Chapter 7

Written by,

Xanafan1500

Dreams will be written in bolditalics.

(XxxxCornyxLuisxxxX)

I was thirteen. My hair was braided, as always. We were going home from the family vacation in the Virginia mountains.

We were going down a steep narrow road on the side of a mountain.

My mother turned to me, "Sad to leave, hon?" she asked. Her hair waved in breeze of the open window.

I briefly saw an image of a sad couple in Connecticut standing at the doorway of a small house in a rear-view mirror.

"Yes." I replied, sadly.

"Don't worry, Hannah," my dad said at the wheel. "There will be other vacations."

I realized they had been talking about the vacation. "Right." I said.

I knew it was going to happen. But I couldn't stop it. I never could.

"Are you happy?" Mom asked staring out of the window, almost as if she never said anything.

"No." I told her. My lips didn't move. "I miss you."

We were at the bottom of the mountain when I saw it. The cab of a red Mack truck.

Carrying a load of food items to the logging town at the top of the mountain.

"DAD!" I heard myself scream.

My view switched to an aerial view of the car as my dad and the truck collided.

I was back in my body again and a bright light was shining on me. There were voices above me. I wondered if I was dead. But there was too much pain.

Maybe I was in hell.

"She was lucky." I male voice said, as pain waved over my skull. I tried to open my eyes, lift a finger, anything, but I couldn't move.

"What about her parents?" a female asked as I was lifted from one place to another. Both places were cold.

I didn't hear I response but I knew he had shaken his head.

I woke to the sun shining on my face. I sat up and reflected on my dream.

I couldn't remember anything after my screaming for my dad.

I have new parents now, I thought.

I took a good look at the room I'd be sleeping in for who knows how long.

I noticed a desk in the corner with a computer on it. There was a red clock above it, that told me it was six-thirty in the morning. There was a single tall dresser to the left of my bed.

The room was a pale blue with shelves taking up the whole wall to the right of me.

The morning sun shone from the open window, it's yellow lace curtains moving in the soft summer air.

I moved the blanket away as I stood up and walked over to the shelves.

There were books. A lot of them. None of them mine.

At least I didn't think so. They were in my room though.

As I scanned them I saw a ribbon sticking out of the smallest and oldest one. It didn't even have a title on the spine.

I picked it up and opened it to the first page.

It read;

A Kiss in the Dark

By

Arthur Fellows

I turned the page again and started reading the poems.

It wasn't til I heard water running somewhere that I realized I had been standing there reading for at least half an hour.

I quickly got dressed before anyone could decide to wake me up or something. I wasn't sure if I was even allowed to read that book.

I put the book back where I got it, making sure the ribbon didn't move places.

I opened the door and peered into the hall, just in time to see someone going down the stairs.

I waited for a moment and slipped into the bathroom, the only other room in the house I'd been in besides my room. I looked in the mirror when I wen to wash my hands and saw my hair was fizzy and knotted where the braids ended.

I grabbed the nearest comb, wet in, and ran it over my scalp and tassels of my braids.

I went down the stairs to find Corny and Luis. It seemed the stairs stopped in the main hallway, which led to what I assumed was the kitchen at the end.

I walk toward the end of the hall and passed the living room to my left.

I pushed open the door, I was right, it was the kitchen. Corny looked up from his place at the table and smiled weakly. I could tell he just woke up.

"Morning," he said, after sipping his coffee. "I made toast. If you want anything else, there's cereal."

I step closer and inspected the toast, burnt, no butter.

"I think I'll have cereal." I told him, smirking. He smirked back, "Yeah, thought so. It's in the pantry beside the fridge, bowls are next to that and silverware is in the drawer under that."

He picked up a piece of toast and started munching. We were silent as I picked the sweetest unhealthful looking cereal in there and poured milk in it.

"Where is Luis?" I asked when I sat down. He looked up from the computer he was working on and stared at me, as if he hadn't thought I would ask that.

"Um," he said, still staring at me. "At work."

"I thought you both worked from home?" I asked. It sounded nosy and impolite, but I didn't care, I was curious. It felt there was more going on around here then they were letting on.

"We do," he said, finally going back to his work. "Sometimes we just have business elsewhere."

"Oh," I said, and finished my food. I set my bowl into the sink, not sure if I should wash it or leave it.

"Can I get my stuff?"

"Sure. It's in the living room."

I walked out of the kitchen and into the small living room. Sure enough my two small boxes were there.

I picked them both up and took them to my room. I unloaded my bundle onto the bed and skipped back downstairs and back into the kitchen.

"Can I go out?" I asked, hanging in the doorway. "Yeah," he replied, not looking up. "Don't go far, or get dirty and be back by noon."

"Thanks!" I said rushing to the front door.

I was glad to be out. Corny treated me like I've lived there my entire life.

Weird thing was, I acted like I'd lived there my whole life.

Pretty soon I'd call them 'Dad'. I shuddered at the thought.

They are not my parents! I yelled at myself inwardly.

I started walking toward the end of the street hoping my thoughts would calm.

And they did. After a few moments I began notice the world around me.

I had stepped onto a street where the houses were bigger and older. I stopped at the biggest house and stared at it.

The gray shingles and black roof would have looked dark and morose on another house but oddly it looked nice on this one. I had never thought gray could be a nice color.

"Believe it or not that's the original color." said someone behind me.

I turned to see a boy, about my age, smiling at me. His eyes were a warm green and his smile cheerful.

His shaggy black hair hung around his pale face and a few strands clung to his black lips. He was goth.

A cheerful one too.

"I-uh, er," I stammered, I felt like such an idiot. "Um, is this your house?"

"Yep," he replied just as cheerfully as before. "Moved in about a year ago."

I heard something in his voice. A kind of accent, but I couldn't place it.

"Do you have an accent?" I asked stupidly.

He nodded, "German."

"Huh," I said. "How long have you been here?"

"Since I was three," he told me. "I'm Danny be the way."

He took his hands out of his military style jacket and shook my hand.

"Hannah," I replied. "Are you really goth?"

His face took on a mask of mock horror, he grabbed his clothes, "These aren't the clothes I put on this morning!" he said sarcastically, then grabbed his face. "I don't remember putting on all this makeup!"

"Ha ha," I said placidly. "very funny."

Danny laughed hard. "I can see we're going to be good friends." he told me.

(XxxxCornyxLuisxxxX)

Danny and I spent most of the morning together walking around the neighborhood and talking.

"So where do you live?" he asked me as we sat on his front porch sipping cola.

"Just down the street, with my foster parents." I replied, grimacing at the last two words.

"Oh," he said. "Have you been with them long?"

"Nope. I got here yesterday."

"Are they a gay couple by any chance?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"No reason. I've just seen them around that's all."

"What time is it?"

"Around fifteen minutes til noon," he told me.

"I have to get home." I told him, standing up.

"Okay," he said, leaning back in his chair. "Will I see you again?"

"Sure," I said turning to walk away, then stopped to give him a sideways glance. "You're my friend aren't you?"

He smiled and nodded.

(XxxxHannahxDannyxxxX)

When I got home there was already a black Honda in the driveway. And Luis's car was parked on the side of the road.

When I got inside I heard laughter in the kitchen. I tentatively walked in. There were many people in the kitchen.

An Asian girl with blonde hair stood on one side of the room on the arm of a tall man with long white hair.

Another blonde Asian girl just a little older then me sat at the table nibbling on some raw cabbage.

Close to her was an older woman with dyed brown hair. Her blonde roots were showing and her tired face was graced with soft wrinkles.

A redhead with short spiked hair was the first one to speak, I hadn't even noticed her or the brunette woman next to her.

"She is cute Luis," she said, coming closer to me. "I'm Val. I've known your dad since we were teenagers."

She called Luis my dad. I puked mentally. But didn't say anything. I never could bring myself to be rude.

"Told you," Luis said behind me. "You never listen."

"So I bet you're wondering who we are," the first blonde woman said.

"I'm Kaye."

Like the one in Tithe, I remembered. Something tugged uncomfortably in my brain. I never got passed the first three pages, so I let it go. There are plenty of Kayes in the world right?

She motioned to the man beside her, "And this is Robin."

"Hello." I greeted pleasantly.

"I'm Kate." the other blonde girl said, taking a bite of cabbage.

"Ellen," the older woman said. "You are adorable. I'm the mother of those two."

She pointed to Kaye and Kate.

"Thank you." I replied.

The woman beside Val introduced herself as Ruth.

"Very nice to meet you all," I said. I took a seat at the table.

"So how are you liking it here with these two?" Kaye asked.

"It's very nice here." I told her. Not the first time I was asked that question.

I hoped again that this was the last house I'd say that. She nodded.

"Are you happy?" Kate asked.

That was unexpected. But was I? I wasn't sure. I mean I had a roof over my head, food, and like some other orphans wasn't in a home full of awful people. I was lucky and should be happy.

But in truth, I was living a life where I was never in a permanent home, I never felt like I truly belonged. Not since my parents were alive.

"Kate!" Ellen spoke harshly.

I knew Kate was in trouble so I didn't speak.

"Sorry." she said, but it didn't sound like she meant it.

"I-I...no, it's okay," I stammered. "I'm happy."

Now who was the liar?

Luis scowled. I wasn't sure why. Was it because he detected my lie? Or because Kate asked such a personal question?

"Who's for lunch?" Corny asked, no doubt to distract everyone from the uneasy moment.

"Me!" I was the first to speak up.

"Not us," Ellen said, giving Kate another disapproving look. "We should go."

"Us too," Val said. "We'll be back with Ravus tonight."

"'Kay." Luis said, giving Val a friendly hug.

Everyone said goodbye, making sure to hug me and call me Sweet Heart and Honey.

I took the affection politely, I knew they were just excited that their friends had me.

I couldn't blame them for being happy for my parents, I mean, foster parents.

As Kaye left arm and arm with Robin her skin looked green from the corners of my vision.

I've been seeing weird things lately, I thought.

"So," started Corny. "Whatcha want for lunch?"

I hadn't thought about that. I just wanted food.

"Food." I said.

He chuckled and led me to the pantry. "What's so funny?" Luis asked as he walked back into the kitchen.

"Nothing," Corny said, taking a can out of the cabinet. He held it up to me, "Sloppy Joe's?"

"Sure." I said.

I left the kitchen to let them cook and walked out the front door. Sitting on the steps, his back to me, was Danny.

He stood up, turned to me, and smiled, "Hi." he grinned, his teeth showing behind his black lips.

"Hi?" I said.

"I came to see if you were free this afternoon." his eyes shifted from the front door to me and back again.

"Oh," I said, quietly. No one had ever really bothered to be my friend before. Sure, I always had a few friends here and there but none of them ever came to see me, especially after first meeting them.

"I'm getting ready to eat lunch, but-" I was interrupted by the front door opening.

Luis stepped out and looked from Danny to me a few times before speaking, "You're Daniel Meyer aren't you?"

"Yes sir." he replied, looking Luis in the eye. I wasn't sure if he was being polite or it was a guy thing or both.

"I've seen you around. I heard you were a good boy, despite you appearance." Luis told him.

"Thank you sir." Danny replied.

"I thought you two would meet sooner or later," Luis looked at me, his good eye twinkling.

"Whether it would result in being friend or foe, I didn't know. I'm glad you made a friend on your first day here, Hannah."

"Me too." Danny and I said with a smile.

"Why do you join us for lunch?" Luis asked, beckoning us inside.

"I would love to." Danny replied.

Luis left us in the living room.

After lunch Danny and went to my room and unpacked my boxes. "Seriously?" he spoke after a while of silence. He was holding a black book his hands, the cover long gone. "Vampire Kisses? That is the most generic, tasteless excuse for vampire fiction ever!"

"Hey," I said defensively, snatching the book from him, "That happens to be a favorite of mine!"

For hours we bickered and joked over books, TV, movies and other things we came up with.

It was the most fun I had in ages.

Danny was fun and easy to be with for someone I had met that day.

Late in the afternoon he left me alone with my new foster parents. I figured I owed them a few hours of my time, as I felt like I had avoided them all day.

"Hey," Corny greeted me when I walked into the living room. They sat on the couch, the TV was off.

"What have you two been up to?"

His tone was joking that we had been up to mischief. I blushed and sat on the and of the couch farthest from them. "We unpacked my boxes and talked." I told them honestly.

The two shared a knowing look and entwined their hands. I hoped they hadn't thought I was lying.

"How'd you you guys meet?" I blurted.

They shared another look, one that searched the other for answers.

"Uh," Luis started.

"We, um," Corny stammered.

They both shifted to look at me.

I wanted to tell them that they didn't have to tell me if they couldn't or didn't want to, but at the moment I was feeling very considerate.

And I want to know one of their secrets.

"It's complicated." Luis told me.

"We met in New York City though," Corny said helpfully. "Kaye and I had gone there to see her mother play in a club and eventually we ran into each other."

That's it? There must be more. I didn't pry though, I had my limits.

"Oh," I said, nodding. "Where are your parents?"

Luis shrugged as if he been asked that many times, "They're dead."

"I'm so sorry." I said, I hadn't meant to be rude. I knew it was perfectly fine question to ask but it always felt like a rude question to ask when you get that sort of answer.

"My mom lives with my step-father a few miles from here." Corny told me.

Luis's answer still rang in my head, I forgot to respond to Corny. Luis knew how I felt.

Luis and I had something in common. I couldn't believe it. I felt close to him in a way.

We talked for a few hours, mostly about me after that. I told them the details of my parents' death.

I cringed a little, but for the most part it didn't bother me.

I had gone over those moments so many times, it hardly bothered me at all.

After talking to them I felt a little closer to both of them. It certainly eased some of my tension I had around them.

We ordered pizza and joked together as we ate.

At around seven in the evening the doorbell rang once and Val let herself in.

Behind her a tall man came in. His golden eyes almost glowed. I assumed they were contacts.

"Hey Ravus." Luis greeted the man.

Ravus' eyes settled on me and he smiled, "So Luis, this is the young one you and your lover had such heartache over,"

I gulped when he kneeled and took my face in his coarse hands. I looked at Luis, Val, and Corny, none of them looked fazed so assumed this was normal.

"You are a special one, child." His eyes pierced mine and I swallowed again.

"Ravus," Val addressed him. "You're scaring her. Be nice."

His eyes turned soft and he smiled once again, "You remind me of a smaller, albeit, nicer, more timid version of my partner, Val."

I wasn't sure if I should thank him so I just nodded.

"Sweetheart," Val turned to me kindly, "Why don't you go on upstairs, I'm sure you're tired."

That was grown-up speak for, 'Scram, adults need to talk.' everyone has heard it once or twice in their lifetime.

"She is beautiful, Luis," I heard Ravus say as I neared the top of the stairs. "Here is some Nevermore, remember to keep it away from her."

I stopped in my tracks. What was Nevermore? I didn't want to think about it. I hurried to my room and shut the door.

(XxxxCornyxLuisxxxX)

Did you spot the divider that didn't belong? Hee...tell me what you think it means.

I hope you liked this chapter. Took long enough, that's for sure.

Again the next chapter is all Corny's.

Yay, right?

Thanks for reading!