literature

Misleading Titles, chapter 4

Deviation Actions

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Literature Text

The familiar chime of the ending bell rang aloud over the middle schoolers heads, telling them that school was now over. As all the students ran out at speeds that would make the flash jealous, Ben stayed behind, slowly lumbering all of his stuff neatly into his book bag. He always took his time when it came to leaving the school. It meant less time at home, then again, it also meant more time at school. Neither of those sounded very pleasant to the ten year old. Finally zipping up his bag, he swung it over his shoulder and headed out of the class room. Giving the teacher a wave goodbye, Ben made his way out of the school.

He had to walk home today, some days his mother would pick him up and drive him home, but not often. His father didn't want him to be lazy, so, Ben had to walk two miles to get home, which really wasn't too bad...In the winter, during the summer it was pretty horrendous. Still, he couldn't complain. Because, complaining was bad and often leads to some unpleasant things happening. He gave his head a good shake and walked out of the school doors. However, not even five steps away from the building, his backpack was snatched, it wasn't taken from his shoulder, but, it did cause him to halt so suddenly that he gasped out in surprise.

"Well, Well, if it isn't little Billy." A middle schooler sneered at Ben, his pug like face scrunched up in disgust as he darkly growled at the black haired boy.

"My name is Ben," The ten year old growled back, slapping the twelve year olds hand off of his backpack. The bully looked a bit stunned at first, then narrowed his beady blue eyes. With an angry growl, the seventh grader grabbed Ben by the collar of his blue hoodie and lifted the kid off of the ground. His feet no longer touching the ground, Ben kicked the air and grasped the bully's wrists.

"I don't think you know your place in this school, you may be in seventh grade, but, you have the age of a thumbsucking fifth grader, and I think, you need to know just where-"

Before the bully could finish, a hand touched his shoulder, causing the two of them to look up at the owner of the hand. Ben eyes softened with relief when he saw a teacher behind the bully.

"Put him down." The teacher said to the bully, her voice calm but very unnerving. Slowly, the teen put Ben back down on the ground, once on the ground, Ben rubbed his neck while glaring at the guy. "Now, come with me." She said to the bully and lead him back inside the school. Ben could only snort in response to it all. Typical day, not like the guy was going to learn anything from this trip to the office, probably get a slap on a wrist then he'd be free to go. Just like all the others who chose to pick on him, they'd get caught, go to the office, within an hour or two they're back to picking a fight with him once again.

With a heavy sigh, Ben turned away from the school and started to walk his way home. Sticking his hands in his pockets, Ben kept his focus on side walk, he didn't want to think too much on it right now. He was tired and just wanted to go home and lay down for a while, he could feel a headache springing on. Bringing his hand up to his face, Ben slowly rubbed the bridge of his nose. After a good second of rubbing his bridge, he looked back to the side walk and lightly sighed out.

Walking passed a couple of houses, he always looked over at them, looking at the inside from the window as he passed them. Normally he'd just see an empty living room or dinning room when he walked, but, on the occasion he'll see a family or couple sitting down, all happily chatting to one another. It always made him a twinge jealous whenever he saw that, his family wasn't like that, not by a long shot.

He would say his family as a mess, but, with the control his father has over everyone, that'd be a lie. His father, Johnathan, liked to have a very tight grip on everyone, not one person could even so much of think of free will in that household!

Pursing his lips to the side, Ben gave a stray rock a good kick and watched it skip away from him.

It could always be worse though, Ben had no right to complain, he had a roof over his head and food in his stomach at night. Still a little be of freedom would be nice. He frowned deeply when he looked through a window as he walked, a family of three sitting in the living room watching some animated movie. He looked down at the side walk and tugged a bit at his sleeves. He wouldn't mind that, him, is father, his little brother, and mother all sitting down just watching a movie together, but, he knew that it would never happen. Movies where only for 'special' occasions. A lot of good things seem to be for 'special' occasions.

Seeing another rock, he gave it a kick and, like before, watched it bounce away, this one couldn't keep a straight line and curved off of the side walk and into the road.

No longer wanting to look at buildings, Ben looked up at the sky, it wasn't a bad day out, a bit chilly, but aside from that it was pretty nice. Not a cloud in the sky, the bright sun beaming down on him, not roasting him alive like in the warmer months. Still, even with the nice weather, he'd like to be home now. He could feel his head throb painfully the longer he stayed out here.

Looking straight a head once more, Ben gave out a low sigh, it'd be another hour before he'd get home. He just had to put his mind to something else, make the time go quicker. Putting his hand to his head, he gave out a low soft groan, stupid headache was really getting worse. Speeding up his pace, Ben just wanted to get home and rest.

Ignoring anything that could distract and delay his way home, he made it there in almost thirty minutes.

Walking up the driveway, he paused to looked at the house. The house he has lived in since he could crawl. Still, he felt no love for this house. At all. The brick exterior, the red front door, the many windows, no, there was no love for this house in his heart. It all felt too cold for him. Moving his gaze down, the ten year old padded up to the door and walked inside the house.

The first thing to greet him was a blast of heat, almost instantly making him uncomfortable. Placing his bag on the floor, Ben shed his hoodie off and hung it on the hooks where his mother's and brother's jackets hung as well.

"Benny!"

Before he could react, he was instantly tackled by his younger brother.

"Hey Chris." Ben greeted and hugged his brother back.

Christopher, his younger brother, they looked a lot a like, both had the same black hair, though Christopher's was more unkempt than Ben's, they also had the same nose and pale skin. They had a few differences as well, his brother had dark freckles running across his face and had green eyes where Ben had blue.

Reaching down to grab his backpack, Christopher got the hint and let go from Ben's waist.

"How was school? Was it fun?" His brother asked excitedly, following Ben up the stairs to his room.

"It's was alright, nothing too interesting happened." Ben mumbled in response to his brother. Christopher smiled, showing a gap where one of his front teeth should be, it shouldn't be too long before the tooth grows back. Making it too his room, with his brother in tow behind him. Throwing his bag to the floor, Ben jumped into bed and cuddled up with his pillow. Instantly, his brother's smile dropped.

"You're going to take a nap?" Christopher asked nervously, visibly shifting and twitching around as if Ben was doing something bad.

"I have a headache, Chris, I just need to lay down for a little while." Ben mumbled into his pillow, his voice muffled a bit.

"...You seem to have a headache everyday now..." Christopher pointed out as he sat at the foot of Ben's bed. Sleepily looking up at his brother, Ben reached over and swept some of his brother's hair out of his face and hummed out a bit.

"Just let me nap for an hour or two, and then me and you can play whatever you want." He promised his little brother, Christopher gave out a frown, worry on his face.

"It's not that, Benny, you know dad will lose his mind if he finds you napping. Why do you have to pick fights with him?" Christopher asked, almost pleading with his brother.

Ben sighed out a bit and leaned up on his elbow.

"...I know he'll be mad, but, I got two hours before he gets home, I'm going to set this alarm for an hour and thirty minutes, see?" Reaching over to his alarm clock, he set the alarm for an hour and a half later, turned it on. "and he'll never know." Ben finished, putting his alarm back down on the nightstand.

Christopher frowned a bit more, but, he said nothing, instead, he stood up from his brother's bed and just sort of looked at Ben.

"If you say so..." Was all he said to Ben, he then turned and walked out without another word, shutting Ben's door behind him. Resting his head against his pillow, Ben shut his eyes and slowly drifted off to sleep. Hoping his headache would be gone by the time he woke up.

Ben breathed out loudly as the loud buzzing of his alarm clock rang out. Letting out a shuttered breath, Ben opened his eyes only to shut them just as quickly. His headache was not better, if anything, it's gotten worse. The beeping wasn't helping either. With his eyes still shut, he reached over and started slapping at where he hopped the alarm clock was. Missing it the first few times, he finally hit the right button and the infernal beeping stopped. Groaning loudly, Ben put his hands to his head. He didn't mean to fall back asleep, but, his mind just slowly shifted away and that was the end of that.

"What the hell do you think you are doing?!"

His father's booming voice was enough to make Ben bolt up, despise the fact that his head was still pounding away. His father gave Ben an angry glare, his blue eyes hard with slight anger.

"Well?!" He demanded to Ben, in the back, Ben could see Christopher clutching on to their mother's leg for dear life.

"I have a headache-" Ben started but was cut off by his father.

"Bullshit! That's just an excuse you use every time I catch you being lazy!" Johnathan screamed out, getting closer to Ben. Ben started to grind his teeth in anger, before he knew it, he was yelling back.

"What's the big deal?! I did all my homework, I'm doing great in school, Why can't a take a nap when I need one!"

His father's eyes narrowed deadly and next thing Ben knew, his dad was right in front of his face, shouting furiously back at him.

"You think you need a nap!? Do you work to provide for us?! NO! I DO! IF ANYONE IN THIS HOUSE NEEDS TO SLEEP FOR LONGER, IT'S ME! What do you do? You go to school!"

Shutting his eyes, Ben wanted to yell back at his father, he wanted to prove that his father didn't know everything. However, when he reopened his eyes and saw his brother shaking as he clung to their mother, he decided against it.

"You're right, I'm sorry, I shouldn't of took a nap." He lied to his father, biting back his tongue.

"You're damn right I'm right! You know what? You can add cleaning the kitchen and living room to your list of chores for after dinner. I hope that nap was worth it." His father growled and then stormed out, Ben could only look down at his shoes and mumble,

"Yes sir..."

Johnathan then slammed Ben's door shut behind him. Once Ben knew he was in the clear, he jumped from his bed. Walking to his closet, he squeezed himself into the tight space, making sure to shut the door behind him. Once all the way in the darkened corner, where a lone backpack laid, he grabbed the bag and laid against the wall, allowing the bag to sit in his lap.

The bag was kind of empty, except for one pocket, a hidden pocket that rested on the bottom of the bag. Inside that hidden pocket was over twenty dollars in quarters and dollar bills. Money he's been saving for his plan. He still needs a bit more money, just a little bit more...

He couldn't stay here, he just couldn't...
Don't worry, next chapter Ben and Firedrake will have some interaction =D
© 2014 - 2024 evilkat23
Comments3
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Cheyenne-Rose's avatar
Another great chapter! :D I'm sorry it took me so long to read, but my free time was not as plentiful as I thought it was. ^^;
Anyways, I can't wait to read the next part!