Break Me Down [C]

[Shadowstar [LovesMaydayParade]]

Title: Break Me Down
Author: Taylor (that's my real name)
Pairing: Alex & Migoto
Summary: Rumors might seem harmless and good fun when you first start to spread them around, but once they've gone deep enough, they can shift personalities and friendships like nothing else.
Editor: I'm using Firefox, it has built-in spell check.
Cover: Sorry, no.

Author's Notes: Link to song: www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9dJv9KNc1Q
Link to site: emberflame55.proboards.com/index.cgi

This is really (long - cough -) sappy and cheesy at the end, but heck, Alex is my FAVORITE character I've ever made. I don't think I could be this mean to him if I tried.

WARNING: There are slight implications to maturity, nothing much, but enough that I suppose I should warn people that don't even like when they can guess at things.

We have a mini plot on our RP site where some girl's trying to overthrow the fire leaders (Alex and Alexandra) so she turns them against each other by telling everyone Alexandra told her Alex was gay (he's not), and that Alex told her that Alexandra slept with teachers (she doesn't). It causes a huge fight between them and Alex gets all depressed that he's lost his best friend and scared his girlfriend will believe the rumor, yadayadayada. Plus I just love this song and thought it fit our little subplot. The actual encounter between the two of them involved a whole lot of swearing and name-calling, but I'll make sure to keep it clean, lol!

And if I seem a bit amateurish writing about Migoto, it's because she's Allie's character, not mine. But she's sort of Alex's girlfriend, and the only one that could convince him he's not worthless, so... yeah Same with Alexandra - she's Angel's.

We haven't finished the sub-plot yet, so I wrote this as a sort of practice

Break Me Down

A long day alone, the emptiness is so real
Never having peace of mind, running from what I can't see
And there is nowhere left to hide, turn and face these empty eyes
All alone, heart untold, trying to find

The dark haired vampire always had the long hours of the night to himself, his inability to sleep giving him time alone, but also a long time to sit around and be bored out of his mind. He might have went hunting with Migoto, but her phone was turned off, and he definitely wasn't getting called a pedophile by Annice again if he went over to the Earth dorms to search for her. The memory of that encounter brought a smile tugging at the edge of his lips. She'd been so gullible, he remembered. And her face when she'd realized who he actually was - priceless.

Alexandre sighed heavily and pulled his laptop from underneath his bed, laying down and sitting it across his stomach. He chewed his lip ring for a moment in thought, then logged onto the school's rumor website. There were never any interesting rumors, but sometimes it was amusing to see what people could come up with. And the funniest thing - the Academy actually believed these rumors! Ah, how that amused him.

The smile slid off his face like sap when he navigated to the guys half of the site, his mouth opened slightly in shock. There was always one rumor voted most popular or most likely to be true by the population, and it would dominate the front page, picture included. And to his surprise, the picture was one he'd put behind him long ago, shortly after when it had happened three years previous. He was kissing a guy, something he'd done as a dare to get an extra fifty bucks when he'd been kicked out and forced to live on the streets. Alex had thought the picture was long gone, but... didn't seem like it now. Reluctant, he swallowed hard and let his gray eyes scan the text.

Hey guys, gals, rumor spreading time! So, Alexandra's the leader of the fire element, right? Well, apparently that friendship between her and Alex... is totally fake. She told me that the total emo loser isn't actually in love with his pregnant girlfriend - it's just an act so the total wuss doesn't get his throat slit. Because he's gay! And we all know gay guys can't even lift a finger in a fight!

All that jail stuff? He wasn't in jail, he just pretended to be tough so that his secret wouldn't... come out of the closet, let's say. Haha. And he's totally cheating on his sweet girlfriend... with a man! The dudes pretty hot, but he's like, two years younger than Alex. Can you say pedophile?

Alex was speechless with shock. How could Alexandra do this to him? Why would she betray him like this? They'd been friends since childhood, and she was one of the only ones that could possibly know about the picture! He felt a stab of hurt attack him, but it was quickly outweighed by anger. He swore twice, loudly, then jumped to his feet and strode away from the computer and the rest of his stuff before he decided it would look nicer smashed on the ground outside of the window. Seething, he could feel himself shaking. He needed to find Migoto and tell her it wasn't true, now. What would she think of him if she read that he was gay? He was NOT!

He pushed the door open with more force than needed, and it crashed against the wall loudly. He was about to leave the dorms completely when he saw the very traitor sitting on the couch. Crying. Her tears once would have made him feel emotion, but she meant nothing to him now.

Without even pausing for breath, Alex immediately let what was on his mind out, openly yelling at her now. She stood up and started yelling back, until he couldn't take it anymore. Scowling, he raised his hand and slapped her as hard as he could. Not hitting girls was definitely a usual part of his morale, but she was the exception now. "After everything that happened with Saphira, I expected you to be on my side. I thought I could trust you. I believed you were my friend." He turned away from her. "Now I realize you're just like all the rest." Without another word to her, Alex turned and left the room.

Break me down!
Replace this fear inside!
Take this nothingness from me!
I want to find, I want to shine, I want to rise,
Break me down!

It had been a week.

Alexandre was walking down the hallway from class, trying to ignore the taunts and jeers around him. No matter what he did, his sharp ears managed to pick them up, and he could feel them slowly shattering his already weak composure. He'd lost his best friend, and everyone that had once rallied around him now ganged up to topple his self-confidence. And it was working. There had been argument before that Alexandre Blackthorn would never be broken. But now he realized it wasn't true. They could break him. They were breaking him.

He was almost at the dungeons (where the fire dormitories were located) when a girl stepped in his way, stopping him. Before, he would have either asked her to move or outright shoved her out of his way, but he was confused at the moment. He didn't feel strong enough to fight anymore. He was alone. Migoto still loved him, but... he felt empty.

She shoved him against the wall, hard, and laughed as he did nothing to stop her. He once would have attacked her, slit her throat, but there was no resistance now. The girl openly sneered, and as Alex looked at her hand, the mark was fire. One that had once followed under his lead was turning against him. And she wasn't the only one.

"Not so tough now you've got no secret to protect, Blackthorn?" she taunted.

He couldn't take it anymore. A tear streaked down his cheek, and he turned and ran before the rest could make themselves known. He didn't even know where he was going, just knew that he had to get away, and fast. Before they witnessed one of the break downs. It had been such a long time since the last, he'd been hopeful he'd shaken off the attacks forever. But it was clear that he'd been wrong. Pushing open the door he first reached, he found himself outside. Not caring now if anyone saw, he let his vampiric speed overcome him, and he dashed with lightning speed toward the forest.

Anything to get away.

When he was all alone, deep in the wilderness, he finally collapsed. Shaking and sobbing, he realized that no matter how things seemed to be looking up for him, things were always going to come crashing down around him again. He was shattered, and it had happened so many times before, he often wondered if he would ever be whole again.

I try to find myself
I find the stranger trapped inside
And I'll take one more step away
From the face I used to recognize
Familiar shadows closing in
Suffocating fear descends
You killed a life, uncovered eyes
Trying to find, break me down!

"To the Academy of the Elements, we the fire element request your attention!"

Alex's gray eyes opened to glance at Celia, she was standing on the fire table with Kevin, her boyfriend, beside her. Only leaders were allowed to call attention to their element, unless...

"No," Alex breathed. "No..."

Beside him, Migoto took his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, a sign of support. She had braved the hatred of the fire element to sit with him at his elements table. But he barely felt it, for his eyes were transfixed on the scene unfolding in front of him. Looking into the eyes of the girl that had taken Saphira's side in the plot to control him two months ago, he knew suddenly that Celia had caused everything up to now. The rumors were lies, the fight between he and his ex-best friend had been just what she'd wanted. And now she was going to get what she'd wanted all along.

All eyes were on the couple standing on the table. Waiting. But Alex already knew what would be said.

"We all know the rules about who leads us, the elements! The students are in charge of who takes the lead at the beginning of the year, and that is the way it will stay." Alex was shaking now. "Unless," Celia smiled, "- unless enough students agree that a change is in order. When an element feels it's leaders are no longer performing up to par, they may rally together and overthrow the leadership." She looked directly at Alex, then to the other end of the table toward Alexandra. "Everyone knows the fire element needs an iron fist to rule. Well, up until a little while ago, our element was stable. But Alex is weak, and Alexandra spends more time crying than leading us. So abiding to the rules, we request a change."

Alex had been right. Even though they despised each other, he and Alexandra exchanged a horrified glance. Because he was sure she now knew the rumors had all been a plot. A cleverly written script to topple them. Celia wanted Alexandra's place. But even if she managed to take Alexandra out, Alex would never cooperate with her. So she'd made a plan to get rid of them both.

And now there was nothing he could do to stop it.

"All in favor of overthrowing not one, but both of our current leaders, stand up." Alex crossed his fingers and hoped, but it was no use. All but a few of the students stood up. Josh (Alexandra's boyfriend) crossed his arms and glared at Celia. He was one of the only ones still sitting. Alex knew it was over.

"And all in favor of Kevin and I taking their place?" No one sat down.

Celia jumped from the table and looked Alex straight in the face. It was element custom that any leader knocked from their position would be socially outcasted from the element, and the school. Anyone caught around them risked getting the same treatment. "Overruled, Alex," she said in mock sweetness. "Now I suggest you leave, my element doesn't like to deal with losers like you."

He should have stood up to her. He should have proved his worth and defended himself. But he didn't. He just got up from the table and left silently, not even looking back once. He felt powerless now. Everything had been stripped from him. His pride, his title, his right to be with his friends. Everything.

Replace this fear inside
Take this nothingness from me
I want to find, I want to shine, I want to rise
Break me down!

Replace this fear inside
Take this nothingness from me
I want to find, I want to shine, I want to rise
Break me down!

"Alex. You are not worthless."

Alex felt his mouth drop open slightly at the procession Migoto had managed to gather. Before him was a group of kids that believed he and Alexandra deserved what had been taken from them. In front of him, a group that was ready to risk their social status and defend the outcasts. He felt so touched, he was speechless. And then the one person he'd missed the most since it had all began rushed toward him and wrapped her arms around him, sobbing and apologizing. He hugged her back and apologized himself, glad to finally have reconciled his friendship.

"I'm so sorry, Alexandra," he said again.

Migoto laughed and pecked Alex on the cheek. "Apologize later, I think we've got about five minutes to get down to the mess hall before lunch starts."

He glanced at the kids. Alexandra, his best friend, Migoto, his girlfriend. Josh was there to support Alexandra of course, but he gave Alex a hint of a smile and winked when their eyes met. Aiden, his brother, gave him the thumbs up. He hadn't met Jamie in person before, but she was there as well, fidgeting in all her hyperness. And even more kids, most likely friends of the other supporters. Alex now realized why he'd felt so strong before. Because his friends were always there to support him in whatever he did. He'd never be alone if they were beside him.

He stood up. "Okay." He grinned at Alexandra and winked. "Let's go show everyone what happens when they try to overthrow us."

She nodded. They left with the group.

The gasp that arose when they entered the mess hall brought a smirk to Alex's lips. Fearlessly, he jumped onto the table as Celia once had, his gray eyes glittering with the desire for revenge as he stared her down. Alexandra giggled slightly as she took her place beside him. "There's a rule that only five of the element in question need to band together to overthrow one or both of the leaders. Well, we've got more than that." The nine or so fire students that had joined the group stood apart from the table, showing clearly who Alex was implying.

"So, abiding by the rules, we strip Celia and Kevin of their leadership. If you want detail, we'll give you it, but those rumors were all lies." Alex laughed coldly. "Did everyone really think I'd say such things about Alexandra?"

"And Alex is perfectly straight," Alexandra chuckled. "His girlfriend would know that."

Alex flipped his dark hair back. "So... all in favor of letting us take back our rightful positions as leaders of the fire element?" There was a brief moments hesitation, but then someone stood up. Followed by... almost everyone? Alex hadn't even dared to hope for this much support. He smiled, then stepped down from the table. He glanced at Celia and Kevin. "Enjoy your new life," he said coldly. Celia burst into tears and ran out of the room. Kevin shot Alex a glare before following her. Alex just laughed.

Alexandra put an arm around him in a friendly gesture. "No one takes us down," she laughed.

"No one," he agreed.

Break me down
I want to find, I want to shine, I want to rise
Break me down
I want to find, I want to shine, I want to rise
Break me down...
Ahhhhhh,

Break me!