The Dark Hour

--------Lalna--------

I was eating cereal went Astrid came in.

"Morning."

"Morning."

"Are we walking to school again?" I asked before putting another spoonful of cereal in my mouth.

"Yeah I think."

"Ok, just wondering."

"Yeah, I need coffee." I sighed then I heard something behind me. I turned around and saw Ridge standing in the doorway.

"Ridge, why are you up?" I asked walking over to him. He sniffled and hugged me. "Ridge?"

"Ridge you should be in bed." Astrid said walking out of the kitchen.

"She's right. You're still-"

"Don't leave."

"What? Why?"

"I don't want you to leave."

"I have to go to school though." He whined and I sighed. "I'll be back after school."

"I don't want you to go," He sniffled.

"I'll be back Ridge, I promise I will."

"But-"

"Ridge it's not like we're going to disappear after school." He pouted then slowly let go of me.

"Ok," He sighed.

"You mister needs to get back in bed."

"Why?" He whined.

"Come on Ridge." I gently took his hand and lead him back to his room. He laid down and I smiled at him.

"I'll be back before you know it. Just rest and work on getting better, ok?" He nodded and sniffled.

"Ok."

"Ok, get some sleep." I left the room and found Astrid. "I got him to lay down."

"Okay if we don't get going we are going to be late."

"Ok, let's go."

"Okay." She said yawning.

~~~~

We made it to school on time. I was just sitting in my first hour went a new kid walked in. He looked a bit funny, like there was this shiny bubble around him. Nobody else seemed to notice him as class started. He was sitting in the back of the room and he didn't say anything. Even the teacher didn't notice him.

As soon as class was over I was going to go talk to him and he just ran out of the room. I tried to find him but it was like he disappeared. It was weird.

Lunch came around and I saw him again. He was sitting by himself and I sighed. I went to his table and sat down by him.

"Hello," I said softly. He jumped and looked at me.

"Um hi?"

"What are you doing by yourself?" I asked curiously. He quickly looked around then looked back at me.

"You can see me?" That threw me off guard.

"What? What do you mean by that?"

"N-Nothing, I um just don't like other people. They can be mean."

"Oh," I said slowly. "Well not all people are mean."

"Yeah, I guess so." He got up. "I got to go. It was nice to talk to someone."

"Um, why do you have to go?" I asked curiously.

"My um dad is picking me up for lunch. Bye um..."