Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Inside Out ❯ Failing University? ( Chapter 1 )

“What happened to your lip?”

 

The sound of locker doors slamming resounded throughout the vicinity; chatter rising above the initial noise of everyday school life. Bags were stuffed into lockers, playful laughter filtered down the hall, yelling, pushing. The usual for Eastwood Middle School.

 

As Elias fished out his things for first period, he made a point of avoiding his friend's eyes. Curtis, who had known Elias since elementary, was lounging against the locker door beside his and was watching him carefully. Arms crossed over his chest, he leaned forward so that he could nudge his away in front of him.

 

Stepping back upon the intrusion, Elias adjusted his binder under his arm before extending a hand out to close the locker door. This was not effective however, since Curtis was blocking the way. With a sigh, he ran his fingers through his hair before lifting his gaze to meet that of his friends.

 

“C'mon Curt, I have class.”

“So do I.”

“Then move, so we won't be late.”

“What happened to your lip?”

 

Despite his determination to find the answer, Curtis stepped aside. He did not fail to keep his brown eyes locked onto Elias though, as the boy slammed the door closed and secured the lock. They began to walk to their first classes, and Elias ran his tongue over his lips.

 

 

He had woken that morning cold, tired and with raw wrists and a fat, bruised lower lip.

There was a deep cut just below the swollen flesh, and it had bruised during the night. His cheeks reddened as he thought why he bit his lip, and nausea swept over him, encouraging him to increase his pace. He didn't want to talk about it.

 

“I don't want to talk about it.”

“Why?”

“Because I don't.”

 

The door to his English class was slightly ajar, and Elias turned with a lifted hand to Curtis, before promptly slipping inside the room. Curtis remained there for several moments, suspicion and confusion etched onto his features. He didn't know exactly what was going on with Elias, but he had a feeling it was something bad.

 

-*-

 

Slumping into his desk, Elias collapsed, burying his head in his arms. This was going to be a horrible week! His cheeks burned as he thought about the night prior, and giving a shake of his head, he swallowed hard in order to keep the bile that came rushing up the back of his throat, down. Lucas had been gone when he had awoken himself, and it was safe to assume that as a University student, he had a rather busy schedule. Perhaps that was the reason he came so late on school nights? Even on the weekends when he only had few classes.

 

He pondered over the possibilities for a while, ignoring the teacher as she began her lesson. Instead, Elias chose to stare out the window that was adjacent him and behind the teacher. Grey skies and a dull day ahead. That's all it looked like, and well, that's what it felt like. There was a coil inside of him, growing tighter with every passing moment.

 

It was different from the pressure he'd felt the previous night. This sensation was all too familiar with him. It was worry. Paranoia. The thought of his brother being anywhere near him caused his nerves to become frayed, his mind panicked and his stomach a nervous wreck. He was surprised as to why he hadn't developed an ulcer yet. He'd read about those somewhere, once.

 

“Elias, are you listening?”

 

Lifting his eyes to the teacher, Elias cleared his throat before nodding.

 

“Yeah.”

 

The teacher eyed him a moment before shaking her head and going back to dictating instructions from the grade 9 textbook. And, as she went back to her lesson, Elias was quick to return to his thoughts.

 

He didn't like to mull over what happened between him and his brother. Reading too much into something like that would cause him to be even more upset, and despite the fact that it was something he was used to, he didn't like it.

 

And then there was the matter with Curtis. He always knew when something was up, and his intuition was usually so accurate, it bordered on creepy. Many a time, he had guessed of Elias's unsettled state, and had insisted they go to the arcade or malt shop after school. He had been glad for the escape and that Curtis was such a good friend, but he simply could not bring himself to tell him what happened.

 

It would have been so much easier on the both of them, and Elias wouldn't have to make up excuses for his fatigue all of the time, or the occasional bruises on his neck.

Frowning, he opened his binder and snatching a pen, began to copy out the notes scrawled messily over the blackboard.

 

He was at school; his brother was far away from him. Downtown, somewhere.

He wasn't quite sure where his brother was attending University (nor did he care), but it made his situation better knowing that he didn't have to be near him. The distance during the day was a relief. He just wished that it would stay like that.

 

 

-*-

 

He hadn't really been there. The classes had lost their appeal to him, and even though he was good at what he studied (art was his major), Lucas just didn't see the point in continuing his education any further. Sure, his parents had saved up for him so that he could go to one of the best art schools in the city. Sure, he had worked hard for his scholarship and was attending the first year on a bursary, but call him ungrateful, he really could care less.

 

Despite the friends he'd made, his apathy was increasing, and his lack of enthusiasm in his art was showing in his grades. He rarely showed up for the classes he'd signed up for, and usually spent most of his days in the downtown area browsing through stores or some other means of wasting time. He hadn't been planning on telling anyone that he was dropping out. Not yet, anyway.

 

And he briefly wondered what the cause was for. Was it Elias? He knew what he did to that boy was wrong, sinful even, but perhaps the part of him that was just a little more then sadistic, the part of him that enjoyed causing discomfort, embarrassment and guilt, was the reason for all of this. It had been hard not to go into his room damned near every night, have his way with him and get out. It was just too easy, and besides, the look on the boys face last night had been plenty to encourage him.

 

He felt no shame in what he did. In fact, sexual gratification aside, he actually kind of liked it, in that sick, twisted mind of his. He liked making him worry, and he liked watching the expression on his face when he showed up in his doorway at night and stepped inside. Something beyond fright. He'd accepted the advances Lucas had made on him quietly, but Elias wasn't as young as he used to be.

 

He knew what was going on.

 

And that was what made the whole ordeal worthwhile.

 

His friend Sheek was the only one who knew about what he did. He was one of those cool, detached artsy types, with black turtlenecks and thick-rimmed glasses. Tall as he was lean, he portrayed an air of superiority about him that had immediately attracted Lucas. They had clicked almost instantly, and had been friends since the year prior, which had been Lucas's first year as a University student.

 

Sheek didn't exactly approve of what he did, but he was extremely open, abnormally so, and could take things most calmly when need be. This was a trait that never ceased to impress Lucas, and he always enjoyed talking about the awkward nature of his developing brother. How he would stutter around him, or grow very still upon his entrance into the room (on the strange off chance that he was actually home during the day).

 

Sheek would listen, occasionally say something like, “Well, what would you expect?” or sometimes, he would offer a more in-depth description on his behavior. Appearances aside, Sheek was studying psychoanalysis and on his own time, studied the behavioral issues of preteens and teenagers. Lucas didn't really think that his behavior had anything to do with growing up, but merely with what was going on. And that was fine with him.

 

The vibrations in his pocket alerted him then that someone was in need of his attention, and slipping his hand into the confines of his denim jeans, he withdrew his razor before flipping it open and pressing it to his ear.

 

“Yeah?”

“Lucas. It's Sheek; spare a moment of your time? We need to talk.”

 

Speak of the devil. Grinning, Lucas let his pale eyes drop to the watch fastened about his left wrist, and shrugging although he could not see him, gave his reply.

 

“Sure. Same place?”

“Yes, can you go down there now?”

“Actually, I'm right in front of it.”

 

There was a brief pause and then a sigh, before another pause of silence, where Lucas could envision Sheek, sitting their massaging his temples.

 

“Don't you have a class right now?”

“Yeah, but I would be ditching it anyway if I was in one. You said you wanted to meet, so I'm here.”

 

Closing the phone, Lucas stuffed it back into his pocket before entering the large coffee shop.

 

-*-

 

 

What was it about Lucas that worried him? Was it possibly the blatant disregard for what he did to his brother? He didn't seem to think of the consequences if Elias suddenly decided that he could tell someone what went on. He highly doubted however, that Elias was that type of person. Sheek was aware of Elias's strong feelings for Lucas. He could tell the several times he'd met him that despite what went on, the younger couldn't help but be attached to his older brother.

 

Letting the phone drop into the vacant leather seat beside him, Sheek pulled into the parking long of the Café, and killed the engine to his 2006 MINI Cooper. He sat there a while before opening his car door. Swinging long legs out from the cramped compartment, the man slipped from the vehicle and smoothed out his t-shirt.

 

As the car door rattled behind him, he tucked his keys into his pocket and smoothed his dark hair from his face. Things needed to be discussed. It was for Lucas, after all. And if Sheek let his friend fail his University course, he didn't think he could live throughout. It was most likely the over achiever in him that made him want to do this, for he knew that Lucas would most definitely not appreciate his efforts to assure a secure future, but he couldn't help it. The folder tucked under his arm had the passed three months worth of updates and records for him.

 

He had poured over them the previous night and the day before that and was pleased to find that although his grades were low, Lucas was not failing anything. It would be easy, with his intelligence and a little motivation (which he planned on giving the bastard) to get his grades back up to standard.

 

The bell jingled lazily as he entered the shop, and Sheek raised a brow as he saw Lucas lounging in one of the small café chairs, looking positively bored. He did nothing upon locking gazes with him, and merely waited until Sheek had seated himself across from him to say anything. Sitting up, the man draped his arms over one another as he leaned on the table, and Lucas tilted his head.

 

“So what is it that you want to talk about?”

“Your grades.”

 

His lip curled in disgust, and Sheek merely adjusted his glasses and gave a small shake of his head.

 

“Lucas this is not something you can push aside.”

 

Setting the folder down in front of him, he splayed his fingers along the material before leaning forward. Lucas eyed the folded skeptically before looking up to meet Sheek's gaze once more.

 

“Your grades are not as horrible as I'd assumed, considering the amount of class you've missed.”

“And what does this have to do with you?”

“I do not intend on letting someone, especially with your brains,” he paused to lift a hand and prod Lucas in the center of his forehead, “fail University. Especially when Art is your major.”

 

“You're acting like my father did when I was in high school,” he grumbled, leaning back and brushing aside Sheek's hand. “I'm a big boy, I can handle myself.”

“You're ruining your chances of a good life you know. You've got talent, more so then I've seen in a lot of universities. Talent and smarts. You can go somewhere, the only problem is you don't want to.”

“God works in mysterious ways, doesn't he?” Lucas inquired, a smirk crawling onto his lips.

 

Arching a brow, Sheek crossed his arms. Lucas knew very well that he held no beliefs. And he knew very well that Lucas didn't either. They stayed silent a moment, regarding one another haughtily before Sheek gave in and sighed. Running his fingers through tousled hair, he opened the folder and crossed his legs. Eyes skimming the figures, he pushed the papers across the table towards Lucas.

 

Cocking his head, Lucas accepted the papers and took them into his hands. As he went over the marks and data himself, he shook his head.

 

“Where did you find all of this junk?”

“The University Administrator gave it to me, actually.”

“It's confidential information, isn't it?”

“Yes, but I have connections.”

 

Frowning, Lucas tossed the papers onto the table.

 

“Connections, connections, you've always got these damned connections! I'm curious as to whom you have them with, and how you've acquired them.”

“That isn't exactly important, Lucas. I wanted you to come here so we could work out some academic plan. Or at the very least come to an agreement.”

 

“You're acting like my father again,” he warned, any humor he'd obtained in his voice, gone. He disliked it when his friends, and Sheek had a habit of doing this, tried to run his life. His future. He could do whatever the hell he wanted, couldn't he? America was a free Country. If he decided to waste his life, then why not let him?

 

“I'm but a concerned friend who is interested in your well-being.”

 

Lacing his fingers together, elbows resting on the table, Sheek did not let Lucas's anger perturb him. He had seen far worse in terms of his temper, and this was only an annoyance in his perspective. Lucas was indeed intelligent. He simply could not fathom why he would waste time and money that he had earned based off of previous academic grades and talent, on trivial, illegal things such as fooling around with his brother.

 

For he had an inkling that this was really what it was about.

Alas, he was not yet a certified therapist in any field, so he had no right to go about giving the younger man instructions on what to do with his feelings.

Instead, he smiled some before letting his hands drop. Tapping the folders with his index finger, he used the table to support himself as he got to his feet.

 

“Think about what I said. You should really try getting your marks up.”

“And what if I don't?”

 

Sheek smiled at the irritability written across Lucas's features.

Shrugging, he smoothed his hair down before slipping the magnetic sunglasses that dangled carelessly at the throat of his shirt, onto his lenses.

“That's your decision, but it would not be a wise one. Call me later and we can talk about it.”

 

Checking his watch, Sheek's smile turned into a full-on grin.

 

“You have another class in twenty minutes. I'd advise you to go.”

 

Grumbling, Lucas got to his feet and snatched the folder up. Slipping the papers into it, he strode passed Sheek but not before planting the papers firmly in the center of his chest. As the other took hold of them, he watched Lucas's retreating back.

 

He couldn't help but laugh.

 

 

A/N: Okay! That is the first chapter! ^_^ I decided that since in the prologue I kind of made Lucas look like the bad guy, I'd give a little insight on what his life is like, and how he is as a person. I apologize for how long it took me to update the first chapter (and how short it is! ><). I've been really busy with school lately and hadn't had much time to get on the computer. I own all the characters and the plot in this story. Please do not use anything unless asking me first! And thank you guys for the reviews so far! I really appreciate it! Please review more! :]

 

PS: I changed the tense for some reason. I have a tendency to do this with all of my stories, but I promise that it will stay in the past tense from now on. xD