Death Sticks

2. Coming Home

 The thin walls were painted a bleak color of gloomy beige. They look as though they were made of parchment, and a single vibration might tear them. The encouragements that were scattered in script on every other wall they passed made it that much more dreary. Beya wore an anxiety driven smile that expressed pity. It almost appeared as if the smile were forced.

Ethan approached a counselor. She had dark skin and large, poofy hair that was maintained in a bun. The grin on her face seemed peculiarly consistent.

"Hello, Ethan," she enthused, "How ya doing?"

"I'm fine Shakree, thanks." Ethan glanced over at Beya.

"Oh, hi. I'm---"

"Beya! Right?" Shakree interrupted. Beya nodded and smiled slightly, then looked over at Ethan.

"We've heard all about you!" Shakree gushed. "So nice to finally put a face to the description."

Ethan shuddered, reflecting back on their group therapy sessions.

"One time I was with my friend---" Ethan had recounted

"Oh which friend was this?" Shakree had asked. "It's okay, we're all family here."

Ethan bit his lower lip, and blushed shyly. Beya repaid Shakree's grin and elbowed Ethan lightly. He ignored her and got back to the question.

"Shakree, we were wondering if on our way over to my new foster home, you could drop off Beya at her apartment."

Shakree began to nod, "Who brought you here again, sweetie? Or did you walk? It is Brooklyn, I wouldn't be surprise."

Beya thought back on Ali, "A friend gave me a lift."

"Mhm, and where exactly do you live?"

"The holland apartments on 22 Saltwater Lane." Beya answered.

Ethan turned his head to face her. He asked, "You were transfered again?"

Beya responded, but kept her gaze, "Yeah, I've been transfered twice since December."

"Hmm, it would be faster to just have another car drive you," Shakree considered. "Well, you guys are two friends reuniting. Oh okay."

Ethan thanked her and she warned them they'd be leaving in ten minutes. Ethan went to his room one last time to retrieve his bags. Although, she wasn't a patient, there was a strict gender separation policy, with no exceptions.

Beya sat on a couch like chair in the waiting room. After Ethan was no longer in sight, she was approached by a tall boy who had a troublesome face.

"So," started the boy, raising his eyebrows, "A friend of Marino."

"Yeah. Feel no need to introduce yourself," Beya countered.

The boy smiled in a way that made Beya uncomfortable. He leaned over Beya and planted his hands on either arm rest. "I'm Jacob."

"And I don't care. Leave me alone." She had a better look of his face now, he looked as though he might be sixteen or seventeen. He was very skinny and had a tattoo on his torso, that Beya couldn't exactly make out what it said.

Jacob shook his head, "You're fierce." Beya leaned as far back in her chair as possible, trying to avoid his face. Jacob placed his hand on one of her thighs. She looked towards the front desk, but no one was in sight. He breathed heavily on her neck. Beya thought about screaming, but feared what he would do if she did. Jacob got closer to her face. Beya turned her head onto her shoulders, and squeezed her eyes shut. She could maybe try to push him off, but skinny he was he was also very muscular. Beya on the other hand was short and thin and most of all, vulnerable. Right when she thought he was gonna kiss her, she saw something out of the corner of her eye. An angel? Maybe.