Finding My Strength Within

Devan

I came home from school still thinking about the black hole. My mom was in the kitchen "Welcome home!" She said cheerfully giving me a hug "How was your first day my little senior!" She said the last part in a baby voice.

I hid my head "Mom, we've talked about the baby voice thing."

"I don't care," She said pinching my cheek with the same baby voice "You will always be my little baby." She patted my cheeks and walked back into the kitchen "I made brownies, want some?"

"Yes," I sighed, I sat down at the table as she gave me a brownie and poured me a glass of milk.

She sat down in front of me "Now how was school?"

I took a bite of the brownie and spit it back out, it was really hot.

Mom laughed "Careful it's hot."

That's why I love my mom, she's always so bubbly and positive. "It was good," I said "I actually learned about something."

"Where you not learning anything before?"

I rolled my eyes "You know what I mean, I learned about this thing called a black hole."

Mom raised her eyebrow "Like in Science or something?"

"No," I said "It's a dangerous place, people say that once you go you come back a different person."

Mom thought about it "I do remember my friends talking about it, when your dad and I went on a date last weekend. Do you remember Lynn? Who divorced her husband?"

"Ya."

"Well we set her up with a gorgeous date and she cancelled saying she was looking for her daughter Hannah, she was afraid she was sucked into a black hole, of course I thought it was an expression so I shrugged it off." Mom looked behind me with a worried look "Weird."

I heard the door open and my brother came in looking depressed and trying to act cool "Hey little bro." I said finishing my brownie.

"Hey," He shrugged. He went straight to his room before mom could say anything and I heard his bass guitar start to play.

"Devan!" Mom yelled through his door "You need to do homework before you play the guitar."

Devan opened the door "It's bass guitar mom, not just a guitar. There's a huge difference."

"I don't care what it's called, you need to do your homework. You've just started eighth grade with a clean slate, let's keep it up this year." Mom counseled.

"Ya, whatever. Doing it right now." He closed the door and mom came back to the kitchen.

"I just don't get him." She sighed "He's so different."

"Let me go to talk to him," I suggested, it's been a while since I've been in his room. I stood up and walked to his room knocking on the door.

"Come in," He called through the door.

I walked in and smelt stinky socks. His room used to be covered in legos and video games, now it was decorated with posters of the Kiss and pictures of skulls and cross bones. The floor was covered in dirty clothes, chips, and papers. Funny enough he had a little corner in the room that wasn't a mess, it was clean and it held his guitar, oops, I mean bass guitar. Devan laid on his bed, he was listening to his iPod and took out the buds "What do you want?"

"How was school?" I asked sitting on the bed.

"Good." He simply said.

I looked at his black shag and eye liner underneath his eyes, he almost started to wear black lipstick but mom wouldn't let that happen. He wore black skinny jeans and a matching black tank which showed rippling muscles he worked hard to get, if he was pale he would complete the package, but he wasn't he was a peachy color, like me.

"What are you still doing here?" He asked impatiently "Get out."

"Gees, I was just trying to talk to you." I said defensively.

"Well stop." He snipped back "I'm busy."

I frown and walked out of the room closing the door "No that's okay, who needs a brother and sister relationship?" I murmured to myself.

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Devan laid down on his bed listening to the latest scremo out there. It made him relax, or at least release the pressure of life. His mom was relief society president, his dad was young mens president. He felt like he had a lot to live up too. This was the best way to block that out, he didn't want that life anyway.

He looked at his homework and threw it on the floor, there was no way he'd pass school. Besides eighth grade didn't count for college. He stood up and decided to go for a walk, he left his room and ran into his dad. Was it six o'clock already?

"Hey son," His dad said with a big grin, he was sitting on the couch reading a book called "Increase in learning" it was a book about finding your own spiritual answers. "Where are you going?"

"Just on a walk," Devan shrugged "I'll be back soon."

"Bad day at school?" Dad asked.

Why does everyone ask about my day at school? Devan thought "No, I just want to walk a bit, get some excersize."

"Alright," Dad said giving in "See you soon, I love you."

"Ya ya," Devan replied shrugging it off. He left the house and began to walk through the neighborhood, it was a nice day. The sun was out and some kids were outside playing kickball, they all looked at him and stared. Devan tried avoid their gazes as an alley way came up, he walked into the alley way and sat down feeling relieved but also hurt. Why do they keep staring at him? He's really no different than them.

He heard footsteps, mostly heel clicks. It gradually became louder and louder until they reached him. He looked up and saw a woman, memorized he stood up. She looked to be about six foot tall, her heels were six inches and showed off her legs, which were bound tight with black leather pants. He shirt was black and tight as well, showing off her rounded breasts. She wore heavy red lipstick but natural eyeshadow, "Hey, why you out here?" She asked.

"Just clearing my head," Devan stumbled, he couldn't stop looking at her breast.

"I know a place that can clear you head better than here," The woman replied "Follow me."

"Who are you?" Devan asked walking with her into the alley , now looking at her shoulder.

"Heleana," She answered "I think I know your name, Devan right? Devan Maple?"

"Yes," Devan answered dumbly.

"You've got a lot of pressure in your family,  don't you?" Heleana asked.

"Um, ya." Devan replied "how did you know?"

She stopped and turned around to Devan stroking his cheek and playing with his hair "There's a lot of things I know, your mother and father are different from you right?"

"Ya," He mumbled. He looked at her ruby lips and begged them to kiss him, then he looked at her eyes "How do you know my parents?"

"Just trust me."She said ignoring the question "I can make the  pressure go away, Come on." with excited feet they began to walk faster.

Devan felt in love as Heleana took his hand and pulled him into the darkness of the street.