Struggling to Breathe

Jasmine

"Okay," I began. "So basically, dad was talking to mum the other day... and he said he was in an abandoned building, collecting druggies off the side of the road beside it. He dropped me a hint... the walls were completely bare. There was absolutely no one there and nothing in there, and it's safe. It's a twenty minute walk from the river, so if Mossy wanted to get some people over there...?"

Mossy smiled with enthusiasm. "Wait, that's far from the station, right?" Meena intercepted.

Kobi sighed. "Meena, we're not hiding from the guards, they won't care, we'll leave the drugs and beer here, and the druggies and drunkies, B-Bop, care to stay here and pound some tunes to keep them here?"

B-Bop smiled and high-fived Kobi. "Dude, I like totally swear, I'll keep these guys here and they won't go no where, lemme get my DJ station man."

I watched B-Bop run off towards the group of raving gothics, all of whom were dancing pretty awfully due to intoxication.

"So, am I going tonight?" Mossy piped up, catching all of our attentions.

Kobi nodded. "Sure thing, so long as your crew have paid for this evening..." He side glanced at Meena, who woke up from staring at the dancers.

"Oh," she breathed. "Oh yeah, I have to collect money, I'll be back later!" She said as she turned and ran. Mossy ran after her, and then it was just Kobi and I.
Kobi smiled after Mossy and sat down on a trolley. I sat down near him and sighed slightly.

"Hey, Kobi?," I started. He looked at me, the smile suddenly gone.

"Yeah?" He replied, giving me his full attention.

I gulped slightly and looked at my boots. "Thanks," I muttered, bashful.

He slapped my shoulder and I could hear the grin on his face as he said, "Nah, Sebs, thank you. This place has been so much better since you came along. Half the crew doesn't take drugs anymore, and the amount of beer has gone down too."

When I arrived here 2 years ago, by accident, I had been beaten up and sore. I was in the scrap yard trying to get my head together, as I had wandered aimlessly through the forest and found this place. Suddenly, I saw a fire and inhaled the intense smells of beer, smoke and drugs. I remembered feeling sick about it, but I was so disorientated and in so much pain that I didn't care.

Kobi was laughing with some mates when he turned and saw me stumbling towards the group. At first he thought I was out to get them, so he stood, ready for attack...

Then I collapsed. I fell to the ground, hit it so hard that I felt the echo in my head, and went unconscious.

Kobi ran up to me and, being the only one with medical experience, managed to bandage me up. I woke up an hour later with my head on his lap and my legs on B-Bop's lap.

Ever since then, this place was my safe haven. I was safe here, and it gave me some ground, it kept me sane. I taught some of these guys the side effects of drugs and drink, so they were getting better, and they thought me how to bmx and skateboard and enjoy this kind of life.

I went home after meeting with the crew, collected Fern and had an hour to spare before ma and da came home. I made Fern cheesy pasta and by the time the parents were home, Fern was half asleep on the couch beside me as I played video games.

"You should go to bed now, Sebastian," mam said at around half 11, as she walked up the stairs in her night gown.

"Ma, I can't sleep anyways," I whispered, careful not to wake Fern upstairs.

Mam sighed. "Just switch off the lights please, on the way to bed. I hate it when you leave them on."

I nodded and put back on the headset, speaking quietly to the players on the other end.

I had my shit phone beside me, and I'd look at it every so often to see the time.

Video games. Shooting. Zombies. Mam.

11:30.

Shooting. People. Food.

1:56.

Skype. Guitar. Try to sleep.

3:17.

Wake up. Water. Video games.

5:48.

I'd finally fall asleep around half seven, and wake up around half 2, to start my day again.

I repeated this for most of the last school term, skipping school some days.

Then the Summer arrived.

And it changed.