Al's story

The tears

I sit there hugging my knees looking  at Ember every few seconds. Finally having enough of her just sitting there crying, I move over and hug her rubbing her back.

"Ssssshhh...Ember, I need you to talk to me. What's wrong?" I ask frowning and panicking on the inside.

"My dad...(gasping for air)..he died." Ember said gasping to breathe and still sobbing at the same time.

"Oh Ember..sshh. I'm here for you. Just relax and take a deep breath" I say reassuringly hugging her tighter. She nods and breaths, finally hugging me back and holding onto me for dear life.

"Is that all?" I ask knowing how her family can get.

"N-no" She replied shaking her head "You know how my sisters are adopted?" I nodded "Well, my grandmother won't let them come to his funeral because they aren't flesh and blood." She said sounding angry and upset. Getting mad because of how this is upsetting Ember, I stand up and start pacing up and down the hallway. 

"She has no right! Ember, she is stupid!" I exclaimed annoyed by this woman's stupidity. Because of her not only was Ember upset but she was crying. Sighing and standing in front of Ember I hold my hand out to her smiling.

"Come on Ember. Get up. Time to go and face the annoying jerks of this school." I say as she grabs my hand laughing slightly. Pulling her up and placing my hands on her cheek I wipe her tears away smiling at her softly. She smiled back and shakes her head.

"Come on Al. We need to get to class." She said walking into the classroom. Following her into the classroom I see Logan and Cody look at Ember and I then each other and laugh. Glaring at them for laughing at Ember, I frown and look at her as she goes to her seat. Her seat is two rows to my right. Frowning and looking towards the  board not paying attention at all. Just thinking about how I wish I wasn't here. I also wished Ember and I were just hanging out, and not at school. That would never happen...I thought as I stared off into space. I wish it would...we only hang out during school..I hate being at home...I sigh as I think able last night.
~~~~~~~Flashback~~~~~
I sit there on the floor of my listening to my parents arguing because my dad was a brick wall again when my ma was talking to him. I sigh and look towards my sleeping siblings cuddling together in bed fast asleep and smile slightly.
"I'll protect you guys.." I whisper into the dark and silent room. Sighing again I put my headphones back in blasting music in my ears, so I didn't have to hear the yelling.
~~~~~~~End of flashback~~~~
Sighing again and shifting slightly in my seat, I look down at my paper to see I started doodling again. Great..I though bitterly. I'm going to get in trouble again..and then I'll have to be without music..great! Just flipping great! After yelling at myself in my head for being so stupid to draw on my homework again, I finally noticed everyone was packing up. Starting to pack up slowly myself, Ember walked over and smiled at me.
"Hey! Al were you paying attention at all?" She asked giggling at my dumbfounded look when I saw all the notes on the board. Smiling sheepishly and scratching the back of my head.
"Nope!" I proudly say grinning like a fool. Ember burst out laughing, chuckling at her and grabbing my stuff I pulled her to our math class. After she noticed we were in the ehall she sighed dramatically.
"Greeeaaat! Now we have to go the maaath!" She complained, laughing and shaking my head at her.
"Hey, at least it's not spelling?" I asked shrugging slightly.
"Al," she said seriously "you're the one who sucks at spelling."
"Oh yea..." Awkwardly chuckling and scratching my arm as I shift back and forward on my legs. We all shuffled into the math class. Sighing and sitting at my desk I didn't really pay attention in this class either, but I automatically starting solving the equations on the paper the teacher handed out. After I finished I went to him to have him to check it and I got all them right as usual. I had nothing to do so I found Ember and sat next to her. I glanced at her paper and frowned.
"3 is wrong." She sighed in frustration and started erase everything when I stopped her.
"Look." I said pointing to a part in her work, "This is where you messed up. The rest is all right. You just made a simply subtraction mistake"
"Thanks Al!" She smiled at me gratefully.
"Anytime Ember.." Anytime..I think and smile faintly at her. Sighing as I walk back the my seat and almost trick. Looking back I see Logan and Cody's stuff in the aisle and them laughing, pointing at me. I roll my eyes and get my stuff ready to leave. I sigh as I space out for most of my classes..I didn't start paying attention again until I realized it was lunch time. Following Ember, I notice Logan is in front of her and bothering her. Stepping forward and moving Ember slightly behind me away from Logan. I maybe able to put up with them but Ember won't be able to in the state she's in..I sigh as I rationalize in my head. I didn't get anything to eat I just tagged along with Ember since I had nowhere better to be. Stealing some food from Ember smiling and talking to her about random stuff. Maybe..I should talk to her..I glance down to my arms that have a small scar from scratching..Nah..I thought smiling at her. I don't want to bother her, Just then I noticed everyone is getting ready to go outside. I helped Ember clean up and followed her out.