《Boyhood》


 Chapter One

    September 2013


    "Scream. Scream. Scream your heart out. Scream. Scream. Scream your heart out for me. You''re crazy."


    I trill in a soprano. Softly lifting my head; raven, unkempt locks falling against my bloodily soaked cheeks.


    "Crazy for me, baby."


    I step one baby-doll shoe forward to lean on my knee, the other follows same. My blindingly, bright blue maid dress blowing over my knees onto the wood.


    "Yell. Holler. Bellow your heart out. I can hear you. I love to hear you scream. Oh, you''re crazy."


    My fake cough is soft, I try not to ruin my breathing. I press the blood bag on my abdomen inside my dress. The tubes bloodshot my eyes under the purple irises. Cold, red tears fall down my rose cheeks onto the pearl frill covering my chest.


    "As am I, baby."


    Maniacally, I laugh. Louder and louder until a sudden stop. Blankly, I stare ahead finishing the song in a long exhale.


    "Forgive me."


    At first there is an overwhelming silence, then a sudden roar of applause bellowing throughout the dark, crowded room. My stomach drops as a chill rush up my spine. I stand up, spotlight blinding me. I don''t care that I couldn''t see, the applause is all my body feels.


    The giddily host skips onstage patting me gently on the head.


    "Incredible! Very beautiful voice. I''m absolutely stunned!"


    I bow, stepping off the stage to the other contestants unable to wipe off my smile. The judges nod in approval, only making it harder for me to relax my drying cheeks.


    The host continued,


    "That was Seven Cande cosplaying as Amanda from Amanda in Bloodyland singing ''Crazy'' by Vodka. You can follow him on Instagram at ''sevencande ''. Now, for the judges to decide who wins best cosplay for Mokoro Con 2013! Judges..."


    ¡á


    "Thank you again for the picture, Seven! It was nice meeting you finally. And congratulations again on your win!"


    The Japanese schoolgirl skipped away with the selfie of her "senpai" on her phone, ready to post it and tag me immediately. I love meeting my fans in person. Proves just how amazing of a being I am.


    I wave back with a little less excitement than the first wave,


    "Bye-bye!"


    "Can I get a picture as well?"


    A deep voice questioned from behind Dria and I. I turn to a see a familiar character wearing lumberjack outfit covered in blood and a skull mask.


    "Are you ''Guns''?!"


    He nods confidently pulling a slow spin. No need since it wasn''t complete. Where''s his shotgun? Or even the chainsaw? No weapon, no wonder I had to guess. If it weren''t for the detail-specific mask, I wouldn''t have been able to guess at all.


    "I use to have the accessories, but I got robbed a while back and I guess they thought my weapons were real."


    I clasp my hands together.


    "Or they were fans of the show."


    He chuckles tilting his head.


    "Maybe."


    Dria taps my shoulder,


    "Who is he cosplaying as?"


    Of course, she is asking as if I know every costume here. I whisper to her,


    "Guns. Amanda''s boyfriend? I told you to watch the show and you wouldn''t be asking me who everyone is."


    Dria shrugs to herself as he faces us again. He studies Dria''s colorful dress and asks her,


    "Who are you supposed to be?"


    "No one. I''m just following the theme with Sev."


    "Oh, well it''s working you look cool."


    "Thanks!"


    ''Guns'' pulls out his phone holding it between us snapping a picture. We take a few at different angles before ''Guns'' has an idea.


    "How about a kiss since we kill hallucinations together?"


    In character, I giggle softly quickly kissing him on the cheek as the boy snapped another picture.


    "Sev!"


    Dria exclaimed at me. She shouldn''t be shocked I jumped to the idea, but I guess she couldn''t help herself.


    "What? It''s just a peck on the cheek no big deal."


    "You don''t even know his name."


    "Valentine."


    He slides his mask off. He''s Asian with light chocolate skin and black, curly hair draping his wide shoulders. A sharp jawline that could cut wood, and big brown eyes to get lost in. He has a glowing smile, revealing his big cheeks.


    "My name is Valentine. And your lips are very soft, Sev."Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    Dria gasped to herself as I cock my eyebrow in surprise. I say slyly,


    "Thanks. You''re cute."


    Valentine''s smile grew cheekier.


    "Thanks, Seven. I love your content and your name. Your Amanda is scary accurate, except that gap in your teeth."


    I groan,


    "They are mine."


    And they''re always in the way.


    "I see that, but they''re cute anyways. It adds to her character crazy nature and makes your costume unique."


    Whatever, I thought to myself.


    "I better go, I''d stay for the rave but a lot of us has school tomorrow."


    Dria jumps in suddenly,


    "Muskegon High?"


    "Huh? Oh, yeah."


    Both my thick brows jump in surprise,


    "Really? Us too."


    "Sweet. Guess I''ll see you guys tomorrow. Thanks for the pic. I know you got a lot of people asking you, so it means a lot. And congrats on your win. You really do have a pretty voice. You mind if I post the video on my page?"


    I nod in approval,


    "Let me follow your Instagram."


    "Sure."


    ¡á


    "You know who that was right?"


    Dria laughs dryly as we walk out of the Mokoro Center. Her back-long hair blowing in the cold Michigan wind. She shivers, cursing to herself for not wearing a coat. She wanted to match with me, even if it included a sleeveless maid dress and tights.


    "He said his name was Valentine, so I assume h¡ª"


    "Valentine Van Allen."


    Dria cut me off before I could make a sarcastic comment.


    "Sounds familiar..."


    "His parents'' own ''Heyweed Dispensary''? They have those bong-fire parties?"


    "AH yeah! Cool, didn''t think I''d see him there."


    "No shit. Not only that, but you kissed him. I bet you he thinks you''re a girl. You should wear more dresses to school, you look so cute in them."


    "Yeah? And get my ass beat by Viktor every day? I''m not ever in the mood for that shit."


    I slide the fake-blood soaked wig off my strawberry blonde head.


    "But thanks anyways."


    "He needs to get his shit together cause you look so cute. What time do you have to be home again?"


    "Ten."


    Dria checks her pink phone.


    "Oh shit! It''s almost ten!"


    "So what? He''ll be fine. I''m sure he''d rather have me late than see me in a dress. Where''s your mom at?"


    "I''m calling her. Call him so he doesn''t worry!"


    "It''s fine, Dria. I''ll just text him."


    As I check my phone, I only see a spam of likes and comments from Valentine. My phone is still going off from the other people I had met today. He tags me in a post, it''s a video of me on stage. I look insane, I am a God at cosplay. As soon as he posted, it gains over fifty likes and a few comments. I''ll probably be the most liked post on his page, which I''m totally OK with. Which reminds me, another higher definition video will be posted on the Mokoro Con webpage. Since I won, I got a trophy and I''ll be one of the faces on their homepage. I can''t say I''m excited, I feel more as though I belong on there anyways.


    The likes and comments are going off, causing my phone to vibrate uncontrollably in my hand. Slightly annoyed, I set it on silent as a grey Sedan pulls up besides them.


    "You need to get dropped off, Seven?"


    Dria''s Mom asks as I hop in the back seat.


    "No, I can walk home. I just need to change. Thanks, Maria."


    ¡á


    I decided to detour from home to go to the gas station. It was on the way home anyways, I just wanted something to drink. The shit at the con were way to expensive and Dria''s place was as dry as the Sahara. Plus, I already know I missed dinner, and since Viktor wants to be strict when it comes to late night snacks, I don''t have much of a choice unless I want to die of low sugar. He doesn''t want us to be fat, I guess. Understandable, but some Kool-Aid isn''t going to suddenly make us fat.


    Immediately, I head to the back aisle where the drinks are and snatched an Arizona. I attempted to grab some chips as well, but I''m suddenly distracted by a strong urge. I don''t really need to buy this drink if I don''t need to. I have money, but if I can get away then why not?


    Looking around, I notice the clerks are talking to each other. One notices me, but I don''t show any suspicion. I wait until he isn''t watching me anymore before shoving the drink into the opposite pocket. I walk to the other side of the aisle, where I drop the bag to hurry the drink underneath the bloody dress next to my trophy. I struggle a little bit, because the blood is a lot fresher than I thought it would be after how long it''s been.


    "What do you think you''re doing?"


    The man appears over me suddenly. I stand quickly, heart dropping only for a second before I''m calm again.


    "Nothing. Just looking for my wallet out of my bag."


    "Really? Doesn''t look like that to me."


    I pull the can out; it''s covered in fake blood. I remain calm though i should be freaking out.


    "I was just seeing if it would fit. What? You think I can''t afford Arizona?"


    "I don''t know, I never seen you before. You could the stealing type and judging by that blood you might be crazy. That''s OK though, ''cause you''re a cutie."


    I roll my eyes.


    "I''m paying for it."


    The can is bloody on my fingertips, but I don''t care. I take that and the bag beginning to walk to the counter, but I''m stopped by a hand on my shoulder.


    "I''ll let you take it for a kiss, sugar."


    I slap his hand off cursing in Russian,


    "Excuse me?! Don''t get fucking punched, Perdoon stary!"


    "Ruger! Leave the kid alone, and stop being a creep."


    The other man behind the counter called uninterested. I slam the bloody drink on the shelf speed walking out the store before anything else could happen. Fucking gross, I think to myself. If I didn''t need a shower before I do now.


    ¡á


    At home, I walk in still frustrated over the incident at the gas station. I shouldn''t have stopped there. I''ve never been before, but I guess I shouldn''t go again. I take my phone out seeing the countless calls from my stepfa¡ª


    "Sasha!"


    I jump in place at Viktor''s voice. He walks into the den from the kitchen with a frown on his face. In Russian, he lectures me for coming home late. He asks about the blood my hand. About my bag. What I was doing. He''s being a complete drill sergeant. We go back and forth before he demands my phone. I deny at first, but then I give it up.


    "Until one week, I will give your phone back. How dare you make Mom worry?"


    He likes to forget he''s the stepdad. I couldn''t care any less, but I ask anyways to show I don''t care even more.


    "Did I miss dinner?"


    Viktor sighs in defeat,


    "Yes, Sasha, you missed dinner. Go to bed, you better not be late for bus tomorrow or I will take your door next."


    Viktor heads upstairs. I bean to the bathroom to piss, but instead I suddenly kicked the wall in. I curse at myself for losing my cool. Footsteps flood above him to the door. I open knowing exactly what is to happen.


    The drill sergeant smacks me on the side of the head,


    "Dubiina! Don''t ask for phone until you fix this."


    "Bullshit!"


    I shout. Another smack to the head, one that will leave a headache.


    "Go to bed. I don''t want to see your face for the rest of night. You almost woke your mother with your commotion."


    "She won''t awaken, vodka keep you sleep."


    Viktor side eyes me, unable to argue. He knows I''m right. I know I''m right. That''s why he can''t say shit.


    "Go to bed, Seven..."


    I walk pass him up the steps,


    "Perdoon stary..."


    "That''s what happens when you act up, Svenchka."


    Mom stops me, standing in her doorway in robe. She isn''t slurring, but i can smell the alcohol on her breath, and she looks like a mess. I bet she didn''t leave the house at all today. On a Sunday, too? No way, she stayed this way the whole day no doubt.


    "I''m going to bed, I''ll see you in the morning."


    "I left you some borscht in the fridge. Wait until Viktor sleeps and--"


    "I''m not hungry. I''m thirsty. You have anything to drink?"


    She is silent. I didn''t even realize how she could''ve taken that as an insult until after i said it.


    "Good night, Svenchka."


    I was ready to correct myself, but I decided to let it go and just go off to bed before I make another mistake.

 Chapter Two

    I yawn like a baby lion as I walk down the smooth sidewalk.


    ''Crazy'' by Vodka stuck in my head. I sing with him in my signature head voice. I don''t care whose around me, I love to sing, and I''ll do it until my lungs collapse. It would be better with headphones, but Viktor took everything. He gave my phone back but turned off the data so I can''t access the internet and kept my headphones. I already struggle with boredom, but now he''s just torturing me.


    I should''ve taken Demetri''s headphones before I left, shit.


    The bus arrives, I stop singing. It''s packed and everyone''s shit is in the walkway. It''s a fucking fire hazard and it''s cluttered. I step over shit to sit in the back with some noisy individuals. The song is still blaring in my head, I try to concentrate on it, but they''re so loud talking about nonsense I can''t focus.


    "Hey cutie, you a freshman?"


    I hear behind me, but I don''t pay attention. I don''t think they were talking to me any¡ª


    "I''m talking to you, Sunny."


    I turn around to the noisy white boy. He looks exactly like a parody of a white rapper, dressed in "designer" clothes with his ball-cap backwards.


    "Sunny?"


    "Yeah, your eyes are yellow like the sun. You a freshman? Or new?"


    "I''m a freshman."


    I turn back around trying to keep cool. There''s no walls to kick but I have a substitute behind me.


    "Leave her alone, Justin. Always bothering anyone with a coochie."


    I sigh heavily to myself.


    "Marissa, shut up. Hey, am I making you uncomfortable?"


    "Yes."


    I bluntly reply.


    She scoffs roughly,


    "See? Told you."


    I hadn''t noticed until she said something that another girl across from me is studying me.


    "Are you a girl?"


    I face her with a disappointing frown.


    "No..."


    I can hear Justin''s disgust.


    "Oh my god, don''t tell me you''re a tranny."


    The nerve on this mudak. I whip around to face him.


    "I''m not, but so what if I was? You''re rude as shit."


    "Who do you think you''re talking to like that?"


    "What are you the ''social police''? Everybody is so sensitive."


    Marissa thought her opinion mattered.


    I roll my eyes trying to defend my people. While I''m not transgender, I am gay. My morals are low but I''m not fucking heartless, and I hate when people are being insensitive. There''s no need for it. Especially when they are not here to defend themselves.


    "It''s just like calling a black person a nig¡ª"


    "Wow, white boy, don''t even try."


    Not-black-Samantha stops me. The point completely flies over her head.


    "Don''t try what? It''s the same thing."


    "It is not the same thing."


    She went on a rant about derogatory words as if I didn''t agree with her. All three of us went back and fourth over bullshit until eventually Marissa snaps,


    "Just shut up you fucking rat."


    I frown again, one insult I hate being called, because I know she''s referring to my teeth. They always do because they think it''ll hurt my feelings the most. My feelings don''t get hurt because I feel nothing. Nothing aside from anger.


    "Fuck you, you goddamn slut."


    Marissa is silent with surprise from my rebuttal. She chuckles for a moment, mouth wide enough for a dick to be shoved in.


    "Watch your mouth for I shove my fist in it."


    Justin growls. He too is shocked, they all are. I hear it in his shaky voice.


    I stand up, not realizing we''ve arrive at school. I''m too pissed to care. I can feel the pressure fill my lungs begging for a release.


    "Fucking try me, bitch. I''ll kick your stupid ass."


    Justin shoves me, I shove him back socking him in the cheek. He swiftly busts my lip. We''re close to scrapping, but the heavyset driver pulls us apart eventually having campus security escort us to the principal''s office. It''s too early for this shit but fuck him and those girls.


    Shit! I have to ride the bus with them every day. Fuck my life.


    We sit outside the office until a tall supermodel steps out allowing us to enter. As we do, he snatches Justin''s hat off and tosses it on his desk. I can feel this man''s dominance as we sit, it''s so strong even I can recognize it. (Usually, I don''t and I don''t try to.)


    "It''s the first day, Justin. The first day of school, and I have to give you detention?"


    Justin melts into his seat facing away from me.


    The principal jets his bright eyes to me.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    "What''s your name?"


    "Seven."


    "Seven?"


    "Seven Cande."


    He was dumbfounded for a moment, searching in his paperwork in disbelief. He probably thinks I''m lying, they always do. I''m painfully aware how dumb my name is in English. My mom thought it was cool, but somehow forgot she''s not in Moscow anymore, but Michigan, a place where they speak English and ''Seven'' is a number not a name. Not to help my last name, Cande. My dad is American, and that''s all I know about him aside from what everyone tells me. He apparently wanted to name me ''Scout''. I''m not exactly sure if that''s better or worse.


    Something in his sheet lights his face up,


    "Oh, you''re Mrs. Lange''s special student. You know, you''ll be the only freshman in her advanced algebra class, correct?"


    I can feel Justin''s eyes burn the side of my head. I shuffle in my seat with a sly smirk.


    "Yes, I got her email."


    "But you didn''t come to orientation. Why didn''t you come?"


    "I forgot."


    Lie, I just didn''t want to go.


    "You have to be more responsible than that. Especially going into Mrs. Lange''s classroom. She doesn''t play that "I forgot" card. She''ll rip it to shreds. If you had shown up to orientation you would''ve known about the Five Strike System. You see, Seven, we may be a public school, but we function like a private. And we''re in direct connection with Shenandoah Alternative School and the courts. Meaning if you reach the fifth strike you''ll be seeing yourself in court and transferred to a school for behavior problems. You think Muskegon is strict, Superintendent Ellis is no joke. Isn''t that right, Mr. Reyes?"


    Justin''s silence spoke for him.


    "You won''t have to worry about me... Mr..."


    I stare at the name-tag.


    "Principal Teller."


    Mr. Teller cocks his bushy brow.


    "I trust your word, young man. Now tell me what happened to get you in here this morning."


    I sigh,


    "We just had an argument that went too far."


    "What was the argument about?"


    "Politics."


    Justin watches me answer in silence. I feel his thanks coming later, but I didn''t do it for him, I just don''t want to be in here longer than I have to.


    "You fought over politics?"


    "Well,"


    Justin cuts in,


    "Politics and name calling. It won''t happen again. I''m sorry, Seven."


    "Just call me Sev."


    "I hope it doesn''t happen again. If that''s all than let''s not have policing can dictate your actions. It''s not worth it. Anyways, Mrs. Lange requested to see you early. Something else you would''ve known if you haven''t forgot. We have reshoots for picture so you don''t have to worry about that. Did you get your schedule yet?"


    "No. I saw the lady passing them out I''ll pick it up on my way to her class."


    "Good. Head on over there. I''m letting you off with a warning. As for you, Justin, I''m sending you to in-school detention until class starts. I don''t want to see you in the halls at all. Go on over there. Both you boys enjoy your first day."


    My phone buzzed as we walked out of the office.


    "Thanks for¡ª"


    "I didn''t do it for you. But you''re welcome."


    I walk off to the library where Dria had requested me.


    ¡á


    "No headphones today?"


    Dria grins as I waltz into the library still feeling victorious.


    "I got grounded for being late. Then I kicked a hole in the wall and got punished more. Can I barrow your headphones?"


    Dria exhales, digging into her Gucci purse for her pink headphones handing them to me.


    "Can I have them back after lunch?"


    "They''re your headphones."


    "I know how you are when it comes to shit like this. ''Give me a few more hours please thanks.'' ''Ah, I forgot them I''ll give it to you later.''"


    She mocked me in a dumb voice.


    "You''ll get them after lunch, OK? I should borrow them for a few days since..."


    Her ongoing stare stopped my train of thought.


    "I''m kidding, after lunch. I''ll just steal Demetri''s."


    Dria rolls her eyes.


    "Leave him alone."


    "He won''t say anything if I say I did it for you."


    She rolls her eyes even harder.


    "Whatever, Sev."


    She laughs looking behind me, smile transforming into worried frown.


    I turn to see Cassie and Amelie. As soon as they entered they left without a single greeting. I face Dria,


    "What''s up with them? They ignored me all summer and now they want to avoid me?"


    Dria shrugs quickly.


    "I''m not sure."


    "What do you know?"


    "Nothing!"


    "You better not be lying."


    "I''m not."


    "They wanna drop me I''ll fucking drop them back. And I''ll do it without giving a shit."


    Dria opened her mouth to say something but stuttered in whatever emotion she was feeling. I''m not great at emotions, but I can tell she''s at least conflicted. I know she knows something because of her silence. Usually she''ll be on my side, but she isn''t saying shit. After all, I didn''t do anything to them. At least...


    "What did I do? Be honest, Adrianna."


    She scoffs,


    "Seven Cande. I know nothing. They''re acting weird to me too."


    I face the door as if they''re still there.


    "Fuck them."


    "Seven..."


    "Fuck them! You can tell them I said that since they don''t want to reply to any of my fucking messages. They want to ignore me. Fine, they mean shit to me now."


    "You can''t just throw away your best friends. We''ve known each other since the 3rd gr¡ª"


    "Dria. They''re meaningless to me if they want to drop me. And tell that to them. That''s it. I have to go to Mrs. Lange''s class anyways. Where I''m wanted."


    I begin to walk off without saying goodbye. She calls my name but I just tell her to text me. I can''t stand people, I don''t understand why I even waste my time.


    ¡á


    I step onto the bus still upset. No headphones, no Cassie or Amelie, no patience for the fucks I''ll have to deal with on this god forsaken bus. I made sure to come early so I can sit in the front, but even getting out of class before the bell couldn''t get me the front seats I wanted. I managed to find a seat in the middle of the bus, near the emergency exit just in case things get to wild. Still, it was too close to them, and as soon as they entered in their pack they noticed me.


    They say nothing walking pass with a stare, bursting into laughter as they break away. I feel nothing but annoyance and anger. I prepare myself to jump up and tell them to fuck off, but,


    "What are you laughing at?"


    I stop at the sight of ''Guns'' from Mokoro Con, Valentine. It''s one thing being in the same school as him but the same bus? He noticed me, and apparently thought the same thing.


    "Hey, Seven! Holy shit, I didn''t think we rode the same bus."


    "You know him, Vallen?"


    Justin asks with a little worry in his voice.


    "Yeah we met at that anime convention."


    He sits in the seat across from me,


    "Where do you live?"


    "On Harper Street."


    His jaw drops to his lap.


    "We live only a few blocks from each other! I''m on Margery Hill."


    "You live on the hill with the mansions?!"


    "Yeah, I guess that''s what happens when your parents are hustlers."


    "That''s really cool. I''ve never been in any of the houses."


    "Well, if you want you can come to one of my parties and you''ll be able to."


    A smile forces it''s way through my poker face,


    "You''re inviting me to a party?"


    "We''re not having any right now since we got robbed a while back but... maybe the next one."


    The tension is intense, perfect time for the emergency exit if I weren''t so invested into his dark eyes. I feel a tingle run down my back, it''s so alien but I don''t run away from it.


    Vallen takes his bag off to sit. Justin tries to catch his attention, but he''s so invested in me he ignored every one of his friends. We wound up talking the entire bus ride, and getting off at the same stop. He walked me to the corner of my street and we said out goodbyes.


    Afterwards we texted each other. Throughout the day, about complete nonsense and Amanda in Bloodyland. I haven''t been this excited to get a message from someone since... really ever.


    The next day he got on the morning bus, it was almost like a complete turn of the first day. I didn''t have to deal with their shit, because the alpha male was there to tame his pack. Same with the next day, and the day after that. I''ve never met anyone so... powerful. Just his mere name grabs attention of most of everyone in the room.


    In fact, ever since he mentioned inviting me to a party, I''ve been getting stares. Stares that weren''t there before. He mentioned it again, and they got more intense. I tried asking him about it, but he told me to "just get use to it".


    But I don''t care. The only thing that matters to me was being able to talk to him, and it became the highlight of my days.


    Something later I will regret.