At the end In the attic

Chapter 1

Chirping through the window could be heard through the slit of the rusted window, seemingly gluing it in place, as the morning light invaded the dark and musky room. Clothes strewn about the floor along with wadded up paper, and muddy shoes abandoned at the foot of the bed. The stench of bo, in other words, the scent of any teenage boy, not realizing his bo does indeed stink, filled the air even with the little air freshener plug-in in the corner, working it's damndest to clear the air. All the blissful morning activities of the house seemed to go unnoticed by the sleeping form thrown lazily upon his bed, ignorant of the world around him. The thick dark waves coming from his scalp covering his mocha skin as he sleepily reached out looking for the frames on his nightstand, one of the cleaner surfaces in this room, to get his hazel orbs to focus on his surroundings.

Sitting up, he furrowed his brow for a moment at the way his body moved before looking around sleepily. He wasn't sure as to why, though his body seemed to act older than his current age. "Well.... maybe going on the diet regime Dr. Sandra suggested it might help.. I mean I could easily cut out soda.." he thought to himself before his eyes landed on the pile of soda cans he had coming from his bedside trash can. Staring at it for a solid moment before shrugging and moving himself from his bed, sluggishly stretching and yawning as he limped a bit into the restroom to go and do his morning routine.

"Maria- .. no... Yes, I am aware of the circumstances.. I have already talked to my husband, he is on his way home.. it will be a few days, but I assure you the incident at school was just a misunderstanding. Matthew is a pacifist." Jocelyn's voice echoed from downstairs as her conversation with the woman on the other side continued. Jocelyn's pale freckled skin contrasted with her plain braided brown hair, her hazel eyes holding bags. Many would describe the mother as a kind-spirited woman, though her face was that of a resting b***h face, many would say, especially if anyone were to look in on her now as she tried to deescalate the events that transpired between her son and another at school. Maria, the mother of the other boy in question, wasn't exactly having it let alone seemed to rather talk to the male authority figure than Jocelyn. Especially as the abuse seemed to flow through her without any remorse, let alone care if she offended the woman or not. A heavy sigh left Matthew as he came down the stairs, his xxl shirt being pulled down as he came into the kitchen, seeing his mother pacing. He grimaced a bit as his clothes clung to him, they were a little loose now with some of the recent activities he had picked up, but he knew fully well what the call his mother was currently going on with was about. Signing to his mother he was going to head out, she shot him an apologetic smile as she signed back she loved him, as he took one of the "lovely" banana muffins she had on the table and began walking to school. His bag on his shoulder as he looked to the others also heading on their merry way, eating the muffin. As he went down the sidewalk he saw a familiar silhouette coming out of a house a few blocks down, a small groan escaped him as he tried to keep up a poker face as he came up to Anthony.

"Matty!! Hey man, saw what you did to Cameron on the field yesterday!" Anthony's words pierced through the air as Matthew clenched his jaw and looked down nervously, before being slapped on the back by his friend. "You should have told me, I'd taken care of him." The words stung, the thought of having Anthony yet again stand up for him, and handle his issues just was no longer sitting well with Matthew. Feeling more and more like a burden, despite his own size and demeanor, Matthew was as dangerous as a wet teddy bear. Though he'd be lying if he said he wasn't thankful to Anthony. The two had known each other since elementary school, even with puberty hitting Matthew, in his own words, with a bus full of puberty and mental health issues. Anthony seemed to be struck by lighting and a silver spoon, especially after his father was promoted. Granted, Anthony never changed from his over-protective and carefree ways of his friend. Matthew still couldn't help but wonder why Anthony would bother wasting any time on him.

"Y-Yeah.. Well, I was just at the end of my rope.. And honestly, it was an accident.. If i hadn't seen the spider on his shoulder i wouldn't have freaked and hit him like out did," Matthew admitted, as he felt the vibration of his friends' bustrous laughter, seeing the mental image of his friend, who was a great deal bigger than Cameron, see a tiny spider and flip out so much in a panic smacked Cameron to next Tuesday.

"Christ! Mattie, that is so awesome," Anthony finally said after he caught his breath and shook his head in a bit of disbelief at his friend and his luck. Smiling brightly, he put his hand on Matthews' shoulder as they approached the last street to cross to school as the bell began ringing. "Shoot mcgoot- Hey don't forget, we're heading to Sarah's to watch Ghost Watchers new video!" He called back to Matthew as he headed for his school, not giving him a chance to really reply one way or the other.

Matthew shook his head as he felt his nerves flare up walking to his class. He just couldn't help but wonder for a moment, walking down the hall to his first class. He felt the ground below him get ripped up as he fell forward seemingly forever before meeting the cold dirt-ridden linoleum floor. Among the chatter and overall chaos of the halls, the cackling of the culprits could be heard as he slowly got to his feet. Muttering a few curses below his breath as he gathered his things and looked up, seeing them walk away giving one another a high five as they passed by Sarah. Her warm chestnut curls clung against the constraints of the oversize hair tie constantly at war in trying to keep the untamed curls at bay, her baggy sweater teasing at what was below it though her frame was well known to Matt. Something he secretly prided himself on, though he would tell himself it wasn't as creepy as he knew most would count it as. His hazel eyes lingered a moment too long as her pale emerald green eyes looked over to him, almost through him, as a polite, almost reflexive smile left her to him as she nodded and continued on her way. Something that Matt would let himself be the hopeless romantic about the idea of her possibly giving him subtle hints.

Despite Ms. Sarah graced Matthew with her presence. In other words, the brief encounter in the hall, his day was rather slow, and the different excuses he kept coming for making himself not go, let alone have time to join Anthony, seemed to just sound like just that. Excuses. So, instead, he looked at himself now in the reflection of his phone reading the time. He couldn't help but grimace. Shaking his head, he closed his eyes, leaning his head back as he waited and gave himself a moment to come to terms about being there. Along with maybe finding a fantastic excuse to just turn around and head home. Anything that could come to mind would have been a great idea when going home about then. He just wasn't too sure how much longer he would have to wait before Anthony would finally appear. He also wasn't too sure why, when he opened his eyes with a slightly confused look of confusion scrunched all over his facial features as he faced Anthony and his tiny entourage. Though the simple fact that Anthony kept mouthing sorry confused the absolute s**t as to why, not least until he saw one of the girls with him was Sarah. Quickly adjusting his messenger bag to his front he looked a little more than a little annoyed at the minor inconvenience.