Shadows You Left Behind.

I walked steadily away from the woods.
Friends are not worth the hassle, friends suck.
Besides, he'd probably think I was an idiot, most people do.
I stopped. I was right in front of the local shop, it was risky, going in on a school day.
I put my hood up and hid in it, mooching into the store, trying not to draw attention to myself. This proved rather difficult as the hoodie gave me the look of a gangster or at least some kind of hooligan.
The man in the shop watched me like a hawk.
I bought a chocolate bar and a can of 'Monster' energy drink, before heading out again. It was raining; quite heavily actually; specks flying into my face; bitter wind nipping into my skin. I carried on through it, only stopping when I got to my house.

I turned the key in the lock, it didn't work the first time, so after a few stubborn tries I opened the door and slammed it quickly after my entrance.
The house was still chilly, a shiver ran down my spine.
I hate the cold.

I ate my snacks and drank my drink, before settling into the sofa, sinking into the soft fabric, I fell asleep.

"Hey Frank. You're home early from school today!" My mom stated.
I looked up at her, my eyes groggy with sleep.
I blinked repeatedly, as if trying to clean the gunk out of my eyes.
"Yeah, I had English last, she always seems to let us out early."
She nodded, smiled, and walked into the kitchen to make dinner; spaghetti meatballs tonight.
Yuck.
Just then, the door opened, disrupting my thoughts, it was my dad.
"Hey Frankie!" He smiled, ruffling the top of my head.
"Oh, hi Dad. How was your day?" I asked him politely.
I was such a boring person at home, so polite and well behaved.
Although that was only because if I was bad I'd get my guitar taken away, and that was a basic human need.
"Great, thanks, we have this new guy at work though, don't like him much. I'll tell you more at dinner. I'm gonna have a shower now."
And then with a throaty laugh, he disappeared upstairs.
I lazed around, flicked on the TV, checked my phone and generally pissed away the time until dinner.

My mom called out for me to come to the table and I wandered into the room.
Her and dad were laying out the cutlery.
They looked like the perfect family, and to be honest, they were.
I didn't really have any curfews, so long as I were there for dinner.
They let me like whatever music I wanted to, and play it in my room, so long as they couldn't hear it from downstairs.
"Hi Frank, how was your day?" My mum asked, (God, I was sick of hearing this question.)
I took my plate from the kitchen counter and placed it on the table, before sitting down quietly.
"Good, I guess, if a little boring." They nodded and embarked on general chit-chat.
I zoned out, I wasn't really bothered on their discussions on the up-rising price of milk and gas.
But then as I zoned back in again, I heard something remotely interesting.
"New family in town.. Father is at my work... two boys around Frank's age."...
..."Yeah, the blonde kid is alright. But hear this, the older one..." ...
"Oh my..." my mother replied. "We don't need people like him in his neighbourhood."
My head snapped up, “What are you talking about?” I asked, they didn't hear me.
I gulped at the intense route this conversation was taking.
"I know, and I think we better keep him away from our Frank. He likes the same music and stuff, bad influence."
I watched in horror, this kid was probably really nice, with a great taste in music and hated by most. Sounded familiar. "What's wrong with him?" I asked, my parent's heads spun round to face me.
"We're not having this conversation over dinner. Just stay away from him, okay Frank?"
"But mom-" I jutted in. "Of who?" I asked, my words fading out.
An image of the boy in the tree came to mind. I'd never seen him before, what if it was him? I shook it away, I don't even know him. I stirred my pasta with my fork, it felt like my stomach, churning round. I didn't understand.
But then again, he probably was a little bit odd. What kind of weirdo goes and climbs trees whilst singing Iron Maiden in the middle of a forest?
Oh wait, probably me.
. . .

The alarm sounded again, as if it knew I still wasn't up.
I rose, sighing, before walking across the landing and into the bathroom.
I turned on the shower, three twists right and two twists left, just like every morning.
I waved my arm into the steamy water, it was a good temperature. I plodded over to the mirror, fiddling with my hair, it had a black overhanging fringe. (If you could even call It that.) It just sort of flopped, neither way, just in my face.
The sides were shaved and blonde.
I guess when I'd done it, I'd wanted to rebel.
Rebel from my family and from my school.
I got some weird looks, and I heard the younger years talking about me. I really didn't give a fuck.
My parents weren't exactly thrilled by this drastic change to my appearance, but they said I was old enough to make my own choices now.
Yeah, whatever.
I checked the door was firmly locked before stripping off, my mum had accidentally walked in on me at the tender age of fourteen.
I now make sure there's no chance of that embarrassment ever happening again. There was a big mirror around the bathroom, meaning I could see myself from all angles.
I absolutely loathed that mirror.
I hated seeing myself naked, I hated my chubby belly, my short limbs, I hated the fact I had seemed to grow up into a man without my permission, I hated having a constant reminder of the way I viewed myself; horrendous. I just hated mirrors.
Luckily, once the shower had gotten into full swing, the room fogged up, meaning I was left with just the thoughts in my head and the tune of the radio.
That was my favourite part of the day, listening to Rock! radio in the hot rain. Ever since I moved to England, I had fully appreciated the usage of Rock! Especially the magazines. My room was filled with posters stacking up the walls and cupboards stuffed with old cut-up issues.
I shut off the water, wrapped a towel around myself and exited the bathroom, wandering across the landing, throwing my uniform on and running downstairs, before shoving a piece of cold toast that my mom had made for me hours before into my mouth and running out the door just in time for the morning bus.

Notes

Hope you like this chapter:3
XOXOg
/Also edited 05.12.13/