[ youngest son ; maple & shades & losers ]

[shades]

James Skyes ; ;

Blinking, James picked up the book protectively to his chest as he watched her leave; his Belle leave. In the instant the tapping of his foot began once again as the blood disappeared from his face. Moving quietly, he kept the book with him as James finished putting the rest of the books away. By color and number, organized and tidy.

He wouldn’t let go of the book until Belle wanted it back, holding onto it for her. His fingers wrapped around the binding, and tightened when someone passed as he was afraid they would steal it. Not even his mother or father could get the book away from him, letting it sit on his lap, sleeping with it under his pillow, tucking it somewhere safe in his room until he saw the kind girl again.

The tapping of his feet continued as James made his way over to the counter where his mother worked, the book clutched in his arms as his blue eyes looked downwards with each step. Fingers drummed on the book quietly, the tapping to his heart as James Skyes was sure that was the perfect beat to his mind, thump thump thump.

Thump thump thump.

[Maple ♥]

{ Time Skip }

Belle Dupree:

    Belle hadn't had very much to eat that morning due to her alarm not going off on time and having to hurry and get to school if she wanted any practice in that day. She'd gone through her classes, stomach rumbling and her protein bar just not cutting it. So now that it was lunch, she was excited to eat. 

    As Belle munched on her salad and fruit, she glanced around the cafeteria boredly, surrounded by her friends at their designated table. On one half sat the jocks and football players that all her friends dated and on the other sat Belle and her buds. They were all sharing juicy gossip or whatever mean popular girls did that Belle never was really a part of. Belle only had one great friend out of the bunch, Madison, who was a blonde haired blued eyed beauty that all the boys swooned after. But unlike the other girls, she wasn't a slut, and actually a church going Christian. Belle liked her because of her standards and how she made her laugh - Belle didn't laugh about things very easily. Most times she was just caught up in her own mind, thinking of dance or school work. 

    Or, most recently, James Skyes, who she hadn't seen all day but hoped he'd find her during lunch like she'd offered him the day before. 

    Her eyes scanned the heads of people she didn't know, most she did though, and smiled subtly. Madison tried getting her attention a few times but Belle was too focused on finding the one person who actually interested her beyond anyone she'd ever met before. 

[shades]

James Skyes ; ;

Walking into lunch was always difficult for James to do because that was usually where the rude and obnoxious people tend to pick on James Skyes—resident idiot—because the cafeteria was unguarded and tended to be where things happened. James tried to avoid it, but he hadn’t found Belle in the studio and auditorium or even in the gym.

Clutching the book close to him, blue-gray eyes roaming in search of the girl who made him more human and normal. Once he spotted her, James barely registered who she was with and how they would stick up their noses when he approached and the jocks would nudge each other and glare.

His focus was on the girl he wanted to see the most, a smile (like Belle’s) creeping onto his face, as there was a happy, light, beat to his step as he came up to her from behind.

Unfortunately, he didn’t get very far when James felt himself being tugged back by his backpack—causing the young man to yelp and wiggle. His mind processing what was going on very slowly, realizing the jocks had left their table and circling slowly.

“Hey creep, leave our gals alone.” One ruddy brown, dark-eyed teen growled. Recognition spread on James face, remembering the guy from that morning. Fingers wrapped around the book tightly, blue eyes flashing with memory.

That morning he had walked into the restroom, eyes roaming as there were muffled moans coming from behind the stalls. Blinking, mind not registering what was happening as curiosity getting the better of the autistic young man. Staring, he watched as the young man who was currently threatening James in the cafeteria and a girl by the name of Olivia Marshall were doing something he didn’t understand.

Her mouth was pressed to his area, making James redden and look down at his own between the legs.

“Hey! Freak!” The peer and jock, who was Casey Thompson, called out to James. The book still pressed against his chest tightly as James left just as Olivia pulled her mouth away for her lip to curl into a snarl as they both called out to him; James didn’t go into that bathroom again, opting to find another choice.

Blue eyes looking wide into Casey’s own dark orbs, his innocence coming out. “You fucking freak, think you can just wander around and spread your idiocy.” The young man glared, shoving James back, the boy holding the book for dear life as he backed away.

Another one of the jocks shoved James forward, back towards Casey, roughly.

He wouldn’t fight, James refused to fight back or let go of the book Belle told him to hold. Instead he looked towards the back of said girl, who hadn’t noticed what was going on just yet; the other girls beginning to mumble, and even Olivia Marshall smirking at his torment.

[Maple ♥]

Bell Dupree:

    After a few minutes of not paying much attention, out of the corner of her eye Belle saw kids stumbling from all around the cafeteria to a spot behind her back. When she looked up slightly from her salad, pausing in her chewing and holding of her fork, she noticed that more and more of them were coming and glanced at Madison across from her quizzically. Madison's eyes got a bit wide, moving her gaze from Belle and over her shoulder pointedly to look behind her. That was enough to make Belle's curiosity boil over, her head snapping around to see what was the hubbub. 

    There were too many kids around the 'fight circle', though Belle knew that's what it was because the jock, jerk-ass boyfriends of her girl's table were always getting into them during lunch when no one could stop them. Not seemingly too interested, Belle rolled her eyes and went back to eating her food dully, not knowing it was James in the center of the bullies being pushed around just yet. 

[shades]

James Skyes ; ;

It didn’t take long before they all were shoving James around the circle, the autistic boy clutching the book tightly and closing his eyes with each time. It wasn’t until one jock pulled him close to grab the one thing James wouldn’t let go of, prying at it and trying to force the book out of his hand. “What stupid, afraid we’ll see your porn?” He snarled, shoving James away while still holding onto dear life. His grip still tight as Casey grabbed the hem of his neck, jerking him back.

With a garbled choke, James wiggled and squirmed in the hold of the brute. “You need to be taught not to spy on the goings on in the bathroom.” Casey growled, his hand snapping across James cheek; making his face turn with the pressure of the slap.

His knees buckled under him as some laughter erupted from the crowd, others looked worried but weren’t brave enough to stand up to the jocks. His mouth opened in a silent protest, a scream of help, but all he could do was hold onto the book Belle gave him for dear life; waiting for blows to come like they always do.

[Maple ♥]

Belle Dupree:

    Belle was trying to ignore the chanting and the yelling, but it was starting to take over the peacefulness of her mind and she wasn't the type of girl to stand back and not do something when people were being jerks. And she especially wasn't going to tolerate her lunch being interrupted by some jerks. So, sighing, annoyed, she moved dully from her seat to go break up the party. Madison called after her, but Belle just pushed through some kids in the crowd mumbling half-hearted 'excuse me''s as she pushed by. It wasn't until she saw the familiar garbled hair and pale skin of James Skyes in the middle od the circle that her eyes widened and she was moving in almost super speed. 

    After a good shove to one of the jocks, whom she realized was Michael Banks, Belle got past the barrier of the circle with her breath hitched in her throat, eyes wide with panic. She'd arrived just in time to see Casey land a heavy slap across James' handsome face, sending Belle's mind into over load. Her usual organized and well thought out mind turned ice cold along with her heart, which froze instantly at the sight. And then it began to boil with untainted, extremely real, nasty anger. She was stomping towards Casey in no time, fists clenched along with her jaw, eyes filled with fire. 

    "Get your disgusting hands off of him, right now!" Belle almost screamed in the jocks face, shoving him back as hard as her well muscles arms could muster. Belle wasn't one who supported or acted out in anger often, but this had severed her line of thought and nothing was coherent now except at how furious she was. She knew Casey, she'd almost dated him the year before but he'd got sick of the fact she didn't want him in her pants and didn't allowed him to touch her boobs. He'd been dating Kensy Hodgins for a few months now. Belle pushed him back again, kind of like a feeble girl against a tall, strong guy, but she was so angry it felt like lava in and all around her body. "Don't touch him!"

    Before he could react she spun around and walked towards James, wanting to comfort him, but not knowing if he'd be okay with her touching him. Instead her eyes sadly trailed over his reddened face, her heart breaking at the sight. Oh man she was mad. "Oh my gosh James, are you okay?" she asked, wanting to put herself between Casey and James at all costs, her body rigid and heated at the moment with her pumping adrenaline. 

[shades]

James Skyes ; ;

Blue eyes opened at her voice, mouth moving in a sentence, wanting to tell her to get away and let him get his beating due. Darting over her features, he grimaced as Casey came up speaking to Belle. “Hey, babe, get away from the creep; his stupidity might rub off.”

James looked over her, the book tight in his palms which would have to be forced from his cold dead hands if the guys wanted it. Slowly getting up, someone grabbed his shoulder almost immediately—making James yelp and another roar of laughter and mocking coming from the crowd of horrendous teens. Well, those who wanted to beat him up. But in James’ mind, everyone was laughing at him.

He just wanted to admire Belle and make music, was that all he could ask for?

But the bullies were about to give him the biggest beat down he’s ever received.

[Maple ♥]

Belle Dupree:

    Belle pushed Casey away with her arm again, sneering uglily at him. "The only stupid one around here is you, Casey. Don't talk about James that way," she demanded, moving to actually touch James' elbow softly. "James, are you okay? Show me you're okay," she asked of him, blue-green eyes shining with worry. 

    Somehow Michael, whom up until this situation Belle didn't have a problem with, gave Casey a knowing look and stepped forward, his hands gripping Belle's waist and instantly tugging her back. Belle yelped, hands flashing to pry his grip from around her, tugging her away from James. A bit of panic welled in her throat, coming out in high pitched growl and then more hysterical. "Let go of me!" she protested, eyes flashing over James as she was being tugged away from him and then closing as she fought against Michael. "Stop!" her head whipped from side to side, her feet kicked in protest. She tried elbowing Michael and to get back to James who was now too far away from her for her to save him. 

    Matty Dupree hadn't yet reached the cafeteria, but he was on his way. 

[shades]

James Skyes ; ;

Feeling Belle leave his presence, and seeing her in distress made something click in his mind. James hurriedly moved to help her, one hand reaching out to hold her comfortingly; but he was bypassed by a boy shoving him towards Casey Thompson and the jock punching him, hard. Thrown off balance, the book slid from his grasp, making James Skyes scramble for it.

But it was snatched up by some other boys, laughing as they flickered through the pages; “hey look, he really is interested in women who are out of league. Even prostitutes in the Great Depression wouldn’t sex up the freak!” They laughed, snapping the book and tossing to another as James was violently trying to get it.

He was entrusted with that book. Even though he could run away, hide, and be safe from the bullies—in his mind the book was more important than himself. Reaching up to get it, he was grabbed by multiple hands and dragged back to the awaiting Casey.

Spinning around roughly, dizzily, on his black converse; James was greeted with another fist to the face. Feeling the hot and sticky red blood dripping down his nose as he straightened out, the boy jeered, “aren’t you going to fight back?”

But his blue eyes only darted to the book someone was holding carelessly, and then to Belle.

“What, freak can’t speak? What a mute idiot.” Someone spoke, James feeling a jab to his ribs; causing him to be knocked off balance and fall on his butt. Looking up at them, the crowd, he knew he was public humiliation. Even Belle’s voice couldn’t drown out the thoughts going through his head.

Messed up.

Filthy.

Helpless.

No.

Worthless.

Stop.

No.

Go away.

No attention.

Failure.

Disappointment.

NO.

Fight.

Stupid.

Alone.

NO.

Then his blue eyes trailed to Belle fighting against the grip of Michael, not realizing he was on the ground and breathing heavily; pain shooting through his abdomen as James curled in on himself. Sadly, he was looking at the girl who was fighting for him, even when he was all those thing. And he thought:

Her.

[Maple ♥]

Belle Dupree:

    Belle let out a shout of protest as Casey hit James, called him names, took the book she noticed he'd been clutching, hurt him. "Stop it!" her whole body was moving to run to him but damn Michael's arms held her back. Suddenly, ravenously, her nails dug into Michael's forearm and he yelped a bit, grip loosening. 

    "Crazy bitch," he cursed in a croak, as Belle stepped away from him and kneed him right in the soft spot. Down he went like a sack, leaving her strangled body free from his touch so she could run to James side. But that never happened. No. Michael's friends, amused expressions turning to anger, didn't like that Belle had hurt their bud and came after her next in a fit of anger. Her arms flailed out wildly, trying to push away any part of them that she could. Michael's friend Jack somehow got ahold of her wrist, and then his hand slipped behind her head to steady her. With a shriek Belle was thrown to the ground in a mess of hair and limbs. Now might've been a time where she was in danger, but her only mind set was to go after James and be with him. Now both on the floor, their eyes met as Belle tried to suck in the breath that had been knocked out of her. She looked so panicked and scared for him, her heart pounding so fast and her body sore. She didn't notice the guys grabbing her ankles to pull her backwards out of the crowd so that Casey could finish his business with James. 

    She fought them though, wrenching her body this way and that as they started to drag her. Why wasn't anyone helping her? She'd only even been nice to everyone, why weren't they telling them to stop? She clawed at the ground, digging her nails into the tile so harshly they broke and bleed a bit. Just as she was about to kick her leg towards Jack's head, a roar of a voice projected through the crowd. "GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM MY SISTER."

    Instantly, all the boys stopped. Matthew Dupree, star quarter back, most popular guy at East high, was standing, shoulders raised, fists clenched, eyes made of fire. Oh hell to the fucking no you don't mess with Matty's sister. Instantly Belle's feet were released, and she didn't even wait to see what was going on, just moved towards James to help him in his mess of blood and curled up body. "James," she hadn't noticed she was crying, moving to cradled his head a bit and not caring that her own lip was busted up from being shoved to the floor. This had easily turned from a harsh bullying to a severe beating. And not one teacher had seen it go down. 

    Belle's shaking fingers pushed back some of James' hair, holding his head in her lap lovingly. They'd just met, sure. Everyone thought he was a loser and stupid and dumb and all she wanted to do was tell him how special and amazing he was. She'd only known him for a few days and he'd turned her life upside down, just ever so slightly. This whole thing had gotten out of control, and would later find out that Jack and Michael had been on drugs during the fight and didn't realize they beat up a girl and a kid. Belle wouldn't be pressing charges, would make sure Matty didn't tell.

    Yeah, speaking of Matty, while Belle had been trying to console James, he'd literally laid Casey on his ass. The punch was swift and deadly, thanks to eight years of karate. He was yelling profanities at him and threatening to 'fuck him up if he ever fucking dared to even glance at Belle' and stuff. Jack had backed off and helped Michael to his feet and Belle just cried softly while trying to help James any way she could; support his neck, hold him, something. God this was mess. How had this even happened?

    She didn't even realize most of the crowd had slipped away, not interested in a mess like this. 

[shades]

James Skyes ; ;

James felt someone pick his head up delicately, and learning it was Belle made him smile slightly. His vision blurry, and each blink was heavy but hey—he was still awake at least. Hand reaching out to grasp the book which had falling near them, he picked it up in delicate fingers to hold it tight. An apologetic look on his face as James had let it go, he couldn’t hold onto it for her. He was weak.

But she was still with him at least, as his fingers made twirls and his heart was the beat to them music. One eye of James was firmly closed and his lip and nose were spouting blood, the iron taste in his mouth; blood was red, and warm, and James hated it on his person from many years of feeling it on his person as the class idiot who got punched.

That was why he hated red and wearing it.

Eventually, as the bell rang, the students were filing out and a teacher noticed the fallen student. Recognizing instantly, having been one of her students from previous years. Quickly, she called to the nurse, alerting her of the horrible condition one student was in and to come over right away.

James was still in his own world with Belle though, he really didn’t notice much besides her. Moving the book to his chest to clutch.

He wouldn't be happy when the nurse insisted the gym teacher carry James to her office, and shoo Belle and Matty back to class after patching up the little scratch on her lip and then call his mother to pick him up. His blue eyes would fight to look at her dark features for eternity, and when she left him; he wouldn't be the same.

Thankfully he hadn't broken anything, but bruises and beatings.

Without Belle by him at home, or knowing he would ever see her again, it would bring James down.

It would be bad.

And very worrying.

[Maple ♥]

Belle Dupree:

    Belle protested against the nurse with a shout of, "He needs me!" But eventually Matty had to drag her away and she complied, shaking pretty badly and eyes trailing after James as they headed not to class but out the front door of the school and into the parking lot. Matty was cursing under his breath, holding Belle tightly to him, and all she did was stay quiet and sniffle, feeling horrible and helpless and just wanting to run back to James. 

    Her lip felt fat as Matty led her into his truck and slipped into his own seat, clutching the wheel tightly. "We're pressing charges."

    Belle's head snapped up and she shifted her body towards her brother. "No, Matty. No. The only person pressing charges should be James."

    Matty was quiet for a second, looking out into the parking lot with a clenched jaw and knuckles tight around the wheel still. He said it quietly, "Belle, are you sure this guy was worth throwing yourself into the middle of things for?" he still didn't face her. Belle felt her mouth drop open slightly. Was he thinking it was okay for them to hit James? Or anybody for that matter?

    Belle sucked in a breath and Matty finally looked at her, realizing he'd said what he had. "No I didn-"

    She was shoving the car door open roughly, betrayal hitting her hard in the chest. Before she slammed the door closed, Belle gave Matty an evil glare, one he didn't know she was capable of giving. "You're one of them, Matty," she spat, then the door was shut so loudly by a move of her sore muscles as she began to run towards town; anywhere but school and her dumb brother and just away. 

    Lauren Skyes:

    Lauren was enjoying a bit of yoga; she started it when more wrinkles showed up on her face and she had time off of work. Her body was bending into the crane when her phone buzzed on the counter, interrupting her peace, and making her sigh in irritation. Not recognizing the number, she answered kind of haughtily with, "What?"

    When she heard the news, her yoga matt was left behind as she ran towards the foyer to grab her purse and keys.

    No one touched her baby. 

    

[shades]

James Skyes ; ;

Ever since the beat down at school Monday, James hadn’t gone; in fact, his mother had gone into momma bear mode and ranted for an hour. He had heard her and his father fighting about his schooling, whether he stays, goes to a special school, or be homeschooled. His shoulders slumped forward, stomach rumbling which he astutely ignored. James Skyes hadn’t left his room in a week, instead sitting in a huddle on his bed, in the corner of the wall, face buried in his knees and his arms clutching a pillow.

His nose and eye were bruised, and they were littered on his body; when James lifted up his shirt, the purple and blue reminded him of how much of a mess up he was.

Then there wasn’t Belle. Sweet Belle, who made him feel human. The girl who stopped the constant beat from his fingers and feet, making it continue with their in-sync hearts. Sad gray eyes looked over the book she had told him to hold on too, and he would, until he died.

James ignored his parents call for lunch, or dinner, or breakfast; he wasn’t sure. Merely staring lifelessly at the blue walls of his room, the guitars hanging on the wall, the desk with papers and books neatly stacked, each instrument he owned with its own place. There was a pile of sheet music near each one, waiting to be read, but James never really read it and instead played the tune by memory.

Huddled, feeling like the world and his family hated him, James wanted one person to come and comfort him. Not his mother who rocked him back and forth, or his father who buried his nose in James’ hair, not Drew who would be fighting to murder the boy who did this to him, or David who would be holding his girlfriend back.

Belle.

James Skyes needed Belle and that was all to it.

[Maple ♥]

Lauren Skyes:

    James hadn't eaten in almost a week, and it was starting to scare Lauren. He couldn't last much longer than that healthily, but Lauren didn't want to force him to go the hospital because he hated them so much. It broke her heart and infuriated her that the school had let him get hurt, and even more so that not one damn kid had tried to stop the bullies from hurting her baby. 

    Except that girl. 

    The nurse had spoken of a girl who also go hurt somehow in the fight, and instantly Lauren knew it had to have been Belle. The only girl or person or friend James had met and talked to and Lauren was determined to get him help. And if Belle was the only person that could get to him, so bed it. 

    Lauren Skyes was desperate at this moment. 

    So she called Bell Dupree, who answered on the third ring. 

Belle Skyes:

    She'd rushed over as soon as she got the call, driving her dad's SUV because she still wasn't on speaking terms with Matty. Belle's heart was pounding the whole drive to the unfamiliar house, following the directions her phone gave her towards the address Mrs. Skyes had given her. Belle didn't even care if it was weird or strange that all of this was happening to her; James was the only thing on her mind as she pulled up infront of his house and parked the car. 

    Belle was out and at the front door quickly, jumping a bit in her step because her patients of seeing him was thin. And if what his mom said was right, that he hadn't eaten or spoken to anyone, she hoped she could at least comfort him somewhat. Her hand knocked roughly, but the door opened before the second knock since Lauren had been waiting for her to pull up. "Hi, Belle. Come in," the nice woman said, letting Belle inside. 

    After a bit of small talk and Lauren saying sadly, "He'd in his room...but Belle...don't get upset if he doesn't talk or speak to you. He hasn't all week."

    Belle was up the stairs quickly after greeting Mr. Skyes sweetly and impatiently, and was soon knocking on James' door softly. "James?" she asked, her voice tight, hurt. She could've cried for how bad she felt for him, how much she wished she could help. "It's me, Belle. C-Can," she swallowed, making sure to put on a nice smile. "Can I come in?"

[shades]

James Skyes ; ;

He almost thought his mind was playing tricks on him—it did that sometimes—hearing Belle’s voice. It took her the third knock and speaking again for James to act on the hopeful whim it was her, flying across the bed and opening the door hopefully. Blue eyes widening as he noticed it was her, she had come to see him. James looked down at his apparel, loose t-shirt (it wasn’t supposed to be that baggy on him, fyi), and jeans held tight by a belt. It gave away to how much weight he had lost.

Blushing scarlet, his eyes trailed over her cut on her lip; a finger tentatively moving out to touch it softly. There was unspoken apologies on his face as he did so, sad and angry his Belle got hit and hurt.

After a moment like that, his arm snapped back to the side and James moved to sit back in the corner of his bed. A bit more open though, his hands clasped in his lap as he leaned against the wall. His gaze drinking in her appearance, tanned skin, dark hair, blue eyes—like his—all of which anxious and wanting to see him. James was grateful for that, wishing he could hug the girl and hold her; but no he was too freakish to be like that.

She was just a kind person treating him normally. That’s what he loved about Belle.

Staring, James didn’t realize he was staring and not tapping until it was too late; his face heating up again as his head turned to look at the wall again. Quiet, making sure she wouldn’t leave him but if she did there was nothing he could do and then he would be alone.

Twiddling his thumbs, he let Belle enter and look around his room; just happy for her presence.