Punishment

Punishment



Chapter 3



Kyle\'s P.O.V



The walk from the bad part of town where I lived was short as usual and I quickly found myself on the good part of town, the downside of not having much town to begin with. I hummed quietly to myself as I walked, a snippet of a short repetitive jingle for the local electronics store, a silly little song that had gotten stuck in my head after I heard in on the television. For once the fact that the school was looming ahead didn\'t fill me with an utter sense of dread and fear and the edgesofmy lips turned up in a fleeting smile.



As I entered the school that day I didn’t even hear the taunts the jocks were throwing at me. The entire school was just background noise, a sight hiding somewhere in my peripheral vision. Nothing seemed to be important. All that mattered was getting to homeroom early so I could talk to Kaelan. I was almost so excited with the prospect of having someone to actually talk to.



It would be nice to be acknowledged for something more than just the fact that I was such an easy person to taunt. I knew I should probably warn the new comer that it was a bad idea to talk to me in public, lest he become as much of a social pariah as I was, but I was feeling entirely too selfish. I didn\'t want to lose a friend this early because of something I had no control over.



I entered home room and noticed Kaelan sitting at my usual group of desks, huddled over a cellphone with a small grin on his face. He looked up at me and smiled through his mess of blue and black hair. The wispy strands hung down over his face, and covered his eyes until he brushed it back with his hand, tucking the troublesome wisps behind his ears.



‘How does he manage to smile so openly and freely like that?’ I wondered idly not for the first time as I approached the unique boy and sat down next to him. The bubbling excitement in the pit of my stomach threatened to overflow as I sat down next to Kaelan, keeping my eyes averted from his face. It wasn\'t that I was worried about what he might say to me or anything like that, it was just that I was nervous. This was my first time talking to someone like this.



“Hey Kyle, how’s things?” Kaelan asked me in a cheery greeting, stowing the cellphone away in his back pocket now that he had someone to actually talk to in person. Flicking his hair behind his ears for the third time since I had walked into the room he gave me a gentle hug, enveloping me in the silken smoothness of his skin. I was so suprised I didn\'t even attempt to fight my way out of the hug, letting the man hug me freely.



“Good I guess” I stated wishing that things really were good for once. This was good true, so in that respect I wasn\'t lying it was just the rest of my life that was like a bottomless sucking abyss of nothing. Even though good things were starting to filter into my life the bad things were doing their best to try and eclipse the good.



“I’m glad” Kaelan stated smiling at me again, his cerulean blue eyes glittering in the bright sunlight and catching my attention.



‘Does he ever stop smiling?’ I wondered frowning slightly, my thoughts drawn from his eyes to his captivating smile. If we were in one of those cliche cartoons he\'d blind someone with that smile. It was so bright and dazzling it looked more like a smile belonging to a movie star walking along the red carpet than a teenage boy.



“What is it?” Kaelan asked curiously



I focused my thoughts on Kaelan’s words and shook my head softly “Nothing, just lost in thought”



“Penny for your thoughts?” Kaelan asked leaning closer watching me with wide eyes. He pulled out a shining peny twirling it in his fingers and spinning it on the desk as he stared at me with rapt attention. He seemed so curious and entranced with the idea of knowing what I was thinking it made me embarrassed to think about it. I liked to think about everything in great detail, I was always thinking and I never stopped. I\'d never been asked for my opinions or thoughts before though.



I blushed and shook my head again trying to keep my thoughts focused on the here and now, on not on things that would get me into trouble. “No, you should keep that penny for some more interesting thoughts I’m afraid” I stated, feeling slightly uncomfortable with Kaelan being so close to me. His face was inches from mine. I could feel every breath as it was inhaled and exhaled. The mint from his toothpaste invaded my nostrils. The smell of his skin, musky and deep mingling with the smell of his deoderant pervaded my senses. Even the smell of the fruity shampoo he used on his hair assaulted me and seeped into my skin.



“Oh, I’m sure your thoughts are interesting. I’d love to hear whatever it is that you hide behind that pretty little face of yours” Kaelan stated placing a palm to my cheek lightly. His skin was warm against my own, burning like fire as it branded my cheek with the imprint of his palm.



At that moment the bell rang and he pulled back, dropping his hand to his side and standing up. Smiling he helped me to my feet and walked away. As he reached the door he turned back to wave at me. We didn\'t have any classes together this morning, and he still had to meet with his dean during english, so I wouldn\'t see him for ages. I could feel the lack of his presence keenly, probably because his hand was still seared into my mind.



“See you at lunch ok? Meet me on the roof” He called over his shoulder as he left the room.



- 0 -



I couldn’t wait for lunch all day. I struggled to focus on the words coming out of my teachers’ mouth, but their incessant rambling seemed to make less sense today than on any other day. Every single word that exited their mouths seemed to be in another language, a language that I hadn\'t learnt. I was told off numerous times all morning for slacking off.



My classical studies teacher had to ask me to read book 6 of The Odyssey three times before I understood her, and while the rest of the class titilated I was left to burn with embarrassment as I read aloud. I couldn\'t answer half the questions in the legal studies pop quiz in second period and got disapproving looks from Mrs Hughes as I turned in a mostly blank paper. Each class was worse than the last.



It was all I could do not to jump to my feet and run to the roof once the bell for lunch rang. I practically jogged to the rooftop. I stepped onto the roof and into the dazzling sunlight blinking into the glare from the brilliant sun. Once my eyes had adjusted I searched the area for Kaelan nervously, only to ascertain that he wasn’t there yet. He was my first real friend and I was exhilarated about hanging out with him. Everyone else had avoided me for my strange melancholies and depressing attitude.



I was startled out of my gloomy reverie by the sound of Kaelan’s voice behind me.



“Hey, I’m glad you’re here. I was worried that you weren’t going to show up to hang out with the crazy blue haired boy you just met.” He stated as I turned around to look at him, his ever-present smile bright and friendly on his face. I tried to keep the smile off my own face but failed miserably as I broke into a grin, my jubilant mood returning for the current point in time.



‘It is definitely something I could grow to like’ I thought as the sight of it warmed my cold and lonely heart. “Why would I miss this meeting” I asked, speaking my mind for once. I was curious as to why he wanted he thought I wouldn’t want to hang out with him. I wanted to know what he had to say, what thoughts graced that pretty face of his.



The phrase \'A penny for your thoughts\' popped into my head causing me to laugh aloud for a second before stifling it, drawing an amused look from my company.



“I’m some random guy you met yesterday. I’m some strange blue haired, black clad, constantly smiling emo. Granted I’m a hot smiling emo” Kaelan stated before laughing happily. “Don’t you think?” he asked teasingly winking at me playfully.



“I-well-yes” I answered quickly, blushing and ducking my head in embarrassment to hide my vibrantly red face from view.



“Well...” Kaelan stated uncertainly, as if unsure how to react to my statement.



“Y-you’re welcome” I stated as I turned around and yelled at myself mentally ‘You Stupid Idiot! What the hell was that you worthless imbecile? Do you want him to think you are secretly in love with him or something?!’ I grimaced and shut my eyes hoping he would just forget I had said anything. I was fighting not to run away and hide somewhere taking me and my blushing face with me.’ Maybe if I was lucky he would look away for a second and I could make my escape or maybe he’ll forget I ever said anything!’ I thought, rambling in my mortification.



Kaelan must have made a decision about how he was going to take my statement because the next thing I knew my internal argument and escape plans were derailed by a pair of arms around my waist.



“That is such a cute comment!” Kaelan gushed burying his head into my back like a kitten



“I...well...um...ok” I stated in confusion ‘where had that comment come from?’ I wondered then I stayed silent for a while waiting for Kaelan to let me go. After a while however it became abundantly obvious that he wasn’t planning on letting me go any time soon. “Um, Kaelan you do realise that you are still hugging me don’t you?” I asked hesitantly, I didn’t really want him to let go for some strange reason. It was odd, I’d only know the boy a day but already he was becoming a person I valued dearly. I could only hope that he didn’t use that against me at some point.



“Yes I know, I was just waiting till you told me to let go and would you look at that, technically you still haven’t told me to let go of you” Kaelan stated teasingly snuggling closer as if to test his boundaries. Fingers dug into my clothes, worming their way into a tight hold as Kaelan held on as tight as he could clearly not ready to let go of me. Black and blue hair tickled my neck, as the shaggy haired boy nuzzled my skin with a purring sound that made me laugh.



“Oh, you really shouldn’t pick on the poor kid you only met yesterday you know. I mean for all I know you could be some gay sexual deviant, trying to seduce me and get me into your bed” I replied deciding to return his playful comment with one of my own.



“You’ve wounded me deeply. I am not a gay sexual deviant trying to seduce you into his bed! I am a bi-sexual deviant, imagining you in my bed! Gosh, get it right!” Kaelan cried indignantly



I laughed taking into account his words “So you admit you are taking advantage of me” I stated smiling myself, a rather unusual action for me.



“Yeah, but I would like to take so much more” Kaelan managed as he laughed himself silly, tears pouring down his face and soaking the back of my shirt.



“Too bad I don’t think I could handle a strange young sexual deviant like you” I stated managing to reply through silent laughter



“Oh how mean! So are you trying to say you don’t want me? I know you do, just admit it. You know you want this fine ass of mine!” Kaelan exclaimed playfully, turning me around to look at him.



“Oh yes, yes I want you alright. Right here, right now!” I exclaimed pulling Kaelan close and throwing my arms about him.



Kaelan laughed and hid his face in the crook of my shoulder to stifle his laughter.



We eventually pulled apart and spent the rest of lunch laughing and joking like old friends. When the bell rang we were both rather reluctant to leave. However after a while they had no choice but to head to their respective classes. If possible I paid even less attention in class than I had before lunch. I was so happy and light-hearted I couldn’t concentrate, it was impossible. I couldn’t remember being this happy since before my mother’s death a few years ago. I was even smiling again, a major feat on the part of Kaelan and I. I am so glad I met the strange yet wonderful boy yesterday. I felt as if nothing could bring me down after a day like that.



- 0 -



I guess looking back now my ethereal happiness was my downfall that afternoon. When I entered the house I just wasn’t careful enough. I walked into the house carelessly letting the door shut in the wind slamming shut slightly. I was so preoccupied I didn’t even notice as I walked down the hall towards my room. I didn’t notice the thundering footsteps growing closer to me every minute until it was too late.



I opened the door to my room and stepped inside only to be greeted with a kick in the back. I fell onto the hard floor of my bedroom, my wrist twisting and getting caught under me. There was a sickening crunch as I fell on it and then a searing pain as I screamed loudly. My ‘father’ then proceeded to beat me while I lay in a crumpled pile on the floor, my arm throbbing excruciatingly. My eyes stung with repressed tears and my chest hurt from having the wind knocked out of me when I fell. He removed his belt, old and worn, and began to thrash me with it my sides aching and stinging as the belt began to slice my delicate skin.



I cringed as I felt myself be grabbed by my hair and my mouth opened in a silent cry as I was lifted from the floor by it. I was shoved roughly and painfully against the wall, my head hitting it with a loud crack. I knew that this was going to be painful, I had know from the moment he had begun my punishment without his taunting and teasing words that I was going to be punished worse than normal.



He ripped at my clothes causing them to tear and the rags of whatever was left fell to the floor around me as he removed them, clearly having lost patience with clothes today. I could smell the reek of whiskey, a substance that was worse for him and therefore me, wafting around me from behind. He entered me with brutal force and had his way digging his nails in and biting me all the while. It caused him to come faster as if the sight of my bruised, bleeding, battered and broken body turned him on in some sadistic manner. He came inside of me and left the room, to drunk and indifferent to even bother putting his clothes back on.



I pulled myself into my corner nursing my clearly broken arm delicately. I was bruised and bleeding all over and my body was quickly shutting down on me. I could tell I needed medical attention but I knew it would just work out worse for me if I sought it. My injuries would take some explaining and even if I did tell the truth all that would happen would be that He would get a fine or some jail time or something.



Then I would be removed from his custody and sent into foster care in some new and strange place. I would be sent from home to home, never again being in a stable environment. Then at some point He would find out where I was and he would come for me and the punishment for all of those consequent events would be worse than any I had known so far.



No. I think not, no hospital, no questions, and no relief from the pain. My arm would be fine. I would go to the nurse tomorrow at school and tell her I sprained it and she will bandage it for me. That’s all I need. Yes. These thoughts were the last things that graced my mind as my eyes fluttered shut and my body shut down in self-defence against my injuries. I fell into the dark abyss of a dreamless sleep and knew nothing more.



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Thanks for the reading this story.



Review Replies;

Lisa - Thanks for the review, and I\'m glad you asked about the bells. The bell rang at first signalling that it was time for home room or vertical form. This class is where attendance is taken if you didn\'t know. I based this home room time off what I have known here in New Zealand. Home room lasts for 15 minutes by the time the bell has rung. This means that the actual class lasts only 10 minutes by the time the teacher arrives. Due to the fact that Kaelan is new he is late to home room because of the sign in process. Kyle had been sitting there for a few minutes previous to Kaelan\'s arrival writing in his book. By the time they strike up a conversation there isn\'t much time left to talk since Kyle is very hesitant to believe the other will really take any interest in him at all. I went back and re-read and the bell in fact does ring twice.



As to why Kyle doesn\'t tell anyone about his situation, is because he has no one left and he is afraid of what will happen. This is explored in his thoughts later in the story and his reasoning better explained in about chapter 5.



I\'m glad you like my name for Kaelan and my writing style. Thanks, and I hope I have answered your question to your satisfaction. If not then drop me another review and let me know.