Story of Our Lives

Chapter One

Riza POV

Mom: Get up bitch! Your late for school!

A hand slapped across my face as I opened my eyes, my Mother's cigarette smoke covering my entire body. I sat up as she walked out, my hand rising to press against my cheek. I held back the tears and got out of bed, heading to my desk and grabbing my gauze, walking into my bathroom with it clenched in my hand. Locking the door behind me, I looked at my reflection in the mirror, the bags under my eyes growing deeper and deeper. Sighing, I looked down at my wrists, scars running up and down each one, like a pattern.

Me: (Thinking) No more.

I grabbed my razor from underneath my washcloth, holding my left wrist out above the sink, cutting my razor across, blood spots dotting the sink. I ran it up and down my lower arm, bloody marks slowly covering my sinks base. Stopping after I knew it was going to scar, I wrapped the gauze up both my arms, tying it off at the base of my upper arm. Hiding my stuff away, I washed my face, fixed my hair, and did everything else that needed to be done before heading back to my room, ignoring the barks from the dog next door. Pulling on my long sleeve shirt, I pulled my t-shirt over it, my pants baggy down my skinny legs, and grabbed my messenger. Walking downstairs, I glanced over at Phoenix sitting on the couch, her red hair tied back into a ponytail and bag sitting next to her on the couch. She glanced over as I pulled on my black Converse, my car keys hitting my chest.

Phoenix: Morning Riza!

Me: Hey Phoenix. Ready to go?

She nodded and stood up, her bag hanging over her shoulder, following me out of the house. We walked over to my car and I was about to unlock it when my Dad's voice hit my ears, both of us turning around as he yelled out the window, a beer bottle falling to the ground.

Dad: You better bring your sister back before dark Riza! Otherwise you'll get a whole world of pain!

I turned around and grabbed my left arm, Phoenix staring at my hand. She reached out, but I raised a hand, telling her I was fine.

Me: What time is Tech over today?

Phoenix: It'll be over by 5:30. Darren just wants us to know what we need to do for the show tomorrow.

I nodded and unlocked the door, both of us getting inside the car. I turned the engine on and drove out of the driveway, Phoenix plugging her IPod into the radio and turned on her music, my eyes staring out into the road as Phoenix's voice rang with the music, singing along with the words.

Mark POV

I walked down the hallway, my music blasting in my ears, towards my first period. People around me stared as I walked past them, my headphones sounding out the comments they're saying. I was about to turn the corner when a hand slammed into my shoulder, my body hitting the wall with a grunt leaving my mouth. My headphones fell around my neck as I looked up at Roy, a grin on his face.

Roy: Well well. Isn't it the school's little Tech geek.

Me: What do you want Roy? I haven't done anything to you.

Roy: Oh. Well I wouldn't say so, nerd!

His hand ripped my backpack off my shoulders and threw it across the hall, his hand rising up into a fist. I tried to move away, but his hand kept a tight grip on my shirt, and I closed my eyes, ready to take the hit his was going to throw. I didn't feel anything and opened my eyes, Roy's wrist being gripped by a girl with blonde hair, a black t-shirt covering her skinny frame.

Girl: Hey. Pick on someone your own size.

She pushed him away and I rushed out of the area, running over to my bag and checking that none of my stuff was broken as Roy straightened out, the girl's arms crossed over her chest.

Roy: Wow. A girl like you trying to stand up for a nerd like him. Why? Do you like him or something?

Girl: No. I just hate to see people like you try to make people like him feel down. He has a bright future and you're not going to fuck it up asshole!

Roy: Oh. Who's going to stop me? A depressed girl like you?

Her body stiffened and I stood up slowly, a crowd of people starting to form around them, a guy with black hair and glasses walking out of the crowd.

Guy: Come on. You can't seriously start to fight now? We have class guys.

Roy: Stay out of this Smith! This chick is asking for it!

Girl: Oh yeah. Say that with your fists, not your words!

The guy was pushed back as Roy tried to rush the girl, everyone starting yell fight. The girl dodged his hit and landed on right to his stomach, Roy moving backwards gasping for air. She stood up as another girl with blue hair walked forward, her hand on her shoulder.

Girl: Riza. Come on. You can't get in trouble. Especially if your parents get involved.

Riza: You can't be serious Morgan. This asshole can't just...

Morgan: Let the principal handle him. Come on.

Riza groaned and the other girl, Morgan, lead her away, the crowd dispersing as the bell rang. I pulled my headphones back on and walked away, my head looking down at the ground.

Nate POV

I slid into my seat next to Nicole in my first period, my hand running through my hair. Her eyes glanced over at me and she pulled her headphones out of her ears, her hand reaching over to squeeze mine.

Nicole: What happened Nate?

Me: Nothing. Just got a little caught up this morning.

Nicole: You sure?

I squeezed her hand back as the bell rang, everyone sitting down in their seats. She took it as a sign of yes and let my hand go, both of us pulling our stuff out as the teacher called order, my pencil pressed on my paper. We started to take notes and I zoned out, thinking back to what happened this morning.

Me: (Thinking) How can a girl like that stop a fight from even going as far as that? That's crazy, but on the other hand, she is kind of cute.

I remembered the girl who pulled Riza away from the crowd, her eyes glancing over at me and a small smile on her face, my entire body going numb as she did. I walked away, my feet acting like they were on a cloud, and tried to wipe the smile off my face.

Me: (Thinking) Wow. I don't think I have any classes with her, but I can see....

Nicole: Nate? Hey Nate.

I shook my head and glanced over at Nicole, my eyes blinking to let my mind come back down to Earth.

Me: Yeah?

Nicole: You zoned out didn't you? Thinking about the song your working on?

Me: Oh (Coughing) yeah. Of course. Just thinking about how to make this one lyric...

The bell rang and cut me off, my stuff being shoved into my bag, the teacher yelling at everyone the homework assignment as we walked out the door. I wrapped my arm around Nicole's shoulder as we made our way to the Choir room, passing kids who were walking to their classes, my eyes secretly scanning the crowd. I accidentally walked past a kid and heard their books fall onto the ground, my head turning around as a body fell onto their knees, trying to pick up their stuff.

Me: Oh shit.

Nicole: What's wrong?

The bell rang as their hands moved around, trying to gather up all the papers on the floor.

Me: I'll catch up with you later.

Nicole: What's wrong Nate? Nate!

I moved my way through the crowd, leaving Nicole standing in the middle of the hallway, and kneeled down, my hands grabbing papers.

Me: I'm so sorry about that. I didn't see you there.

???: It's fine. I just didn't have a good grip on my books.

Our heads lifted and I looked up at the girl who was in the crowd earlier, her blue hair falling around her face.