A/N: This one sort of follows on from Leaving Town Alive (www. fanfiction. net/s/4841889/1/Leaving_Town_Alive), but you don't really have to have read that one to understand this ficlet.

54. Where I Stood – Missy Higgins

I see them on TV, all happy smiles and cheering, like they're at a baseball game or football match instead of a children's card game tournament. I mean, seriously, Duel Monsters? That's like getting emotional over chess, except even less cool.

But I see them, grainy and the picture's rolling until I thump the top of the old set I got from the thrift store, but I can see them well enough. Him and her. Her and him. I don't even know who she is and I'm getting mad, because she's standing beside him. She's holding onto his arm. She's cheering and reflecting his smile. She's in my place.

Except it's not my place, is it? Hasn't been for a long time. I left. Me. My decision. Stop speaking in third person, change my hair and clothes, start using a different name in a different city and poof, brand new person. Not having any legal documents is hard, but I've survived so far. Nobody who knew me before would've thought I could, but I've done it. Me. Not as useless as everyone thought.

He never thought I was useless. He thought I was perfect. I'm not, and I knew it back then too, but it was nice to hear, y'know? I mean, who doesn't like being told they don't need to change a thing about themselves?

I wanted to change. Me. My decision. My horrible situation I had to get out of. It was crucial. The whole thing made me want to change – jack in my old life for a new one, like selling last season's coat on eBay so you can buy a really nice pair of this season's camel boots.

He always complimented me on the way I looked; would stand straight, cheeks like a furnace, and stammer out something that sounded like it belonged in a Hallmark card. I was flawless as a sunrise in his world. Back then, at least.

Did he forget me already? Seems that way. That hurts. He said he loved me. I know a lot of it was infatuation – I'm not that stupid – but he was so sweet, and I thought …

I thought wrong. He found someone else to wait in line for. He found someone else to giggle beside him and make him blush. He found someone else to look after; someone petite and feminine who needs him to be her knight in shining armour. I cut all my hair off and started wearing grungy combats and tee-shirts. I look like a boy. An ugly boy. He wouldn't look twice at me with her around: chestnut hair, tiny waist, the way her hands are curled towards her chest like the whole world scares her –

Suddenly all I want to do is go back to Domino City, march up to his front door and say, "Surprise!" Never mind staying away from Daddy and his bedroom games, or hiding out until I can legally live alone, or being scared of all the magic and crazy stuff. I want my friends. I want people to look at me and care.I look at the televised Battle City finals and I want to go back. I want to go back right now.

Because that's my place by his side, and I should be in it.