Fictional Fangirl

Chapter 12

I looked around. I was waiting for Kayla to arrive. This was the moment where I was going to tell Kayla I love her ~ Asher Shades of love

.....

Date: October 15th (Same Day)

I stare at Tristen speechless. I try to put the pieces together. Tristen was homeless. He was an orphan. He didn't have a place to call home besides this tunnel. This tunnel was home to him. I ran through everything in my head over and over again. This wasn't true. He told me this morning that he had a foster family. Did something happen between them? He had mentioned a fight. Did he run away?

"You live here?" I ask him.

He nods slowly.

"B-But you told me you live over there," I say pointing to his house that he said he lived in.

He sighs. "That was true until last night,"

I frown. "So what happened?"

He takes a deep breath and fiddles with his fingers. His arm was no longer wrapped around me. Just when I think he's not going to say anything, he speaks up.

"Remember when I told you how I got in a fight with my foster family?"

I nod.

"Well they kicked me out. Honestly, it's better this way. They didn't alert anyone so I won't be thrown back into the foster system."

"Yeah but you don't have a home."

He shrugs. "Other people don't. It's not like it's the first time I've been without a roof over my head."

I nod slowly as I try to process this all. I slump down against the tunnel wall and sigh not quite believing what I was hearing. My brain suddenly remembers Tristen from Darker Shades of the Moon and how he was homeless. I shook my head. This wasn't the same thing. He didn't have a foster family in the book. I need to stop thinking that Tristen was a fictional character because he wasn't.

"Skylar?" He asks looking at me.

I just shook my head.

"Please just say something."

"I honestly don't know what to say," I frown staring at the ground, not able to make eye contact with him.

"Sky, will you please look at me?"

"I just.." I trail off. "I'm sorry."

"Why are you sorry?" he asks confused.

"I just feel bad."

"I'm okay. Really," he reassures.

"You can't live like this!"

"I have lived like this."

My heart broke out for him. I couldn't imagine living like this. I can't imagine not having a roof over my head or not sleeping in my comfortable bed. No one deserves that.

I stay silent but I place my hand over top of his and traced circle on the back of his hand.

He finally looks up at me and I notice his tear stained cheeks. I slowly reach up and tuck a strand piece of hair behind Tristens ear. I then lean in closer to him and his breath hitches. I place my hands on his shoulders before speaking.

"Move in with me," I say.

"What?" Tristen asks. He clearly didn't expect me to say that.

"Move in with me. My mom is never home and I can hide you. You will be safe and have a roof over your head and you will be able to eat."

He shakes his head and frowns. "I'm sorry but I can't let you do that for me."

"Why not? It's no trouble, really."

"We both know it is. You're lying saying it's no trouble."

"So what if it is? You'll be happier living with me," I insist. "You don't have to stay there forever but we can be your temporary foster family until you find somewhere else to live."

"Sky I-"

"Can. You can. What happens when there is another storm outside and something bad happens to you? It would be dangerous," I say.

"I've survived them before," he says.

"What if...?" I say, trembling looking into his eyes terrified. I knew they was going to be a big storm tonight. It was already starting. He has to know that something bad happening to him wouldn't just hurt him physically, but it would hurt me emotionally.

He looks back at me into my eyes trying to read me. "Are you sure it's okay?" he asks.

"Positive," I murmur quietly.

"Okay. I'll stay." he says.

I wrap my arms around him and pull him in for a hug and hold him close. I close my eyes and hold him. He wraps his arms around me as well holding me in his arms like I was the most delicate thing in the world.

He slowly pulls away and he grabs his stuff before we make the walk back to my house.

"I'll just have to talk to my mom so she's aware you're staying with us. Once I tell her what's happening, I'm sure she'll be fine with it."

.......

"Absolutely not!"

"Why not?" I protest.

"He's a boy should be the big no brainier. You know I don't let boys sleep over. Who knows what kind of things you guys get up too?"

"MOM!" I almost scream.

"I'll just go back outside," Tristen says, turning to leave.

"No wait," I say grabbing his arm. "Mom, listen. He needs to stay here. You're really going to make him go back into that storm? His foster family kicked him out. He has nowhere to stay!"

My mom looks at me and then looks at Tristen. She takes a deep breath. "Okay. You can stay here for now but I need to call social services. Understand?"

Tristen and I both nod. I glance over a Tristen who looks nervous. I move my hand from his arm to his hand to reassure him. He smiles a little.

Tristen looks at me. "Where should I sleep?"

"The couch should be okay. Skylar can get you some blankets and a pillow," My Mom says.

He nods. My mom turns away about to leave when she turns back to me. "Skylar, if Tristen is in your room, remember to leave the door open."

"Okay," I say.

"Goodnight Skylar," she says as she heads upstairs to her room.

Tristen turns to me. "Thank you."

I smile. "That's what friends are for."

........

Hey guys! It's been forever since I updated. I want to say it was a year ago but I don't know for sure. I have had huge writers block for the longest time and didn't really know where to go from here but I finally feel motivated to start working again and I've brainstormed new ideas. If you read this book a while ago I highly suggest re reading the book because I've been editing it and I've changed quite a bit. Thanks so much for reading. I appreciate it!

~ Emily