Dragon's Gate

Chapter 3: Insight

"Oh my-!" Devon said cutting himself off with a slam of the front door.

"What's wrong Devon?" his mom asked.

"That's the second time this week that those kids on the bus tried to start a fight with me! They're a bunch of pricks!"

"Language dear!" His mom said.

Devon rolled his eyes, "Prick isn't a bad word Mom."

His mom said nothing else as he stormed downstairs to his room, where he almost slammed the door again. Devon threw his bag off his back and on the floor, jumping on his bed and sprawling out across the mattress followed by a sigh of exhaustion.

The first week of school so far had been a train wreck for Devon. Kyra hadn't changed her mind on anything, even though they still sat next to each other at the same table. She had been right about the rest of the students there. Aside from day one, the only time other students had engaged with him was to borrow a pencil or to have him move a seat over so they could sit next to their friend or some other infuriating request.

He tried so hard to fit in and be nice, but it just wasn't working; And now, some group of kids, 3 guys were picking on him, and they happened to ride the same bus as him too. It hadn't started until two days ago, but so far they had already made fun of his midwestern accent, threw his backpack down the stairs, tried to gang up on him in the locker room, and today, threatened to deck him if he didn't move seats on the bus.

This never happened to Devon in Kansas, he was in a new territory and lost figuring out how to deal with it. His mind was weighing his options when two light knocks sounded on his door.

"Come in," Devon said tiredly.

"What's going on sweetie?" his mom asked. She came over, Devon felt his bed shift from her sitting on the edge.

Devon rolled over and sat up, "None of the kids like me so far. There's this one girl who's okay, but she's in the same boat as me I think, and after three years? She looks dead inside."

"Oh Devon, it's only the first week, you should give it time. Just as time can be a curse, sometimes it can be a blessing. Look to your teachers, stand up for yourself, but above all, find an escape."

Devon was quiet for a moment, "What if I get beat up badly? Is that my fault?"

"Your father and I wouldn't be happy, but there are mean, cruel people in the world, and the only way to learn to handle it is by experience. I don't think either of us would be upset if we got a call because you got in a fight. If it was in self-defense, I think we'd be proud you could handle yourself."

"Find an escape?" Devon asked.

"Either engage or don't if you don't have to, simple at that dear. Above all, find your place to go where no one can disturb you," she said rubbing his back.

A brief silence filled the air, leaning on his mom's shoulder, he enjoyed the moment and the company. It felt like forever, and it's what he needed to ease his mind.

"Is Dad going to spend any more time with us? As a family?"

"He's gotten real busy. All stressed and out of energy when he gets back. He told me he'd like to spend time with you when you both have free time; Needs your help with fixing something in the garage."

Devon sighed, "I'd like that, I'm just worried about this new job, I feel like he's going to work himself to death."

"Your father knows when to take a break, that won't happen," his mom reassured him.

The comforting silence returned for a short while, the warmth of his mom feeling more like home than ever. It ended when his Mom started back in again, "So, you've talked to a girl? That's a first for you."

"Oh Mom, she's no one, we're not even friends, it's nothing." He was smiling, but he was telling the truth.

"Do you know her name?" his mom prodded.

"Well duh, we met on day one, and Kyra did show me around."

"Mmmmhm," his mom said implicatively, standing up.

"I'm serious, we're not even friends!" Devon insisted.

"Well, come upstairs for dinner in a few hours when I call you. Think about what I said, find an escape. Your place."

"I will Mom, thanks."

She closed the door, the sound of her footsteps fading with distance. Devon let out a deep breath, thinking of the future and its possibilities, looking over at the wooden door.

He got up, moved his nightstand, and opened the door, revealing the small space again. He reached in, picked up the paper, and read through it again, focusing on the directions. He pulled out a school journal, writing down the important parts on the back page. He spent almost an hour dwelling on it, thinking about the directions and how to find what this Carlos character had mentioned.

"East of town, past the clearing, a light trail to the left of a Y." he restated to himself.

"But is the Y after or before the clearing?" he asked himself later.

The instructions weren't 100% clear, but he copied them in his writing and they were ready to be examined when Devon had free time. He put the original note back, shut the door, and returned his nightstand to its spot.

He took another deep breath and grabbed his book from his backpack, disappearing into it until dinner was ready.