Can't Stand It (Mark aka B)

[elijah samuel allen]

Elijah sighed the tapping of a girl’s pencil to his right the only sound he heard in the silence of the classroom thousands of things running through his mind. Ever since his brothers learned his secrets he found his self sitting in class writing a lot more, almost distracted and in many of his classes it was a problem as his straight A’s turned into A- and the A- slowly turned to B’s. In fact now a days he had to struggle just to keep his B’s and his teachers would keep him after class to talk to him about this since his grades slipping was very unlike him.

The tapping of this annoying girl’s pencil was starting to really bug him now as his head laid on his desk in front of him his pencil and notebook abandoned. The sixteen year old sat there wearing jeans and a long sleeved shirt, he always wore long sleeves and long pants. It made hiding things easier, and now did the boy have something to hide.

The scars that covered his arms, and stomach. Closing his eyes he sighed deeply, class was boring for once and he couldn’t pay attention anymore. He was totally distracted.

[brittany]

Mark walked through class, looking over the shoulders of his students. Occasionally stopping, to read what they had thus far. He didn't realize Elijah hadn't been working until he stopped behind at his desk. Frowning, because his paper was blank. Leaning down he whispered, "Everything alright Elijah?"

[elijah samuel allen]

Normally at this point Eli would be finished with his writing, but for once his paper was blank and he could hardly think straight. Closing his eyes he heard his teacher’s voice causing him to bite his lip and nod slightly, anyone who knew Eli know he was always quiet and hardly happy. As a boy who loved to write he would always write though, and for him to actually not write for once was almost a shock. “I’m just a little distracted is although” he lied looking up from his desk to his teacher, he was a terrible liar to. What he needed was someone to talk to about these things, he had problems and he knew he needed help.

[brittany]

"Do you need to talk?" He whispered, being sure nobody around them could hear.

[elijah samuel allen]

“It’s just something on my mind is all” he toyed with his sleeve a little bit before quickly looking down at his desk. He was always toying with his sleeve, trying to keep it down so none of his scars dare show but sometimes it was hard and if he looked close enough you could make out a cut on his arm. “It’s really hard to explain” he added.

[brittany]

Mark walked back to his desk, sitting just on the edge of it. Sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His eyes on the clock as he silently counted down. Four... three... two... one.. he gave a slight wave. Students standing up and walking out of class. His arms crossing over his chest as he watched Elijah. "Could you please stay Elijah."

[elijah samuel allen]

Hearing the bell and than his teacher’s voice made Eli bit down on his lip but he nodded anyways, “yes sir” he said quietly putting his things in his bad so he would be ready to leave when he could. Closing his backpack as everyone left he stayed just where he was standing in till the last person left. “Am I in trouble?” he asked even almost nervously.

[brittany]

Mark looked down shaking his head ever so slightly. "Elijah.. I'm a bit worried. I know your shy and quiet.. but you've never been like this in my class. Your grades are slipping, and you seem to be 'distracted' a lot lately." He pushed off his desk, "You know if somethings wrong you can tell me."

[elijah samuel allen]

“You haven’t been the only teacher to be worried sir, my grades have been slipping in many of my classes and I’ve been really distracted lately. For a very good reason” Eli pulled his sleeve down better rubbing his eyes, “the problem is that hardly anyone says anything and the people that do can’t figure it out completely” he muttered.

[brittany]

"Well then why don't you tell me." He stood in front of Elijah. Giving him a worried expression. "Your future will be effected by these grades. So whatever it is.. it would be good to let it out and let someone help. Before it's to late." Mark always enjoyed reading Elijah's things, his views on everything seemed different. In a new and interesting way. One of the reasons he wanted to be a teacher, was to watch people grow. Seeing one of his best students failing worried him.

[elijah samuel allen]

“There’s just a lot going on in my life” he said quietly still toying with the fabric of his sleeve, he did that a lot when he was nervous. “It involves me and things that I’ve been doing to myself” he only had this conversation with very few people and it was never a teacher and he knew that this conversation would easily land him in the hospital. He wanted that and needed that though, it might be what would save his life. That and when Eli's grades are slipping you need be worried, Eli was a smart kid and a great writer. Him not writing was very unlike him.

[brittany]

Mark looked at the door, a small window let people see in and out of it. He watched as kids shuffled by, making their way to their next class. Looking back at Elijah he sat at his desk. "What do you mean.. things going on with you? Is it something.. dangerous?"

[elijah samuel allen]

Eli nodded slightly before looking down, “it’s really hard telling a teacher about this but it’s getting out of hand and I know if I just sit around my parents may be burying their son and my siblings would lose their brother” he said really quietly. “It is dangerous; in fact it’s very dangerous”.

[brittany]

Mark was quiet for a long moment. Wondering if he was going to tell him, or if he was gonna have to push Elijah into telling him. Watching Elijah for a few short moments, his expression still far to worry some. Mark always though of his students as family, and he never liked seeing his family get hurt. "What is it Elijah? Don't think of me as your teacher.. think of me as your older brother. What's going on?"

[elijah samuel allen]

Elijah looked down still playing with the sleeve of his shirt, “I have an older brother. Two of them actually and they know all about this and even they think help is needed for me, actual real help so I don’t do these things to myself anymore. Sir these kinds of things are hard to tell a person, a sibling, your parents, even a teacher. It makes you feel like they would see you differently when you do, and some people do see you differently and they worry about you nonstop, the odd behavior, the long sleeves the said person always wears, it worries them nonstop” Eli said very quietly. “Sir I’m telling you this because I know it’s beginning to get out of hand and I just I know I need help, from an adult and my from my siblings or my friends”.