I didn’t want to go to school, not at all. I’d been home for a week, a ‘recovery’ as I called it, though I didn’t need one all that much. Will had refused to go if I didn’t go. But I didn’t want to keep him at home, waiting for me if he wanted to.

So I had to face hell.

I sighed audibly, putting my brain into ignore-the-world mode as I switched on my iPod, soothing classical guitar in my ears. Will’s hand held onto mine absently as my mom drove, agreeing to take us there as neither wanted to drive.

I thanked my mom for the drive as Will pulled me out of the car, albeit a little forcefully, as I was holding onto the handle for dear life. He finally managed to get my grip off and we both fell ungracefully to the sidewalk, me crashing into him with the momentum.

Will grumbled in an annoyed fashion and grabbed me before I could escape again, picking me up and slinging me over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry. He carried both our bags as I kicked and cursed at him, hearing my mom laughing raucously in the car behind us.

We attracted a few stares as Will carried me onto campus, finally letting me down to deposit me in front of my locker. I glanced around, looking for escape routes, but he quickly blocked all by placing both hands on either side of me on the lockers, practically pinning me with his body. He ignored the looks we were receiving, bending down to whisper in my ear.

“Fadge...please cooperate. For me.” He gave me that pleading puppy dog look, and I caved. I held his gaze for a moment before my resolve crumbled.

“Fine.” I sent him a steely stare, making sure he didn’t celebrate just yet. “But I won’t enjoy it.”

“I’m fine with that,” he said, chuckling. “Hang with Sarah and I’ll come with you between passing periods. If those guys try to mess with you, just scream or something.” I sent him a slight glower, and he chuckled, leaning in to give me a quick kiss. “I’m going to my locker. I’ll see you soon.”

I held onto his hand as long as I could before he disappeared down the hall.

I muttered irritably to myself as I did the combo on my locker, pulling it open and glancing around for what I needed. Before I could get anywhere, I suddenly heard a loud squeal of my name and something heavy latched onto my neck.

I coughed and attempted to dislodge Sarah from me, flailing punches wildly. “Sarah! I can’t breathe!” I croaked, and she finally freed me.

“Where were you, Fadge?!” she demanded, grabbing me by my shoulders and shaking me. Only then did she notice the large bit of remaining gash above my brow, my black eye, and the other bruises and cuts on my arms and face. “What happened?!”

“Uhh...I got attacked as I was going home on Halloween and ended up in the rough part of town and met these two really nice hookers and then Will came and saved me and I went to the hospital for two days and then Will got hurt and we went back and a doctor hit on me and I stayed home for a week ‘cause I hate it here.” I breathed in deeply after my long speech as Sarah started ranting and I didn’t pay attention. “And I apologize for not calling you.”

“You better!” she snapped, flicking me in the forehead and earning a wince in return. She quickly started to apologize profusely and I just batted at her with my hand, grabbing the bags I needed and trudging to my next class.

“I’m sorry, Fadge! Did Will beat up the guys who went after you?”

“I don’t know,” I said honestly, realizing that he hadn’t told me. “Probably...”

She kept going on for a few minutes in a rant until we reached the class and I tuned her out, walking to the back so that people wouldn’t stare at my face. ‘Cause it’s all beaten up. Yeah. Shut up, brain.

I ignored Sarah until she was silenced at the bell, and I absently started scribbling down on my notebook, not really paying attention to the teacher. I suddenly felt a pair of eyes on me and glanced up, spotting an angry scowl from one of the guys who had beat me up. He had actually bothered turning all the way around in his seat to stare at me. I suddenly figured out that indeed Will had beaten them up, due to the double black eyes, bruised jaw, and the numerous little cuts along one side of his face. Must’ve hit the asphalt pretty hard.

I smiled cheekily and waved, letting my obnoxiousness flow out. I then immediately pulled a straight face and went back to my mindless scribbling, ignoring him. I sent a small glance at Sarah, but she wasn’t paying attention to me anymore.

The bell finally rang and I got out of my seat, dragging my feet across the room, Sarah in tow.

“Hey, Sarah! I’ve got a question for you!”

We both stopped and glanced back, seeing one of Sarah’s other friends waving to her. “I’ll be right back, Fadge,” Sarah said, and I nodded. As she left I turned to keep walking—Smack into the big guy who’d been scowling at me.

“So, sending your pet to come beat us up, huh bitch?” he snarled, getting down in my face. I felt fear for a moment, then unbridled anger.

“What are you on, crack?” I snapped, shoving him back with both hands. I caught him off guard, and he stumbled back. “Who cares what I do with my life? Why do you care so much? Jealous?”

His mouth opened and closed like a fish, eyes wide, as I continued, advancing on him.

“Who gives a damn what a couple does behind closed doors? I’m not hurting you in any way. So why don’t you just leave me and my boyfriend alone?!” I shoved him in the chest again, and he took another step back. “Grow up, you discriminatory coward.” I was silent for a moment, scowling him down even though he towered probably at least a foot and a half over me. I then side stepped, walking straight around and past him to my locker.

“Are you okay?” Will asked as I approached, leaning against the locker next to mine. “You seem...ruffled.”

“I’m fantastic,” I replied, opening my locker with jerky motions, shoving my books in and yanking out what I needed for my next class. I slammed the locker shut and then dropped my forehead straight onto it, a loud ‘bam!’ echoing through the emptying hallway. I didn’t realize I was crying until Will pulled me into his arms, wiping the tears from my face.

--

Prostitution is revolution

You can hate me, not ‘till you pay me

My submission is your addiction

So just get it while you can...

I mumbled the lyrics to Cobra Starship as I lay on the couch, leaning against the arm rest and staring into space. It switched onto the next song on my iPod, and I sang alone with that one too.

I’m the kinda guy that you ain’t ever seen before

If you wanna hit the floor, are you ready for more?

I’m the kinda guy that ain’t easy to forget

Girl I’m gonna make you sweat, are you ready for more?

I snorted at myself, pulled out of my reverie as my phone started ringing. I pulled out my headphones haphazardly and dug around in the cushions for the phone, glancing at caller ID.

“Hello...” I half sighed into the receiver, stretching myself out over the arm rest of the couch, my arm dangling lazily to the floor.

“Hey lovely,” I heard Will’s voice reply, and I smiled lightly. “How are you doing?”

“I’m feeling a little better,” I said, rolling off the couch and landing in a crouch. I stood up, stretching as I walked up the stairs to the first floor, flipping open the cupboard once I reached the kitchen and digging around for something to eat.

“That’s good,” he said. “Sorry I’m late—Work went over today.”

“That’s okay,” I said, making myself a peanut butter sandwich and jumping up onto the counter, swinging my legs back and forth as I munched on it. Will had gotten a small weekend and some weeknights job—A waiter at a local restaurant. It had been two weeks since the “incident,” as she offhandedly called it. I hadn’t received a bit of trouble for the past week, simply enjoying my time with Will.

I guess that’s what happens when you stand up to your demons.

...Or maybe not.

“Well I’ll be there in a few. Bye.”

“Bye.” I hung up and finished up my sandwich, putting the plate in the sink and going back downstairs. I walked to the neglected easel in the corner, crossing my arms and staring at the blank canvas with a slight glower.

“Fine,” I muttered, walking over to put my iPod in the dock, Smile For the Paparazzi blasting through the speakers. My mother was at an art opening again tonight. I shuffled back over to the canvas, staring at it for a moment more before getting out my oil paints. I started working.

I sort of heard Will come in, but he obviously noticed I was in artist mode and didn’t bother me. When I’d finished a layer and wanted to paint the next one, I grabbed the blow dryer and dried that layer enough that it wouldn’t blend or smear together.

I know that I worked for hours, and I heard the iPod move along through the songs, different artists striking up every hour or so.

I finally got sick of the alphabetical order and went over to put it on random, glancing around and not spotting Will. Probably upstairs.

I finally finished up at about 11, Evanescence echoing through the room. I’d started at five.

I sighed and set the brush in the jar of water, observing my work. The last layer was still glistening, and I didn’t bother drying it.

The back was a mix of blues, mostly a deep navy or shadow color. From the corners of the canvas arched up tendrils of orange, yellow, and red mixed up together. A slightly hazy but still discernable top half of a man stood in the middle, hands reaching up gracefully towards whatever he was looking at above him—His face hardly visible due to it’s upward angle, dark, medium length hair like mine falling shaggily around his cheeks. The whole painting had a sort of ripple to it, the image just slightly bending out in rings like water was dripping a reflection.

“Liberation...” I whispered, putting my small signature in the corner of the painting.

“It’s beautiful.”

I jumped, spinning my gaze around to focus on Will, standing on the bottom of the stairs. I hadn’t heard him coming. He stepped off the bottom step and strode lazily towards me, his eyes on the painting. He stopped a torturous inch from me, and I breathed in deeply, his scent addicting. His gaze slipped from the painting to mine, and we both moved at the same time.

My hands tangled in his hair as his pulled on my hips, crushing my body against his. Our lips met and my eyes fluttered shut, losing myself in his heavenly kisses. I barely registered that there was only a little light on, leaving us in the almost-dark. He pushed me over to the couch, both of our feet shuffling and refusing to let the kiss break. Red Hot Chili Peppers started up slightly ironically in the background, but it went unnoticed as his hands wandered down my chest to my hips and up my back again, my hands slightly loosening but not letting go of their grip on his hair. Our tongues wandered, moving in a dance only we knew the rhythm to.

And our evening was like a song.

End.

--

I can’t wait to see how much you guys hate me for finishing the story. Or love me.

THERE WILL BE EPILOGUE. FEAR NOT.

And I’ll probably get some one shots written out now and then for these two—They are two of my favorites. So this is not the last you will see of them.

Aren’t you proud of me for actually finishing a story? 8D? Now go read some of my others and write endless reviews to make me finish those too. Right.

I’ll go start the epilogue now.

-Jaws