A soft metallic clink rung out, instantly drowned out by louder, and sharper noises. The soft clinking continued, sounding at regular intervals.

Clink.

Is the guy over there crushing on that freshman girl?

Yes.

Clink.

More than a year?

Yes.

The clinking stopped.

Damn, now that's embarrassing. Imagine pining after a girl younger than you for so long... for someone who'd most likely never notice you... Well, thats unless he could scrounge up the courage to talk to her.

A boy scoffed from his perch on the bench, just outside the bustling school. One pale hand clenched around a coin.

Doubt it.

The clinking resumed.

His right hand went through the familiar motions, over and over again. A coin was tossed into the air, only to be caught once more, repeatedly. Tobias found the habit soothing, a way to preoccupy his hands as well as his mind. It helped to numb the unwanted emotions when they threatened to stir. Plus it had other perks in store.

Will he trip over his shoelaces?

Clink.

Yes.

Not a moment after, a freshman kid with oversized shoes that looked to be able to fit a person thrice his width, took a nasty spill down the three uneven steps that marked the entrance. Tobias flinched lightly, feeling sorry for the poor guy who was scrambling to pick up several loose papers that were being trampled underfoot. He toyed around with the thought of helping him or not. Another coin toss and Tobias had decided.

No.

It was not the kid's lucky day. Tobias didn't laugh, only stared blankly at the nerdy looking boy with a bulging school bag, and large round glasses that were currently askew on his face. The sight was nearly comical, but he wasn't cruel enough to mock him. And the coin prevented him from helping, so only one path was available. To stay seated, and observe quietly.

Or should I walk away?

Yes.

Perhaps there was still a choice after all, Tobias mused. But the coin had told him specifically to leave, which meant that he couldn't stay. There wasn't a choice, and he much preferred it than having the power to decide for himself. Terrible things happen when he possessed that ability. Tobias would rather trust in an inanimate object to make them for him. The coin always knew the best path to take.

Life was easier that way, more tolerable. Surviving had become... a yes or no question.

Tobias sighed, glancing at the kneeling boy scrambling to collect his possessions one last time. Committing the frustration on his face to memory, somewhat unnerved at the raw emotion. He hadn't felt anything for... a long time.

Heaving himself off the bench, Tobias shuffled away. The amount of students had significantly decreased by the time he sort to leave. He could breathe freely and walk without worrying that someone would bump into him. He wasn't a fan of physical contact, absolutely abhorring it.

The walk back was filled with anticipation. One foot in front of the other taking him to the one place Tobias despised the most. It was not his home, it hadn't been for six years. It was simply the place where he occasionally slept, and dreaded coming back to everyday after school.

Things had been better six years ago, when he had still been alive. Yet Tobias refused to revisit those memories. The pain still lingered even after all this time. The pain of the past... and of the present.

"You're late, boy! You were supposed to be back hours ago!"

Truthfully, it had only been one hour, but what difference would it make? It was all the same for a man who had no concept of time, or of anything else for that matter. Other than his addiction to alcohol, that is. An empty bottle was thrown vaguely in his direction, crashing into pieces just a hair in front of Tobias' feet.

"Clean up that mess and get in here!"

It had been a close call, the man didn't really have great aim. His life would have been much more unbearable if he did. Tobias sighed dejectedly, kneeling down on the crusty floor to clean up the mess with his bare hands. As per usual.

A shard of glass suddenly slipped out of his grasp and pricked his finger. Tobias felt the slight sting it caused, and was mesmerized at the feeling. He'd begun to notice that the only time that he felt something, was when he was in pain. It was a tempting thought, to hurt himself in order to simply... feel something. He was becoming desperate at this point.

No.

Of course, there was no way the coin would allow Tobias to even think of such a thing as self-harm. Typical. Sometimes he wished that he never had it, to just let himself deteriorate and not let anything stop him. But, he supposed it was the very reason Tobias was given it. To prevent him from becoming destructive, and reckless.

It still sucks though.

"WHAT'S TAKING YOU SO LONG YOU UNGRATEFUL BRAT!!"

"I'm coming." The whispered words spilled out of him, not fully consciously.

Tobias snapped out of his thoughts fast enough to see a second bottle hurling towards him from the living room. By some dumb luck, he managed to catch it before it could increase his workload. He stared at the beer bottle clutched in his hand with a vacant expression, almost wishing that he hadn't of caught it. And let it crash into his head as it'd been aiming for. Maybe he would've died from it. That was certainly a better route than having to keep living on in his nightmare of a life.

He dumped the pieces of glass and the second bottle in to a wastebasket, running his injured hand under the kitchen sink for a split second before hurrying to the living room. Almost stumbling three times over the abundance of empty bottles strewn all around the room. Not wanting to trigger another attack.

"What do you want now?" Tobias asked, eyeing the man sprawled out over the sagging, poor excuse of a couch. It was stained in several places and had a few tears as well. Over the past years, the furniture had been abused more than it was used.

The man had greasy, strings of brown hair plastered to his scalp and forehead, starting to go bald at the back. Worn and ragged clothing, grayish skin under the terrible lighting. He used to be a bulky specimen of a man, the only evidence of it now were the lingering muscles upon his person and the baggy clothes that once stretched tight. Weeks old stubble darkened his otherwise pale face. It was a sickening sight. All the more when he was furious about something or the other.

Like right now for instance.

"Children these days... so goddamn ungrateful," he slurred, barely moving his bloodshot eyes enough to look at Tobias. For a second Tobias wondered if he could even see him anymore through his constant drunken haze. "Get me more beer, I'm nearly dry."

"And the money for it?" Tobias sighed. He had been expecting this, his father wanting more alcohol for the umpteenth time. Tobias can't even remember the last time the old man was sober. Likely years ago...

And he can't remember the last time his father actually paid out of his own pocket.

"You expect me to give you money, you good for nothing brat? YOU'RE OLD ENOUGH TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. PAY FOR YOUR OWN DAMN SHIT! IF YOU WANTED TO BE BABIED YOU SHOULD HAVE LEFT WITH YOUR MOTHER" his father screamed, shaking his right hand which was clutching another bottle furiously at him. Some of the liquid spilling out everywhere, and drenching the front of Tobias' t-shirt as well. He didn't react to the screaming, nor to the foul smelling substance making his clothes cling to his body. The only movement from him being his breathing, and the twitching of his hand. Itching to flip the coin.

Needing the guidance. But not daring to do so in his father's presence.

"I would have if she'd told me she was leaving in the first place," Tobias muttered, dashing out of the room as fast as he could. "I'll go get you your beer."

"GET BACK HERE YOU PIECE OF-" The rest of his words went unheard, since Tobias left the apartment building yet again.

Looks like I'll be sleeping out here tonight, he mused, rapidly flipping the coin in his frantic state and almost dropping it in the drains. Lifting his face up to the darkening sky, he inhaled a deep breath with his eyes closed. At least it doesn't look like rain.

No.

Just as the word entered his mind, Tobias felt a drop of cool water hit his cheek, making his eyes open once more. A sigh escaped him, as he stared at the innocent looking coin that laid on his palm.

Just my luck.

A/N

The first chapter!! Finally!! Tell me what you think!! Don't be afraid to vote and comment!

-RL-

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