Bruised

Chapter 1

A punch. A kick. A scream.

Three days had gone by since Matthew had returned and no-one had seen him yet.

His left hand was covered with bloody bandages and his right one was showing some old cuts and injuries. Towels with a mix of sweat and dried blood were laying on the floor.

He hit the punching bag once again, harder than the last time, screaming louder, crying louder. He stood up with the image of his dad on his head and he hit the bag again. And again. A punch. A kick. A scream.

He was in a point when he didn't care anymore about the bruised legs or the bloody hands, because the pain those wounds were causing were nothing compared to what he was feeling inside.

As he heard the bell ring he approached the door. A familiar voice called his name, and although for a brief moment he was tempted in not answering he then realised that it would probably be good to talk to a friend.

And once he opened the front door a blonde blue-eyed boy showed up. "I haven't seen you in so long!" he said in his usual loud tone "you have let your beard grow" he laughed a little and then went inside the house as to check everything was okay.

"Hello Nate" Matthew greeted not to excited but then he smiled when the blue-eyed patted is back. It felt weird for him to smile. It was probably the first time he had smiled in some weeks.

"Now, go change, we are going to walk" and he could feel a weird look from matt "don't give me that look, we are going, and Matthew, change the bandages please" he said trying not to sound too worried. And then the blond haired boy, called Nathaniel, Matthew's best friend since primary school sat on the blue old mended sofa.

The sky was grey even though it was summer and the sun was supposed to be shining. Maybe the world actually knew what he was feeling, and maybe the world cared about how he was feeling.

"Do you think he'll ever forgive me?" Matthew said as they crossed the park near to his house.

"What's that for Matt? You were always there for him" the other simply said but the truth was that questions kept popping into his head. Had he done everything he could? Would his dad forgive him for all the mistakes he had made? Would he ever be able to get over these questions?

"You always loved your dad even after all the times he put you down, don't think to much..." he paused to continue just after "and you know, when people leave us forever we remember them as we want to, not exactly as they used to be" Nate said but the other was no longer paying attention to his words and was looking as the sky instead.

"News, tell me everything that happened lately" Matthew changed the subject and they both knew he didn't give a crap about that but maybe a normal conversation was all Matt needed.

"Me and Christie are back together, and there's a new guy in my neighbour and he's pretty cool, and pretty rich too man!" he said getting way to excited about the subject.

"Because you do have problems with money" Matt said with a laugh, oh and how weird it felt to let out a laugh.

"Will you shut up and let me talk? He's a tennis player and he has a Kawasaki Ninja 300 from last year!"

"Maybe I can race with him someday and kick his ass, but man I could almost swear your eyes shine when you talk about this guy, sure you haven't fallen in love?" he said and once again he laughed, this time a little louder and Nathaniel punched him in the arm "Very funny".

It was around six p.m. when they went back to Matthew's house and Nate said goodbye because Christie was waiting for him "I'll be here again tomorrow, same time, be ready to run" he said as he stepped into his car "See ya".

Matthew didn't even get into his house, instead he decided to walk again, walk to the place he knew best. The plaque was the same old one with the same old letters shinning even though there was still light in the sky. Scandal.

Once he was able to see the front door a tall muscled guy appeared. "Hitman" he said and nearly crashed Matthew in something that was supposed to be a hug "I'm sorry man, I'm really sorry" he said opening the door and letting him inside.

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sorry for being so small

seriously hope you enjoy,

yxzmin