Love Bites; Bullets

On With the Show

Going home that day was difficult, I had to tell my mom that I was just upset because of hormones or something like that to cover it up. I was told after dad recovered from rehab, to never mention the things he had done ever again. I had already broken that rule by telling my friends, and my boyfriend. 

The next day, I go to School and Ryan walks right past me looking hurt.
"Hold on! Wait up!" I ran to try and catch him, and he turned around.
"Leave me alone! You'll get hurt if you're around me!" He yelled, and I was obviously worried.
"What? No! I just wanted to tell you I was sorry about yesterday." I sincerely apologized, but still he looked afraid.
"Casey, I love you. But, I love you enough to keep you safe and I'm so afraid." He's beginning to sweat, and even pant.
"Afraid of what!?" I asked.
"It's not safe for you to be around me.." He says, and I was frustrated at this point with him not telling me anything.
"Why?! I shouted.
"Dammit Ryan talk to me! Let me help you!" I yelled so loud enough to hear Ivy walk up towards us.
"Is there a problem here!?" She gets up close and personal to Ryan.
"Ivy don't!" I shout.
"You heard her leave us alone." Ryan aggressively glances down at her.
"I've known her longer than you asshole!" She cries, and his malicious turned into a red angry face in a matter of seconds.
"Seriously! Stop!" I yelled at the both of them now.
"Casey, I could take this bitch down right now." He whispered while staring deeply into her eyes and smiling.
"You wanna try me freak?" She intimidates him, because that's Ivy's nature. She could and would defend herself against anyone of any gender, or strength.
He was about to make a physical move when I pushed him away quickly, and we made it into the courtyard eventually.
"Ryan! What are you doing!?" I yelled, and paced around rubbing my head.
"Stop that!" He pulled my arms down, and held me close.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.." I said over and over as I cried into his chest.
"Stop crying! I'm holding you now.. Please?" He says while rubbing in a circular motion onto my back.
I just continued to chant the same two words, and he just continued to hold me until I finally stopped crying.
"Yesterday." I began to talk as I wiped my tears.
"I had a mental breakdown because of the way you held my face made me think of how my dad used to yell at me." I explained, and Ryan sighed.
"So, you didn't break up with me?" He asked looking somewhat relieved.
"No I didn't break up with you." I replied.
"What a fucking relief, because I thought you did." He sighed again.
"Your first relationship huh?" I tried to force a smile, and he nodded.
"Well, that was kinda hypocritical for me to say because you are technically my first boyfriend." I said.
That was when I realized that Ryan said earlier that he loved me? Loved me! Was that for real? I had to ask.
"Did you say that you loved me earlier?" I said.
"Yeah, why did you not like it or something." He says, and I grabbed the lead this time and kissed him. After letting go, I said something else.
"I love you too." I whispered, and he smiled bigger than I'd ever seen. 
It was a beautiful moment, until Ivy came into the yard.
"What the fuck Casey!" She cries in pure anger.
"Ivy, I'm sorry." Was all I could say, and Ryan laughs.
"He was threatening me and still, you pick him over me!?" I couldn't even reply, before she snaps finally.
"Fuck you Casey! And never talk to me again!" Before she ran away crying. I tried to chase her, but Ryan stopped me.
Shortly thereafter, the bell rang for first class. 

At lunch break, I found Ivy and Lindsay together at our lunch table and I couldn't help but feel horrible but also not. I've never felt this way before, and I've never picked a guy over my only friends. I did the only reasonable thing I could think of, so I approached them. But before I could, they got up and walked the opposite way.
"Guys please!" I yelled, but they just ignored and kept walking even faster.
I gave up, and made my way to the courtyard where Ryan was smoking as usual by the brick wall. So I placed my things down, and sat on the grass.
"I'm gonna try out for the musical." I said out of the blue.
"What? You?" Then he laughed.
"Yeah me! I promised the theater kids last year that I would." I said.
Then he looked down at me and smiled.
"Can you even sing?" He asks.
I gave him an odd look, and stood up while singing a song from an old musical. As I sang, he looked at me in awe. As I finished, he applauded and hugged me.
"That was.. Amazing." He whispered.
"And that's coming from you, mister no musical." Then we both laughed.
"However, if you sign up, I'll gladly go to watch you perform and only you!" He says, and I was shocked that he would say that.
"You're a sweetheart." I smiled and said.
"No I'm not, but thanks." He replies.

That night was auditioning night at the theater, and I very excitedly entered the School building at 7 PM for auditions. As soon as I arrived, a whole bunch of theatre kids jumped off the stage to happily greet me.
"You finally made it!" One girl says.
"No backing down now!" Another guy also said.
"Nope! I told you I'm not gonna let you down this year." I said while smiling at all of them.
"There's no harm in trying if you got a voice as beautiful as Casey's!" A girl shouted behind the curtains, and everyone in the theater laughed.
There was only a handful of students in the whole School that came, and they were all the so-called outcasts. 
"Now that you're here, you should go first and get it done and over with!" My Music teacher said, and everyone ushered me to the stage with the grand piano kid ready to go.
As my mic was adjusted, they told me to sing a song from the musical we were doing which happened to be Annie.
I sang the entirety of 'Tomorrow' and enjoyed every minute of it, and by the time I was done, everyone clapped and whistled.
"That was wonderful!" My music teacher shouted, and I thanked everyone for allowing me to do this.
After exiting the theater, a girl ran out to chase me and talk to me before leaving.
"Casey wait!" And I stopped and turned around, then waited until she caught up to me.
"First of all, great voice! Second of all, are you actually dating that loner boy?" I was obviously startled, and shocked.
"Thank you, and yes." I said with confidence.
"Really? Do you remember me from the beginning of this year?" She asks.
"I think so?" Hoping she would fill it in for me.
"Homeroom, we were talking and you kept looking at him over my shoulder?" She addressed, and I immediately put the puzzle together.
"Oh yes, I remember you now." I smiled.
"Okay, because if I were you I would be careful. Not trying to be rude, just looking out for you." Then she calmly walked away, and by this point I was completely and utterly convinced that everyone was close-minded compared to me. Apparently, I saw Ryan differently than everyone else. I saw that he clearly had issues and anger problems, but whenever I was around him I felt safe. 
This is the question to answer, will I figure out the truth about things? Or do I have to work around others from now on.