Sang's Freedom - The Song Of Ghosts

6:

Chapter 6:

Sang Sorenson's POV-

   I couldn't sleep.

   In the darkness of my bedroom I held my forty remaining dollars towards the ceiling. I should have given Father back his change, but I had been in a hurry to hide my clothes, and now it was a good thing I hadn't.

   I just had to allocate ten dollars.

   Just ten.

   I glanced at my alarm clock.

   11:58 P.M.

   My heart pounded. Marie's words had struck fear in me.

   I had to pay up or she would tell Mother about the boys. And what's more, Marie had said the boys were trying to take advantage of me.

   Her sisterly warning kept me from visiting Kota tonight. He had wanted to help me set up my school schedule, but I wasn't sure I could look at him without the ugly question popping out of my mouth.

   Were they trying to take advantage of me?

   I threw my pillow over my head and screamed. I hate this! I thought I might possibly have friends, but Marie's theory seems a whole hell of a lot more likely. Especially since Kota, Luke, and Gabriel kind of kidnapped me that one time. I winced. What's wrong with me? I am trying to befriend the enemy. Mother is always telling me what men are really like.

   This is my fault! I ignored her because I like...

   I shook my head, but it did nothing for me.

   I liked the way Luke took my hand and winked at me. Hell, if I had more courage, I would have let him give me a piggyback ride, but I was afraid...

   I wasn't ready to be flush against his body like that. Girls weren't supposed to press themselves up on boys. Only sluts did that.

   Touch was bad, in all senses.

   Anytime Mother touched me it was unpleasant.

   ...But when Victor put a finger beneath my chin at the mall...it wasn't unpleasant. He didn't jerk my face up.

   He was soft and kind.

   And I liked how Kota always looked at me like he was really listening when I spoke.

   And Gabriel was my hero. He caught me when I fell, and today at the mall I noticed he would catch my hair between his fingers every chance he got.

   I wanted Gabriel to draw me into a hug and hold me tightly. He could pet my hair and call me Trouble all he wanted.

   But I was too skittish for something like that. It was wrong to even think.

   I couldn't keep my head on straight if the boys got too much closer anyway. They would figure out something was wrong with me. We would have to move.

   It is better if this friendship ends now.

   That realization calmed my racing heart. This was good. New beginnings. No friends.

   All I had to do was lose myself in my books for two years and then this nightmare was over.

   Ten dollars to find,

   Two years to go,

   And then I was free.

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