Winters' Storm// Ryden

Chapter One: Numbness

Inhale. Exhale. Let go.

I shoved my hands into my pockets and began walking down the sidewalk, careful to not slip on the ice.

Winter has always been my favorite season. Waking up in the morning, it being completely silent. Snow piled up on every street, tree, road.

I like the cold, I like the numbness of it. Plus, I like being able to curl up into blankets and not die of heat whenever it gets too hot.

I turned my head towards the sound of a car pulling up beside where I was walking. It's was, of course, Pete.

"Aye Ry, wanna ride to school? It's freezing out here." he asked after rolling his window down. I nodded and trudged to the passenger side and got in.

Me and Pete had been friends since middle school, he was one of the only people I trusted. He knows all of my secrets, he's more family to me than friends at this point.

"How was your night bud?" I turned my head to him and shrugged.

"Not too great" I looked away as I buckled into my seat. I was hoping he wouldn't ask on. He knows what goes on at home, that's the only reason he nudges me to talk about it.

"I wish you would just come stay at my house. You know I have the extra bed." He kept his eyes on the road as he drove us to school. We've talked about this before; If I leave home to go with him, I'm just putting him in danger. I wouldn't do that to him. I shook my head no and stared out the window. He didn't ask anymore questions, fully knowing I wouldn't be answering him if he did.

Once we pulled up to the school I got out, swinging my bag over my shoulder. I wasn't in the mood to talk to Pete anymore, frankly I wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone.

I made my way inside, pushing my way through the crowd of kids. None of these fucking people like me. It's tiring being in a place full of people who constantly hate on me.

Within I second I was pushed to the ground, I looked up to see the one and only Bob Bryar.

"Watch where you're going fag" he glared at me. Yea like it was my fault you pushed me.

I got up without saying a word and rushed to my locker. I don't like looking panicked but I wasn't about to get my ass beat by him.

Behind me I could hear the chaos of Bob getting into a fight with Pete. I sighed. Fully knowing that Pete was the one who started it. He was always a little too protective of me.

I quickly grabbed what I needed from my locker and went to my first hour. The worst class, in my opinion.

My first hour was math, because for some unknown reason they decided to make my school days worse by starting it off with math. The only plus was that I had a few friends in here that I could move around to sit by.

I flinch when someone taps my shoulder. I turn and see it's only Frank.

"Sorry I didn't mean to startle you Ryan." He sat down next to me and pulled out a notebook. "Wanna come to Gerard's party on Friday?" He looked up at me.

"Depends on who's going..." I would really like to get out but I don't want to go to a party full of idiots and assholes.

"I think it's only close friends. I know Pete and Patrick are coming, eh Jon invited some guy. He's from across town but he seems pretty cool. Some other people we hang out with, pretty laid back."

I nodded. "That doesn't sound too bad. Yea I'll go. Just uh- give me details." I looked back down. Letting myself drown out the noise of everything going on around me.