Coming Home (Part 2 of In the Stars)

I’m chatting to three of my friends at the start of school when I see Grace arrive. She smiles when she sees me, her expression full of happiness. I almost smile back, I want to so badly, but my split and bruised knuckles throb and I realise that I can’t get close to her, I can’t risk hurting her. I narrow my eyes and give her the coldest look I can manage. She shouldn't associate with me.

Hurt flashes across her face, then she turns and walks away, not looking back. I feel like throwing up, I was so looking forward to speaking to her today.

“Ooh, you’ve got a fan,” Ben says, slapping me hard on my back. James and Kevin laugh loudly. I have a bruise on my jaw which none of them have asked me about. Why do I hang with these people? I head off to my first class, leaving them laughing. 

My body is stiff from the beating my Dad gave me last night, the worst he's ever hurt me and the first time I’ve ever turned on him. The first time I've hit anyone. Just thinking about it makes me feel sick. I can’t think of anything worse than turning into my Dad. I suddenly realise the Miss Jones is right in front of me and that I haven't heard a single word she's said in the class so far. “Everything okay Matt?” she asks. 

“Yes,” I say.

She looks at me more closely, her eyes on my jaw and down at my bruised hands. It seems like ages until she speaks. “Stay for a few minutes after class,” she finally says, and goes back to the lesson. I try to focus, but I can’t. At the end of the hour, I wait in my seat. 

“Is everything okay Matt?” she asks. 

“Yes,” I tell her. I can’t tell anyone what happened. What I did. I swallow loudly.

“I don’t think it is,” she shakes her head. “Who hurt you?"

The urge to tell someone is overwhelming. “I don’t want to be like my Dad,” I blurt out. 

"Tell me what happened," she urges.
"He was angry when I got home last night, and started hitting me, worse than ever before," I say, and feel a twinge of guilt about lying to Grace. "I hit him back. I've never done that before."
"And what about your Mum? Has he hurt her too."
"Yes.
"Is she okay Matt?"
"I think so. I think she's okay," I say, looking down.
"Thanks for telling me this Matt. I know it was hard. I'm going to call Mr Graham, our consellor and ask him to join us in this discussion. Are there any friends you can open up to about this? It can really help."

Immediately, Grace pops into my mind. I think she’s someone I can talk to, if she can forgive me. “I think I so,” I say.

“That's good,” she says and picks up the phone.

Mr Graham and Miss Jones encourage me to report my Dad to police, which I do and Mr Graham drives us to the police station so that I can and tell them what's happening. It's lunchtime when we arrive back at school. They suggested I go home but I couldn't face it. Yawning, I walk to the canteen to see if I can find Grace. She’s in the queue to pay for lunch. I join her and throw some food onto my tray. 

“Will you have lunch with me Grace?” 

She looks reluctant but her eyes widen when she takes in the bruise on my face. “Of course,” she says.

We find a table outside and start eating. “What happened?” She asks.

“I’m sorry about earlier", I say in a rush.  “I was scared about what happened last night, scared of who I am.” 

“Don't worry,” she says. “What happened?” 

“My Dad was waiting for me last night. He went crazy, swearing at me. Hitting me.” 

“Are you badly hurt? Will you be okay?” 

“Not too badly. I reported him to the police this morning. That's why I was out of school. I've been feeling guilty because I hit him back,” I say, my expression grim as I say the last few words. 

“I'm glad you defended yourself” she says, her eyes glittering fiercely. “Has your Dad been arrested? You’re not going back there are you?” 
"I don't know what will happen." I bite one of my nails.

She reaches out and cups my cheek with her right hand, running her thumb lightly over the bruise. "I have some ointment that would help the bruising go down."
"I'm fine." She releases her hand but I grab it and hold it. "Thanks for being a good friend. For letting me talk to you."
"You can talk to me about anything. You can trust me."
"You're beautiful," I force the words out. What if she doesn't feel the same about me?
Her eyes widen. It could be shock, but I think I sense fear, "What are you saying Matt?"
"I want you to be my girlfriend." I take a deep breath and watch her as her eyes widen further. She looks like a rabbit in the headlights. I know she's had a rough time with her parents but I really thought she liked me. I remember holding her last night. She didn't seem scared then.
"I can't," she finally says, her voice cracking. "All I can be to you is a friend."
"Forget I asked," I say, pulling my hand of hers and walking away.

How could I trust her? My heart aches and my head starts to throb. I hide outside and miss all my afternoon classes, trying to figure out what to do. What's happening at home? Will Mum support my statement? For me? 
When the final bell rings I head back inside school to put my books back into my locker. When I open it, a note flutters out and onto the floor. Before I can reach down to grab it another hand picks it up. James. Oh Great.

"Meet me in the park after school. I'm sorry. Love G," he reads. "Ooh," he mocks. "Who's the chick?"
"Fuck off," I say, but he just laughs. Raising my hands to my chin in a boxing stance, I say, "Give that back or you'll regret it."
His eyebrows raise, in shock maybe, and he throws the note on the floor, mumbling, "Whatever," as he walks away. I grab the note and stuff it into the pocket of my jacket.

I pile up the books I had in my bag into the locker and leave school, hands in my pockets. The note brushes my hand as I walk. My friends say goodbye but I ignore them and walk straight to the park. All the way, I wonder what she has to say to me. Will she change her mind? Nerves knot in my stomach.

She's sitting on the same bench as last night and she smiles when she sees me but it doesn't reach her eyes. I sit next to her and say, "Hi."
"Hi," she says. "You got my note."
When I don't answer, she continues. "I spoke to my Mum. She said you could stay for a few days, in my brother's room, until you and your Mum get things sorted. He's at college so there's plenty of room."
"Are you sure it's okay?" I say and when she nods I feel a huge weight lifting off my shoulders. I'm so happy I don't have to face things at home now. "Thank you."
"About earlier," she says, her mouth twisting as she speaks. "I was scared. I'm sorry."
"What are you scared of Grace?"
Her face crumples and she cries, holding her hands over her face. I want to reach out and comfort her but I don't.
When she finally stops crying and takes her hands away from her face, she tries to wipe the tears on her cheeks away with her fingers. "It's been so long since I opened up to anyone. Until last night. But you already knew," her eyebrows raise. "I was twelve and I had a best friend. Nancy and I were so close. I finally told her what was going on at home," she sighs. "She told her Mum who confronted my Mum. She was furious with me. I was grounded for a week and in that time, Nancy moved to a new school. I still see her from time to time but she just looks away. Since then, I've kept my distance. I haven't got close to anyone."
"What are you saying Grace? That you can't trust me to keep my mouth shut?"
"I'm afraid to trust you," she shifts on the bench. "I'm afraid to get close to you. I thought after last night that maybe I'd found a friend,"
"I pushed too fast,"
"Yes, that's exactly it."
"So we'll be friends," I say. "For now."
"For now?" she says, her voice squeaky.
"I don't remember you being unhappy with me holding you last night."
She chuckles, looking down at her hands in her lap, but I'm sure I see her cheeks redden.
"So do friends kiss?"
She rolls her eyes at me, "Come on, we'd better head home, it's almost time for dinner."

In the Stars Part 1

I sit on a bench in my local park staring at the stars, trying to forget the sound of my parents screaming at each other. Tears rush into my eyes and I bite my bottom lip until it throbs. I won’t cry. I won’t show weakness, I tell myself. I hear footsteps and Matt, a boy who is a year above me at school, sits on the other side of the bench. “Hi Grace,” he says.
It takes me a moment to respond because all I can think is, how does he know my name?  “Hi,” I finally say.
“Matt,” he says.
“I know,” I say and I feel my cheeks heating up. I press my palms against my cheeks to cool them down.
“Okay,” he shrugs and laughs at the same time. “Parents fighting?" he asks.
"How do you know that?" I ask, frowning.
"I saw them once, dropping you at school, so caught up in themselves that they barely noticed you." He shakes his head, angrily. "I know what that's like too."
"Your parents argue a lot too?"
"Yes. And when my Dad gets really mad he punches my Mum."
"I'm so sorry," I say.

Tears rush into my eyes again, and my hands tighten into fists. Why can't I control my emotions? Matt shuffles along the bench until he’s  right next to me, his arm lightly touching mine. His fingers cover one of my fists. Suddenly I can't breath. He's too close but I don't want him to leave.

"You can show how you feel, you know," he says, his voice gentle. "It's not weakness."

I sob, and it echos around the park. How does he get me so easily when I have no idea who I am?

"Mum told me never to show weakness?" I sniff.
"She was wrong," he shakes his head. "Letting your emotions show is brave."

I try to swallow the lump in my throat but I can't hold it in anymore. Matt pulls me into his arms as I cry and I cling to him, my arms around his neck.

"Feel a bit better?" he asks when finally I am calm again. I nod, letting him go, but he holds onto my waist. I feel exhausted, but somehow lighter, like a weight has lifted from my shoulders.

We sit together for a long time, in silence. It's a peaceful silence though. I look up at the sky, and wonder what's in the stars, It's rarely dark enough to see them.

"I'd better go," I say eventually. It's almost 1 AM, way past my curfew.
Matt releases me and we both stand up. I shiver, missing his warmth.
"Thanks for listening."
He nods. "Thank you for being here Grace," he says. "Do you need me to walk you home?"
I shake my head. "It's not far."
"Okay. Night Grace."
"Night Matt."

I watch him walk away until he is out of sight. Will he talk to me at school tomorrow? I can't help wondering. Then I leave the park and run home.

Midnight at an Abandoned Hospital

I wrote this 199 word story using a prompt from @storybandit on twitter. Actually it's a few words over 199 but never mind!

I arrived at the hospital at midnight as agreed with Will. He’s my next door neighbour and best friend. The hospital used to treat patients with mental illness but has been abandoned for years since the government closed it down. To tell you the truth, I'm terrified to go inside, but I can’t tell Will that.

Hearing a noise behind me I screamed, realising too late that it was Will. He laughed.
“Shut up,” I said. Sometimes he can be a right idiot.
“Are we going inside or are you too scared Anna?”
“Let’s go,” I said switching on my torch.

The building was completely dark and smelt musty. Dust covered every surface. We walked along the main corridor to the end where we had to choose to turn right or left. As we turned right a light came on in the left hallway. Adrenaline flooded my body and I gripped the torch tighter in my sweaty hands. Suddenly the corridor lit up and I blinked a few times to get my eyes used to the light. An old man walked towards us, with his arms out. “Who’s there," he asked. “Mavis is that you?"
Was he a ghost? We'll never know, but I'll never forget Will's face as we ran out of there. 

Josie's Brush With Death

I sat in the dingy pub with a group of friends from college, sipping a glass of vodka & coke. The boys sat one side of the table and the girls the other. Feeling Will's eyes on me, I kept my head down, and tried to follow the conversation. Ugh, ever since the party last week, things had been weird between us. Why did I let him kiss me? I wondered.

The girls giggled, whispering non stop about the boys. I gulped down my drink stood up to leave. I swayed a little, that drink must've had more alcohol in it than I'd realised. I stepped out of the pub, it was still light, and walked towards the main road. My bus pulled up on the other side of the road.

"Oh shit," I didn't want to miss this bus. I ran straight into the road towards it.

Before I could move far a hand caught my wrist and pulled me back. A car brushed past me, if I had been any further into the road I would have been killed. He beeped as he passed and swore. Adrenaline surged through my body, I gasped, relieved to be alive, and safe. I twisted around. It was Will, still holding my wrist he pulled me closer, out of the road. I looked into his eyes properly for the first time since the party.

"Thank you. You saved my life." A sob escaped my lips and tears spilled over my eyes.
"Shh," he said, drawing me into his arms.

He held me close as I cried, my head against his chest. He smelled so good, like fresh air. Once sated I peeked up at him, embarrassment blazing on my cheeks. He looked at me and I couldn't read his expression. It wasn't pity though, which I'd been expecting.

"Sorry," I said looking down again. "I've soaked your t-shirt."
"Don't be sorry Josie," He lifted my chin until I looked at him once more. He twisted some strands of my blonde hair in his fingers and tucked them behind my ear. "Can I take you out sometime?"
Taking in his kind light green eyes and scruffy brown hair I nodded, "Yes."

He kissed me then, his lips firm on mine for a moment. It finished too soon. I sighed wistfully and he chuckled for a moment. When I looked at him though his expression was almost fierce and he wiped away the tears under my eyes.

"I'll take you home now." He took my hand.

The Baby Problem

The screen came down, forcing us to watch. I was always shocked. The poverty of our surroundings, yet this screen was made of some clear, high tech material. The screen announced three times a day the number of babies born in the world.

"Four babies born so far today" the presenter announced smiling and gave the details.

I had learnt at school that in the past the world was full of children and adults and many babies born every day. That was before the world wide infection, which affected 90% of the population. Nowadays babies are given to infected adults to bring up. And teenagers are tested and automatically impregnated many times in their life if found free of the infection when they are sixteen years old. Their families never see them again.

Mum looked at me giving me a look full of fear.

"Don't worry Mum. I'm sure I will be infected"

"I'm not sure what to hope for, that you are infected or not. It should be your choice to have a baby or not Kellen"

"There's no point wishing that things were any different" I said harshly “No one can change anything by wishing it so”

"Kellen" she shouted as I grabbed my coat and bag and left the house.

I walked to the woods breathing deeply trying to calm myself.

"Hello Kell" he said squinting against the sun.

"Jal"

We walked along the trail digging up roots and picking edible flowers, leaving some for the next day and future growth. We came across a blackberry bush heavy with fruit and filled our bags.

"We can make jam" I said excitedly.

"Anything to keep them going when we are taken away for testing" Jal said with a frown.

"Hopefully we have the infection and won't be away long" I said hopefully.

"Kellen, we both have two days left" he said fearfully.

"I know Jal, I'm scared too"

"Let's run away"

"Run away with our families too? They wouldn't manage like us"

"We can't leave them behind, they'd be punished" he said frowning.

"I've tried to think of a solution, but there isn't one" I cried with my hands over my face.

"Shh" he said pulling me closer and holding me "We'll be together at least. I'm thankful for that. That we were born in the same month"

We walked back home deep in thought with our bags full of food and heavy.

"See you tomorrow Jal" I said and he nodded walking away back to his parent's house. I quickly made my way home.

"Hi Mum" I said as I walked in the door.

"Kellen" she said.

"I'm doing as much preparation as I can before_"

"And we appreciate it" she said turning to my little sister.

"Let me teach you how to make jam Rosie" I said.

We spent the afternoon together making jam and preparing the vegetables to be preserved.

"Jal will give you and Mum food if I don't come back" I told her.

"You will come back Kellen, I'm sure of it"

"I hope so sweetie" I said hugging her tightly "But if I don't, you need to learn to do this because Mum is ill and she can't"

Two days Later

We ate breakfast together in silence nervously watching one another. I dressed in my best dress, the blue one with daisies on it. They came at ten to collect me. I couldn't stop staring at their clothes, so bright and new looking.

"Bye Mum, Bye Rosie" I shouted "I love you both so much. Look after each other"

We hugged quickly and then I was lead to a vehicle and told me to get inside. I looked around searching for Jal but I couldn't see him.

Once inside the vehicle they gave me a drink and told me to relax. As if I could relax in this situation. I hoped that I had taught Rosie enough skills. That they would survive without me if I didn't go home. Hours later woke suddenly noticing that the vehicle had stopped and saw a large building. I was escorted inside. I noticed as I was lead inside that the decor was white, and very clean, so unlike home. We walked up lots of steps before I was lead into a small room and left alone.

A few minutes later a man in a white coat came into the room and gave me a cup of water. It was the coldest drink I had ever tasted.

"Hi Kellen" he said looking at some sheets of paper "I need to take some blood"

I closed my eyes and felt something scratch my skin.

"All done" he said a couple of seconds later.

"Can I leave now?"

"Not yet, I have to get the results of this test"

I was left alone. Eventually I fell asleep, my stomach rumbling with hunger.

The next morning I woke up to find some food and drink had been left for me. I quickly drank the whole bottle of water and started on the food. There was so much of it but I ate it quickly as it was the most delicious food I had ever tasted.

Soon I felt the effect of having drunk so much and looked around me for somewhere to relieve myself. There was nothing. Soon I was desperate and banged on the door asking for help.

The door was opened by a woman with a very high voice. I noticed her face was perfect, and didn't look real.

"I need somewhere to_"

"I'll take you" she said and I followed her out of my room and into another door where there were cubicles.

"I'll wait here" she said "Use the toilet and have a shower"

Afterwards I felt so clean that I didn't want to put on my dirty clothes again.

"Here, put these on" said the lady, not seeming to care that I was standing there naked. She handed me a white dress with white shoes.

"Thank you" I said quickly throwing them on and braiding my wet hair.

She took me back, not into my room but another room where she sat me on a chair and immediately unbraided my hair before brushing it and drying it.

"You look tense" she commented and opened a drawer taking bottle of something out. She sprayed it around and I suddenly felt calm and relaxed.

"That's better" she said looking proud of her work. She finished by spraying something on my hair which she said made it look shiny "I'll take you back to your room now"

"Okay"

We walked back and she locked the door once I was inside my room. There was a plate of food waiting for me and some more water. I dived in straight away wondering how I could be so hungry already.

There was a knock on the door.

"Hello" I said and the door opened.

"Hello Kellen" said the doctor.

"Can I go home now?"

"I have good news Kellen. You show no signs of the infection"

"_" I was just speechless.

"You will be moved to the fertility suite now for insemination. Come with me"

"No" I shouted "I want to see my friend Jal"

He flicked through some sheets of paper and then announced "Jal has been taken home"

"Take me home now" I shouted angrily.

"Don't you realise the human race is dying out? That you could help save it?"

"I do realise that, and I do care" I said still in a loud voice. "But I want to make the choice myself, not to be forced to have a baby. And I want to be at home"

"That wouldn't be safe for a baby. No you will stay here. This is your home now"

"No"

He took a needle out of his pocket and held my arm as I struggled injecting me. The next thing I was aware of was lying on a bed in another room.

"Oh thank goodness you woke up" said the lady in a high pitched voice "We've found a great match for you. You'll be pregnant in no time"

She led me along a corridor which lots of white doors with numbers on and opened door number 10.

"In you go then" she said pushing me into the room.

I looked around the room noticing a boy with his head in his hands.

"Hello"

He looked up and I suddenly recognised him "Jal"

"Kellen" he said walking over and hugging me.

"What are you doing here? They told me you had been sent home"

"They told me the same" he said "What are you doing in here?"

"They just lead me into here. I'm not sure why"

"Oh Kel, it's been awful. Loads of girls have been in here. I've had to_ with them"

"And now they want us to do the same" I said angrily "I'm not doing it"

"You don't know what they'll do if you refuse Kell"

"What do they do?"

"I'm not telling you" he cried.

"Shh Jal" I wiped his eyes and put my arms around his waist, holding him.

"They don't have the right to force us"

"But they do Kell, because that's what they do"

"Look we're together again now. We can think of a way to escape together" I whispered in his ear. I took his hand and lead him onto the bed. I lay down too and covered us both with the blanket.

"How long will they give us?" I whispered.

"All day" he said and pointed to the table full of food that had been left for us.

I looked around and noticed a small window.

"Are you hot?" I asked Jal winking at him.

"A little bit" he smirked.

I hopped off the bed and walked over to the window. I turned the handle and pushed it open. Looking outside I noticed how high we were and the long drop down.

"That's better" I said joining him on the bed. We pulled the blanket over our heads and just hugged each other.

"We might die going out of that window" I whispered into his ear.

"Better than this" he said.

"Are you sure? We have to decide now"

"I'm sure" he said and we both immediately threw the blanket off, ran to the window and squeezed out.

"The ledge" he said and we crawled along it searching for a way down.

"There" I pointed to a ladder leading down the roof.

We climbed down and along another ledge and down again until we were on the ground.

"Somewhere to hide" he said and grabbed hold of my hand as we ran together. This place was nothing like home and we knew we needed to find somewhere to hide and quickly.

"The alley" I said pointing and we ran into the dark alley.

"The bin" he said.

We jumped into the big bin which stank and sat still.

"What should we do?" I wondered.

"I have no idea" he said looking worried. He held my hand and we sat like that eventually falling asleep.

We woke together suddenly and peeked out of the bin. There was no one there. We were safe.

"They'll still be looking for us" Jal said.

"How can we get home?"

"I have no idea Kell. I doubt we can" he said sadly "We're so far away"

"Look" he said pointing at a forest in the distance "We can make a home there, the two of us"

"Let's go then" I said with tears in my eyes. I let the tears fall, grieving for my family, who I would never see again.