Of Stars and Memories

Chapter 1

The only sounds Noah heard at 2AM were the ones coming from the engines of the cars passing by in the main street, but they were muffled by the loud pounding of his heart and his sobs.

This couldn't be happening. This wasn't real.

He grabbed his phone. Should he call Ryan now? Or should he wait for the morning? Maybe Noah should stay away from him tonight and think this whole situation through.

He tried to control his breath, but panic was beginning to sink in.

He couldn't stay there, in that alley. He could be attacked or robbed.

Noah stood up and started walking towards the main street. He'd decide what to do in the morning, but for now, he should find a place to sleep in. Two figures appeared at the end of the alley, covered by their hoodies and faces staring down. Noah didn't pay them attention.

That is, until one of them bumped into him.

He turned and studied the guy's face. This really was his lucky day: Dylan, and besides him, Ben.

"Hey faggot. Are you coming from a date? Where is your boyfriend? Doesn't he walk you home like a true gentleman?" started Ben.

Noah ignored him and tried to walk past them. Dylan grabbed his jacked and shoved him into the wall besides him. His head hit the wall.

"Are you mute now? He asked you a few questions! Are you gonna be rude and not answer?" Dylan kicked him in the leg and Noah growled in pain. He locked his eyes with the tallest boy. He wasn't about to let them beat him without putting up a fight. "Where are you looking at? Are you in love with me now, is it?" the bully said, punching Noah.

Dylan laughed and shoved him to the floor. He and Ben – who had been silently watching from the sideline, grinning – started kicking him harder and harder: on his face, on his chest, on his legs. Noah tried to protect himself the best he could, shielding his head with his arms. His body ached when they finally stopped.

"I guess this is enough for now. You're not really trying, are you?" said Ben. "Let's go. I'm sure we'll have plenty of opportunities to do this again. I bet it's going to be a lot more fun then." After showing one last sadistic grin, they left.

Noah lied on the floor, in too much pain to move just yet. He felt like crying, but he didn't. He started to do breath exercises again, even though his chest ached like hell.

Finally, he stretched his arm, looking for his phone that had fallen out of his hand during the fight. He reached it and dialed a number he was very familiar with.

"Summer? Are you free right now?"

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"Noah? Noah, where are... oh God!" Summer was running towards him when he lifted up his head. "You sounded bad on the phone but you look even worse than I thought! Who beat you?" Noah was trembling and pale and his black hair was sticking to his forehead with sweat.

Her grey eyes were full of concern. It pained her to see someone she cared about hurt. Noah always thought she was one of the most selfless people he ever met and her coming to help him in the middle of the night without any hesitation was proof of that.

"Dylan and Ben. Apparently, they like to wonder around late at night and pick up fights."

"Idiots. But tell me, what happened? Why are you out so late on a school night?"

"I... I can't go home. I can't go back there. I don't have anywhere to go and..." another wave of panic started to fill up his lungs. He tried to continue but the lump in his throat wouldn't let him.