Dear Stars

~.*3*.~

A/N: I'm sorry that I haven't been able to update much sooner because of my usual busyness with school. and writers' block. This is in Nathan's POV and I hope you enjoy this! -Someday

~1 hour later~

I had been looking at Monica for a while now, ever since we got onto the train and she had had a tearful goodbye with her family. And again, she had looked up at the starry, dark, depressing night sky in wonder and sadness.

And again, I felt the envy flame in me when she hugged her family goodbye, and when they cried, and when they spoke their words you could hear the truth and the love and the hurt in their voice which were the building blocks of an aggregated rock named "Purpose". At least, that was what I thought.

Monica's face was stained of tears and a little snot, her wide brown eyes closed and her lips pulling at the corners of her face. I smiled, and wiped the snot away with my shirt sleeve, not because I was lazy to find a piece of cloth or a tissue, but because I didn't want to leave her. Monica already left her family, and I didn't want to leave her either.

Monica started to shift around in her seat, but I held her even closer to my body and press my lips to her forehead. "Hey," I whispered. "It's okay." And I earned a tiny groan in response. I chuckled a little at her annoyance and kissed her hair.

I didn't love Monica anymore than a best friend and a sister. She's been there for me since I could remember, and she's been caring for me ever since my mom got married to this one guy that she thought was amazing but turned out was abusing me. It was a terrifying experience to see and feel, but what's saddening about my family life is not the pain or abuse. It's the fact that my mom didn't know about the abuse and she didn't even ask why I was developing bruises and broken teeth. Mom didn't care enough to think about the terrible lies my step father was feeding her.

My tongue swished around my mouth for ten seconds, and then I stopped. at the coming of a thought. Why did I run away to Vail of all places? I mean, I wouldn't have minded, but Monica... she has a different story. Her father left her when she was around nine, the same year I first got a scar, and the first time she asked such a meaningful question.

But that didn't matter right now.  What mattered was that she was alright. I remember Monica saying that her Aunt Gracie lived in Vail, but we didn't know if her father lived with Gracie, which would be a very big problem if he did live with her.

Monica started stirring in her spot again, and this time I let her wake up. It was 9 o'clock in the evening, and we had to eat something. I had already eaten two Nature Valley cereal bars that were in our backpacks, but I was still hungry. Yet I didn't want to go eat without her. I don't know, it's pretty complicated to explain my knowledge of Monica's and I's friendship.

"G'evening Moni," I whispered in Monica's ear. She opened her big brown eyes and flashed me a lazy, sleepy smile. Her eyelids hooded her eyes and she looked kind of cute. I pushed a stiff strand of light brown ash hair behind her ear. "Good evening Nath," she replied with that same lazy smile.

Monica looked around our booth in the train; the red fabric of the sofa's we were sitting on were patterned with yellow and burgundy colored thread; the navy blue curtains that lined the windows had been pushed apart, presenting a beautiful landscape of a starry night; the slick texture of the oak walls felt slippery; the black carpeted floors were thick and rough; the metal doors were cold beneath our hands even in the morning.

It was the usual looking train that had pulled away from the usual looking train station and town fifty minutes ago that were all filled with usual looking people with their usual thoughts. But the only unusually beautiful person was sitting right beside me, and I didn't even love her than anything more of a sister.

"How long was I out?" Monica asked me, wiping her hands to her eyes to rub out the crustiness in her eyes. I fished out my phone from my pocket and looked at the clock - 9:15 PM, it read.

"Hmm," Monica hummed in satisfaction. I just nodded along with her because there wasn't anything really to say. There was only things to nod to.

"Is your Aunt Gracie picking us up or nah?"

Monica shook her head and practically jumped out of her seat when the train whistle blew a loud WHOOT.

I sighed and grabbed my backpack. We still haven't eaten dinner, but I think that the holy person known as Aunt Gracie will provide enough.

As we were getting ready - excuse me, I  was getting ready while my lovely female friend was already set - I caught Monica looking back at the sky again with sadness obvious on her face. And I felt bad; I didn't want my best friend to suffer just cause I was suffering. It just wasn't fair.

The train station was coming into view, and I was getting anxious. Once we step off of the train, we would officially be long gone from home, even though Glenwood Springs is only an hour and twenty minutes away from Vail.

"Are you ready?" I asked Monica. We pulled up after I said ready  which meant that this was Monica's last chance to turn back.

Her tongue swished around her mouth for a second, and as the doors opened and I thought she was going to leave me here...

She said, "I'm not ready, but I'll do it for you."

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A/N: I'm sorry that I rushed it towards the end; I had wrote this at 1:06 AM because of reasons. Thank you for reading this chapter. Review!