The Broken Ones

Chapter Twenty-One

"It's time for a new essay," Alesia cheered. She was with Frankie and Valeriana. The three were sitting on the grass outside of the library.

"I see you're getting the hang of this," Frankie commented with a smile.

"I am," Alesia replied. "What about you Valeriana?"

Valeriana didn't answer. Her mind was elsewhere. Her thoughts were at the moment a week ago when she had kissed Johnny. Why didn't he like her back? She asked herself for the millionth time

"Valeriana," Alesia repeated as she nudged the girl.

"Ah, what?" Valeriana squeaked.

"What are you daydreaming about?" Frankie asked curiously.

"N-nothing," Valeriana stated quickly.

"Why don't I believe you?" Alesia teased.

"It's nothing guys," Valeriana reassured them. "What is this week essay topic?"

"I thought you would never ask," Alesia told her as she pulled out her phone. "Okay, 'have you ever visited a place that caused you to be overwhelmed with emotion? If so where were you and what emotions was is?"

"Holocaust Museum," Frankie butted in. The other two looked at her. "Sorry to butt in but that Holocaust Museum is fantastic."

"The one in the city?" Alesia asked.

Frankie nodded. "The exact same. When they showed all the shoes, I felt like crying."

"Shoes?" Alesia enquired.

"The Nazis removed all the shoes for their victims," Frankie explained. "I have always been fascinated by Nazis Germany," Frankie admitted. "Especially the books that are written about it like The Book Thief and Once."

"I couldn't finish The Book Thief," Valeriana admitted.

"Why not? It is a fantastic book," Frankie pointed out.

"It was a good book, but it was too confronting for me," Valeriana told her. "I'm German and Jewish."

"Oh sorry," Frankie told her. "I didn't know, I shouldn't have mentioned the Holocaust."

"It's fine Frankie," Valeriana told her. "It's a part of my history." Valeriana turned to Alesia. "Do you have an answer?"

Alesia nodded. "St Francis' Church, it's also in the city."

"Catholic church?" Valeriana asked.

Alesia nodded. "I went to it with my school for city experience in year nine. The school won't let us go to St Paul's Cathedral. That is the massive Cathedral on Flinders' street. The reason they won't take us was that it was Anglican, not Catholic, so instead we went to St Francis." Alesia explained. "I can still remember it. When we first arrived at the church I didn't think it was anything special, it was just this tiny little thing, dwarfed by the tall skyscrapers that surrounded it. But then we went inside. It was almost as if I was in that time machine from that science fiction show you love," Alesia told Valeriana.

"Are you talking about the Tardis?" Valeriana asked.

Alesia nodded. "As you would say, 'it's bigger on the inside.'" Alesia quoted causing Valeriana to giggle.

"The church was huge. It had high ceilings, large walls. When I walked through those doors, I felt like I had entered another world far from the busy streets of Melbourne. The sounds of the outside worlds were silent. My teacher reminded us that the church was big from the outside as well but because of the tall skyscraper it seem smaller than what is was, so when we entered the church we saw it from it real size. Yet even when I knew that I still thought that I was somewhere else." Alesia continued. "But what was the most important part of the church was it was the very first time I felt the presence of God. I know it sounds stupid."

"It doesn't," Valeriana reassured her.

"I had never felt close to God. I was raised as a Catholic. I went to church every Sunday, but I was never sure if I actually believed. A lot of horrible things happen to me as a child, and so I felt like God had forgotten about me or just didn't care. As I got older, I found myself doubting his exists at all. I wanted to believe, I wanted there to be someone out there looking out for me, but it was hard to keep a strong faith. I still went to church every Sunday, but as the mass continued, I said the words but my heart wasn't in it.

"That all changed when I went to St Francis'. I felt Him there with me. As I walked through that church somehow, I knew He was walking beside me. I have never felt like that before, but I doubt I ever will again."

"I wish I could feel something like that," Frankie admitted. "I'm an atheist, that it the way I was raised." Frankie looked over at Valeriana. "So are you going to tell us what happening with you?"

Valeriana looked down. "I kissed Johnny at my recital," Valeriana told them.

"Isn't that are a good thing?" Alesia asked.

"It would have been if he hadn't of rejected me," Valeriana told them quietly.

"He rejected you?" Frankie gasped. "Why? I was so sure Johnny had a thing for you."

"So was I," Valeriana replied sadly.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Angelica!" Johnny yelled out when he saw the brunette.

"Oh hey Johnny," Angelica smiled.

"Drop the act Angelica," Johnny sneered at her. "I met Renate and Tabitha last week, and they told me everything. You lied to me."

"You figured that out quicker than I expected," Angelica told him.

"What game are you playing?" Johnny demanded.

"Who said I was playing a game?"

"What is your problem?" Johnny inquired. "Why did you try to turn me against Alesia?"

"Why did you let me?" Angelica asked.

"I didn't let you turn me against her," Johnny informed her angry.

"Yes you did," Angelica reminded him. "You're so gullible. You were hanging on to my every word."

"Well the games is over Angelica," Johnny told her. "I know everything."

"It you know everything, then what do you think about Maya?" Angelica asked. "That girl seems to be in the centre of everything."

"Who is Maya?" Johnny demanded.

"So much for knowing everything," Angelica said mockingly to him. "Ask Alesia."