Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:45:27 +1000
From: Joel Dark <joel_dark15@hotmail.com>
Subject: Aussie Exchange Student Chapter 2

Thank you for all your responses. This is Chapter 2. Everyone has been
asking where I got the story idea's from and honestly it was one of my
fantastic dreams I had. So once again all the copy right stuff applied.
Love to get more feed back, however mainly enjoy this adventure.

Chapter 2:

I couldn't focus on what the teacher was saying. All my thoughts were about
Brendan and what he had told me. My daydreaming was rudely interrupted by a
student sitting next to me.

"Psst" he whispered, I looked over annoyed to see what he wanted. He was
blonde, lightly tanned, blue eyes, buff `clearly a jock' I told
myself. "Oi! Check out the footage."

He passed me his phone which had a clip playing, the time dated today, just
after 11am.  The video footage shocked me. It was of Brendan kissing some
guy. At first I thought we had been caught out, however when I took a
closer look, it was of someone else. I couldn't stand to watch it any more,
I was fall of range. I asked to be excused to go to the bathroom. I
couldn't believe it. How could he have done that to me after what he said
to me in the locker room? I walked into the bathroom and locked myself in a
stall. I sat down and started crying. Tears streamed down my cheeks. I
pulled my ipod out and listened to some Evanescence and Linkin Park. They
were my two favourite bands I liked listening to when I was sad or
angry. It helped me ease my crying and passed the time. I didn't think I
could face going back to class. I sat in the bathroom, listening to my ipod
until the final bell rung for the day.

I pushed myself from off the floor and unlocked the stall door. I walked
over to the sink and checked myself over. I could see my eyes were red and
puffy, obviously from crying too much. My shirt had wet patch on it to mark
where my tears had fallen.  I went over to the hand dryer and turned it on,
so I could try and dry the wet patch. I figured that most of the students
must have left by now and it would be safe to come out of the bathroom. I
exited the bathroom with a sigh, relieved that I saw no students. I made my
way down the hall way with my head down, looking at the floor. I still had
my ipod playing. I turned it up so if someone called my name out, I
wouldn't be able to hear them.

I made my way out of the double doors and into the fresh air. Taking in a
deep breath of fresh, clean air and slowly letting it out again.  I looked
to see if my bus had arrived but it hadn't. So I made my way over to a
bench and take a seat. Out of the corner of my eyes, I caught two tall guys
pushing around a younger kid. I ripped off my ipod and shoved it into my
pocket. I could hear them calling the kid names. I was so angry, how dare
they pick on a defenceless younger child. This caused my anger from before
to boil over. I ran down to the bullies. Standing only a couple of meters
away, I could clearly see what was going on. The bullies both had black
hair, both slim, stood around 5"9, one had a pair of blue jeans, a red polo
top and the second one had a green stripy shirt and long black jeans.  The
kid looked a lot smaller up close.  He was about 5"3. He had brown hair,
blue eyes, a blue shirt and jeans. He looked familiar, I couldn't place
where I new his face from. He must have been in one of my classes but he
was too short and looked too young to be my age or in my class.

"OI!" I yelled to the bullies.  They automatically stopped and turned
around to face me. "Leave the kid alone and if you want to bully someone,
pick on someone your own size." I stood in front of the kid. "Better yet,
pick on me!"  The bullies had a puzzled look on their face.

"I haven't got all day, it's free, and I'm not going to fight back, some
and bash the crap out of me!" I demanded. With saying that, they both
jumped me, punching me in the face and stomach. I fell to the ground in
pain, tears running down my face along with something warm running from my
nose and lip.

"William!" I heard someone scream my name. I couldn't feel the bullies
kicking or punching me any more. Yet someone was standing next to me. I
didn't want too look up and see who it was. I was afraid that they were
going to punch me in the face. A hand grabbed mine and pulled me from off
the ground. I looked into the face of the person who had come and helped
me. My stomach hurt even more when I looked into his eyes. I was about to
start crying again. The guy who had come to save me was the same guy that
who had hurt me previously.

"Are you ok?" Brendan asked with a concern look on his face.

I was so angry with him. I wanted to scream and yell at him. I pulled my
hand away from his. He pulled a puzzled look. "I got bashed Brendan." I
snapped. "Standing up for some kid, though the bashing didn't hurt as much
as the video I saw of you kissing some guy."

I grabbed my bag off the ground and started waking towards the bus area. I
felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned around to see Brendan with a sad look
on his face. "Save your apology Brendan, do me a favour and don't talk to
me ever again, just leave me alone!" I turned around and hopped onto my
bus.

Walking up the steps I heard a voice call out. "That's the guy that stood
up for me! He let them bash him to save me!" people were clapping and
cheering as I made my way down the narrow alley of the bus. I was
embarrassed, I didn't deserve this. I didn't understand why they would be
doing this. I took my seat and listened to my ipod. I new the bus trip
would be long, just like this morning's trip. We will have to stop every
now and then to let some kids off. I new listening to my ipod would kill
the time and ease my pain.

As the bus came to a stop, the kid that I stood up for got up from his
seat. He turned around and gave me a warm smile and a wave. I smiled and
waved back, I watched him run off the bus and to a black car that had a
woman standing next to it. Her hair matched his. However it was a lot
longer, just past her shoulder and slightly wavy. She was wearing a black
suit. The kid was talking to her and he pointed to me on the bus. She had a
look of horror when she was my face which was swollen and had blood across
it. She looked back the kid with a concern look on her face. He was talking
to her. I assumed that he was explaining what happened this afternoon.  She
then turned and looked at me again with a huge smile on her face. Although
I couldn't hear her, I could read her lips, she said thank you. I smiled
and waved as the bus drove away.

By the time I reached my apartment I was staying in over this student
enhance program. It was 4pm according to my mobile, which also had two
missed calls. Before I could check the number, my mobile rung again.
"Hello" I answered with a puzzled look on my face. No one had my number
here in America. `It must be someone who dialled the wrong number' I
though.

"Hello." A warm woman's voice spoke. "This is Taylor's mother. You're the
guy who stuck up for my son today."

"Err... yeah, that would be me." I said confused as to how she had my
number.

"Taylor explained to me what happened this afternoon at the bus stop and on
the way home." Taylor's mother told me. "I'm extremely thankful for what
you did and I don't know I can ever repay you for your kind actions."

"No problem." I told her "don't worry about it. I'm fine" I lied. I was in
so much pain.

"I know its short notice. But would you like to come over for dinner as a
thank you?"

I wasn't sure if I should say yes or no. If I said no, would she continue
to go on about how I saved her son from being bashed and felt that she had
to repay me somehow? `The dinner should put her mind at ease.' I told
myself.

"Ok." I told Taylor's mum.

"Great" she seemed excited. "I'll send you a text message of our address
and time for dinner."

"Ok then"

"Thank you once again, see you soon, bye"

"Bye" I said, hanging up my mobile.

I unlocked the front door and dumped my back onto the floor. My mobile
beeped indicating that I received a text message. I walked into the kitchen
and grabbed packet of frozen peas and placed them on my eye. I winced in
pain as I could feel it sting slightly. I decided to relax on the couch and
watch the afternoon programs on television. I read the text message and got
details on how to get there and if I could catch a bus there. I had luck
finding a bus that went near by, the next one was in 45mins.I pushed myself
off the couch and walked into the bathroom. I noticed that my swelling had
gone down a bit. I stripped down and had a long hot shower. I dried and
dressed into a black button up collard T-shirt and dark blue jeans along
with brushing my teeth slowly due to my lips being tender and also spiking
up my hair with some hair spray..

I walked out of the house walked down the street to the bus stop. I didn't
have to wait long to hail the bus driver and hop on the bus.  I wasn't sure
how long the trip would take. I looked out the window at street signs and
also watching the different style of houses. You could notice that we were
slowly entering the rich and posh area of the neighbourhood.  It was now
twilight as I stepped off the bus. I walked down the street and to the
house number that was sent on my phone. I was nervous as I walked up to the
front door. The house had two big white polls and a massive wooden
door. Not to mention it was the biggest house I'd have ever seen. I rung
the door bell and was felt a sigh of relief when the door opened and the
kid that I stuck up for appeared from behind the door.

"Hey" Taylor spoke.

"Hey" I replied with a smile.

"Come on in" he gestured me to enter the house. I stepped into the front
hall observing the massive paintings hanging in golden frames.

"Hello" a familiar warm voice spoke. "I'd like to formally introduce myself
in person" the lady from the bus stop extended her hand. "I'm Taylor's
mother Christina Woods."

I extended my hand and we shook. "Yes, hello, nice to meet you, I'm
William."

"Why don't you take a seat in the lounge room and tell me a little about
yourself, I heard you're an exchange student."

I followed her and Taylor into the lounge room, it was massive, the lounge
itself was the size of my kitchen back in the apartment, and they had a
projector and a scream the size of the ones in the cinema on the wall.  I
took a seat near Mrs. Woods and Taylor.

"Yes I am" I smiled. "I'm from Australia. I lived on the Sunshine Coast in
the state of Queensland." I felt a little home sick talking about where I
cam from.

 "It's in on the east side of the country, on the sea side. We have amazing
beaches and coast lines, mountains, rainforest and a lot of wildlife such
as kangaroo's"

"So you like it here?" Taylor smiled. Mrs. Woods gave him a stern look.

I simply smiled. "It's been good so far. It's exactly what's portrayed in
the cinema."

A sound of a car pulled up out the front of the house. Mrs. Woods hopped
off the seat. "That must be out oldest son Brendan." She told me as she
walked to the front door.

`Brendan.' I though. `It couldn't be the same Brendan I know.' I started to
panic. `There must be loads of kids called Brendan at the school.'

The front door opened and all I could hear was. "Hey mum and Taylor, I'll
be down in a second, I'm going to have a shower."

`Crap.' I told myself, it was the same voice as the Brendan I new.

"Ok honey" Mrs. Woods called out. "Dinner is almost ready and we have a
guest, so please hurry."  Mrs. Woods made her was back into the lounge
room, I followed her into the dinning area.

"Mrs. Woods, would you like some help with dinner?" I asked politely.

"No, no, no" she reassured me. "You are our guest." She smiled. "It's the
least I can do after what you did for me son. And please, call me
Christina."

Taylor grabbed my hand and took me over to the dinning area, we sat down
and he was full of questions about how different my life was in Australia,
what saying we say and how much different our school were. Mrs. Woods
entered the dinning area and served our meals for us just as Brendan
entered the room.

"This is my oldest son, Brendan." She pointed at him.

"Nice to meet you." I said softly, the anger from today was starting to
burn on the inside of me.

Mrs. Woods took a seat next to Taylor and Brendan sat opposite me so I
could look at him while I ate. `God does he have to make this even harder?'
I asked myself. We began eating our beautiful roast lamb and roast
vegetables. It was served on big while plates. The cutlery was silver and
shiny. There were flowers and wine glasses on the table. I could tell
Mrs. Woods must have spent a while setting up for this meal. The roast
potatoes were delicious. I moved onto the roast lamb covered in grey. I cut
a small piece and placed it into my mouth.

"Ouch!" I yelled while covering my mouth. The roast lamb burnt my mouth. I
was in so much pain because my mouth was already saw and swollen from the
bashing previously from today.

"Quick, Brendan." Mrs. Woods called out. "Take William to the bathroom and
get some burn cream."

`No" I though as Brendan got up and moved around to the side of me. I
couldn't look at him. He gave my hand a tug and I got up and followed him
out of the room. We made out way into a massive bathroom. I still had my
eyes on the floor. I couldn't bear to look at him. I could hear him open a
draw and move things around. Soon something cold was on my lips.  looked up
to see Brendan applying some cream onto my lips.

"William" Brendan broke the silence.

"Please Brendan." I begged. "I just want to get through this dinner and go
home without crying."  Brendan looked hurt. He moved his arms around me and
pulled me into his chest. "I'm...sorry." He apologised.

I began to cry. "no." I said while pushing myself away from him. I wiped my
eyes and left him standing there. I made my way back down the stairs and
back into the dinning room.

While taking my seat, Mrs. Woods asked "are you ok?" with a concern look on
her face that enhanced her look from me to Brendan and back to me again.

"Oh I'm fine." I lied. "I have sensitive skin, so my eyes water if it's a
face related injury."  We went back to eating our meal. I was extremely
hard for me to sit there and look at Brendan. The anger and the hurt I was
feeling was begging to grow larger and larger by the minute. In new I
couldn't bear being in the room for much longer. I had to escape without
crying or making it looked like I was being totally rude.  I looked at my
watch while Mrs. Woods was looking over at me.

"Do you have to be somewhere?" she asked

"I didn't want to be rude." I lied "But my mum was going to call me in
thirty minutes."

"Oh I understand." She sighed while getting off her seat.

"I'm truly sorry." I spoke softly while leaving my seat. "Dinner was
amazing, I'm sorry I have to dash, I would love to catch up some other
time." I smiled. Mrs. Woods and her family escorted me to the door. I
smiled and waved back as I walked down the long concrete driveway.

I was just down the street when a single tear rolled down the side of my
cheek while listening to a car from behind me slow and roll beside me. I
was scared. Was someone going to try and kidnap me, I prepared myself to
fight and also was building up a scream just in case I couldn't fight this
person off. The car came to a stop, I could hear someone opening and
closing the door. This was it. I could hear the footsteps coming towards
me. I wasn't going to look back now, I was in fright mode. I had the choice
to fight or flee. I new I couldn't fight anyone especially with the
injuries I already have obtained from earlier today. `Now' I told myself,
making my feet move faster and faster. I could hear the footsteps behind me
not slow down but pick up to my pace.

"Stop, William, It's only me."  A familiar voice called out. I new it was a
safe voice but also the voice I feared most. I came to a stop realising I
wasn't in immediate danger. I turned to face him. I was surprised to see
him standing so close to me.

"Please let me drive you home." Brendan pleaded while grabbing my hand.

I couldn't say a thing. My mind said no but my body said yes. I wanted to
scream at myself as I watched my feet take steps towards the car. I
couldn't believe my body would portray me like this. My body led me in the
hands of Brendan to the passenger side of the car. I couldn't believe
myself. I was sitting not only next to the person that hurt my feeling but
I was riding in his car.  We sat in silence the whole way back to my
apartment. The drive was a lot shorter than taking the bus. Brendan pulled
up in my driveway. I had mixed emotions. This was the same guy who had hurt
me by kissing someone else. Yet here he is now driving me home. I mumbled a
small "thank you" as I hopped out of his car and to my front door.  I
stumbled with my key to the door and dropped it. I wasn't in any rush to
pick it up. I was at the break of crying.  I looked down to see where they
had fallen but they weren't where I expected them to be. They were not on
the ground but in the hands of Brendan. He was leaning against the door
holding my keys out. I looked at his face and he pulled his gorgeous smile
revealing his beautiful perfect set of white teeth.

That smile made me lose control. I broke down crying. I could feel Brendan
grabbing me and pulling me tight against his warm chest.  All my anger
seemed towards him was now slowly being erased. It was slowly being
replaced with love again. I was falling in love again with the same guy
that had cheated on me. Yet it didn't matter because I felt safe, warm and
loved inside his arms.

He broke our hug and kissed me on my forehead.  "I'll never stop caring
about you William. I am here for you when ever you need me."

I was speechless. Brendan moved away. My eyes followed him as he made his
way to his car. He turned and smiled before hopping inside and reversed out
of the driveway. I was upset yet happy at the same time. I new I had to
sleep on this. Could I give him a second chance? Or was it too late?

*******

So what is going to happen between William and Brendan in the next chapter?
Please feel free to email me. Joel_Dark15@hotmail.com