Hi guys, so I'm back with a new chapter. I had to cut this one in half so unfortunately Hal and Ben are introduced in the next chapter! I think i'm going to post the next chapter in a couple of days. The chapter was getting really long, like 14 pages on word! I hope that everyone enjoys reading my story! If some of you think it's moving too slow, and my characters aren't meeting like Hal or the rest of the Masons, I'm sorry but i really want to make this story realistic as can be and not jump into things. I want to develop the story, not just make my characters instantly fall in love. I hope I'm doing good in that aspect! Thanks for reading, sorry for the long author's note! Tell me what you think.
~ music-is-lifexx
A Falling Skies Fanfiction
The People we Meet
It had only been a couple of hours since Ashley and I had last spoken to Weaver and I have recently decided that I am going to like it here. Ashley and I have only dreamt of this day, meeting up with the resistance and now we finally have.
Ashley and I were currently adventuring around the corridors of the school, meeting and talking to the occasional passerby. What the fighters call the civilians, were in an uproar about a skitter being kept alive and caged back in the labs, but I don't even want to be near one of those things for now. The soon to be scars that will mar my back will serve as a reminder of my near death at the hands of a skitter.
Anne and Lourdes let me wander off with Ashley hobbling after me with that boot of hers and told me to take it easy, but inside, I was just itching for some excitement.
"You as bored as I am?" Ashley thought aloud, noticing how antsy I was.
"You know it." I said, sighing and stopping in the middle of the hallway we were walking in. "There must be something or somebody around here that can provide us with some sort of entertainment before our inevitable gun training with this mysterious Hal person."
Everywhere we went, Ashley and I always heard faint whispers of gossip and admiration about this Hall person, Tom Mason's eldest son. He seemed to be especially popular around the fellow females. I bet their hormone crazed selves were just dying to get at a piece of this "hot piece of ass", we've been hearing about. I mean even Lourdes seemed smitten.
"Let's head outside, maybe there will be some people we can hang out with. I heard there might be a couple kids we could talk to." Ashley suggested, already hobbling before me down the hall, just as eager as I am to do something and looking a little weird with her walking.
"Don't be going to fast." I joked, "At that pace there will be no way I could catch up with you." I leisurely made my way, following Ashley. I pretended to start coughing, "I think the- cough- dust you're kicking up from going at that speed is getting to me."
Ashley stopped abruptly, making me almost collide into her. Luckily I have the grace of a majestic bad ass and caught myself before I could make a fool out of myself and land not so gracefully on the floor. Yeah, that would not go over to well with my whole back issue now. Wouldn't want myself falling and getting laughed at by Ashley either. God knows she already has enough blackmail information on me. And I won't even start on how Anne will go all mother duck on me and probably will not let me outta her sights for as long as these scratches are healing.
"You're a jerk," Ashley threw at me. If anything being called a jerk is a term of endearment from Ashley now and name calling doesn't really seem to faze me at all anymore.
"And you're a bitch, so keep on walking, girlie." I countered, lightheartedly. Bitch was equivalent to Ashley's jerk for me and it's also a tribute to one of our favorite shows, Supernatural. If you haven't seen that wonderful work of art by now, you better soon.
It took us a while to get outside, since we are clearly not great at direction. I don't know how we had survived for so long, our sense of direction is almost non-existent.
When we finally did get outside, it was a refreshing change from what we had been experiencing. There were kids of all ages just playing and laughing and having a good time. Not something you see often now a days. Ashley and I have definitely lost our innocence by now, but these kids, still had some in them.
There was a boy with blonde curly hair who looked about eight just sitting with a soccer ball beside him. I wonder why he wasn't playing with any of the other kids. They seemed to like him and it's not like they refused to play with him, it was more like the other way around. The boy turned down all the offers to play and just sat there. I nudged Ashley, silently motioning towards the boy. The next thing we know, we're two feet in front of him.
"Hi," I said, bending down so I could speak to the boy. "I'm Kristen and this is my friend Ashley," I motioned to my side as Ashley bent down to match our level. "We just got here recently, what's your name?"
The boy didn't seem to be the shy type, but he sure was being reserved now. He looked up at us and then looked to the distance and then returned his gaze to me. It was a little unnerving to look into his eyes. Gone was the childlike innocence and gaze that filled the eyes of the other children. This boy had eyes full of worry and a longing that I couldn't place. I furrowed my eyebrows a little at the thought.
"My name's Matt." The boy finally spoke, looking between Ashley and I.
"So he speaks," Ashley smiled gently.
"So Matt," I started, dragging out my words. "What's got you all down?"
Matt hesitates before speaking, "My dad and brother are always off fighting the aliens and protecting us all, but they never let me join. I want to be able to help. I can help, but they always tell me to stay put." Matt looks down and starts kicking a rock by his foot. "They went to go look for Ben and I want to go too. He's my brother too."
Ashley and I share a glance. So this was Mason number 4, the youngest of the Mason family.
"Well it seems to me that you're worried, as you should be for them,' Ashley starts, "But you know they don't let you come because they don't think you can help or aren't good enough."
"Yeah!" I piped in, "They're out there, like you said, fighting and protecting everybody, but you know that's a hard job. I'm sure all they're thinking about is each other and you along with everyone else. Having one family member or even someone close to you in danger and at risk makes you worried sick for them, but do you know what probably keeps your dad and brother going out there?"
Matt looked up at me, eyes wide with curiosity. "What"
"You of course," I said, "Some people aren't lucky to have someone special to come back to, but they have you. At the end of the day, they'll be relieved to know that all that fighting has kept the people they hold close to them safe."
"Ben's going to be saved. If I know anything about your family in the short time I've met them, is that they do a damn good job at saving people." Ashley told Matt about the story of how his father saved us. I listened to since you know, I was unconscious for the latter half of it
"Do you really think they're gonna get Ben back?"
"You have nothing to worry about, Matt." I gave Matt a reassuring smile. If, wait no, when this Tom Mason comes back with his son, he won't just be bringing his missing family member back, but also hope for the rest of the people here.
Noticing that Matt was in better spirits, I gestured towards the soccer ball sitting next to him, "How about you, Ashley and I have some fun and play some soccer? Ashley here knows a lot of cool tricks she could show you." I looked towards Ashley's boot, "Or at least tell you about."
"Really?" Matt leapt up to his feet. "That would be awesome!" Matt ran ahead and dragged Ashley by the hand.
"Hey," I called out, "Be careful! She's injured."
Matt turned back around to me, with a smile on his face, "Aren't you coming."
I didn't really like soccer, but seeing Matt's expression urged me to follow. I mean I was looking for some fun, wasn't I.
"I'm coming!" I called out, and ran to catch up with them in the middle of the field.
One of the kids greeted Matt, "You finally up to playing now?"
"Yeah, I wasn't feeling it before, but my new friends Kristen and Ashley changed my mind," Matt grabbed our hands and made sure to introduce us all to his friends.
It's been about a half hour since I started to play, while Ashley was on the sidelines, yelling words of "encouragement." I don't think she realizes that these are kids in a post-apocalyptic world, not a travel team. Her competitiveness was coming out and she even dared to criticize my form. Excuse me for not being the soccer star out of the two of us.
It was my turn to sub out and I felt like I needed a good rest. Taking it easy probably did not mean participating in a full out soccer game with a bunch of energetic kids. I tried catching Ashley's eye to tell her I was going to head inside, but she seemed so happy here. Her smile was big and ever present on her face when she shouted and encouraged the kids playing. It had been a long time since I had seen Ashley look this "alive". I wonder, did I look like that too?
"Hey," I called out, grabbing everyone's attention, "I'm just going to head back inside, it just seems like I can't match the skill of all of you kids on the field" I smiled and waved, turning around and heading back towards the building.
"Kristen," I heard Matt calling out my name, "Wait," Matt quickly ran up behind me and grabbed on to my shirt hem. "You'll hang out with me later right? When Ben comes back, you'll be there, won't you?"
I stared at Matt. I just met this boy and he was already showing so much trust in me. I didn't know how to respond. I wasn't planning on intruding into precious family moments especially since they come by so rarely now. Tom Mason must have the blessing of God with him to have his family still with him. As much as I'd rather not be that person who shows up uninvited everywhere, the look of hope was back in Matt's face and I couldn't bring myself to be the one who trampled on that.
I gave a tense smile. "Of course, Matt," I ruffled his curls, "Just come find me whenever, okay,"
"awesome!" Matt, now having the answer to his question, quickly ran off to rejoin the game.
I walked towards the entrance when my shoulder started hurting. Maybe I should have taken up Lourdes's offer with the pain killers. They would be a big help right about now. Okay, new mission, find Anne or Lourdes. ASAP.
I had been wandering the halls for a good ten minutes. It honestly should not take this long for me to find my way back to the science room. I went to school, albeit like months ago, but I should be able to find my way around a school building. My wonderful gps skills are definitely contributing in my efforts to find the makeshift infirmary.
More jolts of pain were moving through me now. Was this supposed to happen. Maybe my wound got infected. That would really suck. God dammit, what does it take for a girl to get some damn pain killers in this building.
I let out a small huff in annoyance, shoving my hands into my jacket pockets. I'm pretty sure I was walking in circles. I mean I don't have the navigation sense to know that, but I swear I saw that poster at least 3 times now. Looking around, I noticed a bulletin board covered with pictures of children of all ages. I walked closer, looking at all the pictures scattered on the board. My heart went out for all the families who posted these pictures. So many kids, so many lives, just gone. I shook my head at the thought.
"Sad, isn't it?" I whipped my head around, looking for the source of the voice. A boy a little younger than me walked to stand next to me. He had brown hair that swept over his forehead, kind of bieber-esque if you ask me. Even though he was younger than me, he was definitely a good couple inches taller than me, maybe I'm just short. I think 5'5 is a reasonable and average height… What shocked me the most was probably the friggingg gun strapped behind his back. I know Weaver mentioned gun training with Ashley and I, but he looked so young and he probably already had the blood on his hands.
"It makes me sick," I murmured, turning towards the boys. "To just think, it could've been me or you up there hanging on a board, with someone hoping for our return." Even though I didn't really know if my family was still alive, I'd like to think that my dad and brother somehow made it out of this mess.
"Maybe, but my family's gone." The boy had a look of remorse on his face. I cocked my head to the side, wondering why he was feeling guilty.
"That day," the boy started, "The day they invaded." The boy turned to face me, his eyes piercing mine. "I don't know what I was thinking, but when the skitters came to my school, I wasn't there. A little teenage rebellion came over me and I ditched to go to the movies. I came home late and my whole family had been killed."
"It's not your fault." I looked back at him, "We can't be worrying about the what ifs in a world like this one. Those things hold you back. Make you feel things that mess with you. We should never forget, but we can't dwell on those things of the past." This time I turned my body full towards the boy. He was looking at me and focusing with rapt attention. "Let me tell you something, that I haven't told anyone yet."
I took a deep breath. I can't be a hypocrite and I realize that because I haven't told anyone what happened, not even Ashley, I had been trying to forget. "The day that the aliens invaded my town. Or rather that night. My mom and I got into this argument. It was stupid, but I guess I was looking for some teenage rebellion too. My mom never let me go out anywhere and this time, I just went with it. I walked out on my mom and went to this party that my friends were talking about. And the things is, had I not left, maybe my mom would still be alive. Maybe we would both be dead. But, we can't worry about things like that, not now. I don't think either of our families would want us to live our lives, feeling guilty about the could've beens. I think everyone here, should take comfort in the fact that we are blessed to still be alive and we should carry on and fight on in their spirit."
"You know you're right." The boy then stuck out his hand, "My name's Jimmy by the way. Jimmy Boland."
I took the hand, "Kristen, Kristen Grace. My friend and I just got here a couple days ago I guess. I mean I was unconscious for most of it, but some of the second mass found us and saved us from a run in with a couple of skitters." Thinking on a whim here, since this heart to heart should qualify Jimmy and I friends or at least acquaintances, he shouldn't mind taking me to the infirmary. "Do you think you can show me how to get to the science room where Anne and Lourdes would be?"
Jimmy looked a little sheepish at my question, "Well, I don't really have the best sense of direction. I could try to show you, I mean I have the general area etched into my brain."
"Well, join the club. Getting lost with a buddy definitely beats wandering the halls alone anyday." I smiled slightly at Jimmy, beckoning for him to lead the way.
It took maybe less than five minutes and I made sure to remember all the turns and signs that I took and saw.
"It's just up ahead, through that door." Jimmy pointed to the room and I thanked him for showing me.
"We should catch up later," I called out to his retreating back.
"Yeah, just come find me." Jimmy yelled back and I watched him turn around the corner before I went into the room.
I knocked just in case there was something important going on. Anne's voice came through the door and I walked in.
"Kristen," Anne turned towards me, "What can I do for you," Anne stood up and wiped her hands on her coat. "You're okay right?"
"Actually," I started, "The pains kind of acting up again and I was wondering if you had anything that could help?"
"Sure, of course. Let me just grab some." Anne walked towards the cabinets, rummaging through the bottles. "Here you go, this should do it." She handed me a couple of pills along with a glass of water.
I noticed the pills were different than the ones I had taken before, but I should make sure, even though I'm sure Anne knows what she's doing. "Are these pills different than the ones I took before?"
"yeah they actually are," Anne replied, "I didn't think you'd notice. They're actually sleeping pills too since I think you should get some rest. You've been up and about for a while and some rest always helps."
"Okay, thanks, Anne." I quickly swallowed the pills, drinking all the water in the glass. "I only knew they were different because my dad was a pharmaceutical engineer and before all this happened, I wanted to pursue a career in medicine." I hopped onto one of the makeshift beds and gingerly lay down.
"If you're up for it, I'm sure Lourdes and I could use some help around here." Anne made sure I was comfortable, smiling down at me. "When you're not busy, you can always hang down here and give us a hand with everybody."
Anne was such a kind person and I'm lucky to have met her. Even if it did mean having my back torn up by a couple of skitters. The amount of sincerity and genuine kindness makes me want to tear up at her compassion. Not gonna lie, I sometimes get emotional, as much as I hate to admit it. I am a girl after all.
"I would really like that, Anne." I replied, turning on my side so I would be more comfortable.
Someone new came through the door, but just lying here on this cot made me realize how tired I actually was. Anne's voice along with another meshed together and the sounds lulled me to sleep. I closed my eyes and sleep overtook me.