I gave him a slight smile. This wouldn't be easy… All I could make out was a simple but meaningful,
"I love you."
I could feel the warmth of his breath gently tickle the surface of my cheeks making my smile brighten.
"I love you too."
That same warmth softly transferred to my fore head as his lips pressed against my own darkened skin. "I-"
"Maman!" Gil's urgent voice cut off through the air of the dining hall. "John's awake!"
And just like that, our speed picked up towards the room which sat the boy, whose life had not only been changed for eternity but paralyzed for the future…
Chapter 4- Twenty-Four Hours
(John's POV)
Sleep was strange. The time seems to skip by as if it was never there in the first place… Though it appears you are sent to another world to live a life that wasn't yours to keep… However, sometimes it can be even stranger… You were awake… but couldn't move… Your eyes were closed… but you could see it all… You were numb… but you could feel everything… And despite all this, he only words you could make out was your own name… Everything else was blurred into a clouded mess of meaningless mumbles that you are too weak to even try and decipher…
I hated it…
Although as I said before, you could still feel despite your numbness and I felt warmth. Though most likely a warmth I wanted to escape… It was more like a burning sensation if I was honest… I could feel every pin-prick stab at each cell causing it to swell and throb in an odd drumming cycle…
But then cold…
By cold, I didn't mean cold. I meant a cooling, comfort filled warmth deep with swirling emotions on a soft, levitating cloud. Something had drifted me away from that hell though I still couldn't move… I didn't want to move. I liked it here. Everything was peaceful against a slow hum that seemed to emerge from below me. But time ticks too quickly when you've been kidnapped by sleep.
Without warning an eye-penetrating light blinded passed my retina's and it seemed to burn through all of my insides. I had to blink away some of the brightness for a few moments until I realized… It wasn't bright at all…
It was dark…
It was night…
It was warm…
It was comforting…
It wasn't where I fell asleep…
Where did I fall asleep?
There was a park… A light… A… A fire… My Dad… The house… My friends… The gravel… Th… That… boy…
"M…an!" I heard a French accent voice call… I knew it but I couldn't think of a name. "John's ...ake!"
Huh?
Being awake was very strange too… Time seemed to drag by as if the whole universe weighed down on it. You know this is real and everything seems to crush you leaving an after math a hundred times worse than the world that engraved in darkness. But this time, it was even stranger…
My eyes were open… but I could barely see… I was paralyzed… but my limbs were alive… Alive and thrashing vigorously against soft fabric draped around me. It was a cage, restraining every movement I tried to throw back. My eyes stapled shut and ignored every message to open… They liked the dark… The opposite of light… The opposite of fire… flames…
"John! C…m …own! John! John! John! John!" Called the French voice that penetrated against my ear-drum…
John…
John…
John…
I hated that word now.
My arms crumpled around my legs and I braced myself. For what? I don't know…
"John…" I wish this guy would stop saying that word.
"Please… Stop saying that…" I spoke in a hoarse, cracked voice.
"Joh-" He cut off. "I mean, it's me… Lafayette."
Finally! I can actually hear now!
My eyes still refused to obey my internal shrieks for them to open.
Laurens! Open it up! It's Laf! Your safe! There's no fire! I pleaded to myself.
But it wasn't until I felt some warm hands clasp around my own, I finally gave in. Slowly with caution, I looked up to see Laf crouched down next to me with Herc and Aaron stood just a few steps behind him. George and Martha had their fingers entwined clenching with worry and sympathy etched in their eyes…
It was always the eyes…
So I was in the Washington's house…
"John…" Martha started, clenching her husband's hand tighter. "Are you okay? You don't have to worry anymore…" It's okay… You're safe…"
How did Martha do it? She had that ability to touch and wrap you up in a blanket of complete kindness. And somehow, despite the tense stream running throughout my blood, I managed to slightly loosen up.
"I…I…" I didn't know what to say I wasn't okay- period. But I didn't want pity from these people. So I just sat there. My eyes trailing from any line of sight down to the cuff on my denim jacket.
"C'est d'accord." Laf spoke almost silently. I needed answers though the words were lodged painfully in the back of my throat.
"You don't have to talk right now if you don't want to." Martha blessed again.
"Th… Thank you…" I stuttered still looking at the edge of my sleeve.
"You boys can stay don here if you want… I will call your parents and have them call the school to ask for a few days off." George spoke. I didn't need to look at him to tell he was already reaching for his mobile.
"Th… Thank you…" I stuttered again. It seemed that's all I could muster from my hoarse throat.
"George and I will be upstairs. Settle down and get some rest." Martha said before turning herself to the oak banisters.
"Don't worry Maman. We will."
"She simply nodded a sympathetic smile and lightly stepped up the stair case with George tightly next to her as they cleared out of lined sight.
The silence was mutual, bouncing in a lively stream between corners of the room. Laf still hadn't let go of my hand and the other two didn't drop their gaze.
"I think we should all go lie down." Laf said standing up and reaching his hand up to offer back down to me. With a few hesitant twitches, I accepted and eventually weighted myself on unevenly balanced legs. We stood for a moment- not a movement… Until everyone ran together into massive hug. The tension was too much and this was the perfect way to break it. It was warm. The nice kind of warmth. In my friends arms I felt safe, loved… wanted… This was the best part of the waking world. No consequences for doing something that pleases you. Nothing to drive you away. Just simply a tight, loving hug that everybody needed.
"I think we should all head to sleep… It's been a long day…" Usually after Aaron would say something like that, we would all start laughing but now wasn't the place. It was a silent happiness that lingered and could be only seen if you looked deep into another's eyes…
It was always the eyes…
"Sounds good." I replied, still only catching my breaths on small words.
The blankets were so soft and the sofa was still warm from where we lay a few minutes ago. In the Washington's living room, there were two couches. Aaron and Herc shared the one on the right, I shared one with Laf on the left. As they chose the film, I wasn't really paying attention… In all fairness, I didn't particularly care. I just agreed to something everyone else wanted and went along with it. From what I had picked up, it was something about a man trapped on Mars alone… I think we may have went to see it at the movies sometime but I couldn't remember… I never usually payed attention to this stuff. I saw it as an opportunity to hang out with friends and mock the film after so the actual storyline slipped past me quite quickly.
Half way through the film my eyes refused to close (the opposite of what they did earlier). Herc and Aaron had given in to sleep about ten minutes ago. Their breaths were deep and heavy so I didn't need to really look over to confirm my conclusion.
In the dining room, the great grand-father clock swung in a noisy repetitive tone gradually blocking out the buzz of noise on the TV screen. Laf was still awake though and ever so slowly, I started to pick up on the motion that we gently moved closer to each other. At this point our shoulders were inches apart so I closed the distance. His build was made up of firm muscle yet soft, tender skin. He was definitely tall, skinny and brawny in every way. Though I could feel him tense and relax at every motion I placed toward him. I could feel the restraint in his arm as he tentatively stretched around my shoulder. Though I was screaming at myself to stop doing what I was doing… I leaned my head upon his shoulder. With only a moment's hesitation his own fell on top of mine and we sat like that for what seemed like a lifetime. A very good life time.
Nothing was said between us. No looks either.
Ever so slowly sleep crawled upon me bringing the large blanket of midnight stars over me. It felt so peaceful at the time though… It rocketed me into I dream I didn't want to remember…
Sharp breaths seeped in though my lungs along with a blinding light pursing through my squinted pupils. My rib cage raised and fell at a quick pace making each breath a deep and dry along with a sharp stab to add to the shock. The blinds were still closed yet the suns rising light still dribbled in through the uncovered gaps in the material.
The time skipped again. It seemed that it was just a blink… As if it never happened in the first place…
There was a slight shuffle beside me. Laf… Subtle but not subtle enough to leave unnoticed… Especially in the consideration on how close we were…
My back was against his chest… His hands wrapped around my ribs… Loosely though… Loose enough for me to slip away without a head to turn. Still, I took it with precaution…
My feet were bare and shivered in contact with the hard-oak flooring (almost more shocking than freezing water on your face in the mornings). Even the small clicks of tired couldn't shake away my need for sleep. Which brought on to the question.
What time is it?
But all the loud shudders of the grand-father clock told me that in a shock wave. Six chimes. Six o'clock.
I gave out a sigh of disappointment I hadn't got enough sleep at all. Though that was understandable. The dream that haunted my sleeping thoughts last night wasn't healthy to carry on with much longer… I really hoped these 'dreams' weren't permanent…
Laf, Aaron and Herc were fast off, they probably weren't going to be awake for around three hours- minimum. I started a weak pace towards the kitchen like I had done many times before. Whenever all four of us has had a sleepover, I was always the first awake. George and Martha usually followed at around seven (when they had the day off) but whenever they were at work, they were usually up before me or at around the same time… This was one of these days…
As I heard the kettle whistle, I could also hear the almost soundless, tentative steps up stairs-doubled. I didn't flinch, I simply got out two extra cups and waited for them to come down. George had a strong, black coffee, Martha usually had a mint tea first thing and I (surprisingly) just had a regular tea. I practically knew each order off by heart as we all (me, Martha and George) had conversations during the mornings though it seemed that there wouldn't be much gossiping this time…
As if on cue with me pouring out the last of the boiled water, the two appeared in the doorway both in a dressing gown- George in slacks and Martha in some pajama bottoms along with a silk night top. Today was a Tuesday, so George was at the office early. Martha however, brought her work home with her and only ever went out if she was at court (which usually took up a whole afternoon) or she had to go to her office for meetings as it only usually took two hours- max.
I smiled a little anxiously at the two and gestured to the drinks but I don't think they picked up on my nerves…
"Thank you, John." Martha said taking and sipping the cup gently, "You really do make the best mint tea."
"Hey!" George laughed taking a gulp of the coffee a little too quickly.
I just laughed. This one pure and real.
"Shall we sit down?" George suggested and we all made our way to the oak table that gazed onto the radiant, sun risen lawn. George took out a newspaper and Martha found a book on the oak book case that sat perfectly near the windowed wall. I just sat in the comfortable silence every now and then glancing up at the two who were busy in their own activities. My main gaze however, was at the large windowed wall. The bright dawning light made the morning dew glisten in a dainty way against the cool, crisp sunrise.
Their garden was stunning.
"So," George started, putting down the newspaper as he spoke, "I need to get ready."
"That's fine." Martha said with a smile that matched the description of the garden beautifully. "I'll make breakfast for John and I. You… You are going to have something to eat, right?"
"He smiled back, "Yes. I'll grab something at the café down from the office."
"Good."
They hugged then George headed up the stairs to get in his usual suit for work. Again, like it always did, that damn clock rang again signaling the arrival of 06:30, though it also startled me and I let out a small scream before I clasped a hand to my mouth. It wasn't like I'd never heard that chime before… To be honest, I had heard it a million times over. But god knows why I had to jump like a total wuss at a stupid clock… A clock!
Martha picked up on my discomfort- again- though my embarrassed cheeks didn't help cover in up either.
"Don't worry." She spoke in a voice of silk. "Mary does that to a lot of people."
"Mary?" I questioned.
"The clock. George's mother bought us it as a wedding present. She said that we could only keep it if we named it after her though. So we've always called her that. Plus, we couldn't risk losing her, not after all the effort his parents went through to buy it for us and somehow wrapping it up without a tear in the paper." She laughed to herself and it brightened my own lingering smile. Her and George was one of the best relationships I had ever seen. There wasn't any weak point to it. They both shared all the same personality traits: friendly: loyal: intelligent: kind: caring: optimistic (yet always logically): and stern- when they wanted to be. The only difference I can think of is that George can be angered more easily than that of Martha. Though has only ever been angry at someone from his work but Martha calmed him down almost instantly. The two were like oxygen to each other and I don't think they could ever live apart.
"George's mother sounds…" I said trailing to try and find the right word.
"Crazy. Fun." Martha finished for me, "Yes, definitely! On her first visit to our house, she decided to rearrange the whole living room! We had to try and stop her from reorganizing the kitchen cupboards as well!"
Again, we both laughed. I loved these types of conversations I shared with Laf's parents. It was like they were my family after my mom passed away. Don't get me wrong, I do still love my father despite all the wrong he's done to me. I could never hate him I don't think, but Martha was always such a mother figure towards me- same with George as a father. But I could never really think Laf as a brother… I mean, if you were to describe our tight friendship as brothers- then yeah, I would say that. But not in the way I looked up to his parents… it was just… different… And the feelings I was starting to develop towards him now, wasn't making the 'brother' title any more desirable…
"Now," Martha said with a tinge a laughter still inhabited in her tone, "what would you like to eat?"
"Erm… W-Would toast be okay?" I stuttered a little nervous. Even though I knew the Washington's for years, I still never really liked asking for food. It was stupid I know, I just always found it ill-mannered to even accept it sometimes… Which was silly because if someone asked me for something to eat I wouldn't think it wrong. Also when I got a slightly larger plate of food, my eyes couldn't help but dart around to see if anyone was watching me…
It was always the eyes…
Another one of my insecurity's, I guess…
"Would you like me to make scrambled eggs on toast?" She smiled a smile to say that it was okay, though I still couldn't help my stutter…
"Erm… Y-Yes please… Only if it's okay though…"
Dammit Laurens!
She smiled and walked towards the kitchen while placing the book she had been reading into the same position on the shelf - I couldn't get a glance at the title.
During the wait, I reluctantly got out my phone to look at my Instagram. My finger kept scrolling and liking each post that seemed interesting but it wasn't until I reached peoples Stories that my heart began to stop…
"OMG! Can u believe what happened 2 the Laurens house last night! Poor John… #FireAtTheLaurensHouse"
"OML! OML! OML! OML! DM me if u know where John is! #FireAtTheLaurensHouse"
"ARRRGGG! OMAG! CAN U BELIEVE THE FIRE AT LAURENS'S HOUSE! #CantBelieveIt #FireAtTheLaurensHouse"
"Just heard about the fire! PLZ someone DM me if u know anythin bout it! #FireAtTheLaurensHouse"
"Does any1 know if John's ok?! #FireAtTheLaurensHouse"
It was all over Snapchat too… And I could only presume it was posted on Facebook and Twitter also… I mean it was a Hashtag!
A freaking HASHTAG!
It was practically fire to my own eyes- especially the pictures… The pictures from the news reports of my own weak body… All over social media… My own broken body… For my own eyes to see… It was completely different… It hurt more to see your own shattered being collapsed into your best friends' shaking arms…
#FireAtTheLaurensHouse…
#FireAtTheLaurensHouse…
#FireAtTheLaurensHouse…
#FireAtTheLaurensHouse…
#FireAtTheLaurensHouse…
#IKnowThereWasAFreakingFireAtTheLaurensHouse.
I know there was a fire at my own house. My own life. My own memories. My own family… I didn't need a reminder that my life had collapsed on top of me, as soon as I saw the first remanence of a flame… I didn't need a reminder that I was a blubbering mess… I didn't need a reminder that my life would never be the same… I didn't need a reminder that of the swathe of scalding embers that flooded my vision every time I blinked… Because I already knew! I already knew that!
With each tightening grip of my nails against my palms, my ribs began to crack. My throat felt as if it was collapsing in on itself as I scrunched up my face, I tried to push away the tears that sprang at my eyes.
I had to beat this…
I had to beat this…
I just couldn't calm down…
"DAD!" I shrilled across the street, "DAD!"
I had to beat this…
I had to beat this…
I just couldn't cope…
It was almost blinding. The sirens… The crowd of shocked neighbours… The raging fire… The house…
The house that was my house…
I had to beat this…
I had to beat this…
"Hello, Henry Laurens speaking." His blunt, gruff voice called through the other end of the line.
"It's John, father…"
I had to beat this…
I must beat this…
It was that boy…
I just couldn't beat this…
"John? John! …re … …ay? John! John!"
Martha?
"John! …an …u… he… …e?! John!" The sound of urgency in her voice was rich and fluent. But dammit! That damned word!
"Mamá…" That wasn't her voice… It was cracked and broken but it rang around in my head for a long time… Echoing around fluently… Making me deaf… It was as if- Oh.
Oh…
It was hot… thick… sweltering… I could barely see the walls that were practically hitting me in the face along with the skin-splintering burns that were thrashed around me. Each cell in my skin started to swell, pop and blister within seconds… My coughs were so violent that it felt as if I was spluttering my own inner flesh back out with the smoke that stabbed at my lungs… There was no oxygen… No room left to move… Yet I still kept moving …
Yells of my name were being hurtled my way like arrows off a bow, each with freshly sharpened tips… Yet I still kept moving …
Planks of wood and mountains of plaster rained down on my heated face… Yet I still kept moving …
The unbearable scent of the smoke that ruptured and screamed at my airways… Yet I still kept moving …
The smoke not only clouded my lungs… but clouded my vision… my mind… my blood… It was harder to keep moving …
My panicked shrieks as tight arms squeezed at my waist dragging me away from the room she was dying in… I couldn't keep moving…
Another man from the fire brigade tried to run to the room that was almost blurred from my sight… But then it collapsed… Mountains of residue, wood, plaster, concreate, rubble came crashing down upon her…
She stopped moving…
"Mamá…" That wasn't her voice… It was cracked and broken but it rang around in my head for a long time… Echoing around fluently… Making me deaf… It was as if- Oh.
…
It was as if I were saying them…
"Mamá…"
Dammit Laurens! Shut up!
"Mamá…"
"M…á? Wha… …o …ou …ean? John!"
"Mamá…"
SHUT IT JOHN! SHUT YOUR DAMN MOUTH!
From what felt like hours of heavy breaths flood my lungs and vision- sight I could not see through- I was soon aware of my surroundings… My pale cheek was pressed tightly down to the floor with all my limbs sprawled out as well. Martha's soft touch was gently caressing the cheek that was facing towards the ceiling and George knelt down next to me in his work suit, tightly holding my hand.
I wanted to run… I wanted scream how sorry I was… But nothing other than shaky, uneven breaths escaped my dry mouth.
"John?" Martha asked hesitantly, unaware that I was internally pleading for my ears to process her next words. "Can you hear me?"
Yes! Yes! I can hear you! I'm sorry! I didn't mean for any of this! I'm not sure what's happening! I'm scared! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!
All these thoughts came flooding through my senses, craving for the barricades holding back this dam to crumble away. But I couldn't even nod my head…
I could barely even blink…
My body only focussed on keeping my heart beating and my rebellious breaths under control.
"His breathings slowed. I think he's awake… He's just exhausted…" George said after some large swallows.
I couldn't help the heavy weight of my eyes. It was too much effort to keep looking up at their worried faces so my gaze fell down in a parallel line to their knees- my eyelids struggling to stay open.
"John…" Martha again. "Can you sit up?"
I wanted to sit up. I really did. I wanted to sit, then stand and then run away somewhere. Anywhere. Anywhere away from the horrific nightmare that swooned and crushed my life into many different aspects and pieces…
To my own astonishment as well as everyone else's, my legs started to twitch and gradually crawl into a ball- conjoining with my arms.
"I…" My voice cracked and breathy, "I can hear you…"
My eyes were still fixed on their knees as they pulled away their grip from me and shuffled backwards.
"John, do you think you could try and sit up?" Martha's silky tone said with a hint of sympathy.
Pity. I spat in my mind.
If I were to try and sit up I wouldn't be able to speak or breathe. I needed to preserve my energy to move the dead, weighty limbs. So I did… My legs started to straighten tentatively making my limp arms drop to my side with a shudder echo throughout my numb being. My weight shifted to the hem of my right palm and I started to push upward. Many times, my body closed the distance between the floor and I, smashing electric and constant tremors along the perimeter of each bone my body contained. I could almost feel them pushing up through my skin with each jolt the oak planks threw at me… Though soon it was like I had broken the surface of the ocean and gasped for a breath that seeped in every gap my lungs provided. Yet I started to fall again but Martha and George's soft arms caught my fall where I fell limp. Using both of their strengths combined to lift me against a wall where my vision started to dance for a moment until it fuzzed back to reality.
"Can you still hear me John?" Martha's concerned voice spoke.
"Y…Yes…"
"Good, now do you remember your name?"
"Yes… J… John Laurens…"
"Do you remember how old you are?"
"F… Fifteen…"
"Do you know who we are?"
"Martha and George Washington…"
"Do you know where you are?"
"I'm in your dining room…"
She sighed in relief, "Good. That's good. Do you remember what happened?"
Yes. As clear as day. And that's the problem.
"Yeah…"
"Can you tell us what happened?"
"You went to make scrambled eggs and I started to look at my phone…"
"Uhuh, go on."
"W… when I looked at it… There were pictures of my house on social media… They created a tag #FireAtTheLaurensHouse…"
"You're doing great John."
"I… I started to panic and I had a flashback of the night before and…" I couldn't finish my sentence…
"And?"
"And… A flashback to another time…"
I think she could tell I didn't want to talk about it and she was right... She just nodded her head and let me carry on.
"The next thing I know I was on the floor with you and George talking to me but I couldn't process anything other than 'John'…"
"Okay, do you remember anything else? Hitting you head or something like that?"
"N…no…"
"Okay." She said last. It was a small word, though it meant too much to explain…
"Do you think you could stand up if we helped you?" George asked gripping to my knee.
"I… I think so…"
His tall structure towered down over me and he let a long muscular hand reach down which I gladly took. The first few steps were quite uncertain and uneven before I got back to the grips of walking. Most of my weight was placed on George though his body didn't seem to care much.
We left the windowed room and towards the couches where my three friends still lay, sound asleep. I swear they wouldn't wake up even if we had a brass band in its top volume playing right next to their eardrums. My mind chuckled at the thought.
Aaron and Herc sprawled out across the right hand sofa so there wasn't much room for me to sit… Therefore, George helped me down to the space next to Lafayette.
"There you go, Son."
"Thank you."
He smiled before asking the next question as if something else was burning the back of his mind, "Do you want some water?"
"Yes please…" I whispered, aware of the other boys around me dropping my gaze from his, "That would be nice…"
He then got up and made his way to the kitchen until Martha stopped him pointing to the leather, buckled watch wrapped around his wrist. I could tell by the way his jaw dropped as he tried to protest, but Martha had none of it.
"You need to go to work. I can stay here. I don't have to be at Court until Thursday morning."
"Okay." He said, bending down and planting a kiss to her forehead. "I'll be back at five."
"Good. Don't forget to grab something to eat." She said picking up his work briefcase which conveniently sat on the table next to them.
"I won't forget." He smiled planting down another kiss before taking his work case. As he walked by me to get to the porch, he flashed a warm smile at me which I weakly returned. I could hear his frustrated mumbles as he fiddled with the shoe lace on his polished black shoes though instead of calling out to say goodbye, he popped his head round the door and waved, not wanting to wake up the others.
Martha then headed to the kitchen to fill up a glass of water as I watched the silhouette of his land rover pull out of the drive leaving just one last car sitting motionless alone. Martha light footedly stepped through the lounge and handed me a water and taking a sip of her own. We sat in silence for a while until I couldn't resist the question burning at the front of my mind.
"How long was I out for?"
She seemed a little taken back until it must have clicked what I meant. "About twenty minutes." She whispered.
"Do you… Could you tell me what happened?"
"Well, I remember I went to turn the stove on and then I heard a loud thud in the dining room. So I rushed over to see you on the floor. George must have heard it too because he came down just after I saw you. We tried to move you to the wall but you clung to the table so we had to leave you. We kept trying to talk to you but I don't think you could hear us. But then you started to mumble the word, 'Mamá' a lot. I'm not sure what happened there, but I presume it was to do with your flashbacks?"
I looked away trying to hide my expression that said it all… Though I don't think she was buying it…
"Well, you then started to slowly come out of it and I think you remember the rest…"
Yes, I most certainly did.
"Yeah…"
We sat in silence again, the quiet constantly ringing at our ears. The others slow breaths filled the gaps too, along with each individual sip we occasionally took. Even the birds' morning songs were heard through the thick, brick walls- not that I minded. Their tunes were… calming… beautiful… peaceful… Something soothing other than the Washington's for once- not that I wasn't grateful for their help, far from it.
"Ah yes," Martha whispered getting up, "Gil brought home your school bag if you want it?"
"Yes please…" I whispered back.
She smiled again and walked back through to the dining room soon returning with my bag and (in her other hand) my phone which I must have dropped during my panic.
"Thank you." I softly spoke, taking my belongings out of her hands. As soon as the cold metal reached the skin of my hand, I didn't even think twice before turning it completely off and placing it at the bottom of my bag. I didn't need that electric metal messing my life up any more than it already was.
"That's okay," She spoke, still not sitting down next to me, "but I need to start on some work if that's alright. You can put on the TV or read a book if you want. Just try and rest. It hasn't even been twenty-four hours and you've already been through too much. I'll be in the dining room if you need me." She started to walk towards the left arch way but I had to ask another scolding question, didn't I?
"Martha… Can I ask… What's going to happen to me?"
Her eyes turned to a completely sympathetic look that spoke all…
It was always the eyes…
"Well, for now you are in our care until your Father makes a better recovery or we talk to someone else you feel comfortable with. Like your brother from England."
I nodded. At least I was protected from my Uncle… wait…
"What about my siblings? What's going to happen to them?"
"Were they not in the fire?"
"… No… They were at my Uncles for the night…"
"Good… Well I don't know for certain, but I presume they'll stay with your Uncle then… He… He is alright with them isn't he?"
"Yes. My Uncle would take his own life to protect them just…" I stopped to catch my breath… "Just not me…"
"I… I see… Well, I'm going to call the school to ask for you to have until Monday off… Gil can stay with you today and tomorrow if you'd like?"
"That would be nice, thank you…"
"Good. Aaron and Hercules's parents also know about them staying here. They will have today and tomorrow off too."
"Thank you."
"Sorry to keep babbling on but also the Police may come round today or tomorrow to talk to us all about what's going on… They will need to interview you as well and ask some questions about your Uncle and other family, if that's alright with you?"
"That's fine, and, thank you…"
Her silky, soft smile shone again, "That's okay, just rest now okay?"
"Okay."
She turned away but then looked back at me again, "Also, when Gil's awake, can you tell him to see me please…"
What? That wasn't something Martha would say. She would never be so vague.
"I will."
With that she walked over to the dining room, grabbing some papers and pens along the way. Then it was just me. The only awake person in the room. Lost in a maze of thoughts. I sat there for a while just counting the ticks of the grand-father clock- Mary.
The bag on my lap gazed at me for a moment before I peered inside… Counting and naming the things that only just occurred to me… They were the only things I had left other than memories… My school note books, text books, my pencil case, my sketch pad, sketching pencils, some of my best drawings, headphones, a couple of folders, hair brush, laptop, chargers, my wallet, a reading book, my phone and my diary… The only things I had left…
With each thing, I picked up and scanned it trying to recall anything that could help me turn back time (skipping past my phone obviously). But then, the last thing I picked up might had held that key… My diary…
I couldn't help but open the lock with the special code:
1776
I looked to the first page- my first entry…
Dear Diary,
My life is over. Why couldn't I just keep my fat gob shut!
*sigh* My father didn't need to know this… Especially after Mom passed two months ago… It really wasn't the best time…
I told my father I'm gay. Yeah… I know… I told my racist, Christian-obsessed, homophobic Father that I'm gay.
Well done John! You really did it this time! -_-
He was so mad… No not just mad… Disappointed… Ashamed… He looked at me like I was dirt on the bottom of his shoe… Worthless…
Is it true? My own Father called me these things… Even if he was over emphasizing it… An emphasis always comes from truth… Right?
Damn you John!
DAMN YOU!
-John Laurens
My stomach dropped, no tears because they were already waisted that night… My fingers scanned through more pages for a long time… This book had lasted me over two years now… It had got me through everything… The good… Mainly the bad… But all the biggest points in my life after my Mom's… passing…
My fingers eventually reached a blank page… That page was calling to be written over, each line wanting to be scribbled over in an ink. So I lived to its wishes…
Dear Diary,
Time is a crazy thing. Yesterday I woke up in my house not expecting anything worse than a start of year test or a long ass essay to be completed for the next day… But today I woke up cradled next to Laf in the Washington's house… Without my own house standing anymore…
Let me tell you what happened…
I woke up yesterday morning and went to school- nothing new there. I met Laf, Herc and Aaron at the Ivy Tree Wall (like we usually do) and went to get our years' timetables. Good timetable I won't lie…
But then I saw something strange… A new kid… But he wasn't just any new kid he was pale, skinny and VERY skittish… I mean, I looked at him and he ran away! I was in French and History with him too.
Anyway, I got to lunch (and by the way, I forgot to have breakfast that morning) and had a big lunch. Herc went out with his mom for lunch (not like that was something new). Well I suggested we all go out after school and so I had to ring my dad…
Well let's say… It didn't go too well… I mean 'sending-me-into-a-bad-mood-all-afternoon' sort of didn't go too well…
Anyway, after school we all went Ice Skating, grabbed a coffee and went to the park…
In the moment, it was the best day of my life as we gazed up into the night's sky. But then something weird happened… Laf grabbed my hand… And I got flustered… I mean…
FLUSTERED?!
And by LAF of all people…
But we had to go home so we set off down the road and got to my house first… And well… What WAS my house…
It was up in flames…
My dad was in there…
My siblings were at my Uncles…
THAT boy stood and watched…
The news team reported everything…
Everyone on social media knows what happened…
I am now staying at the Washington's…
I fell asleep in Laf's embrace…
I had two panic attacks already…
…
My whole world has turned upside down and eaten me alive in less that twenty-four hours…
THAT is what I mean by, 'Time is a crazy thing'…
I haven't gone into much detail in this I know, but to be honest…
It was that life shattering, that I could probably relive the moment in HD when I'm eighty-three with Dementia…
My life is a mess…
-John Laurens
I slammed the book shut restraining the tears from spilling over and (thankfully) winning. The lock snapped into place with a satisfying click as I mixed up the numbers into a scattered mess of digits. My bag was refilled with my now called 'treasures' and I sat it against my lap as I clutched it tight. All of a sudden, a blanket of needed sleep washed over my features my eyes so I snuggled into a ball on the other side of the sofa. The last thing I remembered was a singular, silent tear roll down my face carrying a lot more than just water out with it…
(Lafayette's POV)
It was a sudden jolt to my side that jarred me awake so fast I almost strained my back. Aaron and Herc were fast off and to what it seemed, John was too. Except in a more active way… He was probably having a bad dream and who could blame him? It was less than twenty-four hours ago that his whole life was ripped apart and I had seen it in the front row…
His slim figure had curled in a tight ball towards the end of the sofa with his bag pressed firmly against his chest. Every now and then he would wince and give a slight kick before letting a few stray tears stroll down his face. Hesitantly, I crawled to the other end of the sofa we shared and wrapped an arm around him. I closed my eyes to embrace the moment and he melted into it as well. His thrashing stopped- same with the small sobs- and he (after sometime) started to wake up.
"Mornin' sunshine! You even awake yet?" I chuckled lightly looking down upon his squinted, tired eyes.
"Don't fret, I'm awake sweet heart…" He laughed back snuggling even more into me.
"Are you alright?" I asked, keeping my voice to a whisper.
"Do you want the truth?"
"Yeah."
"Then, no. Far from it."
I sighed. "You were having a pretty bad dream back there."
He sighed back. "Yeah, I think I'm going to have to get use to them…"
"You always have me you know."
"Yeah… I know… And you have me too."
"I don't think I'm the one who needs support here…"
"I know but, you never know when you're going to hit a brick wall…"
I think that hit me harder than it should. It was true. That was the painful bit. None of us new that this would happen. None of us saw it coming.
"Don't talk like that." I managed to get out.
"I know it's hard to accept, but it is true…"
"Yeah well it's true that one day the world will end. But that hasn't happened yet."
"Yet."
Silence.
"What time is it?" I changed the subject.
"Erm… I don't know… Do you have your phone?"
"Oui…" I said reaching to back pocket. "11:37…"
"11:37?!"
"Well, it's now 11:38…" I joked, causing him let out a small laugh.
"Oh yeah." He started, remembrance in his tone. "Martha wanted to talk to you when you were awake."
"Huh?"
"Yeah, that's what I thought too-"
"No, I mean you were awake before?"
"Y… Yeah I got up at around six, sat with George and Martha for a while and then… then went back to sleep at eight-ish."
In his voice the hesitation suggested he was holding off on something… But I didn't want to pry, so I let him carry on.
"D'accord…" I said getting up and clicking my limbs. I left his warmth behind me and walked towards the window walled room where Martha sat jotting down notes faster than the speed of light.
"Ah Gil," She started cheerfully, "I see you're awake…"
"Nope I'm sleep-walking!" I said spinning around and making jazz-hands. She laughed along with me at the end of my performance. I never said it in a 'rude-sarcastic-way' and she and George both knew that.
"So," I started with the remanence of the laugh still tinging my tone, "John said you wanted to talk to me… What is it all about?"
Her mouth widened to say something but was soon cut off by the front door opening with the pitter-patter of keys chiming as the person dropped them in the tray. That person could only be one person…
"George?" Martha said with quite puzzled look on her face (not like mine was any different).
"Hi Honey." The guessed man said with a smile on his lips. Martha ran to her husband and tightly embraced him in a hug- me just watching the exchange.
"Why are you home so early?" She questioned.
"The Office didn't really need much of me today so I got half the day off!" He chuckled a little over-joyed. Martha turned back around to look at me and gave a glance with eye contact back to George. Both of their expressions changed within a split second.
"I'm guessing you were going to…" He let his voice trail off.
"Yeah…" She replied. "I thought it would have been best to get it done sooner rather than later…"
"I can get that…"
"Erm…" I said, obviously lost at this point. "What are you on about?"
George sighed. "Gil… I think it's best if we sit down…"
Okay… This was definitely strange… Though I showed no resistance towards it and did as was said…
"So…" I said completely hooked. "why are you acting so strange?"
They both exchanged glances before Martha spoke again.
"We were going to tell you last night Gil but when we found out about John, we didn't think it was the right time…"
"We have also tried to tell you other times before but something had always got in the way…"
They both looked at each other cowardly as if they held a bucket of guilt on their shoulders…
"What is it? You've officially got me hooked!" I tried to add humor to the situation.
Both of them just gave a few nods I guess to decide who was going to speak. And Martha spoke…
Her words were few… but they meant so much… How did they manage to keep something like this from me for so long? Why were they so worried? Why the hell did the Universe decide for them to tell me now? Now while John was staying with us? All this information burst through my blood stream, swimming like a new type of adrenaline. My eyes widened so far I thought they may permanently stretch my skin. My mind was fuzzed and I could barely comprehend anything other than this…
The Universe has really bad timing…
Authors Note: I don't want to toot my own horn but… I'm proud of this Chapter!
Word count: 7712!
That's the longest Chapter I've EVER wrote!
Anyway, let me get to thanking you for all the support you're giving this story! It does mean a lot! The reviews you drop on this Story make my day! Especially when I come back from a crap day at school!
Yeah and sorry for the cliff hanger… What do you think it is? REVIEW DOWN BELOW! Again, can you try and leave constructive reviews? Thanks!
I will try to get the next Chapter out soon! But the more reviews you leave, the quicker it will be out!
-L.E-Rae _x_