You are not alone

Getting out there

I was conscious, but I couldn't open my eyes. I could hear everything but I wasn't awake yet. It was al black, until I slowly came back into my thoughts, and started opening my eyes. Everything was blurry, and spinning around, until everything came into focus and I saw Jace and Jupiter.

"How long has she been like this?" I heard Jupiter ask.

"Since last night." Jace gave her the answer.

"That's not a long time, I guess."

"I just don't know what to do, she-" Jace stopped in his tracks when he saw me opening my eyes. "Ari!"

"Hey Jace." I said weakly.

"Hey? That's it?"

"What's going on?"

"You tell us."

"What do you mean?"

"You came home, and your face was all bloody, and you came up here coughing up blood and passed out."

"Right, yeah."

"What happened to you?"

"I may have gotten a little beat up." I stated, getting quieter as I spoke.

"What? How?"

"When I was hanging posters, some guy came up and we got in an argument."

"What? And he did that to you?"

"I'm fine, really."

"You don't look fine." He tried to convince me.

"I'll be ok, it's just something that happens." I shrugged it off, as I started getting up.

"What are you doing?" Jace jumps towards me.

"Getting up, I have a lot of work to do."

"What if you pass out again?"

"I feel fine." I said, as I finished getting up and started walking down to the lobby.

As I got there, I was pleasantly surprised when I saw people waiting outside. I walked briskly towards the door to open it. Some people came through the doors, and then a camera crew walked in.

"Are you the owner of this place?" I was asked as soon as they burst through the door.

"Yes." I answer. "What's going on?"

"We saw the flyers you put up, and we're doing a segment for TV."

"Really?"

"Yes, what's your name?"

"My name's Aria."

"And you created this?"

"Yes, but not alone, I had some friends helping me."

"Great, so what was your inspiration?"

"My friends and I were all homeless LGBT youth, and we were living in an old house. I thought we should have a place to live, there should be a place for people like us. We believe that no one should think they're alone."

"That's great, what do you do here?"

"Well, we offer a place for LGBT youth that have been kicked out to live. We also have rooms where we hold meetings and other LGBT things."

"Our meetings are also one hundred percent judge free by the way." Jace stepped in, referring to when we met.

"Yes." I agreed.

"Sounds like this place is going to be a big hit. Especially from the looks of all these people here." The camera man pointed out, and I realized the people that had come in.

"Yes, and it's much needed."

"I agree, can we have a look around?"

"Yeah, let me have someone show you around and I'll help these people." I answered, as I looked for Jupiter. "Jupiter." I said, as I found her.
"Can you show these people around? Just show them what we do, and stuff like that."

"Ok, follow me." She agreed, and lead them to the back.

As they left, I walked back to the front, and started to help the people that came in.

"Ok, if you want to live here, please follow me to the desk, and if you're interested in participating in meetings, then you can check out events over there." I pointed to a bulletin board, as I finished and then walked over to the desk.

I gave everyone in the lobby forms to fill out, and got everyone ready to live in the center. After everything was done, I sat down on the couch in the lobby. After I sat for a few minutes, Jace walked in, and sat next to me.

"Ari?" He started.

"Yeah?"

"We're getting there."