Stargazer (Write Awards 2013)

Chapter 20 (Write Awards 2013)

I remembered very little of the actual explosion. White. That’s what we seemed to be covered in. White smoke curling around my body, making the tiny arrow heads rebound. They protected me like a barrier. A part in the mist and I saw the device as it started to open, like a deadly flower in bloom.

Stop . . . .

That thought went around my head in an almost blur, and I watched in amazement as the device slowly put itself together again, the smoke being sucked back in. The arrows fell from mid-air, clinging to the floor.

The mist cleared and I remembered seeing Aaron, half bent over some rubble, blood dripping down the side of his face. I scrambled over, worried that he was hurt as well as Stephen. I gingerly touched his face and he stirred, opening his eyes.

“June,” he breathed. I laughed, over joyed that he was alive. I gathered him in my arms and gave him a big hug. “You did it. How?”

“Long story,” I said with a laugh. He smiled and wiped away a loose tear from my cheek.

“But you did it.” I nodded and helped get him up. The other man, who I later found out was called General Thorn, was on all fours, coughing up the mist. We tried to arrest him but in the end we came to a truce; all the while Aaron held a gun to his head. I didn’t like it, but there was no other way Earth would be saved.

Carmen hugged Stephen who suffered minor gunshot wounds to his stomach. Stephen had to come up with an excuse as to why he was shot. A minor accident with his grandfather’s gun sent him straight into surgery and he was patched up. Carmen saved his life. If it wasn’t for her he would have bled out in ten minutes.

I remembered making the deal then having a day to say good bye before we were leaving, and well. Here we are.

We were all standing in a secluded part of the town, the night sky stretched over us in a blanket of stars. The last and finial rocket to either planet was behind us, waiting to launch. General Thorn was sent back on the first wave, to tell everyone at home that we are staying on the same planet; and from what I heard, the other side didn’t like at all.

General Thorn left us about three Guards, one waiting patiently for us to say good-bye on the platform. The rocket was the same type of rocket I first came to Earth on, and I could see the small bubble – I will always call it a bubble – on the side.

All the boys where there, to see us off. I shook hands of them all, giving Stephen a gentle hug. Aaron was last, keeping his head low, his brown hair covering his eyes. He seemed closed off and for some reason that made me sad. Here was my brother look-alike and for the first time in almost five years I could touch him again, talk to him. I could have my brother back. But he was angry with me.

“Bye,” I whispered to him and turned to head up when I was dragged backwards by two arms. Aaron squeezed me and I couldn’t help the tears that fell from my eyes.

“Don’t go,” he begged. A wet patch formed on my shoulder where he rested his head. I turned and lifted it, wiping away the tears with my fingers.

“I don’t belong here, Aaron.” I whispered to him. We connected foreheads and stayed that way, our breaths mixing. I would never forget his smell. The smell of Aaron and Storm.

“Oh god. Don’t kiss.” We sprung apart; a red tint on both Aaron and mines cheeks but the comment wasn’t said to us. I saw Carmen and Stephen; kissing. They didn’t even spring apart, but enjoyed the moment. I couldn’t  help the warm feeling as I saw my best friend in love., even if she still was in her Guard uniform. I had changed back into a white dress, feeling more comfortable the second I had put it on.

“June!” I looked up and saw Broke leaning down from the doorway. “Five minutes.”

I nodded and turned back to Aaron. The tears had stopped, but the redness around his eyes lingered.

“Dude, you crying?” Stephen asked, punching his arm. Aaron glared and rubbed his arm, but didn’t respond. Carmen quickly waved goodbye and jogged to the entrance. I didn’t want to go just yet.

“June, we will never forget you,” Stephen said, giving me a one handed salute which I returned before rolling my eyes.

“I will never forget you guys. It’s been one hell of an experience and I will miss Earth.” I would miss the flowers as they opened. I would miss the white moon in the clear blue sky. I would miss the no war. But I would most defiantly miss those goofy boys.

Everyone shuffled around nervously, not knowing what to do next. I smiled at them before turning and heading up towards Carmen.

“June!” I heard Aaron call and I turned to see him running up the platform.

“Yeah?” I asked. He caught up and pulled me into a big, tight hug.

“I love you,” he mumbled. “I love you so much.” The meant so much to me; him saying that. It was exactly as if my brother was saying that to me. I told him I loved him as well and we held each other, not wanting to be the first one to let go.

Eventually, Carmen cleared her throat and told me we had to go. Aaron let go and headed back down, standing in line with the other boys. I headed up and stood next to Carmen, holding her hand.

“Storm would be so proud of you,” she said to me as the clear wall of the rocket started to rise. My eyes connected with Aarons through the wall, and I smiled.

“I know he is,” I said to her. She squeezed my hand and we took a few steps back as the wall locked into place.

"So," I said, drawing out the word. Carmen turned her head and I couldn't help but nudge her shoulder. "You like Stephen huh?"

Her eyes opened wide and her face turned red underneath the caramel coloured hair but she didn't deny it.

"Yes. Yes I do. Maybe I'll get to see him someday?"

"Maybe," I said. She probably would never see him again. The only time she would see him is in her dreams. At least he will live on in her thoughts. It made me feel sad knowing that Carmen had found love in such a short span of time, and yet she was leaving him.

The same was for Aaron. I had found my brother. At first he never believed me, but now as I remembered Aaron crying on my shoulder, he knew from the very beginning. My Storm will continue on here, on Earth.

“Girls, take your seats!” Broke called from the back. We quickly scrambled into the main area and climb back into our seats, strapping ourselves in. One of the Guards poked his head in to see if we were fine before talking into his radio.

“Lets go.”

“Ready to go back home?” Carmen asked next to me. Now that I thought about it, Earth was my home. In every sense I was home. Earth would always be my second home. I looked out one of the small circular windows to see everyone running to find cover in the trees that littered the field. I watched as Stephen raised his hand and I saw Carmen raise hers, in a final farewell.

The rocket started up, rattling my bones. A strong surge flattened my stomach as we were lifted from the ground, but it wasn’t as bad as last time. I kept my eyes on Aaron the whole time, saying goodbye in my mind.

I frowned, seeing that figure from before form next to Aaron but this time I couldn’t help but smile. I could see her perfectly, as if she was there. She put her hands into Aarons and they both looked up to me. I could see myself, whisper into his ear before vanishing into nothing, once again.

“Yeah,” I said, leaning back into my seat as the rocket tore through the sky and back into space, our destination; home. “I’m ready to go home.”

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FINISHED!

I have finished at last. Its actually really short in total but I think it turned out better then I expected. I hoped I put a lot of action into the chapters and maybe even suspense ???

Please vote if you like and leave a comment.

This is my book for the 2013 Write Awards.

Mandi_Pie