What Happens When a Try Guy Becomes Your Neighbor ( A Keith Habersberger Fanfic)

Chapter 8: Truth Be Told

  I get back home thanks to Keith. But mom and dad weren't too happy. I told them instead I was let go by the hospital. But the events after those... weren't good. I don't really want to say anything much what they did. It was visible though. They didn't even care if I had myself wrapped in bandages and everything.

  I went to school the day after my discharge and I became a local hero. Everyone asked what happened, who saw it, and how my recovery went. I said it was normal. Nothing out of the ordinary. Luckily I was excused for most of the glasswork I missed. The rich kids were disgusted by my return. I found out why.

  During lunch, I sat alone. Me and Lynn aren't close as we were back then and still prefers to be with the Try Guys fans. But then a boy approached me.

  "You're Ally James, right?"

  "Yeah, what's up?" I asked

  "I know everything. I know why they jumped you, dude."

  "Uh-huh" I nodded "And what then?"

  "Paul wasn't going to let you get away with his beating, so he paid the rich kids to go after you and jump you. I didn't say anything because he found out I was eavesdropping on their plan so he told me, 'Say this to her and I'll pay them to beat the sh-t out of you as well.

  I was in fear as well, I mean I'm sorry I should've warned you ahead of time but I was afraid. The kids here are pretty tough."

  "I can't blame you," I said, "These kids think they're so strong but then when they are the one being attacked, they cry as if they're the weak ones. Hypocrisy at its finest."

  "I'm sorry you went through all that, I'm Christian by the way." He put his hand out.

  "Ally, as you know." I shook it.

________

I after school, I felt like not going home. Now I felt like I wasn't wanted in that place. All they do is just beat the living hell out of me and starve me. I don't know if they have a good reason for the beatings, it's stupid and I wish I was never going to see their faces again, remorseless, thick, neglectful, faces. But I couldn't say or do that. It would only get worse.

I made a detour to that cafe where I saw Becky Habersberger. Is she ever going to come back? Why does she need my help? I'm just a twelve year-old kid, not the answer to Stephen Hawking's equation.

Suddenly, a drop of water hit my head, then another and another until it went faster and I noticed. It was raining. Even if the rain was pouring, I still didn't wanna go home just yet. I ran into the café and sat on the table near the huge window where I saw the rain just pouring really hard. It doesn't really rain in LA a lot but if it does, it's usually pretty strong.

I just sat there, doing nothing. The baristas and the staff didn't mind, they knew me. I was a local here. Me and Lynn would come and hang outside, maybe talk about a Habersberger theory I came up with. But that was before.

"Hey, are you alright?' Someone asks me, 'You look I pretty bad shape."

I look up, it was Becky, again. It was weird because I felt like I was glad to see her, as if she the only person who understood me. I think I'm getting high from all the painkillers the doctors prescribed me. It was still her, same bubbly features, just wearing a nice blouse and some pants.

"Long story" I told her, "I'm sorry I ran away that one time. It's just everything happened this year is pretty crazy."

"That's why I'm here. I think you're the only one who can open up to Keith. I heard Hughie and Alex telling me Keith talked about you many times, as if it was the only thing he cared about in his life." She explained.