Colors

Chapter 8

I wake up the next morning feeling strange. The world is gone again to it's original state. I sit up and shut off my alarm clock. I feel a sense of comfort, but also regret. I wanted to kiss Ava last night because I made her feel bad. But I shouldn't have. The last girls I got too close to always wound up the same. Scared, and hurt. This won't happen again. I get up and grab some clothes before heading to the shower.

After I'm done with that, I grab a bowl of cereal and just as I finish up, my mom comes downstairs and gives me a hug. I tell her good morning and all that then she holds up something that suddenly makes it a not-so-good morning. She held a crumpled-up report card paper in front of her, taunting me with it. "What is this?!" I gulped, and tried to think of something to say quick. "Your grades are doing the best they have in years! Almost all B's? That's great, Ian!"

I released a sigh of relief, and leaned back. "I don't know mom. I've just been a little more... 'Focused' on stuff in school lately." I wasn't lying. I really was more focused, but not school subjects. More like Ava's subjects, if you know what I mean.

Mom gives me another hug, and I return the favor. "I love you, my little ion." I used to hate when she called me that when I was younger, but now I think of it as my second name.

"I love you too, momma bear." Honestly, I can't be mean to my mom. She's my mom. She has been through so much, and I can't let her down. The smallest thing I say can crush her.

I look at my watch, and see that it's ten minutes before class. I rush out to my car, and hop in. I wave bye to my mom before streaming off to my first period.

I reach my locker with almost no trouble. As I'm opening my locker, two guys come up to my left side. I ignore them, and just grab my textbook. The first one closes my locker and says "Hey, bone-junkie, rob any banks lately?" His friends start laughing and high-five each other. These assholes have to pester me almost every time we see each other.

I keep walking, and he shouts out "What's the matter? Did your gang abandon you like they did to your pathetic dad?" Now, before I explain to you what happens next, let me tell you something crucial. This shithead has harassed me since I came back from counseling. They keep talking shit about my dad, and everything he did. They didn't know he did it for his family, or that he died trying to protect me. They only knew what everyone else knows.

Back to the present time: I beat his ass. Directly after he said those words, I dropped my stuff and lunged at him. I missed my initial swing and he hit his. I shook it off and composed myself. I'd gotten into plenty of fights before, so I can take a hit or two. I bluff a left hook, and hit him good in the jaw with an uppercut.

He stumbles back, but I'm not going to play fair. I walk over and shove my knee into his stomach. He falls over, grasping his chest. I shove my foot into his lower-stomach, and watch as he tries to gasp for air. "Anybody else want to insult me or my family? No, go ahead, I insist. I'll go easy on you." Everyone walks back to their class except for me and the ass-maggot moping in front of me. I bend down next to him and grab his hair, pulling his ear next to my mouth. "If you ever disrespect me or anybody I defend again, you won't walk away. Understand?!" He nods his head and I drop him to the ground once more.

On my way to first period, I hear footsteps come behind me. I turn around, ready to stop an incoming attack, just to find Ava running towards me. "Ian, wait up!" I turn back and keep walking, but she comes up anyways and grabs my hand. Instead of flinching, I freeze in wonder as I see the entire hallway light up with the coating. "So, what was that all about in the hallway?" I look back and see Ethan still lying on the floor, trying to catch his breath. I shake my head, and keep looking forward.

It gets really quiet and awkward all of a sudden, so I try to break the silence. "So, how was your night?" I bite my tongue and regret saying that. That was so stupid of me. Why did I say that?!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He really just said that? Awe, he's so cute when he tries to small-talk. I smile, and feel myself blush as I give him a response. " My night was fine. It was better when you were in it." So now it's my turn to say something stupid. Yikes.

Before I could say anything else, Ian wraps his arm around me in an effort to give me a hug. I shiver as I feel warm, and sense butterflies fly all around my stomach. I lean my head against his shoulder as we walk to our next class. "Why are you so nice all of a sudden?" Ian looks down at me with a frown, and looks back to the hallway, probably trying to see the colors better.

"Can I not give you a friendly hug every so often? Because it would be perfectly fine by me if I stopped." What does he mean: "Friendly hug"? Does he only think of me as a friend? No, why else would we hold hands and hug... No, I'm rushing into this. I always do this. This is always why things end. Because I always rush.

We reach the classroom far too soon. I wish we could have been alone together for just a few moments longer. He opens the door for me, and I walk in, saying thank you as I enter. I sit next to Sam, hoping we'll have something to talk about.

As I pull a pencil out of my backpack, Sam turns in her chair so she's looking at me. There's a giant grin I haven't seen on her face since she first kissed Edward. Something's wrong. "So, does Ian have your panties down to your ankles yet?" I elbow her in the shoulder and she lets out a rather loud chuckle. I feel my cheeks fill with blood and they become hot. "OH MY GOD HE DOES!!!" She practically shouted at me, so I gave her another jab.

"There's nothing between us. He's just a friend." I look down to my shoes and tap my toes together. When I look back to Sam, she rolls her eyes at me in disbelief. I let out a sigh, and under my breathe say "This is gonna be a long day."

Authors note: Hey my colorful people, yes we are back and with a triple upload. Sorry it has taken so long to upload there has been a lot of shit going on latley and I just couldn't focus on this, but I had my lovley co author help me get back on track and we are writing again. We hope to have another upload soon. Stay wonderful and have a colorful day!