Straightedge
Prologue
Series of Flashbacks
1996
"Do you want to hold her Matthew?" The mother of the child asked.
11 year old Matt smiled and nodded eagerly, "of course!"
The mother quieted her young son, "you must be quiet, she's asleep,"
He nodded, "okay,"
"Now come sit," she gestured to the seat at the side of the bed.
Matt came and took a seat in the plastic maroon chair. He cradled his arms as his mother told him so, and in return, the small baby girl was placed there. He stared down at his little sister in awe. She was so tiny.
"You're going to have to be the man of the house now, Matthew," their mother said softly, "do you understand?"
He looked up and saw nothing but seriousness in her eyes, "yes mom,"
She smiled and brushed the curly hair out of his eyes, "good,
1999
"Mommy!" The little girl, now three years old, cried, "please don't leave!"
Matthew was holding his struggling little sister close to his chest. She was sobbing, banging her tiny fists against his chest in rebellion. Their mother watched sadly. She crouched down.
"Let her go," their mother sighed, "it's alright,"
Matt nodded and placed his sister on the floor of the airport. The little girl immediately ran into her mothers arms, burying her head in the cotton camo button down her mother was wearing. Matthew watched as his mother squeezed her eyes shut, fighting the tears that threatened to come.
"I love you," she told the girl, "never forget that,"
"I love you too mommy," the girl cried, "why do you have to leave me?"
"Mommy has to work," the mother replied, "I wish I could stay, but I need to make sure you guys can eat and sleep in a house every day,"
The little girl was far too young to understand why her mother was leaving. She didn't understand why her father was not around. She didn't understand that her mother was leaving to serve the United States Military. All she knew was that she was devastated that she had to leave.
"Flight 506!" The intercom boomed.
The mother sniffled softly, trying to hide her distress from her youngest child.
"I have to go now," she told the girl, "behave for your brother, alright?"
The girl nodded. Matt came over and hugged his mother one last time.
"Take care of her," the mother whispered in his ear, "be the man of the house,"
He only nodded, feeling completely numbed by the world around him.
Then, before his 15 year old mind could even process it all, his mother was gone. The social worker who was standing in the background, watching it all go down, took them into his car and drove them to the foster house they'd be living in while their mother was away.
2001
"I told you to clean your room!" A voice boomed.
Matthew jumped at the loud noise. He shouldn't have been all too surprised, because it was common to have yelling in the house. He got up to investigate and saw his younger sister, Nora, on the floor at their foster fathers feet, crying.
"You don't appreciate anything I do for you!" He screamed at her.
She flinched, dropping the old and worn doll that was in her hand. Their foster father bent down, snatching Nora's only toy off the ground and holding it above her head.
"Please don't hurt her!" Nora cried.
The foster father smirked, "oh this?"
Nora's eyes were all red and bleary, her breathing uneven from her hysterical crying. It was a sight all too often for Matthew to witness however.
The foster father took the doll and snapped it in half, dropping the two pieces onto the ground, right at Nora's feet. She shrieked, terrified at the state of her doll. The only belonging she owned was now destroyed. Matthew was enraged by this. He had bought that doll for his younger sister, and Nora played with it every day. Now she was beyond all consoling.
She fell back onto her bottom, and continued to cry.
"Stop yelling at her!" Matthew snarled, stepping in and picking his little sister off the ground.
She clutched onto him, burying her head in his chest and continuing to cry.
"Maybe she should learn some discipline then!" The foster father screamed.
"She's 5!" Matthew defended her.
"If you don't like my rules then you can get out!" He raised his fist.
Matthew backed away quickly to protect he and his sister from the blow. He immediately turned and left as quickly as he could with his little sister. She was still a snotty mess in his arms.
"It's okay Nora," he soothed her, "I'm gonna get out out of there. I promise,"
However, he was not able to keep his promise. They couldn't get out, the state refused to rehome them because their was no evidence of abuse. Matthew was outraged.
This was the beginning of all. His eyes were now opened. He could see how unfair the word was, how cold it was. He needed to fight this.
2002
"I'm so sorry to inform you of this, but your mother has died," the officer at the door of the foster house informed.
Matthews jaw dropped in shock. Nora came to check out the strangers but wished she hadn't. Matthew was at the door crying. She immediately hugged his legs, trying to comfort him.
He crouched down to her level and took her in his arms.
"Why are you crying Matty?" She frowned.
"Mommys not coming home sweetie," he whispered, "she's in heaven now,"
Nora had never heard of heaven before. She had no idea what is was, or how long her mother would be staying there.
"What's heaven?" She asked
"It's in the sky," he sniffled, "but she's safe now. You don't have to be scared for her now,"
2003
Matthew stood in the waiting area for parents. School was ending in a couple minutes and he had come to pick up little Nora. He finally spotted her, skipping down the hallway in her pink dress and pig tails, wearing a backpack that was way too big for her. She giggled and started to run towards him, her arms open.
"Matty!" She giggled.
He laughed and caught her in his arms, "hey norabora,"
She squealed and kissed his cheek. Some of the other kids came out. They watched her with Matt, snickering. She spotted them all laughing at her and frowned. Tears immediately sprung to her eyes, but she wiped them and tried to hide them.
Matt didn't want to embarrass her further infront of everyone, so he pretended not to notice until they got into his car which was on the verge of breaking down at anytime because it was so old and cheap. He knew it wasn't safe to drive, but he couldn't afford anything else.
"What's wrong bean?" He asked her.
Her face screwed up sadly and she burst into tears. He hugged her and rubbed her back.
"The kids are so mean to me," she sobbed, "they don't let me sit with them or play with them, and they always make fun on me because I don't have a mommy or daddy,"
His heart broke into pieces.
"Don't listen to them norabora," he told her, "some people aren't nice. They're missing out on having such a nice friend as you,"
She nodded and he wiped her eyes.
2005
"It's so cold," Nora whined.
Matt sighed, "pull the blankets up then silly,"
"I did, and it's too cold," she frowned.
He knew she was right, it was too cold. Winter in Chiacago was ruthless. He was trying, but it was so hard to make ends meet. He was a highschool drop out-because he couldn't afford to feed the two of them without having a full time job- and it was already hard enough for him to feed himself. The two of them were living in a 3 room apartment, paid for by the state as pension for their mothers service, but that didn't include the heat or food.
"Things are always the darkest before the dawn," he told her in the dark.
She snuggled into his side. This was how they could keep the warmest, by sleeping in the same twin bed.
"We're going to be okay," he told her, "I promise,"
He was able to keep this promise.
2007
"You can open your eyes now," Matthew smiled.
Nora pulled his hands away from her eyes and gasped at the sight in front of her. A house. A small coffee colored house with maroon shutters and a fence to enclose the yard and a swing set. It was perfect. So perfect that she started to cry.
"I love it," she sniffled.
"A house of our own," he smiled, "we did it Nora!"
She hugged him so tightly, "thank you,"
2009
"I don't want to go to school anymore," Nora snarled.
"What's wrong?" Matthew paused his playing.
"No one likes me," she shook her head, "I try so hard for them to like me, but in just don't fit in,"
"You need to finish school," he told her.
"Why?" She whined, "you didn't, and you're famous now,"
"It's not that easy nor," he sighed, "what are you going to do?"
She thought for a moment, "go with you, on tour,"
He laughed, but she was serious, "it's not funny. I hate everyone at that stupid school they act like they're better than me!"
He sighed, thinking, "you can't just not finish school,"
"I'll do online school" she begged, "please, just don't make me go back,"
"Fine," he sighed.
2012
"Are you nervous?" Matthew asked.
Nora smirked and shook her head, "not a bit,"
He laughed, "okay there miss confidence,"
She grinned up at him, fixing the guitar on her shoulder, "I'm gonna be better than you,"
He smiled at their playful banter. This was a whole different girl than years before. She was much more sure of herself, and she was much happier. He was thankful every single day for this band. It turned their whole life around.
2014
"Nora!" Tyler called.
Nora peeked her head out of their dressing room. He grinned and gestured for her to come closer.
"Come meet some people," he told her.
She stepped out and came closer.
Standing before her eyes was 5 seconds of summer.
1996
"Do you want to hold her Matthew?" The mother of the child asked.
11 year old Matt smiled and nodded eagerly, "of course!"
The mother quieted her young son, "you must be quiet, she's asleep,"
He nodded, "okay,"
"Now come sit," she gestured to the seat at the side of the bed.
Matt came and took a seat in the plastic maroon chair. He cradled his arms as his mother told him so, and in return, the small baby girl was placed there. He stared down at his little sister in awe. She was so tiny.
"You're going to have to be the man of the house now, Matthew," their mother said softly, "do you understand?"
He looked up and saw nothing but seriousness in her eyes, "yes mom,"
She smiled and brushed the curly hair out of his eyes, "good,
1999
"Mommy!" The little girl, now three years old, cried, "please don't leave!"
Matthew was holding his struggling little sister close to his chest. She was sobbing, banging her tiny fists against his chest in rebellion. Their mother watched sadly. She crouched down.
"Let her go," their mother sighed, "it's alright,"
Matt nodded and placed his sister on the floor of the airport. The little girl immediately ran into her mothers arms, burying her head in the cotton camo button down her mother was wearing. Matthew watched as his mother squeezed her eyes shut, fighting the tears that threatened to come.
"I love you," she told the girl, "never forget that,"
"I love you too mommy," the girl cried, "why do you have to leave me?"
"Mommy has to work," the mother replied, "I wish I could stay, but I need to make sure you guys can eat and sleep in a house every day,"
The little girl was far too young to understand why her mother was leaving. She didn't understand why her father was not around. She didn't understand that her mother was leaving to serve the United States Military. All she knew was that she was devastated that she had to leave.
"Flight 506!" The intercom boomed.
The mother sniffled softly, trying to hide her distress from her youngest child.
"I have to go now," she told the girl, "behave for your brother, alright?"
The girl nodded. Matt came over and hugged his mother one last time.
"Take care of her," the mother whispered in his ear, "be the man of the house,"
He only nodded, feeling completely numbed by the world around him.
Then, before his 15 year old mind could even process it all, his mother was gone. The social worker who was standing in the background, watching it all go down, took them into his car and drove them to the foster house they'd be living in while their mother was away.
2001
"I told you to clean your room!" A voice boomed.
Matthew jumped at the loud noise. He shouldn't have been all too surprised, because it was common to have yelling in the house. He got up to investigate and saw his younger sister, Nora, on the floor at their foster fathers feet, crying.
"You don't appreciate anything I do for you!" He screamed at her.
She flinched, dropping the old and worn doll that was in her hand. Their foster father bent down, snatching Nora's only toy off the ground and holding it above her head.
"Please don't hurt her!" Nora cried.
The foster father smirked, "oh this?"
Nora's eyes were all red and bleary, her breathing uneven from her hysterical crying. It was a sight all too often for Matthew to witness however.
The foster father took the doll and snapped it in half, dropping the two pieces onto the ground, right at Nora's feet. She shrieked, terrified at the state of her doll. The only belonging she owned was now destroyed. Matthew was enraged by this. He had bought that doll for his younger sister, and Nora played with it every day. Now she was beyond all consoling.
She fell back onto her bottom, and continued to cry.
"Stop yelling at her!" Matthew snarled, stepping in and picking his little sister off the ground.
She clutched onto him, burying her head in his chest and continuing to cry.
"Maybe she should learn some discipline then!" The foster father screamed.
"She's 5!" Matthew defended her.
"If you don't like my rules then you can get out!" He raised his fist.
Matthew backed away quickly to protect he and his sister from the blow. He immediately turned and left as quickly as he could with his little sister. She was still a snotty mess in his arms.
"It's okay Nora," he soothed her, "I'm gonna get out out of there. I promise,"
However, he was not able to keep his promise. They couldn't get out, the state refused to rehome them because their was no evidence of abuse. Matthew was outraged.
This was the beginning of all. His eyes were now opened. He could see how unfair the word was, how cold it was. He needed to fight this.
2002
"I'm so sorry to inform you of this, but your mother has died," the officer at the door of the foster house informed.
Matthews jaw dropped in shock. Nora came to check out the strangers but wished she hadn't. Matthew was at the door crying. She immediately hugged his legs, trying to comfort him.
He crouched down to her level and took her in his arms.
"Why are you crying Matty?" She frowned.
"Mommys not coming home sweetie," he whispered, "she's in heaven now,"
Nora had never heard of heaven before. She had no idea what is was, or how long her mother would be staying there.
"What's heaven?" She asked
"It's in the sky," he sniffled, "but she's safe now. You don't have to be scared for her now,"
2003
Matthew stood in the waiting area for parents. School was ending in a couple minutes and he had come to pick up little Nora. He finally spotted her, skipping down the hallway in her pink dress and pig tails, wearing a backpack that was way too big for her. She giggled and started to run towards him, her arms open.
"Matty!" She giggled.
He laughed and caught her in his arms, "hey norabora,"
She squealed and kissed his cheek. Some of the other kids came out. They watched her with Matt, snickering. She spotted them all laughing at her and frowned. Tears immediately sprung to her eyes, but she wiped them and tried to hide them.
Matt didn't want to embarrass her further infront of everyone, so he pretended not to notice until they got into his car which was on the verge of breaking down at anytime because it was so old and cheap. He knew it wasn't safe to drive, but he couldn't afford anything else.
"What's wrong bean?" He asked her.
Her face screwed up sadly and she burst into tears. He hugged her and rubbed her back.
"The kids are so mean to me," she sobbed, "they don't let me sit with them or play with them, and they always make fun on me because I don't have a mommy or daddy,"
His heart broke into pieces.
"Don't listen to them norabora," he told her, "some people aren't nice. They're missing out on having such a nice friend as you,"
She nodded and he wiped her eyes.
2005
"It's so cold," Nora whined.
Matt sighed, "pull the blankets up then silly,"
"I did, and it's too cold," she frowned.
He knew she was right, it was too cold. Winter in Chiacago was ruthless. He was trying, but it was so hard to make ends meet. He was a highschool drop out-because he couldn't afford to feed the two of them without having a full time job- and it was already hard enough for him to feed himself. The two of them were living in a 3 room apartment, paid for by the state as pension for their mothers service, but that didn't include the heat or food.
"Things are always the darkest before the dawn," he told her in the dark.
She snuggled into his side. This was how they could keep the warmest, by sleeping in the same twin bed.
"We're going to be okay," he told her, "I promise,"
He was able to keep this promise.
2007
"You can open your eyes now," Matthew smiled.
Nora pulled his hands away from her eyes and gasped at the sight in front of her. A house. A small coffee colored house with maroon shutters and a fence to enclose the yard and a swing set. It was perfect. So perfect that she started to cry.
"I love it," she sniffled.
"A house of our own," he smiled, "we did it Nora!"
She hugged him so tightly, "thank you,"
2009
"I don't want to go to school anymore," Nora snarled.
"What's wrong?" Matthew paused his playing.
"No one likes me," she shook her head, "I try so hard for them to like me, but in just don't fit in,"
"You need to finish school," he told her.
"Why?" She whined, "you didn't, and you're famous now,"
"It's not that easy nor," he sighed, "what are you going to do?"
She thought for a moment, "go with you, on tour,"
He laughed, but she was serious, "it's not funny. I hate everyone at that stupid school they act like they're better than me!"
He sighed, thinking, "you can't just not finish school,"
"I'll do online school" she begged, "please, just don't make me go back,"
"Fine," he sighed.
2012
"Are you nervous?" Matthew asked.
Nora smirked and shook her head, "not a bit,"
He laughed, "okay there miss confidence,"
She grinned up at him, fixing the guitar on her shoulder, "I'm gonna be better than you,"
He smiled at their playful banter. This was a whole different girl than years before. She was much more sure of herself, and she was much happier. He was thankful every single day for this band. It turned their whole life around.
2014
"Nora!" Tyler called.
Nora peeked her head out of their dressing room. He grinned and gestured for her to come closer.
"Come meet some people," he told her.
She stepped out and came closer.
Standing before her eyes was 5 seconds of summer.
Notes
Hi guys! So quick thing! This is the prologue! I wanted to test this idea and see if you guys like it! If you do, then I am going to write the ENTIRE story and THEN post it. But if you don't like the story, then please tell me that!
So tell me what you think! It is going to be a romance between Nora and Luke if you didn't catch that in the summary. I just wanted to give you background on Nora and Matthew, because it will be using lyrics from Rise Against songs, which are very thoughtful and focused on social issues, which some of you may not feel comfortable with (such as lgbt rights, anti war, suicide and bullying prevention).
I hope oped you like this story as much as I do, and be sure remember that if you do like this, it will be some time before the story is actually posted!
much love
fluffy5sos
Please update!!!!! I LOVE THE STORY!!!!!<3<3<3<3
6/29/15