My direction of vision glanced behind him. Ben stood there, hands in his pockets, watching the whole thing. Jack shook my shoulders. "Are you listening?" He yelled. He shoved me to the ground. I sat there in a daze, staring at Ben's feet.
"Summer, we are going to have a play date with Ben!" Mommy smiled. I jumped up and down, excited to hear I could play with him. "I want you to be on your best behavior when we see him and his mom. Okay, Sweetheart?"
We knew each other. We were friends. Sven knelt by my side. "You okay missy?" He asked quietly. I nodded slightly, standing up uneasily. Without a second thought, I ran. I ran past Jack and Sven. Past Wendy and Kate. Ben looked at me the entire time. His eyes glowed in the fire's light. Keith tried to stop me yet I pushed forward, running back to the school.
I never should have gone. Why did he have to do that. Now the whole school knows what a coward I am. My hands are still shaking. I don't think I've ever been more humiliated in my life.
My eyes opened groggily, scanning the room. The sound of hair dryers and loud chatter filled the room. A loud bell rang. Some girls squealed while others jumped up and down. "It's time!" The all ran out of the dorm, scrambling to the stairs. I sat up in my bed, looking at the empty room. Suddenly, the girl with brown hair, Kate, ran back in the room. "Where the hell..? Oh! Here it is." She picked up something from a dresser and walked to the door. "You comin'?" She asked, looking at me smiling. "Don't want to keep your family waiting down there."
So that's what Visiting Day is.. Where kids can see their parents and get congratulated for their hard work. "I'll be down soon." I lied. She nodded, walking out. What I would do to see my parents and sister again. Just once. That's all I need.
Without any real motivation, I got out of bed, taking a quick shower and got dressed. A blue tank top with light pink shorts. I threw my hair in a messy bun, walking to the lounge. No one was in sight. Yet the guys' room door was open. I heard a thump from the inside. Curiosity took over as I tiptoed to the door to inspect. I peered through the crack. Ben was gripping his hair tightly, squeezing his eyes shut. There was a hole in the wall. One of his hands had blood smeared over the knuckles. Why is he.. ohh.. His parents abandoned him. But, I don't remember them doing that. Maybe it was after I was taken away.
My hand slipped, hitting the door. It made an awful creaking sound, immediately alerting Ben. I backed away from the door as he charged towards me. He slammed the door open. "What are you doing here?" He growled. I stood up tall, glaring back at him. "What? Are Daddy and Mommy too busy to come see their daughter? Too busy making millions?" He sneered. I seethed through my teeth. He doesn't know anything. He has no idea what I've been through. "Or are they too busy having affairs with other people?" My mouth fell open slightly. I tried to punch him, tears collecting in my eyes. He grabbed my wrist easily, shoving me into a wall. "So I take the third one then?"
"Before or after they turn over in their grave?" I breathed, trying to stop tears falling from my eyes. His eyes widened. I pushed his hands away from me. He shook his head, probably because he thinks I'm lying. "They've been dead for eight years." I whispered. Ben turned to walk away. "Summer!" I yelled. He stopped dead in his tracks.
"What did you say?" He turned to look at me.
I took a few breaths. "My name is Summer."
Ben looked intently at me. "You're lying." I tried to interrupt him but he continued on. "My best friend died in that fire. Along with her family and Pokemon. So don't you stand there and say you're her, when you aren't!" He yelled, pushing me into the wall. "Summer, my best friend, is dead! Dead! You hear me? Everyone knows no one made it out of that fire."
"How are you going to tell me who I am!? I survived! I'm standing right in front of you for the Gods' sake!" I yelled back. He has to understand I'm here, alive, right in front of him. "Do you remember what I told you when we were little. I said I would always be there for you. I'm a little late, but I'm here!"
Ben grit his teeth, looking at the ground. "Summer is dead. Stay away from me." He growled. I watched him walk away down the stairs. How can he not believe me? I don't understand. There is no other way to prove to him. I have to make him see reason.
I ran down the stairs, trying to figure out which way he went.
Where the hell could he have gone? I've been walking for almost a half hour. Maybe I should just give up. But.. he is the only person from my past that is still alive. He is the only one left. I don't want to lose him, too.
A loud crash tore me from my thoughts. It came from the woods. Another one echoed. I have to see what's wrong. I jogged to where I heard the sound. I entered the woods, running through the trees. A clearing approached. The air was chilly, wind blowing leaves around. It feels like it's going to rain. A yell sounded. My eyes searched but I couldn't find what it was coming from. Suddenly, Ben fell from a tree. What the hell is he doing up there? He tried scooting away but he was too slow before a Heracross jumped down in front of him. I watched in terror as the Heracross' horn began glowing white.
"Stop!" Everything was a blur. My hands clutched my side. I looked up at the Heracross, and held my hand out. "Please, stop. Whatever he did, it was an accident." I took a few slow steps towards it. "He doesn't deserve to be hurt. It's my fault he is angry and whatever he accidentally did to you, is my fault." A few more steps. My hand rested gently on the Heracross' head. "I'm sorry." The Heracross nodded, and flew off to another tree.
I pulled my hand away from my side. Blood covered my palm. Arial Ace. Nasty move. I dropped to both my knees, groaning at the shooting pain. "Chika chika!" My eyes shot open, looking around for my Pokemon. A green Pokemon popped out from the treeline.
"Chikorita! Wha- what are you doing here!" I asked. "You need to be back at the orphanage!" I left her there with the girls for a reason. I wanted to her to stay there until I finished Ranger School. I was going to come back to get her when it was over. Chikorita nuzzled her head against my leg. "I missed you too girl." I stood up, clutching my side.
"Summer?" I turned to Ben, his eyes watery. "It's really you.."
Alrighty, hopefully everyone enjoyed. Reviews always help! Till next time -A
