A Tale of Chaos and Love.

(All the legal crap from the Prologue still applies)

A Light in the Dark


David sighed as he openned up his locker, he hadn't done too well in class and gym did not go much better. They'd played softball... David could neither hit, nor pitch, and everyone knew it. Thats why they made him do *both* he told himself. For their own personal amusement. Why couldn't they all just leave him alone.. ? He got the books he needed and put the rest back into the locker before closing it and spinning the dial. It was the last class of the day, thankfully, then he could head home, finish his homework, do a chore or two, and watch TV. If he did it as fast as always, he could even catch most of Toonami. David smiled as he thought of watching the cartoons, a short but sweet escape from the reality of his life. If only there was a real way to become something like that.. A hero.. An adventurer.. Even just a side kick.


He heard the bell ring and hurried on to his next class , he really needed to stop day dreaming like that. If he kept this up, his whole life was going to become just one big dream. He scrambled into the class room as the teacher's helper was closing the door. Mister Grumans looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "I'm glad you could join us, mister Thompson." David stopped dead in his tracks and blushed a beet red as all eyes in the class room looked to him and all the teens laughed quietly. He made his way to his seat quietly and sat down, his head hung low. David slung a strap of the back pack onto the chair/desk combination and put his pencil in the groove-holder at the top. Did the teachers have to pick on him too ? He was late though.. He guessed he did deserve it.


"Ok, class.. And mister Thompson, we are going to do math puzzles today, since monday is a parent-teacher conference day. Nathan ? Please hand out the papers... Tell you what, class. Pick a teamate, if you want to, and the team.." Mister Grumans took a moment to look at David. "Or person with the most puzzles completed correctly won't have homework." That got the class' attention quite suddenly. "Begin." He stated as Nathan handed out the last of the papers. David didn't even bother looking for a partner, instead turning his paper over and immediatly begining work on it, twitching his pencil back and forth as he thought on each answear. After he answeared number one, he started working on number two quickly. "Hey, you want to team up ?" David didn't look up. It wasn't for him. Probably the guy behind him.


".. Hello ? This is Earth, paging mister Thompson.." David jumped a little bit in his seat, then turned to see a teen aged male maybe a year older then him. His brown-blonde hair was medium-lengtd a d a little spikey, messy sort of.. But purposefully so. He was tall, standing at about six foot five.. Without counting the faded black leather boots he wore on his feet. He was wearing a pair of black jeans with a crimson red loose tank top, and had a denum jacket tied by the sleeves around his waist. He was kind of muscular.. Like.. A jock. Great. It was one of them wanting to scam off his hard work. "I'm here." David said in a slightly aggitated voice. "What do you want ?" "To team up. I thought I said that." David shook his head and started to say something when the guy reached past him, and wrote twenty-seven on the line.


"Thats the answear to number two." David looked at the number and thought the jock was trying to be pushy.. Then he realized the answear was right. He felt a little uneasy about the guy, then he turned and looked at him again. His face had a warm, friendly expression, complimented by two brown eyes that almost seemed.. Sad.. Kind of like David's.. "Um.. Thanks ?" David replied, confused about what to think on the strange turn of events. "My name is Chris, lets get to work, alright ?" Chris smiled in a charming way and sat down on his kenees near David, putting his paper up by the fellow student's. ".. Sure, I'm David." He was suprised by the fact the more athletic 'Chris' was every bit as smart, if not smarter then he was.


ce wce when did they make jocks smart ? Though.. David couldn't remember seeing him on any teams before, it was an easy assumption. They finished, working together, well before time was up, leaving them time to get to know each other. David awkwardly looked down at the desk, finding an interesting little grain of wood to keep his eyes focused on, waiting for the guy to leave. "Man.." Chris said, looking up at the clock. "All this time going by.. I can't wait to get out of here.. I could go for a sandwhich before Yu Yu Hakusho comes on." He said it mostly to himself, and David had to look up at that. ".. You watch that ?" "Well of course I do." Chris said with a smile. "It's one of the best anime you can watch for free. I'm glad they started putting anime on Cartoon Network.. They have some good stuff, but the anime is better. You watch Adult Swim ?" David looked down at the table and muttered something.


"What was that ?" Chris asked, leaning his head closer to try and pick it up. David mumbled out "Mom and dad won't let me stay up long enough.." He braced for a laugh. "Really ? Man.. That sucks. You have no idea what you are missing.. Cowboy Bebop, Inuyasha, and they just started showing *Trigun*." ".. Tri-wha ?" He chuckled at David quietly. "Great show. Kind of like the wild west.. Centered around two insurance agents and Vash The Stampeede." "I.. Think I've heard that name before.." "You have to watch it sometime." "The only nights I can stay up long enough it doesn't come on.." "Thats a shame.. Maybe I'll have you over sometime and we can hang out and watch it. I got alot of stuff on DVD and on my hard drive." David looked at Chris, then blinked. Then he blinked again. He hadn't gotten an invitiation to someone's house that wasn't in the family in.. In.. He couldn't even remember when !


Chris lifted a hand up and rubbed his chin, studying the suprised David. "I think I broke him.." "No!" David said, then bit his tongue and calmed down some. "I mean, yeah, that'd be pretty cool." David tried his best to look and sound cool, which usually came off poorly, but the guy didn't seem to notice. "Yep, it will be. If you want to, that is." "Yeah, I do.. When ?" Chris shrugged and leaned back against the wall without getting up yet. "I guess today would be alright, I haven't got anything planned." David thought about this for a few seco It It could be a trap.. But.. If it wasn't.. Could he pass up the chance to make a new friend ? The guy seemed to like him and was nice enough, and he looked cool. If he was a jock.. Maybe he could get the other jocks to lay off him some. "Alright.. It sounds good to me. Where do you live ?" "Over on Elm, not too far from Gum, five-forty-seven." It took David a minute realize where that was.


He let out a sigh and slumped a little bit. "Thats on the other side of town from where I live.. I don't think I can make it.." Chris raised an eyebrow at him and shook his head. "You give up way too easy man." "Well what am I supposed to do ?" He asked, getting slightly aggitated. "Stick a feather up my butt and fly there ?" David quickly looked down at the desk again when he realized what he'd said. There went his chance at getting a new pal. "Sorry.." David mumbled. To his suprise, he could hear a quiet laugh that sounded like Chris. "Theres nothing to be sorry about.. Your just a little cross because you don't have wheels. Alot of teenagers are. Don't sweat it, I'll give you a ride." ".. You have a car ?" "Yep. Cool huh?"
"You have no idea how lucky you are.." Chris' smile went a little sad suddenly, but it quickly passed. "Yeah, I guess I am kind of lucky. It's a good ride.."

The little egg timer that had been sitting on mister Gruman's desk went off, causing some of the class to groan in frustration. "Ok everyone, pencils down. I will now grade and count up the points of your papers. Nathan, get them, please." The papers were collected and brought up to the table and Chris stood up but stayed by his partner as all the other kids with partners did. A few sneaked in last minute answears just before their papers were picked up, while others chatted or played with their hair. Chris grinned a little as the teacher began raderade the papers, glancing at David and werinering 'It's in the bag.'. Mister Grumans was speedy and efficient as normal, soon standing up and systematically going through the students. "Mister Thompson, I'm suprised to see you have a partner this time.. You should do it more often." Chris looked at their teacher as their papers came back.. Every single answear was correct.


"Mister Thompson and mister.." "Brooks." "Mister Brooks have won. The rest of you must collect a homework sheet off the desk, and complete it by Tuesday.." He looked at one of the football players with a slight glare. "And if you 'forget' to pick one up on the way out, I'll give a bright, red F to remind you not to next time." There were a few quiet chuckles and giggles just before the bell rang. Chris reached over and snagged his pack from a nearby desk as David got up and got ready. The all earth-tone, tan book bag with olive drab straps was a stark contrast to David's.. Yet it somehow just seemed to fit in so well with the rest of Chris. "C'mon, we should get going." Chris turned and walked towards the door, leaving David to follow behind. Everyone in the hall was heading towards the doors for the most part, just a stream of people.. Chattering. Walking. Laughing. A bell ringing here and there.. After a while, one just got used to it.


It just seemed so normal.. Which it was. It was easy to just phase it all out and drift through the stream to your own destination, David though. He blinked, then looked around and thankfully noticed the other tall teen he was following.. If he hadn't been that way, David would have just lost him, and a possible new friend. He hurried after him, trying not to bump into as many people as he could. As he got closer, he could see Chris didn't seem to be having that problem.. No one was bumping him him, aside from the occausional brush. Probably just his lucky day, David thought as they drifted out of the building. "Nice
boots by the way." David offered quietly. Chris turned his head with a smile, giving him the thumbs up. "Thanks, I've had them for a while, they are my favorite pair of boots." "Your welcome."


The school busses were already coming and going, and the teachers were out there as normal to make sure everyone got on the bus if there ere supposed to. Chris walked calmly right across the cross-walk while David scrambled hurriedly out of the way of the bus that was idling infront of the cross walk. "You have no need to rush, you know. Pedestrians have the right of way. The bus isn't going to run you over.." David looked down, embarrassed.. Great.. The guy thought he was a dork already.. Not that he was wrong.. Chris led him through the parking lot towards the back where fewer cars were parked, making David again wonder if it was a lure.. "Here it is." He announced. David finally looked up, and nearly wet himself. It was an old Mustang.. He wasn't sure what year, but it had alot of work, that was for sure. It had a midnight black paint job that shined in the sun, the hub caps, bumper, grill.. It was alll pol polished..


He felt as though his jaw was going to drop off it's hinges.. He swore he could almost smell the leather interior from the distance he was away. ".. W.. Woah.. Who did you have to kill to get this car ?" "No one, really." He said, unlocking the door then reaching over to unlock the passanger side. He rolled down the window on his side quickly, then grimaced as he settled into the seat. "But I had to do alot of work.. Be a little careful, ok ?" ".. Ok.." David slowly got into the car, treating it as though he would a bottle of nitro. "Not quite that careful.. Don't worry. If you scratch it, I'll fix it." David shut the door and chuckled. "No! I mean.. I'd nevergivrgive myself if I messed up such a beautiful car.. You don't see there every day,
thats for sure!" Chris nodded his head and began to drive out of the parking lot, waiting patiently for the school buses to go then heading out onto the street. "You know." He said. "You should be more careful about getting into cars with people you just met. I hope you don't do this often."


David shook his head and let out a small sigh, looking out the window as they drove along. "I don't.. Thanks for asking though, it's nice to see someone that cares." "It's no problem. So are you hungry ?" "A little.." "I'll make you a sandwhich too when we get to my house then." "Thanks, your being awfully nice to me." David said, still wondering about an ulterior motive. "Well.." Chris said. "It's not often that I meet someone that'll talk to me and just relax. So when I approach someone and they stay themselves.." "Ooooh.. Thats weird.. You seem nice enough to me.." "Thanks David." "Your welcome." The ride went smoothly like that with the two teens exchanging casual conversation until they pulled up outside a house.. It was the typical surban deal, two floors, painted a nice neutral color.. Two car garage.. But Chris parked his in the street out front. "Come on." He said, turning off the engine then getting out of the car. "Don't forget to lock the door, David." Davit out out too, making sure to lock the door as he closed it.


Chris led him up the walkway to the house to the front door, up a stoop, then openned up the door and walked inside. David followed behind, then looked around the house when he came in.. Plush carpet, nicely painted blue walls decorated with some art, a wide screen plasma TV, leather couch, and a leather relciner a man resembling Chris was currently sitting in. The man glanced at him, then at Chris. "Hey, new friend ?" "Yup. Met him at school today, he's pretty smart. Going up to my room, ok ?" "Sure, have fun." Chris led David into a hall then up a staircase, went down another hall and openned a door on the left at the end. "Here we are." David wasn't very suprised by what he saw inside.. But it was impressive. A nice, large TV, all three of the latest consoles, a shelf of DVDs and games, towers of CDs, a few been bag chairs and a large bed.. The room also had very soft carpet, and was decorated by some posters. Off in the back, David could see the room also had it's own bathroom attached ! "Oh.. My.. Your very lucky.. I'd kill for this stuff.."


Chris chuckled a little bit and shook his head. "It's just stuff.." "Just *stuff* ? You got all three of those systems ! I can't even have *one*. All those CDs, half of which my parents won't let me listen to.. Enough DVDs to choke a donkey.. And thats alot better of a bed then mine..." "Well, dad is a successful buisness man.. I've always had the best. I guess I'm used to it.." David smiled and walked over to one of the neabags by the TV and plopped downit. it. "Yeah.. Mine is too.. Mom is pretty successful too.. But they never give me stuff like this ! They even want me to get my first car.." Chris sat down in the bean bag beside him, shaking his head. "That sucks man... You work ?" "Nope.. You ?" "Nope. Which means we have plenty of time to goof around." He turned on the TV just as Toonami was coming on. "You have good timing."


"Thanks." Chris said with a chuckle. "So why don't your parents let you listen to some of that stuff or let you stay up late?" "School.. Church.. Being a natural pain like they normally are.." "Ahhhh." "What about you and your parents ?" "Well, they let me do whatever I want.. So long as they know I'm not going to hurt anyone." "Thats pretty cool." David said with a smile. "Mine are nothing like that.. You have everything.." Chris chuckled and shook his head. "No.. Not really. You'll probably see someday, things aren't always what they seem.. So, sandwhiches ?" Chris asked, changing the subject rather quickly. David didn't know what it was.. But he didn't press it, instead nodding his head. "Yes please, thank you." "Coming right up." Chris said, getting up and walking out of the room.