Chatper 1
Cal's snoring is what woke me up, the small whistle his noise makes when he breaths in and and hushed sigh his mouth makes when he breath out.... Or it might just be his bad breath.
I slowly open my eyes to see his face just inches from mine. His pale face relaxed and his mouth slightly open, bits of his dark brown hair hung in his eyes and the rest stuck out in random spots. A small smile broke out across my face, Cal could make me smile without trying. I slowly bring my hand out from under my blanket and gently pet his hair down, then slowly brought it back under the blanket.
I like staying the night at Cal's house it's much better then the home.
The home is cold and damp, the walls creek with age, the paint has been chipping off for years, the beds are old and worn to the nub, all the blankets have large holes in them and wardens, (as me and the other kids call them), yell and hit us, sometimes beating the boys sense less, and other awful things. I spend as much time as I can at school and then I spend the rest of my time with Cal and go back to the home late into the night, sometimes the wardens catch me and beat me for coming home so late. I never tell anyone not even Cal when they beat me because if Cal found out he would kill someone and that is not a joke. Cal has made it his job to protect me from harm but, I know he won't always be there, so I try not to rely on him so much.
I sit up going to the french windows that lead to the balcony on the other side of Cal's room. I almost fall over some of the clothes scattered across the large room. I quietly open his door stepping out on to the balcony, a gust of cold salty wind hit my face, instantly sending shivers down my spine. I smile taking in a deep breath and closing the door behind me. The full moon cast a briliant light over everything making it easy to see. I walk over to the railing putting my hands down on it and leaning out on it as far as I can without falling over. My long locks of wavy black hair fell around my face and start swaying in the ocean breeze. I look down the cliff side and spot the goat trail that we take to go the beach far below. I've leaned over the railing hundreds of times at this point sometimes I'm so tempted to let go, fall, and let everything go, what would it be like to lean over and just fall I wouldn't have to worry about anything anymore all I have to do is just let go, but then I remember Cal and I lean back to safety.
The door behind me opens and Cal walks out. He had a major bed head going on one side of his hair and his white shirt was all messy. He rubs the sleep out of his eyes.
"Val. What are you doing out here?" He opens his bright gem green eyes that seem to glow in the moon light.
I look down at my bare feet and dig at the wood with my big toe. Lie! Lie! My mind screams at me. Lie! It always told me to lie and I always listen.
"I had nightmares again, I don't want to go back to sleep" I glance up at him and he sighs a little bit and walks over to me.
"Are you okay Val?" He leans on the railing next to me looking down at me.
I smile a little, "Yeah, they weren't so bad this time, I just needed to get some air" I lean next to him put my head on his shoulder.
"Well, that's good I guess." He puts an arm around my shoulders letting his hand rest on a deep gash I got from the latest beating from the warden. I want to yell and scream and pull away from Cal's touch but I stay still and bite my lip so nothing comes out. "Lets go back to bed?" ,he suggested with a big yawn. I slowly nod not wanting to saying anything in fear I might scream in pain. We walk back inside and get under the covers of his bed.
"Cal" I say softly leaning my head against his shoulder.
"Hmm?" He says on the verge of falling asleep.
"Thank you, your a really good friend." I close my eyes getting comfortable and ready to fall asleep and prepare for the nightmares that are coming.
