I just have to get out.

Part 4

Luca didn’t have a chance to knock at his front door before it opened in front of us. His mother bustled out of the door to greet us, sweeping us up into her embrace. She was rather gentle when she took me on my own. I guess I felt glad for the simple fact that she took me in gently. I needed to get used to the idea of being hugged again. I felt other arms around my waist, my heart picking up speed. I started thinking it was them, coming to take me back again. I then heard soft ‘Shh’s from behind me and then I realized it was just Luca, reclaiming what his mother had taken from him.

His mother released me, letting me sink back into Luca’s arms slowly. She just looked at us, at me and at Luca. Probably thinking how we were the perfect couple or something, like she always used to tell us. She also had a similar smile that Luca has. But his was more powerful, since he used it more often and directed at me and his fellow friends at school. School, this place that seemed so freaky right now. I was just getting used to the idea of being at his house, with him, once more. With his family all helping to keep me safe.

My attention was, at that moment, distracted by someone running out of the front door. I recognized her for a strange reason. Then I realized once again it was one of my closest and important friends. Sapphira Penfold. She must have heard from someone or other that I was out today. Not that I wasn’t happy to see her or anything. It was just that she was slightly more bossy and selfish ever since she met her new guy. I’d found him. He was a friend of Luca’s but he was also in our year at our school. Coincidence right?

Sapphira, or Sappy as I remember calling her, wrapped her arms around me. Giving me the biggest bear hug known to me was just a surprise. I thought I wouldn’t get a bigger cuddle than from the one from his mother. But hey, things change.

She then left me loose, holding me at arm’s length. “Hey, I know you’ve just come out of the ‘Hospital’” She used air quotations for the word ‘Hospital’, “but I’ve got a major problem. I’ve just simply read all of mine and your books and it’s not good for me since I’ve got nothing to read. So would you mind coming with me to Waterstones or something to buy some more for me?” She gave me this questioning look, hoping I would nod and agree like I usually would, with some degree of enthusiasm. On my behalf, I didn’t feel like going shopping yet. I had to get back into the swing of things, so I merely shrugged and looked to Luca to some help in this matter.

“Listen Saph, I think Yvonne needs to get back to normal before she can venture out. How would you like it if you’ve just come out of the place she just did and was quickly harassed to go shopping?” Luca turned this question to her, trying to put Sapphira in my shoes and make her understand what it was going to be like for the next few weeks. But she also, just merely nodded, shrugged and waltzed back inside the house. My Luca just sighed, squeezed my shoulders lightly and steered me inside, stepping over the threshold of what separated us from the big wide world and the comfort of his home inside with his family.

I never really forgot what his house looks on the inside. It was better remembering this place as my home rather than my own house. Luca’s house felt more, homey and welcoming. Even I liked his parents more than mine and that was saying something. Ever since that day that Luca had taken me to the Hospital, my parents had never really been to seen me, Well, not that I had known of. But maybe, now that I’m out, that would all change. Maybe they would take more notice of me.