Raise Your Voice [lrh] (EDITING)

twelve

I walked down the school hallways angrily the next morning, avoiding Luke, with good reason, again. I sat in the free music room and noticed that the piano was empty so I took this as my opportunity to angrily play and get my feelings out while I could.

"You fucked Sabrina for some popularity points. How could I ever think you were different from other boys? You like fucking girls every single day, maybe the truth is you are gaaaaaaaay!" I sang loudly as I smashed my fingers on the piano keys. "You told me I was special, thinking that I was different from the rest. But then I saw you with her, who knows you might've left hickey's on her chest." I screamed and pounded my fist on the piano keys.

"Miss James! You know better than to take your aggression out on school property." One of the tech teachers spoke as he walked into the room. I looked at him with an apologetic look, even though I wasn't really sorry at all. He grabbed something off the table and then walked out, and when he did I began to bang on the piano again while making up terrible things to say about Luke while he wasn't in class.

The warning bell rang and I made my way to class, sitting next to Luke like I was assigned to. He looked at me with a disappointing look and I rolled my eyes and paid attention for the first time in what felt like forever. The class was boring as usual and it took every ounce of alertness to not just pass out and fall asleep. I sighed heavily as I began signing my autograph a million times on the blank piece of paper from my notebook. I didn't even want to look at Luke; his stupidly cute face would make me smile and I'd excuse him for practically cheated on me after he nearly busted a nut inside of me.

When the bell rang, I ran out of class and headed to my locker, avoiding Luke again. "Ellie, wait." Called Luke as I ran out of class in a rush.

"What?" I seethed as I turned to face him in the crowded hallway.

He walked closer to me and I scooted away from him, backing up into a locker as he cornered me. "I saw you and Fabian last night." He muttered and I looked up at him with wide eyes.

"You were stalking me?!" I yelled and Luke covered my mouth shut and dragged me around the corner so we could talk in private.

"No, Ellie, I wasn't stalking you. I was actually coming over to ask if you wanted to do the showcase with me, but it's obvious Fabian is your first choice." Luke muttered as he looked into my eyes.

"Duh, he's my best friend and the only person I have left who wouldn't even think about hurting me!" I whisper yelled and Luke groaned, running his fingers through his long locks and biting his bottom lip anxiously.

"I just thought we could do something for the showcase, if you need help, you know where to find me." Luke muttered angrily as he walked back towards Serena, who had a sadden expression on her face, and they walked to class together.

I made my way towards one of the practice rooms near the auditorium and gave my pass to one of the teachers there. I didn't want to be in class right now, I didn't want to think right now and I most certainly didn't want to be around boring people who want to know every. single. detail. about your life.

I sat down at one of the piano benches and began playing; the piano being the only thing that could technically soothe me after a bumpy and emotional fight. I looked around and grabbed my journal out of my bag, beginning to write down lyrics to a song I would sing at the showcase.

Usually, I wouldn't be the one to actually participate in the showcase, mostly because I hated how talentless a lot of people were, but also I didn't like sharing my stuff with a lot of people. That sounds selfish, I know, but what's mine is mine and I can keep it to myself if I want.

"Tell me are we wasting time?" I began singing and playing again. "Talking on a broken line..." I sang and then sighed, deciding to just play and sing until I could calm down.

**

"El, are you okay?" Fabian asked at lunch and I nodded, eating my fruit salad in peace.

"Why would I not be?" I asked, angrily stabbing my strawberry.

"Well, you just murdered that strawberry. Plus you've been super quiet."

I looked at him and sighed. I wasn't going to let him know I was having problems with Luke, other wise Fabian would say 'I told you so' and I wasn't in the mood for that. Fabian hugged me and we got up and went into one of the music rooms.

"You have a song for your London school yet?" Luke asked.

I glared at him as he walked up towards us, "That's none of your business, Hemmings."

"Ellie, I know you hate me. I get it, but I wrote you something. I think you should sing it, or at least read it." Luke says, handing me some music sheets. "I wrote it in first period, after I heard you singing this morning. If you sing it, that's great. If you don't, that's great too."

I look at him and take the music from his hands and throw it angrily at the piano. "Thank you."

Luke then walked away, his shoulders slumped and his head looking down. He sat on one of the chairs in the room, typing away on his phone, probably tweeting to his millions of followers who would do anything for him. I sighed and turned back to face Fabian, who was sitting at the piano and banging on the keys.

"This song is actually really good, El. You should sing it." Fabian says as he plays the notes on the piano key board, and I look at them and read the lyrics. I sigh and start playing the notes and singing along as Fabian harmonizes with me while texting someone.

"Will you sing it, Ellie?" Fabian asks and I sigh with a smile on my face.

"No promises. Let me practice it for a while, okay?" I say and Fabian nods as I practice it for a while.

The piano sounds beautiful and I begin singing it with all that I've got, which was a lot. Fabian records me for reasons unknown and then the bell rings, signaling we had one more class left for the day. I see Luke walking down the halls as we head to our class and I thank him for such a beauitful song. He responds with a smile and tells me he can't wait to hear me sing it in the show case on Friday.

"You're going to do amazing, El. I promise, it's going to be one of the numbers no one for gets about." Luke tells me with a genuine smile on his face.

"Thank you Luke, I can't wait for you too hear it."

----

A/N:

WOW this sucks big time but I promised an update, sorry this is short but there are only two chapters left (and they're really long). I can't believe the story of Ellie and Luke is coming to an end, so thank you to everyone who has been here since the beginning. :)

- brooklyn