The movement

Winter

I sit crouched in a ball with my legs to my chest. I dig my nails into my legs as a tear escapes and flows down my cheek, suddenly my whole body is full of rage and sadness. I get up and start pulling on my socks, skinny jeans and shoes, I grab a duffel bag from my shelf and start shoving in clothes and items I may need; some warm and cold clothes, my phone charger, a torch and a few packets of chips I had hidden in my room if ever I got hungry in the night. I slide on my favourite light pink jumper and swing the duffel bag over my body, I turn on my phone to see the time, 10:42pm, I slide the phone in my back pocket and stop for a moment when I hear the sound of smashing glass, my parents still screaming at each other about the same thing they've been fighting over for hours. It happens nearly every night and usually results in breaking expensive objects.

I look out at my bedroom window and then around my room one last time before opening my window and climbing out onto the slippery tiled roof, I close the window behind me and start slowly walking down the wet tiles, feeling the light sprinkles of the early winter rain. I get to the edge of the house and jump over to a hanging tree branch, I lose grip and fall towards the ground, landing with a thud knocking the air out of me. I get up off the soaking wet grass and start walking off the grounds down the street, finally peace and quiet, I take in a deep breath of the cold air and smile at the feeling of freedom. I pull out my phone and message Jason, I met him a few years ago back at the park before both our lives were torn apart, we help each other through the toughest times,

10:55 Soph - Hey its me, sorry for the late night call but I really need your help.

I wait a few seconds for his answer, looking around me to check that I was the only one out here.

10:57 J.J - Hey yeah what's up are you ok

10:59 Soph - yeah its just my family is fighting again and its getting pretty bad, I can't stand it anymore so I grabbed some stuff and left. Can I come to yours?

11:02 J.J - oh ok, but yeah you can stay at mine, I'm out at the warehouse right now with everyone just come here for a bit, then we'll go back to mine. They have heaps of food!

11:05 Soph - Heaps of food! Heck yeah count me in, ill be there in around ten.

I turn off my phone and put it in my pocket again, the warehouse is a place Jason made up years ago for all kids to just come and be themselves, I think it used to be an old indoor skate park that everyone just forgot about, its at the edge of town literally a 20 minute walk from my place and a 30 minute walk from Jason's, I usually take the shortcut of going through the bush but tonight I really don't want to get lost or attacked so ill go the long way. I head down the street, take a few left and right turns before I finally get to the building, I take a look around and then go towards the metal door at the side, hopefully the secret knock is still the same, I knock four times... Wait a minute then knock twice. I haven't been here in years. The door opens to a tall muscley guy I've never met before, he smiles,

"You must be Sophie?! My names Kane, Jason's over in the right corner" he points over to the right where I can see Jason and four other people sitting down talking and laughing.

"Hi nice to meet you" I say and step into the warmth, Kane closes the door behind me and I slowly make my way over to where Jason is sitting. So much has changed since I've been here last! There has to be at least 30 people in here, theres music playing, people skateboarding down the ramps showing off their tricks, people in the back spray painting a wall which looks absolutely amazing, couches and chairs are put out everywhere and a whole table filled with drinks, pies and party food are placed out on the table.

I get to the back corner when Jason sees me, he jumps up and wraps me in a warm hug,

"Hey how are you going, do you want some food, a drink?" He says, his happiness seems to wash over me, I smile.

"yeah a drink would be nice" I say, I'm 17 but everyones drinking at this age so its ok and Jason looks out for me anyway.

"cool take a seat, everyone this is Sophie, Sophie this is everyone" he laughs and leaves to go get me a drink. I take a seat at the end of one of the couches, a girl with dark brown wavy hair and tanned skin sits down next to me,

"Hi I'm Elise" she gives me a warm smile.

"Hi " I say, we sit there in silence for a second, I'm not very good at talking to people.

"Sooo what school do you go to?" She asks.

"oh I don't go to a school, I'm home schooled." I say

" That's because her familys rich and they can do whatever they want." A guy named sam says smugly.

" Sam are you serious right now?" Elise says in annoyance.

"Na its ok I'm only joking" he says with a laugh taking a sip of his drink.

"Don't worry if he's ever being mean to you its only because he's jealous, he doesn't have a very good life." Elise reassures me.

" fuck up" he says with a laugh, "I have a fantastic family... all of you guys."

Jason comes back with Kane and hands me a bottle of Carlton dry, I pop the lid off and take a sip, he motions for Elise to move down a bit, she rolls her eyes before moving down to let him take a seat between us. Kane sits next to Sam and Matt, Kim by herself, texting on her phone.

The whole night goes on pretty fast I met a lot more new people, Kane is Jasons best mate, they have been for years, met when they both started playing football. Elise does cheerleading at their school which she loves and wants to become a dancer when she leaves school, but her family wants her to become a lawyer. Sam's family are all drug addicts and he moved out a long time ago to live with Matt who is a quarter back on the football team, his family is pretty alright and he hasn't got many problems. Kimberley, kim for short is the definition of perfection, she's got long blonde hair a perfect complection and her family's pretty much perfect but her school life isn't, she's been accused of sleeping with five different guys in one week, so I kind of didn't talk to her much. Apparently this event happens every Friday night, the warehouse is just open for all who know the code and for people to just come to be themselves.

At around 12.35 we finally decided to go home, I grab my bag and swing it over my shoulder, I hug Elise goodbye and we exchange numbers, I think I've found a new best friend. Jason says goodbye to nearly everyone there, I never knew he was so popular, then we head out the side door into the cold night.