Sta.sh
Today is going to be horrible. you think miserably before standing from the breakfast table.
"I'm going to school, Dad." you announce, heading for the door.
"What? Oh, goodbye dear." he says distractedly, kissing your step-mom on the lips.
He doesn't even notice you.
Your step-mom pouts, her arms around his neck. "How long this time?"
He smiles and kisses her again. "Two weeks at the most."
"But Daddy, I don't want you to go!" your step-sister whines.
"Goodbye, Dad." you say again, pushing past them, trying to hide the anger and hurt in your voice.
"You take care of your Mom and sister, okay (name)?" he calls, but you slam the door behind you.
"They're not my family." you mutter under your breath.
Outside, cold, slushy snow slowly fill your sneakers, soaking through two layers of socks. Ugh, winter.
You sigh, trudging through the sludge, and make your way to school, on foot. You probably should've waited for your step-mom to drive you, but just thinking about sitting in a car with them makes you scowl.
Walking it is.
--------------------Time skip------------------------------
"You're tardy, Miss (l/n)." your homeroom teacher says, looking down her nose at you.
"S-s-sorry." you apologize, your teeth chattering.
As you take your seat, your best friend, Roderich Edelstein leans over, his violet eyes concerned. "What happened?" he whispers.
"Nothing." you say, running a hand through your (h/l), (h/c) hair, trying to get the snow out of it.
He doesn't press you, but gives you an uncertain sidelong glance.
Through homeroom, your mood worsens, and you try not to bang your head on your desk in frustration.
"Class dismissed."
"Wha-?" you ask, raising your head off your folded arms.
"Are you okay?" Roderich asks, looking down at you.
"Oh, just peachy." you say, your voice dripping sarcasm.
He sighs, but waits for you to get up, and holds the door open like a gentleman.
"Thanks." you say, feeling a bit guilty for snapping at him.
"You're welcome." he says curtly, and walks with you to Social Studies.
--------------------Time skip classes to Lunch------------------------
"Man, are you okay? You look like you're gonna hurl." your friend, Alfred F. Jones asks you, setting a tray next to you on the table.
Huh, you've been getting that question a lot today. Well, except the part about 'hurling'.
"Yeah, I'm fine." you grumble, dropping your head into your hands.
"(Name),do you want to go to the nurse's office?" Matthew asks gently.
"No, thanks for asking though, Mattie." you try to smile, but it comes out more like a grimace.
"You look totally unawesome, vright now, (name)!" a white haired boy says with a full mouth.
"Ugh, shut up Gilbert."
"You really look sick." Alfred insists, waving his hamburger at you.
"Leave her alone." Roderich says, sitting down next to you.
"Alright dude, but I'm not gonna be the one cleaning the puke off the floor." Alfred says, taking a bite.
"Why are you so sure I'm going to vomit?" you ask, aggravated.
He opens his mouth to answer, but you cut him off. "You know what, I don't want to know."
He shrugs, and you sigh, rubbing your temples.
"Headache?" Roderich asks, unusually gentle.
"Uh-huh."
He wraps an arm around your shoulders and gives you an awkward, one-sided hug.
That's when you realize how much attention he's been paying you today, and you feel your heart pound in your chest.
You've had a crush on him since fifth grade, when he first gave you a Valentines Day card, but you knew he gave it to you as a friend, so you kept your mouth shut.
You don't even know why you like him so much. He's an arrogant, self-centered jerk. Well, at least he was when you first met him. Now, he's shown you his gentler, sweeter side, especially when he plays piano with you.
"I think you put her into a coma."
You're pulled out of your reverie by Alfred waving his hand in front of you face.
"Okay, I'm awake, Alfie. You can stop trying to smack me." you snap, and drop your face into your arms again, your face burning with embarrassment.
You feel a hand on your back, rubbing comforting circles. "It's okay." you hear Roderich reassure you, his voice soft.
"I'm sorry, guys." your voice is muffled, and you stubbornly hold back tears. Your shoulders start to tremble, and you hate how weak you feel.
"It's just..." you lift your face and run your hands through your hair. "My mom died five years ago today."
"Dude, I'm sorry, I didn't-" Alfred tries to apologize, but you cut him off again. "It's okay. I'm fine."
You look around the table at your friends and give them your classic lopsided grin. "Hey, don't worry about it."
"We'd better get to Music." Roderich says quietly, breaking the silence,and takes his hand off your back.
You stand and shake your head, running a hand through your hair again. "See ya later, guys." you call, taking Roderich's offered arm, hooking yours through his.
------------Mint Bunny Time Skip----------------------
"You're getting much better, (name)." Roderich informs you as you slip your music sheets back into your backpack.
"Is that so, Mr. Austria?" you smirk.
He clears his throat and takes a step closer, watching the others leave.
"Would you mind if I showed you the correct way?"
You raise an eyebrow. "Why?"
He huffs. "So you can play it correctly."
You shrug. "Mr. Knight?"
"Yes, (name)?"
"Do you mind if Roderich and I stay here to practice?"
Your music teacher gives you both a quizzical look, but then just shrugs.
"Fine by me. Just don't get into trouble."
You salute."Yes, sir!"
He smiles and leaves.
"So, Mister I-can-play-every-instrument-imaginable, what am I getting wrong?" you ask, your arms crossed over your chest.
He clears his throat. "Well, if you would sit down, I'll show you."
You obey and sit on the piano bench, resting your hands lightly on the keys.
"Sit straighter." he says softly behind you, pushing the small of your back in.
"Keep the heels of your hands off the keys." He lifts your hands a little, and you feel his breath on your neck.
"Now, play."
You obey, but he quickly stops you.
"You have to play it softly, freely. Let your shoulders relax."
You feel his slender fingers rub your neck, your tense muscles melting beneath his touch.
"Good. Now, begin again."
You play, and this time he doesn't stop you, just stands behind you. As your fingers fly over the keys, you let your heart pour out, and you can almost hear your pain, and anger, and then the tone softens, and all you can think about is the boy behind you, who cares about you.
When you finish, you sit, staring at the black and white keys.
"(Name)?"
You feel a hand on your shoulder, and slowly you turn around, intense violet eyes meeting your (e/c) ones."
"I just wanted you to know.....I really care about you and I-"
You laugh and look up at his red face. "You really don't know when a girl wants you to kiss her."
His eyes widen and you feel sad that he doesn't feel the same. "I'm sorry." you look away, embarrassed.
"N-no, it's okay. I r-really like you too."
You blink and stare up at him. "Really?"
He nods.
You wait for a minute before laughing and pulling his tie, so his face is level with yours. "Dummkopf."
"Liebe." he retorts before your lips meet, and you're lost in his arms.
Maybe today wasn't so horrible after all.
I didn't really think about what it would look like to someone who knows what that's really like, I'm sorry if I made you sad.
I'm alright, you were able to invoke powerful emotions, that is the skill of an author. That and the father moving on to have a new wife kind of helped keep my real life events out of it. My dad on his dresser has my mother's photograph, my mother's obituary and her ashes, as well as their wedding photo's in a large frame on the wall in the living room of his home. My dad won't ever remarry...he may date and he has...but no other woman could be his wife.
I'm sorry for your dad, I couldn't imagine losing someone so close to me. I've had a lot of people I loved pass away, and it still hurts, but they weren't immediate family.
I know the feeling...it's not exactly the easiest thing to go through. And in many ways that's just how the pieces fall, and in many ways this was what it took to sober my father up.