Moon's Eternity

Chapter 4

                                                                         ACHILLES

aghhh.

My eyes open wide only to feel pain raging down my spine. What the heck? Probably from shock...

I squint as I sit up from a bed to look out at the bright morning sun, realizing that I have slept in, making me late for school. Ya, school. 

I decide to get up, stretching my arms up into the empty air. I slip on an old pair of jeans and a random t-shirt laid out right beside me. Running down the stairs, I realize just how foreign this house feels to me...oh right.

(flashback)

"Achilles, you have the choice to either join a foster home until you're old enough to live on your own, or ..." the lady flips some pages, looking away for a moment, for more information on my personal life. jeesh. She looks back up at me, with a formal expression. "I don't see any other family listed on here, like a grandparent or uncle?" she waits for me to respond.

"Don't have any." I respond coldly.

She continues to look at me as I answer, still formally as if she is not supposed to show any emotion in this situation. 

"Well, what about a friend?" She says calmly. 

"Can't I just stay in my own home for a bit. Graduation is nearly here. Just give me like a few months and I'll be outa' your hairs so fast you wouldn't even notice." I look away angrily. 

"We can't do that- uh- Mr. Selene." jeesh, she doesn't even know my name.

"Jean."

"What?" she questions.

"A friend of mine. I'm sure he would be willing to let me crash at his place for a bit. He's got a younger sister and a mother. That's it." I answer.

"Alright. I will just need to gain confirmation from his mom and we will be all set. Thank you for cooperating, Mr. Selene." She smiles formally. 

I look up and muster up a half smile.

...

                                                                    BERT

Man. It's all around school now. The rumor about. About, Achille's parents...

What's gonna happen now?

...

                                                                CHLOE

Last time I experienced a family death was my grandma. She was so nice, gentle, and warming to the soul. I remember always hating the drive up to her little home in the mountains of Canada. But, once we got there, as a kid, I would always love being in her presence. She was so kind. Miss you grandma...

...

                                                                BERT

Ring. Ring. Ring.

Achilles isn't here? Should I be glad or nervous? No matter how much of a bully he was, something about him radiates both sadness, and even...,even...fear.

I mean no chores and duties for the day, right?

right...

...

                                                            ACHILLES

C'mon Achilles. Muscle up man... I am all on my own today since Jean and Alex decided to take a sick day from drinking too much that night at the party. Now, they got some kind of illness or some shit. 

Illness my ass. They're just pussies wanting to get out of the chem lab today. To be honest, I should be getting that sick day. What friends I have...

I slouch down to pick up a coke out of the vending machine before opening the door to class.

Breath, Achilles. Just.

BREATHE...

...

Everyone's whispering...

My head...

Agh.

I can't take this. My heartbeat increases. Sweat drips down from my forehead. I look down, finally reaching my seat, keeping my composure to the best of my ability. 

"Thank you for being here, Achilles. If you need some time off, just let me know. I am more than willing to give it to you." The professor smiles, turning back to finish the syllabus for this weeks chemistry notes.

Just great. The last thing I needed was someone to say that to me the moment I step into society. I just still don't get it. I mean, it was just my abusive father and absent mother. It's not like they cared for me anyway, right?

God, why is that not how I feel then? So frustrating... God my head is pounding like a drum.

I sink my head into my hands before lecturing begins.

...

                                                                       CHLOE

He's actually here?

Gosh, after everything, he's managed to come into class all calm and ready to learn like nothing happened. 

Interesting...

I want to know more about him, but something tells me that I should stay as far away from him as possible.

...