Okay guys, please don't hate me for this.
It's been like three or four months since I updated, I know, I'm sorry, and I'm starting to feel like the chapter I'm posting is inexcusable considering the ammount of time I've had to get a decent one written. But I hope it's worth the wait nonetheless.
In case you haven't guessed, I've been pretty busy lately. Despite it being holidays for me I've still had a lot of commitments including Tennis Camp, Work, Driving, Guitar/Piano Lessons, Tutoring, Reading Books for my English class next year... The list goes on, but I'm not going to bore you too much with my life.
So yeah, I hope that explains this story's somewhat inactivity as of late. Anyway, hope you like this chapter! I also have two new one shots out a songfic "We Don't Care Anymore" and an A/L fic "Your Guardian Angel", so I'd really appreciate it if you could check them out too! :D
BTW, the italics in this first part mean it's being seen from Lewis' P.O.V.
Chapter 5 - Consequences
This lack of self-control I fear is never ending
Controlling, I can't seem
To find myself again
My walls are closing in
"Crawling" - Linkin Park
[/center]
I hissed, my face coiling and grimacing as I felt the hot water of the shower head spill relentlessly against my skin. Oozing its way slowly through every pore and simmering off of the raw, swollen gash across my right arm from yesterday’s… Shall we say, ‘conflict’?
It had been another early morning rise for me today; and as I stood in the shower attempting to clean the dry matted blood from its wound I tried to not let the pain of the scarring bother me too much. After all, I had bigger concerns on my mind today; and Ash would only appear more suspicion if she noticed I had nasty cut along my right arm in a place almost identical to where her saviour was hit by one of the Huntsclan’s staffs last night.
I gritted my teeth, angry at myself for the way I’d chosen to deal with the situation. Why did I have to go as a dragon? I thought as I stood motionlessly underneath the shower head feeling the thick beads of moisture rolling slowly down my lower back. I guess it must’ve just been impulse. I panicked and wanted to save her fast as I could. Because really, it was a matter of life or death. Ash's life or Ash's death.
The look of sheer terror on her face (in my dream, vision... Whatever it was) had pretty much left me breathless. If I’d waited to call for help, I could’ve lost her… Who knows? All I knew was that saving her had been a sacrifice I was willing to make.Yet, I continued to stand there, anxiously gritting my teeth. It just frustrated me so much! Not only would my good deed go unrewarded but the people who I knew and trusted the most were going to think of me as a bad person. I had saved Ash’s life, yet due to my slight ‘identity crisis’ for all she knew I had pretty much left her for dead… Until of course she was saved by the second Australian Dragon (me!) out of sheer luck.
Surprisingly enough, that wasn’t all I had that was concerning me today. I had a lot of explaining to do. Yes, to everyone in fact. I had a feeling they were all going to pretty shocked over the fact that I wasn’t there when Ash needed me the most which was understandable. But there was something more about that day (yesterday) that was itched deeply upon the back of my mind.
When I had regained conscious, I… Well, let’s say I wasn’t exactly the same as what I’d been before hand. In other words, I had this really odd feeling inside of me, like some critical change had occurred in my body. That had begun to describe what was truly going on. The venom from that spider that had bitten me less than two weeks ago it… It was almost as if it was slowly becoming a part of me. Literally.
Every characteristic of its being was slowly blending in with my DNA, consuming my gene pool. I hadn’t noticed at first when I awoke yesterday, but after I had finally exited my trance of adrenaline and panic rushing through my veins it was then that I noticed the indescribable feeling flowing through my body.
Let me put it this way; ever seen the movie Spiderman? [/i][A/N: Stupid question really. Especially considering Ash is going to be reading this, but nevermind. XD]
It was a lot like that. In fact, so similar it was creepy. Yes, that's right. I'm saying that the spider bite I received just over a week ago gave me... powers. Spinning sticky, suspringly strong webs, increased flexibility, agility... 'Spiderman' powers, I guess you could call them. The only real difference between the accident that occurred with Peter Parker and mine (other than the obvious fact that one was fictional and the other wasn't one) was the time frame.
In the movie, Peter Parker was bitten by the spider and then received his powers later that day. Whereas, I was bitten almost a week ago, and- Wait... Why am I comparing my life to a movie all of a sudden? It's pointless, it's not even real. I can't gain any additional knowledge of my accident from a movie based on a Marvel Comic Book character.
I sighed, and turned the taps off, wondering how much of a favour I'd done to the already threatening drought conditions of Australia by absent mindedly day dreaming in the shower. As I stepped out, wrapping a towel around myself (being careful not to agitate any cuts or grazes I had on myself) and wiping the still soaking hair from my eyes, I stopped and stared into the mirror, seeing my own reflection glancing back and following my every move.
I didn't know exactly how was happening, or what had triggered a fault in the delicate cause and effect link that is my life, leading up to this consequence. I just knew that after I had found I had been able to resort to using this powers to held Ash, I knew they would only bring good things from there on. So long as I took control of them... .:.:. .:. .:. ::. .:: .:. .:. .:.:.
“Hey.”
“Hey.”
“Tired?”
“Very,” Liam said with a yawn, rubbing his blantantly half lidded eyes “I couldn't get to sleep last night. I was too freaked out about Ash.”
“I know,” Emi replied, a concerned tone in her voice ” It's scary how the Huntsclan manipulate people like that... I mean, Ash is one of the strongest people I know, mentally, emotionally, even physically. But last night, she looked terrified.”
“Well, being surrounded by a small representation of a blood thirsty clan determined to slay and ceremonally strip all dragons down to their last bone'll do that to you.”
“Tell me about it,” Emi replied “I'm just still surprised about Lewis.”
"Yeah, I know," Liam replied, lowering his voice before continuing to avoid attracting the attention of anyone else "I mean, I was at his house yesterday, and well... I'm thinking something was seriously wrong. I mean, I was tossing rocks at his window for like ten minutes and not getting a response. I'm sure he was out, but I was starting to getting worried they'd got him too and I had all these mental images of him being captured and/or tortured viciously by the Huntsclan.”
“Well if you were so concenered, why didn't you just fly up to his window and see?” Emi asked
“Yeah, that's the funny thing,” Liam responded sheepishly “You never truly realized just how much clear logical thoughts are affected in a life or death situation until you've actually experienced one yourself.”
And at that, for the first time in what felt like days the two laughed. Though fairly half-hearted, it was laughter nonetheless. They were both still worried about what had been happening, and the consequences that would surely follow. Ash had been almost captured by the Huntsclan and was forced to reveal her identity in the process.
"So I guess it's up to us to stop the mob of angry people who are most likely going to be going after him,'” Emi spoke eventually, trying to draw their minds upon the task at hand.
“Yeah,” Liam replied, glancing over his shoulder to try and make out a face of any of their friends.
“Speaking of which,” he continued eventually, when he finally spotted them.
They trudged down the hallway in silence, grouped around Ash, concerned, for obvious reasons. She was motionless, just like the rest of them, when usually she'd be the first one to break an awkward silence containing a group of people. But this time it was different.
“Hey,” Emi said, turning her head slightly to get a proper lock at Ash's face which was currently facing the direction of her feet. Ash looked up and smiled weakly in response to Emi's greeting, but no words left her mouth.
“Liam, why don't you talk to Ash for a bit?” Emi suggested, knowing that he'd be the most effective at cheering up Ash up, given her current state.
“Yeah sure,” Liam replied, leaning against the locker behind him for support as he gestured for Ash to stand across from him.
Emi lead Ari, Kevin, Sam and Veronika away from Liam as he immediately resorted to a number of drastic attempts to get a response from Ash. She glanced over her shoulder, before huddling closer to the other four, her voice falling to a low whisper.
“How is she?” Emi asked,
“She seems fine physically,” Veronika replied “But other than that she really hasn't been herself.”
“Yeah, I can see that,” Emi replied, glancing over her shoulder and struggling to hold back a grin at Liam's ludicrous attempts to earn a response from Ash. Something that usually would either result in Ash wearing a similar expression to Emi's or rolling her eyes at him in a mix of amusement and mock disgust.
Liam glanced over at Emi and shrugged, before deciding to take a more serious approach, and simply talking to her trying to see if he could find out what was wrong (apart from the obvious).
“She's probably feeling a bit guilty for letting the Huntsclan know about us being here too,” Sam suggested, immediately turning Emi's attention back to the conversation she was having with everyone else.
“Yeah,” Veronika agreed “But she shouldn't have to. I mean, none of this was her fault.”
“Hey, we can't blame ourselves,” Ai replied "We got their as fast as we could."
“Well then who can we blame?” Sam asked
“I've got some idea.” Kevin said, speaking up for the first time.
"What do you mean?" Emi asked, before the remainder of the group began to stare at their feet sheepishly, not giving any form of verbal response.
“No,” Emi seethed through her teeth, knowing immediately who Kevin was thinking about “We shouldn't have to blame anyone, it was no one's fault.”
“No one's blame anyone yet,” Ari began, receiving a sneer from Kevin who she immediately shot a glare at “I guess
some of us are a bit unsure of what's going on and are merely pointing fingers as a result.”
“Okay guys,” Emi sighed, calming down and trying to be the voice of reason amongst the group “I know what... Or better yet, who is on your mind.” She felt no need to explain who that person was, it was fairly clear. “But when he gets here, just don’t all go off at him at once. I mean, we still haven’t heard his side of the story. We don’t know what happened. So for all we know there is a perfectly innocent explanation for all of this...”
“Yeah, he's probably got some 'perfectly innocent' explanation that's going to justify why he's being a self absorbed prick,” Kevin replied, rolling his eyes.
“Kevin, are you going to stop being so irrational now?” Emi asked, glaring at him.
“Well, it's not like he's really proved himself as anything else,” he protested.
“This is Lewis guys, Lewis! Y'know, Ash's boyfriend?” Emi exclaimed, feeling as though she was the only one within the group who wasn't holding a grudge against him “I thought you would've figured that out by know.”
“Oh we're perfectly clear on that,” Kevin said “It'd probably be a good idea for him to prove it more effectively every once in awhile.”
“Guys, stop it,” Ari chimed in, just as eager as Emi to resolve any conflict between the group of teens “Turning against each other isn't going to solve anything; and Emi's right. Liam said he couldn't find Lewis yesterday - At all! If he Ash was in danger he would've done something, but he didn't. So my guess is, he didn't know she was in trou-”
“Hey guys,” they heard a voice call nervously, despite his poor attempt to cover up his emotions, a few feet across from them; interupting Ari mid-sentence. “What’s up?”
“What the hell is your problem?” a series of voice called at him all at once, causing Liam to look up from Ash and eventually shuffle over nervously.
Naturally, Lewis returned the crowd with a blank expression, despite the fact that he knew exactly what they were talking.
“Great,” Emi muttered to herself sarcastically “Glad that plan went perfectly to speed.”
“Nothing?” Lewis replied, trying his best to strain a look of shock and confusion across his face.
But really, the response the black haired teen have received was no less of what he’d expected. A mixture of confusion, disgust and slight concern for what had gone on yesterday appeared upon the faces of his friends, except for Ash who didn’t even lift her head. He couldn't really blame them. He just wished he could tell the truth and end all the lies.
“Uh…” Liam broke out eventually, deciding to be the voice of reason as he noticed the tension building between the group of teens and the one individual who stood slightly out of their reach “We better go. I’m thinking these guys have got a lot to talk about.”
“Yeah,” Ari replied “Come on guys,” she continued, pulling on Veronika’s arm instructing her to move away with her. Eventually, the remaining three reluctantly moved off at Emi, Liam and Ari’s request.
“You owe me,” Liam mouthed into Lewis’ direction as he passed by, helping Emi move a stubborn Sam along with them.
“Good to see you too Liam,” Lewis replied sarcastically, as Liam’s eyes widened with shock before he mentally slapped himself across the face for his sudden ignorance.
“Right, dragon senses,” he muttered to himself “Got it.”
He watched as Liam slowly lead the flock of death stares away from their line of fire. Lewis couldn’t help but feel tense, as he removed his right hand from his pocket and rubbed it against the back of his neck nervously, feeling the hairs standing up on it. It was definitely going to take him awhile to win the approval of all his friends again, but he was going to have to worry about that later and take everything one step at a time. For now all he cared about was reaching out to the girl he cared about the most.
“Uhh, hey,” Lewis said eventually, looking down at Ash who had now taken a seat upon
“Hey yourself,” she muttered in response, trying to avoid his gaze.
“What’s the matter?” he asked, feeling his stomach burning with guilt for even having to ask that question. He gently reached his hand up to her chin when she didn’t respond and titled her face up so she he was gazing straight into her bright blue eyes and she in his. Ash looked up at him blankly, still not willing to let the words form across her mouth.
“Okay…” Lewis replied, taking a deep breath and sitting across from her “What did I do now?” he asked, attempting to wrap his arm around her comfortingly.
“It’s not what you did,” Ash replied, brushing his arm away, frustrated “It’s what you DIDN’T do.”
Lewis tried his best to look at her like he didn’t know what she meant, and she sighed angrily.
“Come on Lewis,” she replied “I know Emi told you. She said so to me herself this morning.”
She did? Well, this is the first I’ve 'heard' of it Lewis thought, before sighing and decided to give in. He could handle the guilt he was harbouring over what had happened, even though technically he'd done nothing wrong.
“Okay,” he continued, wondering where (and how for that matter) he was going to begin. He knew how he felt, he knew what was wrong… Yet, he couldn’t find the right words to make what had happened right. “I-I…I’m sorry Ash,” he eventually stuttered, mentally slapping himself.
Great start loser a voice rang in the back of his mind.
She looked at him, hurt. Her eyes seemed like they were slowly beginning to water “Why weren’t you there?” she asked helplessly.
“I don’t know,” Lewis began
And another great answer! That same sarcastic tone drawled through his subconscious “I… I didn’t get your call. I wasn’t there.”
“I’m sorry Ash,” he continued, when she didn’t respond “I wanted to help you, and I would’ve! Without a doubt. But I didn’t have my phone on me… And I was well, gone.”
“Where were you?” she asked, still seemingly not satisfied by his answer.
“Something came up,” he replied again dully
“Like what?!” Ash exclaimed frustrated, standing up from her seat.
Her looked up at her, a hurt expression written clearly upon his brown eyes, and Ash sighed, immediately regretting lashing out at him. She could tell by the look in his eyes and the body language taking over his posture. It was obvious he was ashamed about what he'd done
“I'm sorry,” she began, unsure as to why he wasn't giving her any clear answers.
“Hey, it's okay,” Lewis said putting his arm around her again (which she allowed this time) and holding her close to his chest, as she nuzzled her head gently against it “None of this is your fault, I was the one being a jerk... I don't know why you even bother with me Ash. Especially when there's so much I've done wrong for you.”
“What do you mean 'there's so much you've done wrong'?” she asked, looking up. Her blue eyes flashing briefly against his as he brushed his glance away momentarily, swallowing.
“Listen,” he began, taking in a deep breath as Ash watched, confused. What's he hiding? She thought as he continued “The reason you didn't see me last night is-” and suddenly, he was cut off. A strong sense of relief, yet at the same time anger and frustration flowing through his body.
He'd been just about to let out his secret to Ash, immediately clearing his name and wronging the right. But he was interuppted midway through his sentence by a sudden clattering a few feet across from them. Ash had noticed that Lewis' reluctance to tell her why he hadn't been there last night. He obviously had a reason, a good reason, but at the same time something that he didn't exactly want to mention. She didn't like seeing him this uncomfortable, so she immediately took the offer of the abrupt noise, bringing an end to the awkward situation momentarily.
“What was that?” she asked, breaking away from his grasp slightly and studying the area around them over her shoulder.
“I don’t know,” Lewis replied, mentally sighing in relief as he looked over to where they’d heard the sound. It looked as though it was coming from inside one of the lockers; and sure enough…
“Don’t mind me,” a voice eventually called from inside one of the lockers near them “Just go on with what you’re doing… I-I, I’m not even here!”
“Liam, you ass!” Lewis exclaimed throwing one of his textbooks at the locker, after recognizing the voice instantly.
‘Maths Quest 10: 5.3. Pathway for New South Wales’ [A/N: The title of my real life Maths book from last year XD] one of Lewis’ thickest books, hit the locker door with a dull thud causing the steel material of the locker to shudder relentlessly. Ash could barely control the smirk crawling across her face as the two stared upon the locker in silence for a few seconds eventually hearing the faint calling of a whispered “Ow”.
Lewis glared at the locker, still frustrated until Ash smirked, and he turned to face her, hearing her poor attempt to stiffle a laugh. Their eyes meet and then something just clicked, and before they knew it they both burst out laughing. This was met by a grumbled “Hey, shut up!” from inside the locker once more, before the two exchanged grins once moreand a guilty look crossed Lewis' face once his glance met Ash's eyes once more.
“I'm sorry,” Lewis said, sighing and looking away, ashamed “I wish I could just tell what's going on...”
“I wish you could too,” he heard her voice reply as she cupped her hand to his chin and directed his glance up at her.
“I just can't,” he whispered in response, wanting to tear away from her sight once more “At least not now anyway. It's just too complicated.”
"I... I understand,” Ash sighed “I shouldn't force you. You can tell me when you're ready.”
“Thanks,” Lewis replied, a smile of gratitude lighting up his face.
“Does this mean I'm forgiven?” he added eventually, breaking the silence.
“Of course it does, fool,” Ash smirked and shoved Lewis playfully, who rolled his eyes in response.
“Uhh, is it safe to come out now?” the two heard the hidden voice call again, a few feet across from them. They both laughed in response at their friend’s mock frightened tone, happy for him to break the silence between them on that occasion.
“Yeah Liam,” Lewis replied, grinning
“The textbooks have been put away,” Ash added with a smirk.
“Good,” Liam said, as the door swung open and he appeared, rubbing his had against his forehead “Because that last one gave me a bloody migraine.”
He could hear the two sblack person as he slowly opened the near dented locker door he stood behind and stepped out of the dark, cramped space.
"Man," he said, rubbing his eyes "Those lockers have a lot less light in them than I originally thought."
"Welcome back Liam," Ash smirked
"Why thankyou," he replied sarcastically, before his eyes eventually adjusted to the bright light of the room surrounding him.
“Aww, lurve,” Liam teased as he saw the two teens brushing their hands together softly, and received a playful punch in the arm from Ash for his efforts.
“Ow. What the f-, Ash!” he exclaimed, taken back by her unexpected blow, mock anguish written over his face.
“What?” Ash replied innocently, holding back a grin “I said the textbooks had been put away, I didn't say anything about firsts.”
“Oh, come on! Lewis, you have to agree. That was completely uncalled for!”
“Actually Liam I'm going to let that one slide.”
“What!? Oh, screw you.”
“Do you two ever shut up?”
“Look who's talking.”
"Shut up."
"Bite me."
"I really will, you know?"
"... No thanks?"
.:.:. .:. .:. ::. .:: .:. .:. .:.:.
So yeah, I hope the minor A/L fluff and thought of Liam getting hit by a reasonably thick text book made up for my late update. XD
And again sorry if your not satisfied with how your character was written. I tried my best to give everyone a fair and equal ammount of dialogue and make sure no one was OOC. Sorry if I wasn't able to suceed in doing so.
Anyways, please R&R! :D