If You Can't Sing It, Scream It

Chapter 1: First Day

Oliver Sykes was a hateful boy.

He hated sitting in his house day after day for homeschooling, he hated going out in public, he hated the way people looked at him, but most of all he hated his Tourettes. His tics went off, and he couldn't stop them. He had to sit through them. He couldn't hold a conversation. Sometimes he couldn't sleep because of his tics. His tics kept him from singing the songs he wrote. Living with Tourettes was something he could never escape. Today though, was different. Oli was scheduled to go to public high school today. He knew it was going to be hell, but anything was better than being a hermit rotting in this damned suburban house.

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OLI P.O.V.

I hadn't really used my alarm in a while, so it was a shock when it went off. I shut it off, realizing it had also set off a tic. My shoulders twitched sending involuntary shrugs throughout my body. I sighed trying to put the tic out of my mind, hoping it would just go away before I had to walk to the bus stop. I brushed my teeth and considered covering my neck tattoo with some of my mom's cover up, Fuck it. I shrugged once, (voluntarily this time) and walked downstairs. My tic had stopped. I pulled a pack of gum out of the cabinet and pulled a piece out before popping it into my mouth. I walked into the hallway to examine myself in the full length mirror. I pulled at my white long sleeve t-shirt underneath my black Minor Threat shirt. My red stonewashed skinny jeans tucked into simple black Doc Martens. I shouted a goodbye at my mom before walking out the door.

I pushed my headphones into my ears. A trick I learned a couple years ago, when I listen to music it drowns out my surroundings and, in noise-related cases, prevents tics. I walked down to my bus stop at the corner of Second Street and Sebring. I stood, realizing I was slightly early. I looked around and behind me sat a faintly blue bi-level. I studied it a moment before watching a guy walk out. He was clearly over six foot tall and walked down the front porch and towards me. I quickly looked down and turned to face the street. He walked right up next to me and checked his mailbox. I pretended to do something on my phone, but I peeked up at him.

"Hi," his mouth said. I nervously took one headphone out and raised a hand to wave and gave him a small smile, not trusting my words. "Are you new?" He smiled and squinted, the sun in his eyes.

I nodded. He grinned, "Well you know the bus doesn't come for another twenty minutes right?"

Well, shit. I pursed my lips and gave nod before pushing my headphone back in and turning to walk back to my house. I felt a hand on the top of my arm and turned to face tall guy. I saw his mouth moving so I took my headphone out and leaned to hear him better. "What was that, mate?" I regretted my thick Sheffield accent.

His hand dropped to his side grinning a little, "I was asking if you wanted to sit on my porch with me?" He thumbed at his bi-level.

"Ah, no. I just live there." I pointed to the typical yellow house only three houses down. It looked like most others on the street. "Thanks though."

"No problem. Sorry, I'm Austin." He stretched a long tattooed arm out to me.

I took it, "Oliver, but call me Oli."

He made a noise, "Hm. Alright, well I guess I'll see you at school?"

I nodded putting my headphone back in and walking back to my house to sit on the porch.

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When the bus came, Austin wasn't on it. I plopped into a seat in the middle of the bus, headphones still in. That's where I remained until I got to the school where we all filed off and went inside. I went straight to the office to register.