Somewhat the Beginning (A Falling Skies Fanfiction)

Walking and Talking

Hope you guys like this chapter just as well as the others, it's more of an "information" chapter. You learn more about Hal and Ashley's relationship and you will learn even more after I write the next chapter.

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"We're all damaged in our own way. Nobody's perfect. I think we're all somewhat screwy. Every single one of us."

-Johnny Depp

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I looked at Ben, dumbfounded. "What was that?"

Ben looked at Uncle Scott then at me, "It's nothing. I gotta go." He got up and left the room.

"Ben. Ben!" I called, running after him. I almost caught up with him before I ran into Hal, who was turning the corner.

"Whoa where are you trying to get to so fast?" He smirked. I looked behind him. I had lost Ben. "Hello?" Hal waved his hand in front of my face, "Is anyone there?"

"Oh, hey. What's up?"

"Nothing much." He started, "Actually can I talk to you? It's about Ben."

My mind flashed back to the event that happened not even 5 minutes prior. "Sure" I said. I looked at the people around me, "But we should talk in my office."

We got into the infirmary and luckily no one was there. I closed the door behind us and sat at my desk, Hal sat across from me.

"So what's up?" I said.

"Well, have you noticed that Ben's been acting a little bit...different lately?"

My mind flashed back again, "Well, I've noticed. But I don't understand why you seem so worried."

"It's because he just doesn't seem to be my same old annoying, nerdy brother." He smiled, "I remember every morning me and Ben would fight to try and get to the bathroom first and while we were arguing Matt would always sneak past us and lock us out."

"Seems like you two had some good times."

"Yeah we did. But don't get me wrong, we were not the perfect family. We fought and often didn't talk for days, but we were family and that was all that mattered, you know?"

"I know." I looked down at my hands, I was thinking about Danny.

"Oh my gosh I'm sorry, here I am going on about Ben and I haven't even asked you about Danny. Have you found any leads? Has anyone seen him anywhere? Did you put a picture up on the bullentine board?"

"No. No. And yes. But it was an older photo, about two years ago."

"Are you OK?

"I'm fine" I said, forcing a smile. "But back to Ben, what have you noticed that's different. Specifically."

"Well, for one, he seems to be more athletic and has more energy. He did over a hundred push-ups without breaking a sweat and I saw him jump roping outside, by the bus, and his stopwatch was going on over 2 hours. He said he must of started it before he got outside, but I don't think he did."

"Did you talk to Ben or tell your Dad about it?"

"No, I wanted to talk to you first. What should I do? I'm just so worried about him."

"Hal, first you have to talk to Ben about it, then you should talk with your Dad. And you know that Anne doesn't know what all the effects the harness left behind. This could just be a 'symptom' of the spikes." I got up and walked over to him, and he stood. I embraced him in a hug, "Ben's going to be OK Hal. I'm sure of it."

Actually, I wasn't so sure. Of course I didn't think Ben would die (or I hope he didn't, he didn't deserve it and the Masons already had to lose him once, and I don't think they could survive losing him again) but in this world, you never know.

"Thanks Ashley, you're a great friend."

Anne walked in and froze, "Oh, hi. I didn't know you two were here, want me to leave...?"

We broke our hug, "It's OK Anne, we were just leaving." I said. Hal and I walked out of my office and into the hallway.

"Oh, I almost forgot to tell you," Hal said, "My Dad wanted me to thank you for helping Matt. He seems alot happier and less stressed now."

I shrugged, "No prob., that's my job." We laughed. Before college Hal and I both got jobs at a local McDonlads, and we had this inside joke of whenever somone there said "Thank you." we would say "No prob., that's my job." Looking back now, after all this sadness, it was a small but great memory.

Hal and I walked outside and around the inner edges of the perimeter.

"You remember how we met?" Hal said smiling.

"How could I forget?" I said, smiling too, "We were in Kindergarden and you pushed me off the swing set."

"Hahaha." He laughed, "Yeah, because all the other boys told me girls were icky, and that you were supposed to push them off of swings, but I felt bad and helped you back up afterwards."

"Yeah, and we've been friends ever since." I held on to his hand, "I also remember us getting 'married' underneath the slide on the playground."

"I remember that! You know, that was some of the best times of my life. No worries, we were free and fearless. Actually those times remind me of that song that you showed me and loved so much, what was it? Oh yeah, 'Kindergarden Love' by Daniel Konikoff."

"That's the one!" I laughed.

We walked past the senturies guarding the barrier and towards the field behind the school, then Matt came up to us, holding a soccer ball.

"You guys ready to play some soccer?" He asked, smiling. Hal shrugged, "Well I don't know..." then he grabbed the ball from Matt and ran towards the field. "Hey!" Matt yelled, chasing Hal.

I ran and joined them. Matt, Terrel, James, and I were on a team against Hal, Elyse, Maggie, and Iain. We decided Iain and James would be goalie and that we would play to 10. I passed the ball to Matt, and he ran about 3/4 the way up the field then passed it to Terrel, who scored. "GOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL!" Matt yelled. We played for about another half hour until we won (10-6 baby!).

Hal and Matt left to get some dinner, but I wasn't hungry, so I didn't go with them. That soccer game had me winded and I just wanted to lay down. I went into my room and looked out my window, almost dusk. I pulled back the covers to my bed and got in. I started to think about all the good times before the invasion, and then I fell alseep.