With Eyes to Hear and Hands to Speak

Chapter 2: Of Flashbacks and Random Poles

Dave's POV

/I was running with 'The Midnight Crew' (that's what they called themselves anyway) somewhere behind me. "Hey! Anyone there?" I called out. No one answered. I opened a random door and ducked inside. Janitor's closet. 'Oh my god, this is such a fucking cliché. Of course it's a goddamned janitor's closet, what else would it be? Was it really too much to ask for a classroom? Preferably one with a teacher in it?'

I heard the guys outside, laughing. I prayed that they wouldn't stop, that they'd pass by the door and keep going.

Of course, my prayers went unanswered.

They stood there arguing about who should go in. I heard them saying, "He's probably in here." "Nah, not even Strider'd be/ that /stupid." "Well, we gotta check!" "If it's that important to you, then/ you /go check!" Next thing I know, someone's pushed into the door. I scrambled to lock it, but my fingers wouldn't cooperate. The door flew open and I was pushed back before being grabbed roughly by the front of my shirt.

In about two seconds I was pinned up against the wall, with Boxcars, the big guy, holding me there. Around us were the other guys, Droog, Deuce, and of course, Slick, the 'leader'. Boxcars slammed me against the wall again and I emitted a small (very manly) squeak and my vision started going black around the edges.

"You ain't got such a smart mouth now, eh, Strider?" Slick said, laughing.

I managed to get out, "I'd ask if you were Canadian, but you're too much of a d-" Boxcars slammed me against the wall again and I hit my head, hard. I faintly heard footsteps and apparently, they did too, because suddenly I was in a heap on the floor and they were-/

I woke up in a cold sweat and on the floor. I tried to stand, but my legs were shaking too much and I fell back down to the floor. The back of my head throbbed, as if remembering the pain. I thumped the wall like Bro had told me to if I needed help.

Nothing happened.

I hit it again, louder this time. Bro was there a few seconds later, followed by a sleepy and annoyed Dirk, rubbing his eyes.

"Nightmares again?" Bro asked. I nodded. "Can you stand?" I tried again, successfully this time. We all filed out of my tiny ass room and into the less tiny living room. I went into the one-person kitchen to pour myself a cup of aj.

Aj's always good for calming down. It's good for anything really. Shutting kids up, giving to sick people, going with meals, snacks- and I'm getting off track here.

I walked back into the living room and plopped my ass on the couch next to Dirk, who asked, "Do you wanna talk about it?" If I had been wearing my shades, I would've taken them off.

*Dude that has got to be the poorest choice of words I've ever heard. Like, ever.* I said.

"Well fuck, sorry, it's like 4 in the goddamn morning." He grumbled. I looked over at the clock and saw that it said 413. Well shit.

Bro asked me, "Do you think you can get back to sleep?" I nodded and made my way back into my room, laying down, and thinking. Thinking about my dream and school, my recent friendship with John, the world's biggest nerd, the homework I didn't do for Ms. Chase, a- wait. 'Shit. I forgot about the homework. Fuuuuck. Hopefully Karkat'll let me copy off his. Wait no, he's not here. Terezi? Nah, she probably didn't do it either. Damn.'

John's POV

When I woke up, I fell on the floor. It didn't hurt. I was too tired for that. It must've been loud though, because just a bit later, my dad was standing in the doorway, asking me if I was alright. After I assured him that I was, he went back to whatever he was doing. Probably baking. It did smell like it.

I went to my dresser and picked out my clothes- the usual ghostbusters tee and cargo shorts- before taking a shower. When I came back, I pulled on my Sburb hoodie and grabbed my backpack, walking downstairs. I tapped my dad's shoulder, alerting him to my presence before saying, *I'm going now.*

He nodded and asked, *Are you sure you don't want me to drive you?* I shook my head. I knew where the school was, and I also had Jane to walk with. Just that moment she came bounding downstairs.

*Ready to go John?* she asked. I nodded and we headed out the door, out into the crisp, November air. I suddenly regretted choosing to wear shorts. Washington was a lot colder than Virginia. I looked up and saw a few birds flying above us. Flying south a little late. It hadn't been long since the incident- 5 months, maybe- but I still couldn't remember what they sounded like.

/Walking home on a Thursday night, with the noisy traffic to my right. I remember being pulled to the side and a gun placed at my back. I heard a scratchy woman's voice saying, "Give me your money." It was shaking slightly.

"I d-don't have an-any." needless to say, I was scared shitless.

"Don't you lie to me." She said.

"I d-don't ha-hav-ve any m-m-money."

Suddenly, the trigger was pulled and there was a pain in my shoulder and my ears were ringing and everything was way too bright. When my vision cleared, I was on the ground and the woman- whoever she was- was gone./

I was brought back to reality by running into a pole and falling on my ass. Someone tapped my shoulder and I looked up to see none other than Dave, with Jane and Dirk standing just behind him.

*You ok man?* he asked. I could tell he was trying not to smirk as I nodded. *Well, come on. As much as I'd love to sit here and chat for a while, we're going to be late if you don't move your lazy ass.* Jane was covering her mouth and I'm pretty sure she was giggling.

*Yeah, yeah.* I told Dave, waving my hand. I pushed myself up and we all walked into the school together, while I was still thinking about what had happened.