More Than Tough

This story is about a young car in a family of six. His parents believe that people need to work hard for a good life. And what I mean by 'hard' is that they're downright ''abusive. ''And being hurt in various ways. Well, let's start this mess of a story nobody's going to see and I never intended for people to see.

Preface
15-year-old Steven Herrne was sleeping when his parents burst into the room at 6:00 AM sharp and hit Steven aggressively! He grimaced in pain and slowly woke up. "C'mon, kid. Make some gourmet breakfast for us." He sighed sadly and said, "Why can't I sleep normally??" He made some sloppily-made gourmet pancakes. His parents looked at them and said, "You disgrace. Make them again." He watched in sadness as they threw out the pancakes. As he made the second batch, he teared up. "Crybaby!" his parents yelled. The second batch had a minor imperfection, but luckily the abusive adults didn't notice it. He looked hungrily at the pancakes and quietly said, "Can I have some?" His cruel parents said, "No. Go back up-ramp and study for a test." Steven looked down, hungry. "Please? You hadn't fed me since two days ago!" His parents glared at him. If looks could kill, it would've done the trick. "GO! IF WE DON'T SEE AN A-PLUS, YOU'RE BEING KICKED OUT." Steven sadly went up, knowing he would go hungry for yet another day. He studied until his parents came up, which was 2:00 PM. "Make lunch, idiot." He went down and made penne pasta, sad that he didn't get to eat. They commanded him to work on an essay until dinnertime. At 8:30, they came up and commanded him to make a fancy dinner. It had hit 10:00 and he brought out the complete dinner. His parents grabbed the kid and beat him!

Chapter One- Unconscious
Steven lost consciousness and had dents on his innocent body after the beating. His older 16-year-old brother, Gavin, paid the family a visit and was horrified to see his little brother's unconscious body on the floor. "Mom... Dad... Why!?" He tried to wake him up, but Steven was weak. "He's a weakling and took forever to cook dinner!" Gavin said, "But to beat him to the point of unconsciousness!? Why??" His mother aggressively did the same, but with not the same effect. "Ow..." He murmured. His father yelled, "Can we make ugly kid homeless now?? He means nothing to us!" Gavin shook his front sadly, horrified and saddened at the treatment of the youth. Three hours later, the car woke up. "Food..." he murmured. He looked around. The kitchen was dark, and he looked in the fridge, looking for even a scrap of food to eat. There were only drinks that Steven didn't like. "So hungry... Need food..." He took a cup of water but was still starving. He went outside without his parents' knowledge to ask someone for food. Another homeless vehicle, a truck, said, "Find your own food, kid!" He sighed, looking for a single person willing to give him something to eat. A female car glared at him and said, "Go away. Eat something from the trash you are." He looked longingly at a restaurant. He drove up to the door and knocked. A tired-looking chef said grumpily, "What?" The young blue car asked for food. "No," the chef said, slamming the door in his front, not caring about the starving car. He sighed and headed back home without even a scrap of food. Unfortunately, his parents found out about his whereabouts. They horribly beat him again, not even caring as he screamed out in pain.

Chapter Two- Losing Weight More
Steven started to lose even more weight as he pleaded for food without results. His parents just looked at the kid coldly and said, "Go ahead and starve to death. We don't care." He cried as they went up to bed, fully fed with him starving. Hunger took over him. The next morning, he went off to school with his essay, but his mind wasn't on school. It was on food. He watched people eat breakfast. He pleaded for breakfast, but the manager said, "Pay up kid, and the food is yours." He quietly said, "I don't even have money..." She angrily said, "Then no food! You can starve, for all I care!" He tearfully left. I guess I'll die... He wandered to a corner, feeling pain in his lower chassis grow. "No food for me..." A teacher went over to the sad and hungry student. "Hello..." she said gently. The 35-year-old saw him holding his chassis. "What's wrong?" He looked up, depression in his strange golden eyes. "No one's feeding me..." Mrs. Quiner said, "Are you hungry?" Steven nodded sadly. "I'm starving and no one's trying to help me!" Realizing he couldn't pay for food, she sighed sadly. "That's horrible!" She took a dollar and went to the food station. "That student in the corner is starving. Please help save him!" Ms. Werein said, "He can't even pay! And the school needs money!" Mrs. Quiner said angrily, "You care more about money than an innocent student's life! That's messed up!" She angrily handed Werein the dollar and picked up a meal. "Since you're willing to let him die, I'll feed him." She carried it over and Steven happily wolfed down the food. The bell rang, signifying the ending of breakfast.

Chapter Three- Tardy!
Quiner stayed with the young car so he could eat. The second bell rang when young Steven was finished with his much-needed breakfast. He said quietly, "My parents said they'd kill me if they hear I got a tardy..." Mrs. Quiner said, "Literally?" Steven replied, "Probably not literally, but they'll probably beat me.." Quiner gasped. "NO." Steven said, "They said I have to work for a good life..." Quiner looked at the young student. "Well, you shouldn't get beaten!" Steven said sadly, "I know... It started when I was six... But it wasn't so bad..." Quiner shook her front. "You poor child..." He got up sadly and left for the first class, Math. The teacher was a male sub and he didn't know Steven suffered from depression, neglect, and abuse, so when Steven was moping around, he yelled and called out Steven for not working. He said quietly, "I don't like being called out..." Then, his mind flew into a flashback.

''A 5-year-old Steven Herrne was yelled at in the playground by his parents when he threw wood-chips at a bully who was trying to physically hurt him. They headed over to their little son and 'spanked' him hard, not caring if the little car was being ridiculed for trying to protecting himself. "Teacher!" yelled the child. His parents hit his grille to shut him up. The male teacher came to his student's help, shocked by what was happening. The cruel bully furthered the punishment and ridicule as he punched the weak child after the very-public punishment. Everyone was laughing. Everyone but the teacher and lunch moderators. They tried to rescue the little first-grader, but it was too late. He had lost consciousness. ''

Steven was crying from the memory and he relived the pain of being ridiculed when his class and teacher began to laugh at the tears.

== Chapter Four- Cruelty Soon to Come == The sub called Steven's parents, to his dread. "No... Please.." He knew he'd be badly abused.

"He was late for first period?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"*Sigh* We'll deal with him."

The older car hung up, having no idea of what would happen to Steven. The student sighed sadly, also crying. The sub turned to the kid. "STOP CRYING. ARE YOU A SCAREDYCAT??" Steven muttered, "You wouldn't understand..." The sub angrily went over to the student and said, "Are you saying you're a troublemaker!?" Steven looked up at the teacher. "No. I'm abused by my parents..." The car accused Steven of lying for sympathy. Steven muttered, "What kid would lie about being abused??" The sub said, "Lots, now shut up." Steven sighed sadly, feeling like nobody cared about him. "Hey. Teacher," he said with a burst of withheld anger. He showed the teacher dents caused by his parents. "You called me a liar on the subject of abuse. Well, I'm not lying!" The sub sighed. "I hate you. Get out." Steven said, "No. Just because you dislike me, doesn't mean I have to get out." The sub grabbed the teen harshly and threw him out of the room! Steven fell to the floor, tears spilling onto the ground. Anger and sadness dripped out onto the floor. He got up and punched the lockers, causing an extreme amount of noise. A teacher came out, annoyed at the ruckus. She noticed the angry crying student banging the lockers. "Uhh... Is something wrong?"

"Of course! I'm rejected by everyone, punished unfairly, and hurt for no reason!"

"Seems tough."

"Ya think!? The sub frickin' hates me!"

"Umm... Wow."

Here she was, trying to help an angry student she didn't even know.

Chapter Five- Next Class
Young Steven headed off to his next class, Gym, still internally seething with anger. The teacher in the hallway sighed as she watched the 15-year-old leave. She sensed the aura of depression and pain from the kid. When Steven reached the class, he sunk to the floor, depressed and scared. He cried in sadness and anger. The male coach went over to the student and yelled, "Get to playing ball, or I'll file you for detention!" Steven said, "I can't afford to get lighter!" Mr. Layon yelled, "I don't care! Get to work!" Steven got up sadly, knowing if he got any lighter, it could cause health problems. Layon pushed the kid toward the game roughly, not caring about Steven's health. Ball turned into tag, forcing Steven to move even more. He felt himself getting lighter and lighter, to some students' worry. Eventually, he lost so much weight in the active games alone that he was too weak to move from the ground. A female student rushed over to him, her bestie snickering and laughing at the teenager. The female truck said, "Steven, are you okay?" Steven's golden eyes closed, indicating he was definitely not okay. The young truck's bestie, who was a female car, laughed at his weakness.

Chapter Six- Taken to the Hospital
Because the teacher has to legally call the Hospital and parents and/or guardian if a child faints, Mr. Layon sighed as he dialed Steven's parents.

"Your son fainted in the middle of class today. By the way, I have to do this in order to keep my job, so..."

"Oh, he did? Wonderful! We're starving him correctly!"

The teacher seemed a slight taken aback by their reaction, but he replied, "Well, bye."

He then called 911 because he had to.

"911, what's your emergency?"

"A student fainted in my class."

The person on the other end was saddened because he could tell that the teacher wasn't actually worried. An ambulance who looked to be about 21 years old went to the school and took the teenager to the Hospital. Another male nurse drove into the room and checked on Steven. The 15-year-old woke up. "Who are you?" Dr. Onner replied, "I'm Dr. Aaron Onner, and I'll be your nurse." Steven said, "OK.." Aaron said, "Do you remember what happened?" Steven replied, "Only some..." Aaron smiled slightly. "What do you remember?" Steven said, "I remember being mistreated in first period by the sub. A female teacher tried to help me, but I was too... too mad. I went to Gym, but I was forced to do active games when I'm too light due to neglect from my parents." Aaron said, "WHAT THE HE(CK)!?" Steven looked down sadly. "I'm basically a stuffed animal to my parents." Aaron, knowing what that simile meant, had a look of compassion and sympathy. "I'm so sorry..." He reached his tire out and squeezed where Steven's shoulder would be.

Chapter Six- Visited
Aaron left the room to take care of another patient, leaving Steven alone in the room, sad and lonely. He desperately needed a friend and companion. Tears filled his golden eyes as he looked out the window, waiting for someone he thought wouldn't come. He looked at the notepad on the bedstand and sadly drew a picture of a silver-eyed car with a green coat of paint. He went to the door and opened it. "Can someone keep me company?" A female nurse came out, glaring at the lonely teenager. "My patient is trying to sleep. Shut up." Steven turned sadly away from the door, heartbroken. "OK..." He sadly said. He hugged a stuffed animal that didn't exist. To the young blue car's happiness, a 14-year-old green female car with brown eyes came in. "Hello!" Steven replied, "Hey." The young and bright car pulled out a game, Uno, and said, "Would you like to play?" The dark blue car went over and said, "Sure, but-" She looked at the car and said, "What?" Steven quietly replied, "I don't know how to play..." Sara Brigger said, "You don't know how to play Uno?" Steven looked sorrowfully at her, his gold eyes flashing sadly. "I'm abused by my family." Sara had a look of sadness and horror, but sadness was the dominant one. "Oh... I'm sorry..." She gave the sad car some cards to play the game. They played it, but Sara let the car win because it was the first time of him playing a game for fun, which saddened Sara. She noticed something weird happen to his eyes. A flash of brown went through them for a millisecond. "Uhh... Steven?" He looked up sadly. "Yeah?" Sara replied, "Your eyes had a flash of brown for a second." Steven looked to the side. "Oh." The young cars played one more round. Aaron went into the room, smiling when he saw the kids playing Uno. He went over to Steven. "I see you found a friend." Steven nodded slightly, more focused on the game. Aaron watched the two young cars play, missing his days of being a child. Well, they weren't children, but they were playing a game. The second round was over and Steven gave a small smile. "Games are fun." Sara smiled and nodded. "Yeah, they are. Would you like to come to my home? We're having Game Night!" Steven said, "Game Night?" Sara sadly remembered that his parents didn't love him. "It's on Friday and it's where you play games." Steven asked, "What kind of games?" She replied, "Board and card games." Steven looked confused. "Board games are like these," She pulled up a picture of a human family playing Monopoly, "And card games are the type of game we just played. There's also something called video games." She showed him a picture of a human teenager playing Fortnite.

Chapter Seven- Game Night
Steven said, "So a video game is a game on a screen?" Sara nodded. "Yeah." Steven said, "What were those games you showed me?" Sara answered, "The one we played is called Uno, the board game is called Monopoly, and the video game is called Fortnite." She said 'Fortnite' in disgust. "Do you play video games?" asked the curious teen. "Yeah, but not at Game Night." Steven asked, "Do you play Monopoly and Fortnite?" Sara laughed and said, "Monopoly is a yes, and Fortnite is a hands-down NO." Steven said, "What are they about?" Sara said, "Monopoly is about buying plots essentially. Fortnite is about shooting and building." Steven looked down and said quietly, "Oh," He looked back up, "Do you have to use real money to buy plots?" Sara shook her front. "No. You use Monopoly money." She looked at Aaron and said, "We'll be going now." He said, "OK. But I don't want the Hospital to think that I'm a bad caretaker, so be back in a reasonable amount of time." Sara nodded and said, "OK." They went to Sara's house and her parents frowned. "Whose this boy??" Sara replied, "My friend. He... didn't know what games were..." She said sadly. "Then he's stupid," replied her parents.

"No... His parents don't love him."

"Oh... Well, too bad! He can't come in!"

Steven's already teary golden eyes teared up even more and he sadly said, "Why not?"

"Because you're with our daughter! SHe's not allowed with boys!"

"Oh..." He sighed sadly.

Sara looked down sadly as well. "Please, Mom and Dad? We're not gonna get attached!" She looked back at the sad teenager and saw that flash of brown again. SHe was dreadfully confused. "Steven... your eyes flashed brown again." Steven looked up sadly and said, "They did?" Sara nodded sadly. She looked at her parents desperately. "Please! He's hurt by his family!" They looked coldly at the sad teen. "FIne! He can come in!" Dinner approached. Steven found himself being tied to a shelf in the pantry closet at dinner. He pleaded to eat, but they ignored his pleas. He tried to set himself free, but the shelf collapsed on him! He was instantly knocked out and Sara's parents sped angrily to the small room and threw Steven out of the house without one bit of care. When he woke up, he was weak, not able to move. His cab was damaged, causing great concern to a ambulance. Sara sped out, seeing her weak and helpless friend. Steven grimaced as he moved, pleading for help. The parents of Sara said, "He collapsed the shelf! He doesn't deserve help!" He pitifully said, "Help..." The ambulance took him to the Hospital and he unfortunately had amnesia due to major damage to the cab. He couldn't remember his age, barely his name, and couldn't remember his family. Also friends. Sara came over and asked if he was okay. He began to freak out and asked, "Who are you!?" Sara teared up and said, "Your friend..."

"I don't... remember you."

"But-" She teared up more.

Chapter Eight- Amnesia
A doctor came in, letting Sara stay.

"Hello, Steven."

"What?"

"I'm gonna ask a few questions."

"What kind of questions?"

"To see if you remember some things."

"What kind of things?"

"Name, age, family, friends, ECT."

"I- What?"

* Sigh* "Let's just get this over with. Name?"

"Stev-ie?"

"Close enough. Age?"

"13-17?"

"Somewhere in there. Family?"

"Abusive."

* Sigh* "Well, okay. Friends?"

"Uhh... Distant."

"Umm, okay. Hobbies?"

"Why would I know that?"