Fic - Dear Caitlyn
Title: Dear Caitlyn (1/5)
Author: appassionata1
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1,589
Characters: Luke, Noah, Holden. Lily, Original Male Characters, Original Female Character (Emma and Charlene Mentioned)
Warnings: Character Death, OOC, Strong Language
Beta: valenti1965
Artwork: appassionata1
Summary: How can someone you barely know have such a profound impact on your life? Junior High School students Luke and Noah learn this painful lesson through a tragic event.
Disclaimer: ATWT characters are property of CBS and Telenext media. No copyright infringement is intended.
Author's Notes: A special thanks to random_nic for hosting the first nukeminibang. I am honored to be given the opportunity to share my work.
Much love and warm hugs to valenti1965 for acting as my Beta and encouraging me every step of the way. Thanks to the members of Nuke's Love Shack for your unwavering support.
This story was difficult for me to write, but the creative process has helped me come to terms with some emotional issues I've been dealing with. Now I'm very glad I wrote it.
It was Friday afternoon at Oakdale Junior High. Spring was in the air and the energy level was at its peak. Classes had ended for the week and kids were scurrying about like excited rabbits, stuffing their belongings into book bags, haphazardly throwing on their jackets, and racing to the main exits as if the building was on fire. They all had urgent matters to attend to and none of them involved anything the slightest bit educational.
Noah Mayer had been among the first to escape the confining structure. His young mind was thoroughly focused on his next few days of freedom. He and his best friend Luke Snyder had a killer weekend planned. It would begin with dinner at Luke’s on Friday night and a sleepover. Noah was counting on deep dish pizza and homemade oatmeal raisin cookies to savor while reading the latest New Warrior’s comic book and watching horror films until they fell asleep.
Then they would spend all day Saturday hanging out together at the mall and then Luke would spend the night at his place. He’d have Saturday dinner with Noah’s family where his mom would cook chili mac and cheese and serve fudge brownie sundaes for dessert. Later that evening, they’d play video games and watch the latest action films.
These were good times indeed for Noah. What more could a twelve year old boy ask for? Even so, this Friday was different. Noah wasn’t quite himself today. A deep feeling of sadness was slowly creeping up on him, threatening to overtake him and put a damper on his and Luke’s special plans.
I can’t let this happen. Luke is so revved up for this weekend and I'm not gonna spoil it for him by being a sappy dip shit.
He impatiently sat on the concrete banister outside the main entrance waiting for Luke.
What’s taking him so long? Mrs. Smith lets her class out early on Fridays. He’s always the one out here waiting for me!
The truth was that Noah hadn’t been waiting very long, it just seemed that way. That’s because today more than ever he wanted to be with Luke. He needed to gaze into his reassuring hazel eyes letting Noah know how much Luke cared about him. He needed to hear Luke’s cheerful voice rambling on about this thing or that to keep him thinking positive thoughts. He needed Luke to smile at him as he always did, making him feel like he was the luckiest kid on the planet.
Noah ambled over to the door, avoiding the mad dash of pubescent bodies flooding through it, and tried to pick out his small friend from among them. It was no use and he nearly got trampled on by a husky eighth grader in the process. He expelled a heavy sigh and sat back down and continued to wait.
Maybe he got kept after school for something he did. What the heck am I thinking? Luke never does anything bad enough to be kept after school for. Maybe I should call him. He dug into his pocket and fished out his phone. I’ll call him and he’ll get all pissed at me, but at least I’ll know he’s ok.
He heard Luke sniffle and say, “Hey Noah why are you calling me?”
Noah with eyes glued on the door, craned his neck to see through the rapidly thinning crowd and answered, “Why do you have me waiting here so long. Where the heck are you anyway?”
“Right behind you moron!”
Noah whipped around to see Luke standing there laughing at his expense. What would have normally resulted in a barrage of harmless name calling for such a silly prank was averted by a closer look at Luke’s face. Although he was smiling, it did not reach his red swollen eyes. Noah’s heart seized, Luke had been crying!
He shot up from his seat excitedly inquiring, “Luke, are you ok?!”
Luke shrugged off Noah’s concern by answering, “Why wouldn’t I be ok? Come on. Let’s get outta here before we get picked up for loitering.”
In actuality Luke wasn’t ok. He felt as if his insides had been hollowed out. The lump in his throat was so huge it threatened to choke him and he knew he was liable to burst into tears at the drop of a hat, but why? He barely knew the girl. Even though she shared a couple of classes with him they had hardly ever spoken.
He had come to her defense once when the bullies were mercilessly taunting her. Crowding around her calling her names like frog face and AIDS girl. He bravely shoved his way through them, took her by the hand and led her away from them. Then he spoke comforting and encouraging words to her and kept a close eye on her for the rest of the day.
It was the last time he had seen or heard anything from her until today at approximately 1:45 pm when Principal Lewis announced over the school’s public address system that Caitlyn Jones had died.
Most of the kids in his classroom didn’t seem fazed by it at all. A few really nasty ones snickered and made sick jokes, but there were others, along with Luke who were deeply affected by her loss and fought hard to hold back their tears. Luke cut the mean kids a fierce glare, making them aware of his adamant disapproval instead of displaying a sign of weakness by shedding a tear.
He wouldn’t give the sadistic bastards the satisfaction of knowing how hurt he was by Caitlyn’s death or their heartless reaction to it. So after his last class was dismissed, he found a secluded bathroom on the fourth floor, went inside the stall furthest from the door and had a good cry.
*****
Luke remained uncharacteristically quiet as he and Noah walked home. The day that started out as sunny and bright had now become as gray and somber as his mood. Noah had never seen him like this and it was sad and frightening. Luke was always the one who lifted his spirits when he was down. How in the world could he deal with this? How could he possibly cheer Luke up when he also felt so sad?
He hadn’t been friends with Caitlyn either, but he was well aware that she was the most picked on kid at school and he felt sorry for her. Once he had gallantly come to her rescue when he witnessed a pair of horrible girls named Kendra and Morgan, grab her bag lunch from her and run outside ripping it open and throwing it in the dumpster. Noah vacated his spot in the long lunch line and chased after them.
By the time he got there Caitlyn was crying and the girls were taunting her. He threatened to report the incident if they didn’t leave her alone. Then he consoled the poor girl as best he could and bought her lunch. As he sat with her in the cafeteria, he didn’t give a shit about what the other kids might have said about seeing them together. He just wanted to make her feel better and was happy that he did.
Caitlyn was an outcast because she was sickly and didn’t dress normal or look normal and to make matters worse she didn’t come from a normal family. She had been adopted by a gay male couple when she was a baby. Because of that fact and because she suffered from severe acne she was cruelly given the horrible moniker AIDS girl.
She was very skinny and under developed compared to most of the other girls her age and it didn’t help matters that she wore thick glasses and braces on her teeth. She was painfully shy. Who wouldn’t be with all of those knocks against them?
*****
The boys reached Luke’s house first. Noah lived just six blocks away, closer if he cut through the woods. Their walk home had been awful for him, being so aware of Luke’s emotional distress, but not knowing what to say or do to help him. He couldn’t stand it anymore.
He needed to confront the situation, “Um… Luke… um we don’t have to hang out this weekend if you don’t feel like it.”
“What makes you think I don’t feel like it? Noah, don’t be a dork!” He tried to giggle but it sounded more like a sad whimper.
An uncomfortable pause followed. Noah found the nerve to end it by revealing, “I know you heard the announcement about Caitlyn and I know you’re really sad about it.”
Luke was completely surprised that Noah could ascertain how he was feeling. He actually thought he was doing a good job at masking his pain.
I guess I totally suck at trying to hide my feelings. I hope he doesn’t think I’m a wimpy bitch.
He looked up into the eyes of his tall friend and saw that he was grieving too. Noah was an expert at hiding his emotions, but his eyes always betrayed him, especially to Luke. Both boys wanted to hold each other and never let go, instead Luke took hold of Noah’s hand and squeezed it.
“I didn’t really know her Noah. So how come I feel so bad because she died?”
Try as he might Noah couldn’t come up with an answer because he felt the same way. He simply shrugged, said goodbye, and continued on his way.
(Chapter 2)
Author: appassionata1
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1,589
Characters: Luke, Noah, Holden. Lily, Original Male Characters, Original Female Character (Emma and Charlene Mentioned)
Warnings: Character Death, OOC, Strong Language
Beta: valenti1965
Artwork: appassionata1
Summary: How can someone you barely know have such a profound impact on your life? Junior High School students Luke and Noah learn this painful lesson through a tragic event.
Disclaimer: ATWT characters are property of CBS and Telenext media. No copyright infringement is intended.
Author's Notes: A special thanks to random_nic for hosting the first nukeminibang. I am honored to be given the opportunity to share my work.
Much love and warm hugs to valenti1965 for acting as my Beta and encouraging me every step of the way. Thanks to the members of Nuke's Love Shack for your unwavering support.
This story was difficult for me to write, but the creative process has helped me come to terms with some emotional issues I've been dealing with. Now I'm very glad I wrote it.
It was Friday afternoon at Oakdale Junior High. Spring was in the air and the energy level was at its peak. Classes had ended for the week and kids were scurrying about like excited rabbits, stuffing their belongings into book bags, haphazardly throwing on their jackets, and racing to the main exits as if the building was on fire. They all had urgent matters to attend to and none of them involved anything the slightest bit educational.
Noah Mayer had been among the first to escape the confining structure. His young mind was thoroughly focused on his next few days of freedom. He and his best friend Luke Snyder had a killer weekend planned. It would begin with dinner at Luke’s on Friday night and a sleepover. Noah was counting on deep dish pizza and homemade oatmeal raisin cookies to savor while reading the latest New Warrior’s comic book and watching horror films until they fell asleep.
Then they would spend all day Saturday hanging out together at the mall and then Luke would spend the night at his place. He’d have Saturday dinner with Noah’s family where his mom would cook chili mac and cheese and serve fudge brownie sundaes for dessert. Later that evening, they’d play video games and watch the latest action films.
These were good times indeed for Noah. What more could a twelve year old boy ask for? Even so, this Friday was different. Noah wasn’t quite himself today. A deep feeling of sadness was slowly creeping up on him, threatening to overtake him and put a damper on his and Luke’s special plans.
I can’t let this happen. Luke is so revved up for this weekend and I'm not gonna spoil it for him by being a sappy dip shit.
He impatiently sat on the concrete banister outside the main entrance waiting for Luke.
What’s taking him so long? Mrs. Smith lets her class out early on Fridays. He’s always the one out here waiting for me!
The truth was that Noah hadn’t been waiting very long, it just seemed that way. That’s because today more than ever he wanted to be with Luke. He needed to gaze into his reassuring hazel eyes letting Noah know how much Luke cared about him. He needed to hear Luke’s cheerful voice rambling on about this thing or that to keep him thinking positive thoughts. He needed Luke to smile at him as he always did, making him feel like he was the luckiest kid on the planet.
Noah ambled over to the door, avoiding the mad dash of pubescent bodies flooding through it, and tried to pick out his small friend from among them. It was no use and he nearly got trampled on by a husky eighth grader in the process. He expelled a heavy sigh and sat back down and continued to wait.
Maybe he got kept after school for something he did. What the heck am I thinking? Luke never does anything bad enough to be kept after school for. Maybe I should call him. He dug into his pocket and fished out his phone. I’ll call him and he’ll get all pissed at me, but at least I’ll know he’s ok.
He heard Luke sniffle and say, “Hey Noah why are you calling me?”
Noah with eyes glued on the door, craned his neck to see through the rapidly thinning crowd and answered, “Why do you have me waiting here so long. Where the heck are you anyway?”
“Right behind you moron!”
Noah whipped around to see Luke standing there laughing at his expense. What would have normally resulted in a barrage of harmless name calling for such a silly prank was averted by a closer look at Luke’s face. Although he was smiling, it did not reach his red swollen eyes. Noah’s heart seized, Luke had been crying!
He shot up from his seat excitedly inquiring, “Luke, are you ok?!”
Luke shrugged off Noah’s concern by answering, “Why wouldn’t I be ok? Come on. Let’s get outta here before we get picked up for loitering.”
In actuality Luke wasn’t ok. He felt as if his insides had been hollowed out. The lump in his throat was so huge it threatened to choke him and he knew he was liable to burst into tears at the drop of a hat, but why? He barely knew the girl. Even though she shared a couple of classes with him they had hardly ever spoken.
He had come to her defense once when the bullies were mercilessly taunting her. Crowding around her calling her names like frog face and AIDS girl. He bravely shoved his way through them, took her by the hand and led her away from them. Then he spoke comforting and encouraging words to her and kept a close eye on her for the rest of the day.
It was the last time he had seen or heard anything from her until today at approximately 1:45 pm when Principal Lewis announced over the school’s public address system that Caitlyn Jones had died.
Most of the kids in his classroom didn’t seem fazed by it at all. A few really nasty ones snickered and made sick jokes, but there were others, along with Luke who were deeply affected by her loss and fought hard to hold back their tears. Luke cut the mean kids a fierce glare, making them aware of his adamant disapproval instead of displaying a sign of weakness by shedding a tear.
He wouldn’t give the sadistic bastards the satisfaction of knowing how hurt he was by Caitlyn’s death or their heartless reaction to it. So after his last class was dismissed, he found a secluded bathroom on the fourth floor, went inside the stall furthest from the door and had a good cry.
*****
Luke remained uncharacteristically quiet as he and Noah walked home. The day that started out as sunny and bright had now become as gray and somber as his mood. Noah had never seen him like this and it was sad and frightening. Luke was always the one who lifted his spirits when he was down. How in the world could he deal with this? How could he possibly cheer Luke up when he also felt so sad?
He hadn’t been friends with Caitlyn either, but he was well aware that she was the most picked on kid at school and he felt sorry for her. Once he had gallantly come to her rescue when he witnessed a pair of horrible girls named Kendra and Morgan, grab her bag lunch from her and run outside ripping it open and throwing it in the dumpster. Noah vacated his spot in the long lunch line and chased after them.
By the time he got there Caitlyn was crying and the girls were taunting her. He threatened to report the incident if they didn’t leave her alone. Then he consoled the poor girl as best he could and bought her lunch. As he sat with her in the cafeteria, he didn’t give a shit about what the other kids might have said about seeing them together. He just wanted to make her feel better and was happy that he did.
Caitlyn was an outcast because she was sickly and didn’t dress normal or look normal and to make matters worse she didn’t come from a normal family. She had been adopted by a gay male couple when she was a baby. Because of that fact and because she suffered from severe acne she was cruelly given the horrible moniker AIDS girl.
She was very skinny and under developed compared to most of the other girls her age and it didn’t help matters that she wore thick glasses and braces on her teeth. She was painfully shy. Who wouldn’t be with all of those knocks against them?
*****
The boys reached Luke’s house first. Noah lived just six blocks away, closer if he cut through the woods. Their walk home had been awful for him, being so aware of Luke’s emotional distress, but not knowing what to say or do to help him. He couldn’t stand it anymore.
He needed to confront the situation, “Um… Luke… um we don’t have to hang out this weekend if you don’t feel like it.”
“What makes you think I don’t feel like it? Noah, don’t be a dork!” He tried to giggle but it sounded more like a sad whimper.
An uncomfortable pause followed. Noah found the nerve to end it by revealing, “I know you heard the announcement about Caitlyn and I know you’re really sad about it.”
Luke was completely surprised that Noah could ascertain how he was feeling. He actually thought he was doing a good job at masking his pain.
I guess I totally suck at trying to hide my feelings. I hope he doesn’t think I’m a wimpy bitch.
He looked up into the eyes of his tall friend and saw that he was grieving too. Noah was an expert at hiding his emotions, but his eyes always betrayed him, especially to Luke. Both boys wanted to hold each other and never let go, instead Luke took hold of Noah’s hand and squeezed it.
“I didn’t really know her Noah. So how come I feel so bad because she died?”
Try as he might Noah couldn’t come up with an answer because he felt the same way. He simply shrugged, said goodbye, and continued on his way.
(Chapter 2)