Reach for the Stars
Chapter 12
*Present*
Star collapsed against the side of her hole, her shovel clanging to the ground. She sank
slowly down to the bottom of her two-foot hole. Sweat and dirt streamed down her face.
She leaned against the side of her hole and looked down at the blood running down her
hands.
Fairy untied the bandana from around her arm and gently patted her hands. She looked
over at her almost empty canteen and tugged it down into the hole next to her. She then poured
the last of her water which now was hot onto the bandana and began to gently clean her hands.
A dust cloud approached as the water truck drew near. Fairy sat there trying to will her
body to stand up. Finally she sighed in defeat and sank back against the side.
A little bit later a shadow fell over Fairy and she looked up to see Zigzag and Zero
standing there.
"You need water." ZigZag said squatting down so he was more level with her. "And it is
time for lunch."
Irish Fairy weakly turned her head and saw that the truck was almost there. She waved
them with her hand. "You go, get something to eat then. Don't let me hold you up."
Zero shook his head. "Not unless you do."
Zigzag didn't say anything he just reached down into her hole and grabbed her by her
upper arms and gently pulled her into a standing position.
Fairy leaned against him weakly but still claimed, "hey I could have done it myself." She
tried to step out of the hole but couldn't. She almost collapsed back to the ground.
Zigzag quickly jumped into her hole and grabbed her around her waist to keep her from
falling. He scooped her up into his arms in one motion. He then set her back on the ground after
he got her out of her hole.
Zero bent down and grabbed her blood soaked bandana and canteen. Zigzag still had his
arm wrapped around her waist and hand her wrap her arm around his neck. He started walking
slowly with her to the line now formed at the truck.
Zigzag stepped into line behind Zero still supporting Fairy. X-ray turned and glared at the
three of them.
Fairy squeezed his shoulder, "I'll be fine." she told him tilting her head in the direction of
his spot. Zigzag hesitated. "Go, Zero can help me." she said firmer this time. She unwrapped her
arm from around his neck and put her hand on Zero's shoulder leaning slightly for support.
Zigzag gave her one last look before walking up to his spot in line.
X-Ray continued to glare at Zigzag as he stepped behind Squid. Squid looked at Zig
silently as X-Ray stepped up to get his food and fill his canteen. "Is she okay?" Squid asked
under his breath shooting looks over his shoulder making sure X-Ray didn't hear him.
Zigzag shrugged. "She will be okay if we can get her to eat something." he said trying to
hide the look of worry on his face.
Squid sighed. "I hope so." Squid stepped up and handed Mr. Sir his canteen and then
grabbed his lunch casting a worried glance towards Fairy who was leaning heavily on Zero's
shoulders so she wouldn't fall over. Her head kind of flopped to the side her face streaked with
blood, dirt and sweat. Her violet eyes had glazed over and she looked like she was going to pass
out.
Zigzag kept glancing back nervously watching her as Mr. Sir filled his water. Mr. Sir
shoved te canteen into Zigzag's chest. "What's after you now?" He laughed harshly. "Yellow
spotted lizards or did you find the camera's we hid in the shovels?" Zigzag's eyes widened Mr.
Sir laughed again and shoved Zig out of the way and took Magnet's canteen.
Squid had set his food down and walked back over and took Zigzag's arm. "Ziggy he was
just being mean, there are no cameras in the shovels let's get your food." Zigzag nodded and let
Squid lead him through the food line then over to one of the holes and sat him down. "Ziggy they
wouldn't tell you if they were hiding cameras."
Zigzag shook his head. "They know...they know I know the lizards told them.." he
mumbled over and over. Sighing Squid smacked him on the back of the head. Zig snapped out of
it and glared up at him. 'Sorry man I had no choice. We need to concentrate on her."
By then Zigzag's gaze had already moved back to the water line. "Squid, go help Zero."
Squid nodded and ran off to help Zero who had just handed a sneering Mr. Sir his canteen.
X-Ray shook his head in disgust. "Look at them, they jump to everything for her just like
a dog would to their master."
Magnet had just sat down next to X-Ray and Armpit. "But look at her she doesn't look to
good X."
X-Ray frowned at him. "She wants pity, that's all."
Magnet shook his head. "No, I don't think she would do that. She doesn't like to admit to
needing help, I don't think she would be like this for pity." He picked his stuff back up and
walked over towards Zigzag.
X-Ray sneered and went back to eating mumbling to whole entire time. Armpit ate
silently besides X-ray afraid to say something.
Mr. Sir slammed Zero's canteen into his chest causing him to stumble backwards. Squid
had just walked up behind them and caught fairy before she hit the ground.
"Thanks" Fairy murmured quietly looking up at him. He helped her upright herself then
waited while Mr. Sir finished filling her canteen. Before Mr. Sir could shove it at Irish Fairy Zero
grabbed it and skittered away leaving Mr. Sir glaring at his back.
Squid was helping Fairy away when his words made them pause. "I'll be watching you
girly."
Star stiffened and fire blazed in her eyes. Pulling away from Squid she turned and glared
at Mr. Sir. "And what the hell do you mean by that?" she hissed.
"You forget girl that I get your files girl. I know what you are. What you are here for you
dirty slut."
Squid stepped forward hands clenched and raised.
"Forget it Squid. Get me something to eat then sit down." she said her back to him as she
still faced Mr. Sir. Squid nodded reluctantly and went to do what she told him to do.
Fairy gave Mr. Sir an iced look. "What does that have to do with anything?" She calmly
raised an eyebrow.
"Simple, I know what you do, how easily you could manipulate those boys." he poked her
in the chest between her collar bones. "You are just a dirty slut."
Fairy smirked and got really close to him and hissed. "No, I am a whore, get it right, I do
it for money, sluts just sleep around."
She turned and headed for the group as Mr. Sir got into the truck and sped away.
All the strength and anger drained out of her and she collapsed into the dirt.
*Flashback*
Star slipped into bed next to Stephanie and looked at the clock. 5:00. She moaned, she
would be getting up in a few hours. Stephanie shivered next to her, so Star pulled her closer.
Tears filled Star's eyes and she tried to blink them away. She was incredibly stressed out,
she felt hopeless. Christmas was almost a month ago now and she was still trying to catch up.
She still had to pay off Sandy's funeral bill, and street business was never good around
the Christmas holiday. She also had to worry about Stephanie's birthday coming up. It would be
a hard one, it would be the first one without Sandy. Star didn't know what she would do.
Stephanie nuzzled her face into Star's neck and opened her eyes. Star hugged Stephanie
then kissed her forehead.
"How was work?" Steph asked yawning.
Star gave her a small smile. "It was fine baby, don't worry about us."
"I wasn't worrying about me, I worry about you. I was thinking maybe there is something
I could do to help raise money so you aren't so sad all of the time."
"Oh honey you are six years old, there isn't anything you could do. I am sorry you are too
young to get a job. It is your job to play and learn. Let me worry about money. Ok babe?" She
brushed a blonde curl off of Stephanie's cheek.
"I will be seven next week. Oh I know I won't be able to work at the club with you. I am
not 14 yet...you were 14 when you started taking off your clothes there, but maybe I could work
with you after the club. Make-up might make me look older." Stephanie said seriously.
Star looked into Stephanie's dull blue eyes. They looked old and wise beyond her years.
Tears streamed down Star's cheeks because she knew she failed. She couldn't even protect her
little sister from the ways of the street. Her almost seven year old sister wanted to start
prostitution because she knew how hard of a time star was having keeping what was left of the
family together.
Stephanie studied Star with those old eyes. "Maybe I could get daddy to stop hurting you
too." She used her finger tips to brush the tears off of Star's cheeks. "I know you protect me from
him."
Star Shook her head violently. "Never, never, never. I want you to promise me you will
just be a child, and stay away from our father. PROMISE." Sobs shook her body.
Stephanie nodded sadly. "I promise for now." They held each other as sobs shook their
bodies.
*****************************************************************************
Sweet A.K... I know you asked for a chapter update right away and I took a month...but I hope
you really like this one...it is longer then most.
Trinity...hey you are so funny. I love it. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Jamie...look I finally updated again. Took forever I know...but hey I did it.
Chapter 12
*Present*
Star collapsed against the side of her hole, her shovel clanging to the ground. She sank
slowly down to the bottom of her two-foot hole. Sweat and dirt streamed down her face.
She leaned against the side of her hole and looked down at the blood running down her
hands.
Fairy untied the bandana from around her arm and gently patted her hands. She looked
over at her almost empty canteen and tugged it down into the hole next to her. She then poured
the last of her water which now was hot onto the bandana and began to gently clean her hands.
A dust cloud approached as the water truck drew near. Fairy sat there trying to will her
body to stand up. Finally she sighed in defeat and sank back against the side.
A little bit later a shadow fell over Fairy and she looked up to see Zigzag and Zero
standing there.
"You need water." ZigZag said squatting down so he was more level with her. "And it is
time for lunch."
Irish Fairy weakly turned her head and saw that the truck was almost there. She waved
them with her hand. "You go, get something to eat then. Don't let me hold you up."
Zero shook his head. "Not unless you do."
Zigzag didn't say anything he just reached down into her hole and grabbed her by her
upper arms and gently pulled her into a standing position.
Fairy leaned against him weakly but still claimed, "hey I could have done it myself." She
tried to step out of the hole but couldn't. She almost collapsed back to the ground.
Zigzag quickly jumped into her hole and grabbed her around her waist to keep her from
falling. He scooped her up into his arms in one motion. He then set her back on the ground after
he got her out of her hole.
Zero bent down and grabbed her blood soaked bandana and canteen. Zigzag still had his
arm wrapped around her waist and hand her wrap her arm around his neck. He started walking
slowly with her to the line now formed at the truck.
Zigzag stepped into line behind Zero still supporting Fairy. X-ray turned and glared at the
three of them.
Fairy squeezed his shoulder, "I'll be fine." she told him tilting her head in the direction of
his spot. Zigzag hesitated. "Go, Zero can help me." she said firmer this time. She unwrapped her
arm from around his neck and put her hand on Zero's shoulder leaning slightly for support.
Zigzag gave her one last look before walking up to his spot in line.
X-Ray continued to glare at Zigzag as he stepped behind Squid. Squid looked at Zig
silently as X-Ray stepped up to get his food and fill his canteen. "Is she okay?" Squid asked
under his breath shooting looks over his shoulder making sure X-Ray didn't hear him.
Zigzag shrugged. "She will be okay if we can get her to eat something." he said trying to
hide the look of worry on his face.
Squid sighed. "I hope so." Squid stepped up and handed Mr. Sir his canteen and then
grabbed his lunch casting a worried glance towards Fairy who was leaning heavily on Zero's
shoulders so she wouldn't fall over. Her head kind of flopped to the side her face streaked with
blood, dirt and sweat. Her violet eyes had glazed over and she looked like she was going to pass
out.
Zigzag kept glancing back nervously watching her as Mr. Sir filled his water. Mr. Sir
shoved te canteen into Zigzag's chest. "What's after you now?" He laughed harshly. "Yellow
spotted lizards or did you find the camera's we hid in the shovels?" Zigzag's eyes widened Mr.
Sir laughed again and shoved Zig out of the way and took Magnet's canteen.
Squid had set his food down and walked back over and took Zigzag's arm. "Ziggy he was
just being mean, there are no cameras in the shovels let's get your food." Zigzag nodded and let
Squid lead him through the food line then over to one of the holes and sat him down. "Ziggy they
wouldn't tell you if they were hiding cameras."
Zigzag shook his head. "They know...they know I know the lizards told them.." he
mumbled over and over. Sighing Squid smacked him on the back of the head. Zig snapped out of
it and glared up at him. 'Sorry man I had no choice. We need to concentrate on her."
By then Zigzag's gaze had already moved back to the water line. "Squid, go help Zero."
Squid nodded and ran off to help Zero who had just handed a sneering Mr. Sir his canteen.
X-Ray shook his head in disgust. "Look at them, they jump to everything for her just like
a dog would to their master."
Magnet had just sat down next to X-Ray and Armpit. "But look at her she doesn't look to
good X."
X-Ray frowned at him. "She wants pity, that's all."
Magnet shook his head. "No, I don't think she would do that. She doesn't like to admit to
needing help, I don't think she would be like this for pity." He picked his stuff back up and
walked over towards Zigzag.
X-Ray sneered and went back to eating mumbling to whole entire time. Armpit ate
silently besides X-ray afraid to say something.
Mr. Sir slammed Zero's canteen into his chest causing him to stumble backwards. Squid
had just walked up behind them and caught fairy before she hit the ground.
"Thanks" Fairy murmured quietly looking up at him. He helped her upright herself then
waited while Mr. Sir finished filling her canteen. Before Mr. Sir could shove it at Irish Fairy Zero
grabbed it and skittered away leaving Mr. Sir glaring at his back.
Squid was helping Fairy away when his words made them pause. "I'll be watching you
girly."
Star stiffened and fire blazed in her eyes. Pulling away from Squid she turned and glared
at Mr. Sir. "And what the hell do you mean by that?" she hissed.
"You forget girl that I get your files girl. I know what you are. What you are here for you
dirty slut."
Squid stepped forward hands clenched and raised.
"Forget it Squid. Get me something to eat then sit down." she said her back to him as she
still faced Mr. Sir. Squid nodded reluctantly and went to do what she told him to do.
Fairy gave Mr. Sir an iced look. "What does that have to do with anything?" She calmly
raised an eyebrow.
"Simple, I know what you do, how easily you could manipulate those boys." he poked her
in the chest between her collar bones. "You are just a dirty slut."
Fairy smirked and got really close to him and hissed. "No, I am a whore, get it right, I do
it for money, sluts just sleep around."
She turned and headed for the group as Mr. Sir got into the truck and sped away.
All the strength and anger drained out of her and she collapsed into the dirt.
*Flashback*
Star slipped into bed next to Stephanie and looked at the clock. 5:00. She moaned, she
would be getting up in a few hours. Stephanie shivered next to her, so Star pulled her closer.
Tears filled Star's eyes and she tried to blink them away. She was incredibly stressed out,
she felt hopeless. Christmas was almost a month ago now and she was still trying to catch up.
She still had to pay off Sandy's funeral bill, and street business was never good around
the Christmas holiday. She also had to worry about Stephanie's birthday coming up. It would be
a hard one, it would be the first one without Sandy. Star didn't know what she would do.
Stephanie nuzzled her face into Star's neck and opened her eyes. Star hugged Stephanie
then kissed her forehead.
"How was work?" Steph asked yawning.
Star gave her a small smile. "It was fine baby, don't worry about us."
"I wasn't worrying about me, I worry about you. I was thinking maybe there is something
I could do to help raise money so you aren't so sad all of the time."
"Oh honey you are six years old, there isn't anything you could do. I am sorry you are too
young to get a job. It is your job to play and learn. Let me worry about money. Ok babe?" She
brushed a blonde curl off of Stephanie's cheek.
"I will be seven next week. Oh I know I won't be able to work at the club with you. I am
not 14 yet...you were 14 when you started taking off your clothes there, but maybe I could work
with you after the club. Make-up might make me look older." Stephanie said seriously.
Star looked into Stephanie's dull blue eyes. They looked old and wise beyond her years.
Tears streamed down Star's cheeks because she knew she failed. She couldn't even protect her
little sister from the ways of the street. Her almost seven year old sister wanted to start
prostitution because she knew how hard of a time star was having keeping what was left of the
family together.
Stephanie studied Star with those old eyes. "Maybe I could get daddy to stop hurting you
too." She used her finger tips to brush the tears off of Star's cheeks. "I know you protect me from
him."
Star Shook her head violently. "Never, never, never. I want you to promise me you will
just be a child, and stay away from our father. PROMISE." Sobs shook her body.
Stephanie nodded sadly. "I promise for now." They held each other as sobs shook their
bodies.
*****************************************************************************
Sweet A.K... I know you asked for a chapter update right away and I took a month...but I hope
you really like this one...it is longer then most.
Trinity...hey you are so funny. I love it. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Jamie...look I finally updated again. Took forever I know...but hey I did it.