Smoke and Glass | A Triles fanfic

Chapter 1

|Miles|

Three months later

I clutched my side as he continued to punch me over and over again. "I thought I told you to stay away from her! Can't you remember that? Or are you so stupid that you can't remember one simple thing?"

I laughed at him. "It's kind of hard to just stay away from her. Of course, I wouldn't expect an idiot like you to know that."

He growled and shoved me against the brick wall once again, making me slam my head against it. "What'd you just say to me, punk?"

I laughed again, only louder this time. "I said, an idiot like you wouldn't know how hard it is to simply 'stay away' from a girl like her. Esme is special, not that you would know that. You barely spend any time with her-"

The words were taken right out of my mouth as his balled up fist shot through it, sending stars across my already blurred vision. I could see the black spots creeping up the corners of my eyes; at this rate, it was only a matter of time before they enveloped me.

"You better watch your mouth, moneybags. Just 'cause you're rich doesn't mean Esme's gonna fall head over heels for you. She loves me. No one loves you."

I grinned. "Oh, trust me, I already know."

I watched his face turn tomato red as he pulled his fist back and pulled me up against the wall with the other. "Open your mouth one more time, rich boy. I dare you."

I smiled toothily at him. "Goodnight."

Instantly I was surrounded by sweet, empty, peaceful darkness as I slid down the wall. I could hear pounding footsteps against the pavement, followed by the screech of old tires. I knew it was Zig even though I couldn't see him. I listened for anyone else, but the only sound I heard was the constant pounding of my heart that was amplified in my head. Too tired to open my eyes, I lied there, motionless, until sleep came moments later.

When I woke up, it was dark out. The only light was coming from the two lampposts that illuminated my school's parking lot. My jet black car stood surprisingly unharmed about fifty feet away from me. I had no idea how I was going to get to it; my head felt like it was trying to split itself in two and the world kept turning around in circles. I closed my eyes again. Soon, sleep trapped me in its spell once more.

My eyes fluttered open a second time to the starry eyed moon crawling up the clouded sky. I grunted as I pushed myself up off my right side and leaned my head back against the brick wall. Pain shot through my skull instantly. I yanked myself away from my school, touching my hand to the back of my head. Something cold, dry, and crusted stuck to my fingers. I groaned and put my hand back on the ground, wiping it on the grass without looking at what it was; I already knew it was blood.

I shut my eyes again, exhausted. I had no idea what time it was; Hunter and Frankie were probably worried sick about me. I pulled my phone out of my back pocket and turned it on. The bright lights shining from it blinded me, and I had to shut it off for a bit before turning it back on.

2:45 AM, 14 missed calls from Frankie, 3 from Hunter. None from my mother or father.

I hovered my thumb above Frankie's name before deciding against it and calling Esme. Frankenstein was probably with Mom, looking for me, which would only get me in more trouble with Dad, which I didn't need. I pulled my legs close to my chest and put my head down, closing my eyes and waiting for an answer.

I was about to drift off to sleep again when a voice groggy with sleep picked up. "Hello?"

"Esme?" My throat was sore and dry; I sounded like an 80 year old chain smoker. She seemed to immediately wake up at the sound of me.