The Insiders

Chapter 28

Chapter 28- Coren

We spend what feels like minutes in that hallway, but the digital clock in my room begs to differ.

"It's three O'clock!" Sharlene gasps as I shut the door behind us. I smile and shake my head at her. She gets stressed over such small things, it's cute. I begin to approach her. I stare deep into her hazel eyes that are staring right back into mine with question and a tint of hope. Once I'm close to her, I realize I want to be closer. I put my arms around her small waist and pull her tight against my body. A small giggle comes out of her mouth. I can't help but smile at her. She's so cute when I have her like this. I wonder if I'm the only one who's done this to her. I push the thought to the back of my head hoping she doesn't hear it. I quickly swoop in and press my lips to hers. She immediately kisses me back which causes sudden electricity all over my body. I love this about her, the feeling I have when I'm with her. I've been with many girls before her, but this feeling is one I've never felt before. So far this feeling is good, but it's strong. It takes up every fibre of my body. I'm just afraid of how quickly she could break it. Her hand slowly moves to my chest, but she doesn't push me away. Our lips come to an agreement that it's time to let go.

"You know," She says as I move my hands to meet hers on my chest. "I barely know anything about you."

"I thought you did," I admit. She looks up from our hands with very confused eyes.

"I mean, I thought you would've already went through my thoughts to find out all that stuff." I ramble on.

"No," She laughs saving me from my panic. "I may be able to know everything about everyone, but I still believe in personal space and privacy." She's wearing it again. That smile with a matching glint of happiness in her eyes. It disappeared after Joy died. Even when Shar was laughing, she wasn't actually laughing. Her laugh was forceful, but now it's real. It's all back. She's back. She looks as beautiful as ever.

"Come with me." I say as I take her hand and guide her towards my bunk. I let go of her hand as I prop myself against the wall with my legs extended across the bed.

"What are you-" Shar begins.

"We need to learn about eachother. I can't make out with an amazing girl and just not know everything about her." I joke. She climbs onto my bed. She looks at me with a wondering expression, not knowing how to sit. I pat my hands right above my knees. She lays her head down and looks towards the upper bunk. Her legs extend towards he end of my bunk. I do nothing but stare at her face and play with her dark brown hair. She stares back at me with the most beautiful smile I've ever seen.

"What do you want to know?" I ask.

"Everything." She whispers back.

I begin telling her every part of me. I start from where I was born and tell her everything until I met her. I can tell she's listening because when I talk about the foster homes I've been in her eyes well up with tears. I wipe the away as I continue. It's strange to see someone cry for me. It's never happened before. No one has cared enough for me to cry. It's joyful yet upsetting. When I finish, I remain silent waiting for her reaction.

"Where were you when Steve got you to bring you to headquarters?" Shar asks staying in the same position from the beginning of the story.

"It wasn't Steve who got me. It was Alex. He came to the bar I was at that night and told me I needed to come with him. I listened of course, I didn't have anything to loose back then." I answer her.

"But I do now." I blurt out by accident. I'm about the apologize for it, but she quickly grins.

"Why haven't I seen Alex before?" She asks.

"He died," I say before I can think about it. "He died during the attack the other night." Shar quickly pulls her eyes away from mine and towards her feet.

"I'm sorry." She apologizes quickly still not looking at me.

"It's okay. Don't apologize. It's not your faul-"

"Why were you at a bar?" She interrupts my sentence. The bars. I forgot to explain that part. I guess I should. I trust her more than anyone in the world.

"When my brother died-"

"How did he die?" I can tell she's dreading the answer. Afraid of what it is.

"I was twelve, My brother was seventeen. We were at a foster home together. These idiots were breaking the windows of the basement we were sleeping in. He went outside to tell them off, but they had other plans. They began to beat him." I take a moment as I try to push the memory of his pain filed cries out of my head. "I felt so helpless at that moment. I know that they would come for me, so I hid in the closet ignoring my brother cries for help. They broke through the small windows and came into the basement. Even in the dim light from the moon I could see my brothers blood on their clothing. They didn't come. The next day the foster parents found my brother on the front lawn beaten to death. He was so beat up I could hardly recongize my brother who I'd known for twelve years. From then on I trained my body. I was going to be ready for them if they ever came back. Eventually I had to leave the foster home and get placed in an another, but I was still prepared for them to come. As the years progressed the memories of my brother became stronger. One day I thought I would stop at a bar to see if I could drink the memories away. I did that again and again and again. I started when I was fourteen and I never thought I could stop. When I was sixteen, I woke up in jail. I don't remember what happened, but later I found that I almost beat a person to death. That's what made me realize I needed to straighten out. So I began to work my tabs off at the bars. I started to drink less and less. My withdrawal symptoms weren't that bad, I guess from my strength. Finally I stopped drinking at all, but I still had tabs to work off. I worked and worked until one night Alex came. He told me that I was special and how if I came with him I would go to a nice place where he would explain the rest. I went with him, but I was prepared to pound his head in if he tried any funny business. And well you know the rest." I finish. I haven't told anyone that story. It feels nice to have someone I can trust. When I finally move my eyes back to Shar. She's staring back. I can't tell what she's thinking because she quickly sits up and wraps her arms around my neck and rests her head on my shoulder. It takes me a moment to realize what she's doing, but once I'm over the initial shock I wrap my arms around her waist and tuck my nose at the crook of her neck breathing in the scent of her. I love her. I love Sharlene. We both pull away after a few minutes. Just when I'm about to tell her how I feel, She turns her head away. Her eyes search the room in confusion.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

"I thought I heard somebody's thoughts," I begin to panic. She can't find out like that! I may not be the most romantic person, but still I want telling her to be special.

"Not yours," She adds dismissing my thoughts. "Thomas's."

She stands up from the bed and I follow. I begin towards the door to see if he's out there. When I open the door I peer down the empty hallway. I close the door and turn to Sharlene who is now staring at the wall. I walk towards her not loosing my sight from her beautiful focused face.

"Who's on the other side of this wall?" She asks me. I don't answer because I an idea why she's asking me.

"Stay here!" She shouts as she begins to sprint out of the room. Just before she leaves I catch a smile on her face. The old Sharlene really is back, I just hope she's here to stay.