ChainSword
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Chapter 3 Earlier that day... It was end of May, and summer vacation would start in few days. For the boy, however, it would mean more than just few months of laying back and swimming, then on last week of said vacation, writing some cliché essay of "What did I do on summer, besides laying back and swimming, then writing this?" For him, the High School would be over. No more school ever again. I can guess what you are probably thinking: Graduating from High School would be totally awesome. Not only you'd never again have to sit on those boring classes, trying to learn things you don't believe you'll ever need in life, and eating that infamous school food nobody likes, but you'd also be old enough to do whatever you want, and you'd only answer to yourself. I'm not saying that that's wrong way to think. But it is naïve and lacks perspective. The boy's school was on "better" area of city, not that far from beach. The boy often took longer route from school to home in order to take a moment to watch what was going on in bay, and to think all kinds of things. School itself was far from best one in city, and the boy could have made it in better one, but he had his personal reasons to settle with that one. Gymnastic aside, classes were mostly focused on theory on most subjects, rather than practical tests and alternative teaching methods. In subjects such as math and different languages it isn't that big of a deal, but with subjects such as physic, chemistry, art, and even music, it obviously wasn't enough to give best potential education. The boy had knack in math, physic and philosophy, and managed fair in gymnastic, and was calm and smart enough to respect his teachers and not get in trouble in schoolgrounds because of that. The building itself wasn't much to look at. Surrounded by taller office buildings and whatnot, this concrete cube (irksomely accurate nickname) with windows on all sides didn't exactly do honor to neither it's surroundings nor motivation to enthusiastic studying. At least the courtyard, although fenced, had some trees and lawn, lots of places for bicycles, and some tables to eat and spend time. The roof of the house was fenced with high metal fence, and didn't have much reason to visit. While it wasn't neither against the rules nor discouraged, and while teachers didn't really care where students spent their free time as long as they were in class in time, it wasn't popular place among students, due to the fact that there were nothing in there, and the views from there weren't much to look at. The fact that nobody ever visited the roof made it the boy's favourite spot. The roof was high enough from ground in order for sounds from ground to not bother spending time there, plus the roof was much windier than ground. It was end of May, and summer vacation would start in few days. For the boy, however, it would mean more than just few months of laying back and swimming, then on last week of said vacation, writing some cliché essay of "What did I do on summer, besides laying back and swimming, then writing this?" For him, the High School would be over. No more school ever again. He was standing at the roof's edge, looking down at schoolgrounds and surrounding streets, observing everything going on. Last classes had ended few moments later, and hundreds of boys and girls were rushin home from school, most obviously cheerful, happy and exited about coming summer vacation. The boy sighed silently, looking up in the sky. In this world coloured by different shades of gray, at least sky provided one extra color he liked. Out of all the places in school, this was definitely- "What'cha doing here, ***?" The boy's moment of peace was suddenly interrupted by familiar voice. So familiar, in fact, that he responded with silence, and didn't even turn around to look at the visitor's face. The other boy didn't seem to mind. "I figured I'd find you from here, ***. Come on, let's get going already!" "..." "Come on! Why so serious? Last day in school is over in 10 minutes ago, and graduation's this weekend! How come you're-" "...Mike." The boy interrupted. Michael Abel Bradley. Ever since these two boys had met each other several years ago, they'd became best friends, sharing everything worth sharing -be it secrets, toys, worries, or anything in-between- and watching each other's backs when in trouble. It certainly was pleasant surprise for Mike to find himself in same highschool with his best friend, even though he knew that he could have gotten to better place to study. He had white skin, dark red eyes, and just long enough golden hair to cover them if he wanted to. He was one of the best at most sports in his agegroup, and seemed like someone who would have knack for martial arts. He was also more popular among girls than his friend, but he was kind and warm person, who respected everyone, as long as others didn't decide to not like him. Not many that stable and polite kids come from ghetto, and there was obviously something very right with his family and way he was raised. "...What?" Mike said, while his voice got more serious tone. "...I'm..." the boy started, then stopped, hesitating to continue. Mike responded with silence, waiting for his friend to continue. "...I'm sort of... afraid." "...Afraid? What do you mean?" Mike said, now with more serious voice, knowing well enough when to stop being too cheery, and to focus on what is to come. "It's just that... I don't know what to do." The boy stood silent for few seconds, staring into distance from the roof. This was not to make dramatic pause, or in attempt to look cool -there was no need for that between two best friends-; he just wanted few seconds to think how to catch his thoughts and pin them down to words, and understanding that, Mike didn't break that silence. "Like you said" the boy continued "School will end this week. No more studying ever again, but instead work and preparing to independent life." He gazed down to schoolyard, where some students were still leaving. "While some of the graduates are bit sad to leave this phase of life behind, losing connection to some of their friends, they're still happy to start living their big plan -life- they have built in their head for years." The boy raised his head to look at he sky, and kept another silent second, as if to ask "Do you not agree?" By now, Mike had full grasp of what he was talking about, and knew what he was about to say next. "But I do not have that plan." "I don't know what can I do with my future, Mike. I don't know whether I should study few more years, or find work now. I don't know where I want to move and live. I don't even know if I want that kind of life. I'm not even confident have these past few years of studying been useful to me." "I just... don't know what can I do next." "I see." Mike said, before he could continue talking. "You keep talking about what you "can" do, what you "want" to do." Mike quickly grasped this little detail from the boy's words. "You're afraid of moving forward. Afraid that what you are is not enough to manage. That your abilities aren't on same scale with your dreams." "Am I wrong?" They both stood there, silent, for few seconds, while the boy was taking his friend's words in, and Mike waiting for his friend to do that. "You're sort of right", he responded "But not really, no. There is more to it than that." The boy took deep breath in, then out. "Perhaps I should rephrase that a little" he started. "Of course I have dreams. It's not that I don't know what I want to do, and it's not that I'm afraid to put my abilities to test while fulfilling those dreams." "It's just... I cannot chase those dreams yet. I can't leave my home, or this city yet. Not in few more years. Not as long as he is here." Again, noticing little details, Mike uderstood. So this was still about him. "So this is also about him?" He said. "Your grudge still runs that deep?" "I have all right to that!" boy said with angry tone, then immediately dropped back to calm and collected "But even more importantly, I cannot leave, and leave her behind with him. Mike knew exacty how much boy hated his father. Being his oldest friend, he had been there for him when his father left them, and when the boy's mother died. While he didn't think of the boy's father as hatefully as the boy did, but rather in more neutral way, he understood the boy's hatred. But even more importantly, he knew how much the boy loved his little sister. He knew her, and how pure and -while not naïve and helpless- innocent angel she was, and understood why the boy wouldn't allow his father to "ruin" her, or even give chance to. Granted, child can grow bit twisted when her older brother shows no kindness to their father, and doesn't let his sister get to know her dad properly, but after years of trying to get his friend to rethink his attitude, with little to no result, Mike didn't have motivation to try to alter his friend's life that drastically anymore. After such strong words, anyone would expect there to be moment of silence in conversation, but instead, Mike continued almost instantly. "There's nothing new I can tell you, ***." he said. His voice had moved back to that cheerful, yet still serious tone. "You've been my best pal for years, so out of everyone besides you, I should know what kind of person you're like, and what you're capable of. I know that you're able to handle whatever you allow life to throw at you, but it's you who must first allow, and then overcome those obstacles." "Mike..." Boy started, only to be interrupted. "I know just how much you love yor sister" Mike started, shocking the boy with his direct approach "And there is nothing wrong with waiting few more years in order to protect and raise her" he continued "But it is your duty to decide are you going to stay here until both you and she can start your own lives." Boy stood silent, taking the words in. "I can't give you any decisions, ***, but I can give you word of advice, so I will." Mike continued. "Pushing your own dreams aside in order to protect someone else is huge and extremely hard thing to do. If you can do that for someone -anyone, and for years, even-, then, after that, you will have no problem making your own dreams come true." "Things tend to work out in the end, ***. Things tend to work out in the end." That was Mike's closing statement. With that, the boy knew his friend had said all he was gonna say. The boy smiled, knowing how good friend he had. "Heh. I can't argue with that, Mike. You sure have knack for knowing what to say." "It's because I've known you for years, I know how you think. Are you saying you don't know me as well as I know you?" "Touché. I suppose you're right again." They both smiled. "Now that that's over, are you gonna come down from here anytime soon?" "...Yeah. Give me few minutes. You go ahead." "Don't catch a cold. Spring wind is mischievous." With that, Mike turned around, walked towards the stairs leading down from the roof, and closed the door behind him. Without once seing each others' faces, their conversation was over. The boy stood there another minute, thinking. Then he turned around, and started walking towards the door. "My name is Samuel H. Caine. I am the protagonist of this story." After two steps, he noticed piece of concrete that had cracked off of the roof. It was small enough piece to fit on palm. "I am 19 years old student, about to graduate from this school, about to start my life." He kneeled down, grabbing the piece of stone, observing it few seconds. Then, suddenly, threw it towards the door with force. "I'm not the smartest kid in school, or otherwise important person. Compared to any other kid here, there is nothing special about me." "Excluding" In an blink of an eye, he disappeared from sight, and in next blink, appeared in front of the door, 50 feet away from the place he had stood no less than 1 second ago. He caught the stone before it hit him. "..." He looked at the stone, then the place he had stood few seconds ago, then back at the stone. Then he dropped it, turned around, and walked downstairs, closing the door behind him. "My name is Samuel H. Caine. This the story of how I lost and abandoned everything I had."
< Message edited by ChainSword -- 2/15/2012 12:41:39 >
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