Somebody Out There Ch. 5

Brandon was walking behind Louise, muttering curse words under his breath. Even being out of the hospital, he still felt like he had gotten beat up. The two were heading to school after Brandon took about twenty minutes to pick up Louise and walk with her to school. Life hasn't been the same for him since Louis attacked him, it actually terrified him to go to school.

"Louise, you know we can't hang out right?" Brandon chimed.

"I know. But doesn't mean I won't hang out with you after school." Louise narrowed her eyebrows, "Don't worry about Louis, he's just being a bit difficult."

Louise stopped walking as they reached the front of the school, turning to face the blonde haired boy, "Do you remember the day we met Brandon? When we ran like hell after we escaped from detention. That was how we met. You said 'sup' and I said 'hey'."

Brandon smiled a bit as he nodded a bit, "I remember you were in my English class. But I never really noticed you. I was told by my dear friend Jimmy Jr. told me he was almost beat up by a small girl who wears pink bunny ears. Wasn't much of a outgoing kid, until I discovered skateboarding. Skate and Destroy. And when I bumped into you one day while skating. I fell, you fell. Glad I fell though."

Louise tilted her head as she crossed her arms, "Why so?"

"Because I got to get hit by the adorable fireball known as you! I grew up with you since that day. And now look at you, living an amazing life day after day..." Brandon lowered his head while mumbling, "The one thing I'll never be able to experience."

"I am not amazing..." Louise sighed, "Not with my attitude."

"Louise." Brandon put his hand on her head, "You're the most important person in my life and you know that right?" He then moved his hand and placed it against her cheek, "You're...well you were my best friend and I will make you my best friend again."

She began to blush as she stood on her toes, noticing how he began to lean in. It reminded her of how they used to act with each other. They were inches away from each other until Louise let out a yelp. "Ah! Tina get off of me!"

"You two are insane!" Gene threw his hands into the air, "Don't you know how to properly kiss?!"

Brandon blushed as he stuffed his hands into his pockets, "I-I wasn't going to kiss her. I just- ugh..." He looked  away in embarrassment as the bell rang. "Well, class has started and we're still out here."

Tina clung onto Louise as she raised an eyebrow, "Louise. Have you heard from him?"

"No...but I have a feeling I will hear from him soon." She sighed.

---

Brandon groaned quietly to himself as he sat at the lunch tables, having a huge crowd around him. "One song. That's it."

"I think I'm gonna lose my mind, something deep inside me I can't give up. I think I'm gonna lose my mind, I roll and I roll till I'm out of luck. Yeah I roll and I roll till I'm out of luck." Brandon began to sing quietly, "I'm feeling something deep inside. Hotter than a jet stream burning up. I've got a feeling deep inside. It's taking, it's taking, all I've got. Yeah it's taking, it's taking, all I've got."

Cause nobody knows you baby, the way I do
And nobody loves you baby, the way I do
It's been so long, it's been so long
Maybe we're fireproof
Cause nobody saves me baby, the way you do


Louise took a deep breath as she kept a look out for Louis at the same time. She turned around for a second to look at Brandon, her heart beating slowly. His singing somehow...soothed her.


I think I'm gonna win this time
Riding on the wind that I won't give up
I think I'm gonna win this time
I roll and I roll, till I change my luck
Yeah I roll and I roll, till I change my luck


Louise caught Brandon's gaze as he looked over at her, making Brandon look away nervously.

Gene and Tina looked at each other as they both started to make their way towards Louise before Tina paused, putting a hand on Gene's arm. "Wait, Tina. Maybe...maybe we need to let Louise figure this out. She and Brandon...she and Brandon have something special. They just both need to realize it."

Cause nobody knows you baby, the way I do
And nobody loves you baby, the way I do
It's been so long...
It's been so long...
We must be fireproof
Cause nobody saves me baby, the way you do


At the thought of the words he sang, Louise couldn't help but begin to think of everything they've been through. All the fights, all the arguments, everything. 'No, shut up! Don't think that! Nobody saved him! Nobody!'

Cause nobody knows you baby, the way I do
And nobody loves you baby, the way I do
It's been so long, it's been so long
Maybe we're fireproof!

Louise felt a tap on her shoulder, causing her to turn around and look at her older sister. "What?"

Tina shrugged as a smile came across her face, "You know what to do."

Cause nobody saves me baby, the way you do...

Louise looked at her hands, shaking. Shaking more than ever. She felt her heart thump loudly as she began to think to herself. 'Oh god. No. I fucking knew it. I knew it. Since day one. Brandon freakin Jamison! That freaking idiot...but. What if...' She turned her attention to Brandon getting high fives from kids that were around him who loved his singing. He was actually smiling widely, finally. A real smile from him. 'What if he doesn't love me. Scratch that, I know for a fact he does love me. It was in everything he did for me back then. In every look he gave me. The smiles he flashed for me. Here he is...right in front of me. Singing about how he and the girl he loves are fireproof. They can get through anything...'

Tina watched as she saw her little sister cringe in thought, "I think she gets it Gene."

"Yeah!" Gene called out as he smiled, "Finally!"

As the crowd began to disperse, Brandon stood up as he put his hands into his pockets. "Alright...that went better than expected." He felt someone tug on his arm, "Hm?" He turned to see Louise and his heart dropped, "Oh...hey."

"Look, I have to tell you- no ask you something. And I'm not joking around with you! I-I'm dead serious right now!" She shouted as she saw him nod. "B-Brandon..."

Brandon raised an eyebrow as he looked up to see a familiar boy almost right near Louise. His eyes quivered in horror as he realized it was Louis, coming back to claim his prize.

"Brandon, w-will you go out with me?" Louise squeaked as she blushed madly.

The boy's cheeks were bright red as he turned his attention back to her, "What?"

Louise growled as she shouted again, "I-I'm asking you out! I want you to be my boyfriend you freakin idiot!"

Brandon opened his mouth, his hands shaking. "Louise I-" He glanced to see Louis holding his lighter, tempting to spark it up and set the two on fire in front of everyone at school. And he knew that Louis would in a heart beat. "I-I can't. I just can't!" Brandon called out before turning around and walking away, his body shaking.

Louise couldn't believe it. He said no. Her heart sank as felt tears roll down her red cheeks, she looked down as the tears began to fall towards the floor.

Louis lifted his lighter up, sparking it up, small flickers of flame coming out. His grin was maniacal as he began to step towards the smaller girl again. Before he lashed out on her, he felt a pair of eyes glaring at him. Infact; two pairs of eyes were on him. Louis glanced back to see Gene and Tina glaring at him, disapproving of him almost burning their little sister. He looked at Louise, so fragile...so hurt. He stepped back as he turned around to walk away from her. 'I-I....Louise. I can't....'

Louise hit the floor as she held onto her pink bunny hat, crying louder. Her brother and sister came to her side, holding her closely and wanting nothing but comfort for their hurt sibling.

---

"Why?"

Brandon ignored the question, focusing on the English essay he was trying to write.

"Brandon, why? "

The boy jerked his head up as he gripped onto the pencil he held, "Because I said no! I rejected her! That psycho Louis who is completely obsessed with her was right behind her! And he had a lighter Gene! A lighter! Tina, look, I know you're trying to befriend him but he's just...I-I didn't want him to hurt Louise."

"Damn...I'm sorry. I almost wanted to kill you because I know that would've meant the world for you and Louise to be together." Gene sighed as he pushed his hair, "So you would have said yes if Louis wasn't around."

"Duh! In a heart beat!" Brandon looked down, his blue eyes still holding a ton of pain in them.

"Then tell her that." Tina urged, "She needs to know how you really feel."

"Oh yeah. Cause I can go up to her and say, 'Hey Louise! You know what? I have loved you since I was thirteen! Three years ago, I fell in love with you!' and then she would say something like, 'Seriously? Oh me too! You stupid moron!' then she'll proceed to kick me in the ankle. And finish it off by grabbing my shirt collar and kissing me furiously!" Brandon was running his fingers through his semi long hair as he basically confessed his entire feelings toward Louise in one rant.

"Okay, okay!" Gene yelled as he sighed, "Brandon, you know what you have to do. Either you let Louise know how you feel or some other person is going to take her away and you're going to have to suffer seeing her be happy with someone who's not you."

"I know..." Brandon sighed as he covered his face, "I know..."