Clair de Lune

1. Thunder

A storm raging outside my window pulled me from the clutches of my sleep, the thunder roaring above my head too loud to bear. It brought back painful memories from years and years ago, ones I couldn't find the source of and ones I didn't care to. Lightning flashes lit up the dark corners of my room, revealing the fact I was alone and easing my paranoia just the slightest. Now that I was awake and the sound of the thunder was more prevalent, my anxiety was slowly rising. I had a phobia of the natural phenomena, so I decided that staying in bed and trying to tough it out wouldn't be the best option.

I kicked my legs over the side of the bed, a cold chill gripping my skin the moment my feet touched the ground. I took a deep breath and toughed it out to walk across the room, passing by my desk to eventually reach the wardrobe. I pulled a pair of sweats out of a drawer and slipped into them, deciding not to bother with my disarray of clothing at the moment and instead opting to slip out into the hall and make my way out into the living room. I passed by a mirror on the way, catching sight of my darkened features and smiling. My ginger curls looked white in the flashing lights, and my sky blue irises were a light shade of gray. Not a speck or a freckle could be seen until the light faded from the room and suddenly I was covered in them.

My footsteps couldn't be heard over the raging storm or the pounding rain, and soon enough the sound became muffled to my groggy ears as I took a seat in the bay window that overlooked the backyard. The ebony piano in the corner caught some of the light from the next lightning flash, reflecting it into the peripheries of my vision and making me turn my head. I noticed a figure wandering towards me from the same hallway I'd come from, rubbing his sand filled eyes and giving me a smile.

"How on Earth did I know you'd be awake?" He chuckled as he took a seat beside me. The lightning outside illuminated his bare chest, the faint green of his eyes catching the flash like the jade gemstones they were.

"I don't know, why don't you tell me?" I smiled, pulling my knees up to my chest as I leaned back and prodded him with my toes. My adoptive brother caught my foot before I could yank it back and threatened to tickle my sole.

"Well, I was interrupted in my dreams about eating sushi on the California coastline by the sound of thunder practically shaking our house to it's core," he explained, "and since you absolutely love this kind of weather I decided to get up and check on you."

"Well deduced my good sir." I teased him, a smile growing on my face. "You know me, I hate the thunder."

"I know."

Nolan, the boy in the sill across from me, held his hand out in a gesture I'd known for years. I took it and let him pull me against his chest, my smaller figure curling up against his taller one. My head rested over his heart while he played with my hair and hummed my favorite song. I'd be hearing it in the morning I'm sure.

"We've got to leave here." I said gently, my tone even and emotionless. I'd grown cold to this house I was supposed to call home years ago. It was decorated with ceramic crosses and statuettes of the Virgin Mary, a symbol to the religion I'd grown to detest ever since I'd stepped foot beyond the front door. Her eyes watched me now from across the room as if she was judging me for a sin I hadn't committed.

"I know." He told me. "You'll be eighteen here in a week or so, we've just got to make it to the eighth and you'll be an adult. Then once it hits summer we can go as far as we want."

"Why don't we go to California," I laughed to myself, "eat sushi like in your dreams and watch the sun set over the sandy beaches. I'd like to see the ocean."

"What'll we do there?" Nolan asked me curiously, a humorous shine to his eyes. I know he loved talking about the future with me, I enjoyed it just as much.

"You'll go to school for being a damn musical prodigy, and I'll get into a trade school that's busy and needs lots of people." I grinned. "We'll get good jobs and you'll be famous."

"I'm not that great Agnes." Nolan groaned, his shoulders slumping playfully. "I just like playing the piano."

"Then go play me a love song." I said wistfully, my slender fingers reaching up to trace the curve of his jaw.

"I would, if it wouldn't wake up the whole house." He grinned and pulled me closer to him, his head resting atop mine. "I've always wanted to play the piano in a storm, too bad they always happen at night."

"Maybe they'll have a storm in California and you can play to your heart's content."

"We can only hope."

We stayed like that for a while, wrapped up in each others grip and listening to the storm I'd almost forgotten about outside. I watched the rain race down the glass, making new trails and pathways with each new drop. The sky didn't seem to be getting any lighter, so I could only guess it had to be around three. Three was always the time it seemed to be when I was roused from my sleep, either by way of nightmare, thunder, or just the silent cold that creeped between the sheets. Nolan's breath against my forehead was enough warmth for me, the sound of his heartbeat a comfort in trying times such as these.

It wasn't long before I'd accidentally fallen asleep in his arms, just like I'd done on many occasions before. I jolted awake some time later, the early morning rays of sun revealing the storm having passed and the sky now growing a brighter and brighter shade of blue. I would've loved to stay here, tucked away into the corner of the room and hidden from view, but I knew the other residents of the house would begin to wake up soon and we'd be outed to our mother. We weren't blood related, and these people weren't my real family, but they were the only ones I had. I hated that statement with every fiber of my being, but at least I had Nolan here to help shield me from their idiocy.

I rolled in his arms, only to cradle his cheek and gently ease him out of his slumber. He blinked his eyes a few times and sighed, leaning forward just enough to press his lips to my forehead and give me a tight hug. We got to our feet and made our way back down the hall, parting ways at my door and sneaking back into the confines of our own rooms. I felt a little less intimidated by the empty corners now that they weren't shaded in, and I climbed back into my blankets knowing I'd probably miss breakfast because I'd be sleeping in, but I could skip a meal easily. It wasn't hard to fall back asleep after that with the touch of his lips still lingering on my skin.