Finding Love

Chapter 2

"You'll never amount to anything. You're just a dumb lazy kid who has never succeeded in anything." Dylans mom was yelling at him. She had just found out he bombed his ACT test. "It's not my fault i'm stupid!" he yelled back.

"Yes it is! Your dad and I paid money for you to take that test and here you purposely flunked it!"

"It wasn't on purpose! And I told you I didn't want to take the stupid test in the first place."

"Just wait till your father gets home, he'll know how to handle this."

"If handling it means hitting me then yes he will." His mom didn't answer that. They both knew that's what would happen. His mom was rarely the one to hit him, it was his dad. Dylan hated school, he wasn't any good at it. He felt like he was literally unable to learn. His parents didn't understand that. "I'm leaving." He said. His mother tried to tell him he wasn't allowed to leave the house, but he wasn't listening.

It felt good being in fresh air, and away from the dark house he was forced to call home. It wasn't home though. He walked to the next road down from his house, over to his girlfriend Sabrinas house. Being with Sabrina was like escaping reality, and he honestly didn't know where he would be without her. After Thomas died Dylan had become very depressed. That's when he had started failing in school. Because his parents were so mean to him he had always been intimidated by authority figures in his life, including teachers. He was too afraid to ask for help at the time. School was the second worst place to be (second to home). He only had one friend, this kid named Nick. The rest of the students teased him, mostly because he was poor. One day Sabrina came to the school. She was different. She had blue streaks in her brown hair, her nose was pierced, and she was poor just like Dylan. There was something about her that Dylan liked as soon as he met her, but he didn't know what it was. He found out that she was very smart and did tutoring, so he asked her to help him. The rest was history. That was sophomore year, now two years later Dylan loved her more than anything. It scared him to admit that he did love her, because the only experience he had with love was with his family. He had loved them when he was young, back when they were a "happy" family. Sabrina was the only person in the world he trusted. She was always patient with him when he struggled with his family at home. She always let him come over when he needed an escape. He walked up the steps to her front porch and rang the doorbell. He wished he had extra money, so he could be one of those cute boyfriends that brings his girlfriend flowers to surprise her. Maybe someday. After a few seconds Sabrina answered the door. She hadn't been expecting him, her hair was up in a messy ponytail and she had paint on her clothes. Dylan smiled, "Am I interrupting your painting time?"

She smiled back. "Yes, but come in." He followed her in and down to her basement. Sabrina loved to paint pictures, and she was really good at it. A few months ago he helped her transform her basement into a mini painting studio. Dylan was always amazing with the art she could come up with. They sat on the old couch that was down there.

"So how's life?" Sabrina asked. Dylan shrugged. "I flunked my ACT. My parents are mad."

She put her hand on his. "You did your best. I'm proud of you no matter what your score was." She always made bad things seem not so bad. He looked at her. "Thanks Sabrina." She leaned over and laid her head on his shoulder. There was a moment of silence. Dylan wondered what Sabrina was thinking about.

"How have things been for you?" He asked. She sat up.

"Oh you know, pretty good. My mom got her job so we have had a little bit of extra money around." Sabrinas dad had left them when she was a baby, so it was just her and her mom. She sighed. "And I guess I should show you this." She got up and grabbed an envelope. She handed it to him and sat back down. Dylan had a feeling he knew what it was, and as soon as he opened it his thoughts were confirmed. She got accepted into the art school she had applied at. He had known she would. It scared him to think of losing her, but he was happy for her. He smiled.

"I'm so proud of you Sabrina, your gonna do great." She started to smile.

"You think so?"

"I know so." This school was three hours away from where they lived, and if she went, Sabrina would have to leave in a few weeks. Dylan didn't know if he would survive without her, but he put on a happy face.

"We should celebrate."

Sabrina started to relax. "So you think I should go?"

"Whatever makes you happy." She grabbed his hand.

"I love you Dylan Smith."

"I love you too Sabrina."

He could see that she was excited, and he couldn't be happier for her. But part of him wished she wouldn't leave him, she was his only escape from reality. He didn't think he could handle loosing the only person he ever truly loved. They went upstairs to find something to eat. Dylan didn't want to seem like he wasn't happy for her or anything, but he couldn't help but ask her how she thought this would affect their relationship. As soon as he asked she looked at him compassionately.

"Dylan, nothing will ever come between us. I won't let it. You will be able to call me whenever you need me, and no matter what I will pick up. I promise. I'll always be here for you."

All Dylan could do was trust her.

A few hours later Dylan went home to face his dad. His mom had already left for work and lucky for Dylan when he walked inside he saw that his dad was passed out on the couch. He saw that his ACT score was on the kitchen table, which meant his dad had seen it and would get on him about it later. Mr. Smith began moving around on the couch, and Dylan knew he was waking up. He tried to slip upstairs, but his dad saw him.

"Dylan." His voice was rough.

"What?" Dylan said as if he didn't know.

"What's this about you purposely failing tests and trying to act stupid." His dad got up and came over to Dylan in the kitchen. He ignored his dad. His dad grabbed his shoulders roughly and shook him. "Hmm? Answer me boy when I ask you a question! Or are you too stupid to even do that." He pushed Dylan back into the wall. Dylans head hit the corner of a cabinet and started bleeding through his blonde hair. He knew better than to talk to his dad when he was like this. It would just make him more mad. He tried to get past his dad and go to his room but his dad blocked his way.

"We're not finished here son. You need to respect your father."

"You're hardly what a father should be."

His dad crossed his arms. "Well unfortunatley for you I am the one you got stuck with. And unfortunately for me Thomas died and I am stuck with you." That stung. It always stung when his dad said things like that. Not that he even cared for his fathers approval anymore. His father use to love him. But that was a long time ago.