Anchors||《An Ahren Stringer Fan Fic

1.

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Alexis woke up to the sound of her alarm. It was like any other day- except not. Today was the last day of school, and she wasn't very excited. Usually she would be, but not this time. It means graduating and she was terrified. Not because she thought she would get held back, but because of her friend Ahren. He wasn't doing too good in school, his grades were below average for most of the year until she helped him study. He had already been held back in 9th grade and he was supposed to be out of school by now. But he was having trouble in math- one of the most important subjects. She really needed Ahren and her other friend, Joel, to pass because she couldn't do this on her own. It was too stressful. She really didn't have to worry about Joel that much, because he had good enough grades to pass. If anything he was advanced, and she was really proud of him, but she needed Ahren to pass because she needed her best friends by her side.

'Hopefully' She thought. Then she went and got ready for school. She took her grey cap and gown and laid it on her bed to change into for later. After she took a minute and collected herself enough to stop shaking from her wild nerves, she said goodbye to her parents and walked out the door. She hopped into her beat up car and drove off. Her ride to school was spent trying to calm her nervous stomach. Finally she got to school and pulled into the school parking lot. 'Last time we have to suffer.' she thought then stepped out of her car and into the busy hallway.

As Alexis walked in, she was swept into a wave of eager high-schoolers flooding the hallways. As she kept walking, careful not to be crushed, she found her excited friend Joel waiting by his locker. "Hey Alexis." he said with a smile. "Hey, are you excited?" Alexis asked. "Yeah, I'm also really nervous too. I know I'm passing, but I'm not so sure about Ahren." Joel said. And as if on cue, the blonde haired boy walked over to them. "Hey guys. Guess what?" Ahren asked, bouncing up and down excitedly. And without waiting for a reply he answered, "I did it. I passed." "Wait, so you're graduating? And you just now found out?" Alexis asked. "He just said that." Joel answered, laughing and rolling his eyes. "Well, we gotta get to homeroom to hear about today's plans." Alexis said.They all nodded, then walked down the hall. The only reason they liked homeroom was because they shared it. The teacher, Ms. Bell was also the history teacher and Alexis and Joel shared it. Ahren and Joel had 2nd period together and Alexis and Ahren shared 3rd. The rest were just random people that they hadn't bothered to make friends with. "I can't believe this is the last time in Ms. Bell's class." Alexis said. "I'm just glad it's over." Ahren said. They walked in and took their seats and Ahren looked over at Alexis.

Alexis was pretty, with blue eyes and brown, wavy hair, everyone thought she was pretty. Even Ahren. He couldn't help it, how could he? Sometimes he wishes he was Joel. Joel has a lot of money, a loving family and basically everything he could ever want. But the real reason was that he used to date Alexis. But then it didn't work out. But they still decided to stay friends. Ahren just wishes that he was Alexis' boyfriend. But he knows that would never happen. He was labeled as a 'bad kid'. A trouble-maker. A rebel, even. But he couldn't help it. Ever since the accident, he got those titles. Even though it wasn't his fault. It was his mom's. It was her fault his brother went and got high and hung himself. But they blame it on Ahren. Ahren fell into a deep depression because his only sibling ended his life.

So a few years ago he started doing things a normal 15 year old wouldn't do. Like stealing things. Like a small food item. Once, he was so hungry, he stole a sandwich right off a shelf. Fortunately, he didn't get caught. He did this because his mom was mentally insane. She refused to feed him and his brother and neglected them both. He was tired of it and so was his brother. She was the reason he died. But she would never admit it. She tried to keep it a secret and if Ahren or his brother would try to tell, it meant extra punishment. It continued to happen until she was hospitalized for her mental illness. And even after all of the years of torture, Ahren somehow survived. He didn't give up to the temptation of maybe if he ended it all, it would all be over. Just like his brother. But no one would ever know the true story. No one would believe it. Except for Alexis and Joel because they witnessed it. They tried to report it, but no one would listen. And that's what made Ahren's blood boil.

"Mister Stringer, are you okay?" Ms. Bell asked, snapping him out of his thoughts. "Yeah, I'm fine," he replied. Even though he knew he wasn't.