Disclaimer: I do not own Lemonade Mouth
Dylan watched the rest of his days in the hospital through tear-blurred eyes. He would always look up when someone entered his room but his gaze was always lifeless, his mouth pulled downward in a permanent frown. Dylan would barely talk to any of his visitors and before long, most stopped visiting him.
Kyle was the only one that continued to visit him. Dylan was grateful for his friend's visits but he felt resentment too. He partially blamed Kyle for Stella breaking up with him. Dylan thought that if the Rebels hadn't shown up he would have been able to break the news more gently.
"Hey" Kyle said as he entered the room on his final visit. Dylan was getting out of the hospital the next day. Most of his wounds had healed but a few stubborn ones clung to his skin like a disease. "I learned something today. Stella already has a rebound guy." Dylan glared at his friend, his already shattered heart throbbing painfully.
"What does that have to do with me? Stella doesn't want to see me anymore in case you haven't noticed." He gestured impatiently toward the chair. Kyle sighed sitting down heavily. Dylan got testy over any mention of Stella now.
"It means she likes you stupid." Kyle sounded impatient. "No one picks up a rebound unless they're hurt from the previous relationship. You can tell she likes you cause it's been—what a week?—since you guys broke up." Dylan grit his teeth, Kyle's words pushing memories to the surface. Her soft touch against his skin. The passion in her kiss. The feel of her in his arms.
Kyle noticed the look on Dylan's face. He shut up, looking out the window to give Dylan time. Dylan took a few deep breaths, bracing himself before asking "Who's the rebound guy?" Kyle chuckled which surprised Dylan. Kyle didn't usually laugh about serious things.
"She picked Ray." Dylan smiled briefly. Ray seemed like a perfect match for Stella. They were both argumentative, both assertive, both rebellious in their own way. Most people would point them out as the perfect couple right away but Dylan knew the truth. They'd be fighting a lot and that would hopefully give Dylan a chance to make up for what he'd done.
"I have to change first." Dylan murmured. Kyle nodded his agreement, leaning forward to listen to Dylan's plan. "I can't cower before them just because they ganged up on me. Even if I'm alone or the person they're picking on doesn't like me, I'll still have to help…because it's right." Kyle nodded smiling. He liked to see that part of the old Dylan was back. Hopefully that meant the rest of him would soon be on its way.
The doctor came a few minutes later to check on Dylan. He warned Dylan about his arm, to be careful with what he did in order to keep from injuring himself again. Dylan just nodded along, the lifeless look back in his eyes. Kyle looked at him worriedly waiting for the doctor to leave.
"What's wrong?" Kyle asked as soon as the doctor had left.
"What if she actually likes him? Why should I screw up her happiness because I messed up?" Dylan sighed, his hope leeching from him. Kyle's face darkened before he punched Dylan, making him jump. Dylan rubbed his arm looking at Kyle questioningly.
"You think like that you might as well just go tell Stella your relationship meant nothing to you. She'd probably believe you and stop trying to give you another chance." Dylan scowled at Kyle, flicking him the bird. "That's what I like to see" Kyle said smiling. "Now fight for her!"
Dylan was still scowling when Kyle left later. He didn't feel like he had a right to fight for Stella. He'd failed his one chance to do things right. Why would Stella give him a second chance? Why bother opening herself up to more pain?
Dylan jerked in surprise when Sophia walked into his room, cradling Amy in her arms. Hello Dylan She mimed smiling. Dylan just stared at her trying to figure out why she was in his room. Sophia sat down on his bed. Would you like to hold your niece?
Dylan shook his head, lifting his cast. "I would but I can't." Sophia nodded and looked at her baby. "Why are you here Sophia? Shouldn't you be in your bed, resting?" Sophia shook her head, her shoulders shaking with laughter.
They can't keep me in my bed. Her jolly demeanor faded suddenly and she gave him a hard look. What's this I hear about you and Stella? Did you guys break up? Dylan tried to bite back a whimper while his broken heart thudded in his chest. Sophia made it hurt with the disappointment in her gaze.
"Yes." Dylan answered his sister in barely a whisper. Sophia's expression softened. She adjusted Amy, the baby cooing softly, before reaching out to touch Dylan's cheek. Dylan watched her mouth as she talked without her hands. You can fix it Dylan. I believe in you. He smiled at his sister's faith. "Thank you Sophia. Can we go home now?" Her shoulders shook with laughter again, her face alight with pure joy.
The next day Dylan walked out of the hospital to find Trina waiting for him. She rushed to him, throwing her arms around his middle. He smiled briefly trying to wrap an arm around her. "Miss me?" Dylan asked softly. Trina nodded glancing back at the car. "Did you get my phone and backpack back for me?"
Trina finally released him, smiling. "Yeah! I beat up those bullies too! They won't come near you again!" Dylan looked at her sternly, attempting to hide a smile that threatened to cross his face. Trina wilted pulling his phone out of his pocket. "Alright. The police gave them to me. They said they found them in a tree."
Dylan took his phone not daring to look at it before he slipped it into his pocket. He could read the scathing texts later. Trina looked at him curiously but Dylan smiled. She returned his smile as they walked to the car together. For the moment, Dylan felt safe but he couldn't shake the feeling that he'd be hurting soon. Really soon.
Sophia smiled at him as he climbed into the driver's seat. Ready to go back to school? Dylan's heart tightened at the thought of seeing Stella but he nodded. Better to get it over sooner than later. He started the car, preparing himself.
A few minutes later, Dylan stood outside the school. Several students from the mass trickling into the school glanced at him but otherwise no one noticed that he was back. He sighed thinking this is like the first day all over again. Dylan adjusted his backpack before entering the school.
Dylan was surprised by how little things had changed. The first half of school passed without anyone even looking him in the eye. It wasn't until lunch that he understood why. Jocks patrolled all over, sneering at him when they passed. Dylan took pleasure in tripping one of them so the jock's face hit someone's tray.
"Oops" Dylan said with a grin. It felt better to be himself rather than to cower before the jocks. They didn't deserve to own the school. The smile slipped from Dylan's face when he saw Lemonade Mouth. Everyone looked away from him pointedly but what drew his eyes was the jock at the table.
Ray stood out automatically from Lemonade Mouth. Dylan couldn't put his finger on why but the jock just stood out. He was looking straight at Dylan with a smirk on his face, his hand on Stella's. Dylan felt his heart jump to his throat when he saw Stella kiss the jock on the cheek. Kyle had to be wrong. Stella avoided looking at him but she must know he was there. She must like Ray better then she had ever liked him.
Taking a deep breath, Dylan walked past the table trying not to see what was going on. His heart had already beaten a thousand broken beats within his chest. He didn't need it to stop beating.
Dylan sat by himself at a bench, leaning back against the wall. Setting his tray down, Dylan pulled out his phone and looked at the texts. Text upon text glowed from the screen. He couldn't tell where to begin much less if he even wanted to. Lemonade Mouth had probably sent him the majority of the texts with most of those probably from Stella. Sighing, Dylan selected the first text and began to read.
Dylan didn't even hear the bell as he reached the end of the line of texts.
Why didn't you tell us about your band?
Do u get pleasure from lying?
Was that a joke? Cuz it wasn't funny
I miss you but I haven't forgiven you
The last text made Dylan nearly start crying again. Stella had sent it a few days after breaking up with him. He felt an urge to respond but he resisted. Stella probably didn't want to hear from him. Since she had Ray now what did she need Dylan for?
Someone sat down next to Dylan and he looked up in confusion. It was Charlie. Dylan grimaced at him, scooting over to make room. Charlie didn't smile at him, searching his eyes for something. Dylan looked back steadily though his heart throbbed. This guy can see Stella every day. He doesn't have her look at him with resentment.
"You really hurt us." Charlie said quietly "But you hurt Stella more" Dylan looked down, putting his head in his hands. "I can't tell if you did it on purpose or not but…you need to make things up with Stella at least." Dylan swallowed his heart before looking over at Charlie.
"I can't. My heart hurts every time I see her with Ray. I hate myself every minute for failing to tell her…failing to tell you guys—all for stupid reasons." Charlie nodded his face hard before standing up. Dylan stood up as well putting a hand on Charlie's shoulder. "I'm sorry Charlie. I wish I could do everything over again."
Charlie pulled Dylan's hand off, looking him square in the eye. "Prove it. We obviously can't trust what you say anymore." Dylan nodded before watching him walk away. They chose Charlie because he lives next to me. He thought wishing it had been Stella. Even though he would have started crying, talking to Stella was something he wanted to do.
Dylan sighed turning to find Roy standing there, chewing on a toothpick. "What do you want?" Dylan said tiredly the urge to hit something rising within him. Roy seemed like a good punching bag. It could even be fun since Roy would probably scream like a little girl after the first hit.
Roy spread his hands, pulling the toothpick from his mouth. "Is that any way to address your king?" Dylan glared while Roy laughed. The jock got up, trying to tower over Dylan even though Dylan had a good two inches on him. "I want to make sure that you understand who rules the school. So I'm going to show you something."
The jock began to walk away, expecting Dylan to follow which he did. The sullen look on his face was mistaken for defeat by Roy. Roy smiled, strutting as he led Dylan to the third floor. Dylan could barely believe his eyes when he saw what Roy wanted him to see.
Olivia was cornered against the wall, surrounded by jocks holding silly string. Dylan had seen this before. The jocks had somehow figured a way to make the silly string almost impossible to get off so that anyone sprayed by it would have to walk around with it for the day. It looked like they had intentions of covering Olivia head to toe.
Dylan's fists clenched. Olivia might not like him but he wasn't going to let them do anything. Roy chuckled as he pulled a can from his pocket. "Ready boys?" He said raising his can. "Aim!" Dylan didn't give him a chance to say the next word. Pulling his foot back, Dylan drilled his foot between the jock's legs. Roy fell without a sound.
Dylan snatched up Roy's can spraying one of the jocks in the back of the neck. The jock turned around furious. Dylan grinned mischievously as he dodged behind another jock in time for jock one to catch jock two in the face. Laughing, Dylan dropped the can, silly string flying through the air.
Dylan dodged flying strings, grabbing Olivia around the waist and yanking her down. "Let's go" He whispered before releasing her. They crawled together toward the stairs, dodging the strings where they could. When they couldn't, Dylan covered Olivia with his body to take the hit.
Dylan stood up near the door to the stairs, a cloak of silly string stuck to his back. A few strands were stuck in his hair and these he tried to yank out. Olivia watched him, glancing at the stairs. "Why did you help me?" She asked in an accusatory tone.
Dylan smiled turning around. "Because you're my friend. You may not consider me that any more but I consider you my friend. All of Lemonade Mouth actually. If I have to save each one to prove it I will but I won't let any one touch you guys." Olivia softened, making Dylan wish that the rest of Lemonade Mouth would be that easy.
"What are you going to do then?" Olivia asked rummaging around in her bag. Dylan shrugged as she pulled out a pair of scissors. "Turn around." She ordered. He did as se asked, a little afraid for the safety of his hair. Whereas most guys wouldn't have cared, Dylan had an unhealthy obsession with his hair. He had to have it the way he wanted or he got pissed.
"I'm going to apologize first. Or at least attempt to. I'll have to do it in the right way but I can still try to apologize." He explained as Olivia took one of the strands, cutting it as close to where it attached to his head as she could. "The only one I don't know how to apologize to is Stella. She's already moved on." Olivia made a small noise as se cut another strand.
Dylan turned his head to look at her but she tutted motioning him to turn back around. "Stella isn't over you Dylan. I get texts from her almost every day complaining about Ray. I'm pretty sure it's her way of dealing but I don't think it's working. When Mo was over at her house last she said Stella cried herself to sleep. She misses you. A lot." Olivia chatted while she cut the strands from his hair. "Wen is almost inclined to forgive you because you helped me the first day." Dylan imagined a blush spreading across Olivia's features as she swallowed. "The only one I think you'll have a hard time with is Charlie. Besides Stella, I think your…uh betrayal hurt him the worst. After all you guys are neighbors."
Dylan nodded now having an explanation for Charlie's earlier behavior. Olivia pulled the scissors away from his head and he turned around. "You'll help me gain back their trust right?" He shrugged out of his jacket, carefully rolling it up. Olivia whistled at the sight of his lean arms and Dylan wished he hadn't worn the wife-beater.
"I can see why Stella was constantly trying to get you to wear short sleeves." Olivia murmured lightly touching his arm. Dylan stepped back slightly, clearing his throat. Olivia blushed, looking up at him. "Yeah I'll help. We'll save Stella for last though so you can heal. I know your breakup hurt you as much as it hurt her." Dylan nodded before hugging Olivia.
"Thank you" He muttered before stepping away. Olivia smiled gesturing toward the stairs. Dylan smiled in return and together they left the jocks fighting each other, ready to set things straight. Ready to make things right with Lemonade Mouth.