Thin Lines

Moving

"You're sick." I say, throwing his keys at his chest then turning to walk away.

Once I am out of the house I take in the perfect weather and start walking, not sure where but just exploring. I don't have a phone so I have no direction on anything. My first mission is to try and find the high school, wherever it is.

I don't know why my mom is letting me go to school, maybe just so that I would be more open to moving, but either way I'm grateful.

As I walk I take in my surroundings and remember every turn I take and small shop I pass. I think about how to deal with Paul, I mean I can't get away with sleeping at Tom's anymore. Here I know nobody and have nowhere to go if something happens again. My best bet is that I will spend all day at school and most of the night out, meaning I will barely see him.

I practically jump with joy at the site of a large brick building that says Santa Monica High school on it. My walking speeds up as I approach the large building. Right next door seems to be the town square, filled with shops and restaurants. Santa Monica is by far more modern than the small town I lived in before. Most buildings were broken down or abandoned, but here everything is clean and pretty.

I wander into the square, taking in everything I can and enjoying every second of it.

———————

Once night falls I creep back into my house hoping Paul and my mom are long asleep, especially after what happened earlier.

Thankfully, I make it to my room without any trouble, and successfully change into pajamas.

I look to my bed and can't help but remember all the nights I spent on the floor with Aliza and Penny in random alleys when Mom would have people over and Aliza couldn't pay rent.

It happened so often when I was little it's hard to sleep on a bed anymore.

I toss my pillow on the floor along with Mr Bear and a light blanket. Before bed I grabbed Mr Bear and opened the window, yearning to see the sky.

I climb onto the roof and hug my knees to my chest, Mr Bear is getting smushed but he's fine with it.

Looking at the sky I wonder if Aliza is looking at the same stars as me right now. I'll never know.

Maybe my dad is looking at the stars too, maybe he's thinking of me, maybe he's not. The memory of him telling me he has to leave floods my mind, sending a single tear down my cheek. I hug Mr Bear extra tight, forcing the memory from my mind.

There aren't many stars, but there are enough to allow me to sit under them for what feels like forever.

I also observe the houses around me, each one very similar to the one I sit on now. Two story homes that vary in design but each the same size with similar window placements.

"You thinking of jumping?" A voice surprises me. I turn and see a boy looking out of the window at the neighboring house. 

I'm not sure how I'm supposed to respond, so I just shake my head.

"Good" the boy says, "Are you new here?"

It feels odd having a conversation in the middle of the night through a window while I'm sitting on a roof with a teddy bear in my arms, but maybe I can make a friend.

"Just moved today." I tell him.

We talk for a little and find out we are both going to the same school the day after tomorrow, and he tells me his girlfriend would love me and he would introduce us.

"Can I get your name?" He asks, making me realize we got through loads of conversations without knowing either of each others names. "Xela" I say. "I'm Max" he tells me back.

After that he tells me goodnight but makes sure I get back into my room before closing his window. Which is good because I've been telling myself to go inside and sleep for half an hour before Max started talking to me, but I've been getting lost in my own thoughts sitting up here.

I sigh as I sit on the hardwood floor of my bedroom and cuddle up in my small blanket with Mr Bear. So far I have basically made two friends, if you assume Max's girlfriend will be my friend. Max seems nice so his girlfriend must be nice too? Unless she thinks I'm interested in him, which I'm not.

I laugh at the thought of me having a crush, it just seems so unnecessary. I barely had time for Aliza, now with school I should be even busier.

Drifting off to sleep, I make silent prayers that Aliza and Penny are somewhere warm and comfy and have food in their bellies.