Boy

"As you grow older, you will discorver that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, and one for helping others."

~Audrey Hepburn

⚜BETHANY'S P.O.V.⚜

I was awoken by the sound of voices shouting.

I'm sure it's from our neighbor.

I peeked at my window.

I didn't mean to eavesdrop but, I just couldn't help it.

"You think that's ironic? Let me tell you what ironic is, do you know the feeling when someone enters your life and changes it? Or better yet makes it better? And then you get married and poof she's gone and you're the fckng reason why she's dead!" It was our neighbor.

Mr. Holland.

And his son, Thom Fiennes.

I heard that his parents were supposed to name him Jack Holland Jr. but, his parents fought when he was about to be born and they got a divorce so, her mom just named him Thom and carried her surname.

"Dad please! I came all the way here to tell you that I'm living with you and all you do is send me away?! I thought you said you're better than Mom! You're much worse! You're the worst!" Thom shouted.

His Dad held a knife and pointed it on Thom.

I think I should do something.

Thom's cute!

Yeah right.

I ran downstairs as quickly as possible and opened the main door and baged into Mr. Holland's house.

"Oh, I think that's not ironic after all. You wanna know what's ironic? Me stabbing this knife in your back repeatedly to make you feel how I feel!" When He was about to stab Thom, I grabbed his arm.

"Mr. Holland, you don't have to do this. He's your son. And you don't wanna get into trouble now don't you? I know you don't know me but take this advice, just because Tara, died that doesn't mean you have to shut everyone out! Thom needs you! Even if you and Tara broke up that doesn't change the fact that he is still your son! You need each other! And if you dare stab anyone with that knife I will make sure you go rot in your dusty jail cell." I spoke up.

I smiled at Thom and he smiled back.

So hot! I cannot take this!

"You want to know the reason why Tara and I broke up?" He asked and I shook my head.

"Not interes-" He cut me off.

"It's because, she said I would be the worse Father and that I was the worst Husband alive. I tried my best Bethany. I tried, but she just couldn't accept it. She was like telling me to try harder. She used to say 'I love you too' before but when Thom was about to be born, she didn't dare reply to my sweet or cheesy lines and jokes and just ignored me. Until one day, I couldn't stand it anymore! So I just asked her what was the problem and she told me I was the problem. I was the fckng problem. And that she couldn't take it anymore. She told me to sign the divorce papers that were on top of her table. As soon as I did, she took it, packed her bags, went to the hospital and never showed up." I wasn't quite interested.

"Like I said, I'm not interested. And Thom don't you have class? Wanna stay at my house for the night? And then we can settle it tomorrow." I told him and he nodded.

He carried his duffle bags and pulled them.

"So, what school do you go to?" I asked.

Me and Auntie might drop him off.

"Erm- I just enrolled at Lakeshore University yesterday and I-I was wondering if-" I cut him off.

"Great! We'll drive you there." I smiled at him reassuringly.

I opened our door.

"Drake! Drake?" I climbed the stairs and opened Drake's door.

"Drake get your lazy *** up! We got a visitor! His name is Thom Fiennes. He's staying here for the night erm- family problem." I told him.

"I don't feel well Bethany. Can I skip class today? And can you tell my teacher?" He replied.

I touched his neck.

Oh God he is burning.

"You got a fever Drake! I'll stay at home and take care of you. But first, I gotta get our excuse letters and I'll go with Thom to school, give the excuse letters to our teachers and come back here." I told him.

"Okay." He agreed.

"Be right back!" I told him and ran downstairs.

"Thom! I'm afraid we haven't properly introduced ourselves. I'm Bethany Emma Rogers and I'm a 9th grader at Lakeshore High. And I got one sibling, Drake Enrique Rogers. My parents are in Paris. Having a business trip. My Aunt is just around. You'll meet her later. Don't worry, she's nice." I stretched my hand out and he shaked it.

"Hi Bethany. I'm Thomas Robert Fiennes. My mom is Tara Lovelyn Fiennes and she died when I was 13. She got into a car crash. Drunk driving. She and my Dad had a fight. They were trynna make it work again but, it didn't work out well. I stayed at my Grandma's when she died and my Grandma grew tired of me so, she sent me away last week. I searched for my Father, and found him here. And he didn't want me. And you saved me Bethany, thank you. And you're beautiful." He said smiling.

Thomas huh?

"Don't worry about it Thom. And Thanks for the compliment." I replied.

"Don't mention it." He winked at me.

"Oh really huh? What if I want to?" I purred running my hands down his chest.

Oh fck I'm flirting!

"Then I'm gonna make you not want to." He responded grabbing my hand from his chest.

Oh hell no!

Someone cleared their throat.

"Auntie!" I shouted awkwardly.

"It's already 6:30 child, I think you should be getting ready. I'm taking you to school when the clock hits 7:30. And who is this boyfriend of yours?" She asked.

"She's not my boyfriend Auntie. He's just a friend. He's Mr. Holland's son. Aunt Fran, meet Thom erm- I mean Thomas Fiennes. Thom, meet my Aunt Frannie. He's staying here for the night if you don't mind. Oh, it's my house anyway. Drake has a fever and he won't be going to school. I am not going too and I'm just gonna take Thom there and give my and Drake's excuse letter. And Thom, go upstairs and walk to your left. And then open the second door to your right. That'll be your room." I said trynna catch my breath.

"Easy there now." She said rubbing my back.

I went to the cabinet and opened the "Fever, Drake" Drawer and the "Babysitting, Beth."

We wrote several excuse letters when we were 13 and made our parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents sign them.

Sometimes, we sign each other's letters pretending to be someone.

I opened the letter that Drake made and read it.

To whom it may concern;

Please excuse me for being absent. And I'm sorry because I have Fever today. I promise to attend school as soon as possible. Please kindly inform my other Subject Teachers the reason of my absence. Thank and May God Bless You!

Your Truly,

Drake Enrique Rogers

Sign by,

Frannie Weston

Aunt

I laughed when I read it.

I opened mind and read it too.

Dearest Adviser,

I sincerely apologize that I cannot attend my class today. My youngest cousin visited us and he will stay for the rest of the month. Lately, he was suffering from colds and coughs and it has gotten worse. And nobody else can take care of him so please understand. And please kindly inform my other Teachers the reason of my absence for today. I will attend my classes when he has gotten better or if I can look for someone to take care of him.Thank you very much for understanding!

Truly Yours,

Bethany Emma Rogers

Sign by:

Bertha Elise Rogers

MOTHER

Those are pretty good excuses!

We were so clever.

"Bethany." Someone called out making me snap out of my thoughts.

"Yeah?" I asked.

It was Thom.

"I'm not going to school today. It's just that, I wasn't getting any much sleep lately because I have been working full time to earn money to go here and, erm- I think I'm gonna skip school today and start tomorrow." He said.

I just nodded and smiled.

"Okey dokey. Just make yourself at home and tell me when you need anything. Okay?" I asked and he nodded.

"Auntie! Give me 10 minutes to get ready! And then we'll go to school to drop our excuse letters!" I shouted filling up a glass with water and taking one Ibuprofen gel.

I ran upstairs and opened Drake's door.

"Drakey! Drink this and I'll get you a jacket." He took the glass of water and medicine and I opened is closet.

I grabbed a jacket and wore it on him.

I turned on the heater and wrapped him with the blanket.

"I'll just drop our excuse letters and I'll bring you food." I told him and opened his door.

I ran inside my room, changed my clothes, brushed my teeth, fixed myself and went downstairs.

"What took you so long?" My Aunt asked.

I grabbed the letters, unzipped my backpack and shoved them inside.

I zipped my backpack again and wore it.

"Auntie, it took me 3 minutes to give Drake medicine,make him wear a jacket, turn on the heater, and tuck him to bed, 3 minutes to pick an outfit and change, 2 minutes to brush my teeth, a minute to fix myself, and a minute to come downstairs. I'm just in time." I replied and headed for the door I opened it and leaned against the car.

Thom was staring at me from his room.

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