Teenage Prodigies {Gustholomule}

Chapter 1

Matt's p.o.v

*BEEP*
*BEEP*
*BEEP*
"ughhh.. shut up." I groan into my pillow before getting up to turn off my alarm clock. I hop off my bed before making it to the bathroom.

I look in the mirror, inspecting the multiple cuts and bruises accumulated on my face. I sigh before splashing cold water on my face, waking me up almost immediately. "I don't have a good feeling about today." I mutter to myself softly as I adjust the bandages on my hands.

Bria's beatings bad been getting significantly worse over the past several weeks. In the beginning it was just her stealing his lunch money, with the occasional slap to the face or punch to the gut, but recently it had escalated. Half of the time he was left unconscious on the ground after the beatings, and the other times he would be almost unable to walk.

"what's even the point, there's not much to look forward too." I mumble as I get dressed.

I grab my bag from beside the front door before making my way out into the worn down street. Gravesfield was a massive city, but I live in the more run down side of town. More commonly the area is called bonesburough, I'm not exactly sure why, but that's what most people I know call it.

Glandus is only a 10 minute walk from my house, if you take the short way.. But I honestly don't feel like dealing with that today so I take the long way, making the walk about 5 minutes longer. The short way is through Bria's neighborhood. Everyone that lives there has it out for me, I have no idea why, but they just do.

I eventually make it to my first class, history. I've always loved history, but since moving to Glandus, I have kinda lost my spark for.. everything really-. I moved up a grade when I was at my old school, St. Epiderm, but my parents weren't funding my tuition anymore, so I had to move to Glandus.

I sit down in the front row. I always sit down in the front row, it gives me a false hope that if Bria does try to pull any tricks, the teacher will see and get her in trouble. But it's not like the teachers here actually care about anything other than money. Ms. Snapdragon is the worst for it too, sometimes encouraging the behavior for her own entertainment.

I hear someone sit down beside me. Bria.
"Hey Matty~ I have a surprise for you later, meet me in the alley beside the school during lunch, don't miss it."
"Mhm okay yeah sure." I mumble back to her before she walks away. I let out a soft sigh, this clearly won't end out good.

History had ended around 15 minutes ago. I'm now in math, not paying attention to the teacher. My head is racing with the different ideas of what Bria could possibly have planned for me today. My leg starts to shake and my face starts to heat up a little bit. I take a deep breath while looking out the window.

*RING*
Fuck. That was the bell for lunch. It was already time for the thing I had been dreading all morning. I tried to stop myself from shaking so much by taking a deep breath, but it didn't help much.

I start making my way down to the alleyway between the school and the apartment building beside it. Not surprised to see Bria already there, but where is the rest of her friends? They usually beat me up together.

"Matty!~ So glad you finally showed up!" Bria said in a suspiciously happy voice.
"Uh-huh." I reply, looking down at my feet as I walk towards Bria.

Bria grabs my face gently with her right hand, I flinch at the touch, out of all the things I was expecting, that definitely wasn't one of them. Then before I can do anything about it, she kissed me. SHE FUCKING KISSED ME?! I froze, wide eyed, unable to think of anything else to do. Suddenly I feel a sharp pain in my leg, I look down to see Gavin, one of Bria's friends, had stabbed me in the back of my calf. Just great. Bria had kissed me to get me distracted so that her friends could torture me physically as she tortured me mentally.

Bria pulled away from the kiss and gave me a fake smile before immediately punching me in the face.

"ughhhh" I groan as I try my best to sit up, hissing at the sharp pain in my side before falling back to the floor. What the hell just happened, What time is it? What else had Bria's friends done to me while I was asleep?

I eventually made my way over to the wall to support me as I walked. I looked down at my injuries, my leg had already stopped bleeding, so that probably meant that I had been out for awhile, I had a few new bruises on my arms and I had blood all over my shirt and pants.

My parents will never get me a new uniform, and it's white. Guess I'll just be showing up to school with blood stained white pants and white shirt everyday. Great.

It took me about an hour to make my way home. I head to the bathroom to inspect my face, not too much new there. I remove my shirt, there is a massive bruise on my left side. I poke the bruise, only to be met with a unbearable pain, I don't know what else I was expecting though.

I get changed into a T-shirt and shorts and go back downstairs with the first aid kit to fix up my leg. I start crying from everything that happened today, the bruise, the leg, the kiss, it was all just too overwhelming.

I hear the door open, I turn my head towards it to see my older brother, Steve, Standing in the doorway. His jaw was on the floor, eyes wide.
"Are you okay Matt!?" He asked hurriedly as he practically sprinted over to me.
"I- uh- uhm- probably not I guess..." I reply, staring down at my leg and hissing in pain when he touches it.

"Who did this to you?!" Steve asked, looking into my eyes.

"Just some kids at school.. it doesn't matter.."

"Oh my God, and your entire body is littered in scars! This has clearly been going on for awhile now Matt! Why didn't you tell me?!"

"I- I- I don't know I'm sorry! I didn't want to annoy you I guess.. you probably already have a busy life at college..."
I responded shakily, getting closer to having a meltdown right there.

"I will always make time for you Matt! You just need to ask. But for now we need to get you to the Hospital, that looks like it needs stitches..-"
Steve said as he pointed down at my leg.

"ughhh okay.." I groan "But I don't think I can walk anymore today."

"That's fine." Steve said reassuringly as he picked me up off the couch bridal style.

I fell asleep in Steve's car, I don't get to go in cars often, but when I do, the subtle bumps and turns always make me fall asleep. I wake up in a hospital bed, Steve sitting in a chair next to me, reading a book.

"Hey Steve, what did the doctor say?" I say wearily with a stained smile.

"They said it needs stitches, but they also said that you were extremely malnourished. Matt, have you been eating properly?" Steve asked with a genuine look of concern on his face as he looked up from his book.

I froze, I don't remember the last time I actually sat down and ate a proper meal. I was living off the odd snack and water.
"Uuhmm.. no not really... Mom and dad never come home to cook, there's no food left in the house.. there's no money, and most places nearby don't hire people under the age of 16.." I muttered, looking down at My hands while fidgeting with the blanket.

Steve looked horrified. He had no idea that his brother was living in such horrible conditions.
"I- I'm so sorry- If I knew I would've been sending you money or something.."

"It's fine! Really. I'm fine." I said, trying to sound reassuring.

Steve thought for a second, trying to figure out how to help his clearly struggling brother. He finally got it.
"I'm moving you Hexside. It's where I went as a kid. You will do much better there."

"Oh, uh thanks!" I responded, taking all this in. The idea of a new school sounded... interesting.

"And also I'm going to start sending you money every week for groceries." Steve said with a smile.