This is just a one shot based on 'Heart is a Hole' by Cherri Bomb, which I've been dying to write a fic about. The idea came to me when I re-watched the final episode of Series 5 of The Sarah-Jane Adventures. Read on for more...
Disclaimer: I don't own The Sarah-Jane Adventures :(
PS: This is an updated version.
Chapter One
I was so excited to be home. Being in Oxford had given me the best opportunities I could ever have hoped for, like how to cook for myself, survive without the comfort of the people I'd known my whole life, and experiment with so much more freedom in science. But nothing compared to home. Home was honest, trusting and was the place my heart beat most comfortably in. I couldn't wait to see how the Clani relationship was developing. I knew it, Mum knew it and I think both Rani and Clyde knew that they had a bond like no other, so I gave them a paired name. It annoyed Clyde, which was one of the reasons I continued in using it, but that spark was there. Something that couldn't be ignored.
I was also excited to see Mum. I'd missed her. She had always seemed so frantic but relieved whenever we messaged online and I was glad she had found Sky. Sky had kept her mind off me, and helped her concentrate on fighting aliens whilst having another person to talk to in the house, but I couldn't help but feel worried. Not for them, but for myself.
Were my nightmares coming true?
I didn't think so.
I pulled up the driveway, my bright yellow car adding a splash of colour to the seemingly drab Bannerman Road. Home, at last. The flowers had started to wilt in the autumn weather, but home had never looked so good. It was funny how time away made you have a new perspective on life. I went to the door dragging my large suitcase behind my legs. The wheels scuffed noisily behind my feet and occasionally scraped the back of my legs. Nothing too serious, though. I pushed the white wooden door labelled '13' and noticed it had been left unlocked.
The house was still itself: the hallway was well lit, with the doors to the living room and kitchen both wide open, revealing the kitchen cabinets and cream sofas in the two separate rooms; the stairs wound higher and higher, with numerous news articles and pictures following its pathway. It was so beautiful, the only home I ever knew.
I lifted the heavy suitcase once I'd reached the stairs, surprising myself with my new found strength. Before Oxford, Mum would do most of the carrying, as I hadn't really carried much strength, but being away from her allowed me to explore that region of myself. Quickly, I'd reached the second level of the house, just below the attic. Placing my suitcase down excitedly and I wheeled it to the front door of my room, a huge smile across my face.
Only it wasn't my room anymore. The walls weren't light blue anymore, with tiny insects dotted along on its surface. Instead, it had been painted a sunny yellow, just a little creamier than my car. There were children's toys littered on the floor, all things girls would be expected to play with. Ah, Sky.
"Right. Yeah. Not my room anymore," I realised aloud as I took in the rest of the room. Large sunflowers were on the shelf that used to house all my science books and models. Had Mum thrown them out? Probably so. I turned round back to the landing and pushed my suitcase away from me.
Looks like it would be the spare room for me.
"Luke, oh, welcome home!" Mum gleamed at me. Seeing her face brought back so many happy memories. I was so glad to be home. I ran up to her and we engaged in a long hug. I'd missed her so much.
We let go and I turned to face Clyde and Rani. "Hi Clani," I smiled.
Rani scowled happily. "Don't call us that." She leaned in and kissed me on the cheek.
"Clani? Who's Clani?" Mum said, confused.
"Clyde. Rani. Clani," Clyde concluded.
"It's meant to be funny,"
"We can't keep away," Clyde said jokingly, shaking my hand.
Mum propped her hand against my back and turned me around to face Sky. "Luke, meet Sky. In person,"
"Sky. Hi. Hi Sky," I said nervously. She seemed cautious. Did she like me?
Her eyes looked panicked. "You're taller than you look on webcam," she said.
"Yes... yes I am," I said cheerfully, looking down at my body. I wasn't that tall, was I? I hoped I wasn't too scary. "Sorry, I-I just went in your room. Forgot it's not mine anymore," I said awkwardly, trying to make some sort of conversation. Sky didn't seem to want to co-operate with me.
"It's the best room and you don't live here anymore," she said, almost annoyingly.
Yes, I don't, I confirmed in my head. I paused, thinking of something to say to cover my hurt. "It fine, it's really fine," was all I could manage. I looked at Sky, attempting to smile. I hoped she would smile back, but all I received were sad eyes.
There was an awkward silence.
"I'm sorry, Mum. I just wanted to say hi. Do you mind if I go and unpack my stuff?" I asked. I had to get away from those eyes.
Mum nodded, unaware. "Yes, of course you can," she said happily.
I went for the door, shutting it as I left. I didn't continue though. Instead, I just stopped. I slipped my back daintily against the surface of the wooden door to the attic, and slid down to the ground. So, Sky had my room because I didn't live here anymore. If I was living here still, would she be in the spare room? Would we get on?
I was about to get up and unpack, when I overheard a conversation in the attic. The voices were slightly muffled, but I made out every word perfectly. Too perfectly.
"Sarah-Jane, I don't know whether I like Luke anymore," Sky started. What? But, we'd been so comfortable on webcam. We had talked about the metal kind, her powers and how Mum had rescued her from her death.
How could things have changed?
"Oh Sky. Why?" Rani asked with concern in her voice.
"He seems scary. And, I don't think he likes me either," she said.
"I'm sure he does, Sky. He was smiling with you the whole time. Maybe you were just-"
"No, Sarah-Jane!" Sky interjected. "He wasn't smiling. He was hiding."
"Sky, I really don't think he was hiding," Mum said, a dryness arising in her throat. There was a long pause, heavy breathing. Then Mum said, "Clyde?"
"Sarah-Jane, Luke was acting different. If he liked Sky, surely he'd have stayed and we've had a normal conversation."
"I'm afraid to say I agree with Clyde," Rani said. "When Sky said Luke was taller than she imagined, Luke kept looking at his own body."
Mum sighed. "I'm sure he just didn't want to scare her,"
"I'm not afraid of him," Sky burst.
I was shocked. She didn't know she was doing it, she just didn't like me, but somehow she was turning everyone against me. She didn't understand what was going on at the time, but if she had, maybe she wouldn't have said anything. Now Clyde and Rani were beginning to see me as some kind of monster. What was going on?
My nightmares had come true. I had been replaced by a 12 year old girl, who had amazing electric powers and had the charm to manipulate a whole room without her even knowing she was doing it. I was nothing compared to her. Who cares if you have the brain power of 10,000 people? It's nothing compared to the power of controlling electricity and being a girl. Mum had seemed much more comfortable with Sky around now. She could talk about clothes, aliens, school and life with someone around the house. Clyde seemed fine with being surrounded by girls, too. He had Rani, of course.
Another long pause.
"Maybe you're right," Mum gave in.
No, Mum. Don't believe her! I'm not scary, and I do like her, I thought.
I stood up silently from the door. I didn't hear the rest of the conversation.
I made my way to the spare room, my thoughts fluttering with so much confusion. I was Sarah-Jane's son, nothing anyone should make her feel like I was a monster. There was something wrong with the whole situation, but I couldn't put my finger on it.
Reservedly, I made up a plan. I would wait and see if this whole thing could change. Family and friendship can't just fall apart because someone said one, tiny thing. It takes something a lot stronger and I knew I could try and fix this. I could talk to Sky, to Mum, to anyone about what happened. It would be okay, I assured myself.
I waited. I walked around the kitchen, pretending everything was ok, waiting for them to come to me. None of them did. I caught them looking at me like I was some sort of freak. At one point, Rani pulled Sky into a room and they talked together. I didn't hear what they said, but when they came back out, they just ignored me. I thought I knew my friends inside out. Clyde had told me that friends always tell me the truth, and that we always look out for each other and we fix every problem we have.
Dinner was possibly even worse than the limbo of having to live around everyone. Sky had subtly given me the smallest portion, but the hardest part was that I had to watch everyone stare at me with cold dejection throughout the entire meal.
"Are you guys okay?" I said.
Nothing; absolutely no response from any of them. Mum had become reserved within herself, eyes facing the wall in front of her as she mechanically ate her food. It sent chills down my spine.
After dinner, Clyde and Rani quickly announced their departure, leaving together with shaking hands and hidden anger. What could I have possibly done?
The evening drew on and I never saw Mum.
"She's in her room, idiot," Sky said when I asked her about it and something inside me broke. I said nothing, keeping my thoughts to myself. "And I wouldn't see her if I were you, you might scare her."
"Excuse me?"
Sky rolled her eyes, and her inner disgust for me practically rode out of her like tidal waves.
It's okay Luke, you can fix this. Can't you?
Mum never did come down to see me in the morning, nor during the night. I'd felt completely isolated the entire time, with only Sky's complete revulsion towards me being my only company.
Breakfast was lonely, and I hadn't really felt up for eating anything once Sky burst through the kitchen with a sense of dominance and power that I hadn't seen last night. It made me want to curl up somewhere and just hide. No normal human should be able to make someone feel like that with just a look – was it one of her special powers?
With this in mind, I went to the spare room and grabbed my suitcase, still packed. Before I left the room, though, I grabbed a pad and a pen, making my decision on what I was about to do.
Mum, Sky, Clyde and Rani,
This is probably just me overreacting to something that isn't real, but I can't help but feel that you all have changed your mind about me. I'm not a monster and I'm having a hard time thinking about why Sky would suddenly find me scary. I was just nervous and I wanted to make a good first impression. But if she does, than it's okay – I'm going to give you all some space for a bit. I really do like you Sky, I just want to be your brother.
Rani, Clyde, you're both my friends. I'll never forget all the amazing things you've both taught me about being human and having a normal life around all the craziness. That's what's made me so bewildered by the way you both described me too.
And Mum, I love you. I'll always love you. I don't understand why you went along with them and why you've been ignoring me, but when I come back in a few days hopefully things should have calmed down.
I'm sorry for eavesdropping on your conversation in the attic. That's how I know about everything.
I love you all.
Luke
Tears started to creep down my cheeks. I wiped them away and ran to the driver's door, my hands shaking as I pulled the door open to the wheel of the car.
"I'm sorry, everyone," I muttered as the engine spluttered into life and I sped off into the distance, hoping that this break in my chest would be repaired when I came back.
I hope that was ok for you guys. I've been so desperately wanting to write an AU for that story, considering all the nightmares Luke had about being replaced, and then Sky came along. I was happy when they became friends, obviously, but I wanted to do a different take on the story.
Review if you want to :)
