The Altered Love <MAJOR EDITING>

Chapter 4 - Empty Clock, Strings Attach

                      Louis was barking mad. He couldn't believe Aria. Just because he stopped Fiona and Sam from fighting doesn't mean that he has a thing for Fiona. And Sam, making up stories that never happened. What was wrong with these two siblings? He jammed hard on the accelarator and sped back home. He parked his car in the garage and dashed into the house. He didn't want to talk to anyone. Though he seemed like the bad guy who doesn't smile or respect others, he was completely opposite of that. He respected his parents alot. He knew he would get a little mouthy with them if he talked to them at the moment. So he decided not to see them. That would be better.

                   He sat on his antique persian wooden bed that costed his parents a few thousand pounds. He opened his bag and took out the letters. Keeping them in front of him, he thought of reading them. But was that the right thing? Probably no as he decided not to read them. He indulged himself in the video game he liked. The room could catch fire and he wouldn't notice. But it ws different today. He couldn't concentrate on the game. His mind kept drifting towards the new girl and those letters. He wanted to read them so badly. He was just curious as to why would she cry while reading a letter written by a child. He went back to his bed and picked up the first letter when his eyes fell on the clock hanging on the wall. It was already five. He had a job to go to. It was not really a job. It was a volunteering job at the Foster care centre or the Hell as the people living in it called it. He liked spending time with those children. Seeing a smile on their faces made him happy. He opened his closet and took out the orange and green shirt. That ws his uniform. And somehow he managed to look good even in that. Most of the people looked dorky or nerdy in that shirt. But he was an exception.

                         Yuliya was going crazy. She was of Swedish origin. Her chocolate brown eyes covered with eye-bags. She moved to Doncaster 3 years ago when her husband left her and took their kid with him. She devoted mostof her time to these children, trying to make them happy. She knew very well the treatment the children recieved every week at the foster house. She tried to make the best of their lives while they were with her. The previous night a new kid was brought to the centre. He was,  maybe, 8 to 10 years old. His hand had a cast on it and his neck had burn marks. According to his file, his name was Dan Abigail. He had a lisp and was involved in a terrible car crash last year. He would be visited every week by his sister. It was advised to Yuliya to never leave the Dan and his siter alon. The meetings were supposed to be supervised. He had been crying since afternoon. He wouldn't eat, drink or tell why he was crying. Just kept saying Fyi. She was waiting for the magic man- Louis to come. He was the one who could stop them from crying or get them to eat. Children just loved him. When he reached the centre and saw Yuliya, he knew he was in trouble at that very moment. He walked over to her, apologizing.

 "I am so, so sorry. I had detention and then I lost track of time."

"Louis, how many times have I told you to come on time. You get detention everyday. How come you got late today? Are you lying to me?"

"Long story short. Got into a fight and had to have a word with the Principal." 

He was about to walk to his normal room when Yuliya stopped him.

"Where are you going?"

"To room 54. That's where my job is, right?"

"You forgot. Again. I told you just yesterday that your been given a new child. The child in Room 54 has been adopted. You even said goodbye to John."

"Oops. My bad. So who is the new child?"

 "Dan. Room 72". With that being said, she handed him a file with all the details and walked towards her office. She turned around brfore entering her office and said, "The child has been crying since midday. "Hasn't had anything either. Have fun." She had a cheeky smile on her face. She liked to challenge Louis. And every time Louis succeeded.

 He walked over to the room 72. On his way he grabbed a few chocolates and a juice pouch from the vending machine. He didn't bother to go through the file in his hand. He knocked on the door. He opened it and the nurse was already with the child, struggling. He asked the nurse to leave. When she had left and the door was closed, he walked towards the bedside table and kept the chocolates there. The room was horrible. Had a stench of cleaning liquid. No doubt the kid ws crying. 

              "I am Louis. What's your name?"

The child looked up. He was in a pathetic condition. He was definitely a victim of abuse. He was all red because of continous crying. His eyes were bloodshot and teary.

               "Dan Avigale." He replied, rubbing his hands over his cheek. Louis took a tissue and slightly rubbed it over his cheeks. He handed him the juice pouch. 

               "Here you go, Dan. Cocktail juice.yummm."

           Amazingly, the child took the juice pouch. He was still crying but atleast drinking something. He drank the whole thing. 

             "You liked it?"

              "Yesh, thinkyou." 

         "You want to go out to the garden?"  Louis couldn't stand the stench.

Dan thought about it for a few minutes and said, "Yesh."

 Before leaving, he asked the nurse to get the room cleaned and the stinking smell be removed.

Louis took him out in the garden, chatting with him the whole time. He found out that he had been crying because his sister didn't show up to meet him. Its been almost a month since he had met her and was eager to meet her today. She was the only family he had. But she didn't show up. Louis was about to leave for his house when the dan grabbed his hand. His small hand wrapped around his two fingers. "You will come tomrow?" 

"Yes, I will." 

"Pinki promis?"

"Pinky promise." The nurse came in with his dinner. "Now be a good boy and eat your dinner. All of it. Bye". He fist bumped him and for the first time in the whole day, Dan smiled. His smile made Louis smile. He walked out of the centre happily, forgetting about the fight. His heart was calm and relaxed, like he just saved the world from a disaster. He had been the reason for a little child's smile. He was contented with his day. His day was complete.