Until Then

Chapter #7: A Question

Tw; Gaslighting, F slur said

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Ross woke up the next morning his arm throbbing in pain, eyes heavy from exhaustion and body sore from the overexertion the day prior. He sat up slowly, glancing around before grabbing his hearing aids and putting them in. Visibly flinching when his dad swung open the door.

"Ro-!" He about yelled, stopping when he saw his son was awake "You're awake. Good."

"M-My arm hurts.." Ross muttered rubbing his left arm painfully, wincing when he moved it away from his body. "I-I think I broke it when I fell down the stairs yesterday.."

"Let me see." Chris ushered, tugging at the arm when Ross moved it closer causing the boy to yell out in pain. Chris rolling his eyes in response "You're fine. Just a little bruised. You're being dramatic."

"Yea....You're probably right.." He muttered "I should get ready for school." He said sitting up further in his bed, his dad nodding.

"Make sure not to be late." he walked out, closing the door behind himself.

"Yep.." Ross got up weakly limping towards his closet to get some casual clothing and a sweater to hide the bruising on his arm. Heading into the washroom he brushed his teeth and hair. Struggling with doing his hair as he needed two hands, forcing himself to ignore the pain he pulled the back of his hair up into a man bun leaving his bangs covering his face. Afterwards he packed his backpack with his school binder and lunch pail he had made the night prior, he waved his dad goodbye as he walked out the door. "I'll see you after school!" he called

"Love you!" Chris replied from the couch.

".... Yea.. You too-!" Ross replied hesitantly closing the door behind him, he started limping down the street heading to school.

At the school he headed inside and to his class instantly. He didn't want to risk seeing Nathaniel for awhile or at least right now. Sitting at his desk in math class his teacher cocked his head and spoke.

"Aye, cool guy.. Uhm, ack, don't tell me." the teacher pointed finger guns at him.

"You don't know my name do you Mr. Marrs?" Ross sighed rolling his eyes.

"You know I'm bad with names.. Madd? Madds your last name. I remember that."

"Caddel-Madden." Ross corrected, unamused that his teacher had forgotten him.

"How bout I call you Madds? You seem like the angry type." he jokes.

"I-... Ross. Ross is my name." Mr. Marrs nodded.

"Got it, Madds is alright though. Right Ross?" Ross nodded, he was too tired to talk with the teacher who was now sitting on the desk beside Ross'.

"Yea.."

"You're here early. Any reason why?"

"Just left home earlier than normal I guess." He shrugged.

"Most kids like you wait the latest to get to class." Mr. Marrs replied, giving a curt nod and wave to another student that had walked in. "Did something happen with you and your friends?"

"What? Just because I seem like the type to hate school its gotta mean I'm always late?" Ross scoffed. "My friends and I are completely fine. I just felt like coming to class early."

"That's not what I meant-"

"That's really what its sounding like Mr. Marrs."

"My apologies then, I was just saying I hadn't seen you in class this early before." He sighed, he was just trying to interact with his students but Ross obviously wasn't the best choice as he was a snappy individual who'd find any reason to start fist fights or arguments with someone when away from his dad.