The Door on a Beach [EDITING]

chapter 8: Awake

Boo

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Boo didn't feel well enough to go to school all week.

Laying in bed, her eyes were closed in mock sleep. She felt so bad that she didn't even want to get out of bed, or move, or do anything actually. She didn't want to see or talk to anyone either, they'd only see how much she had failed the monster world.

She heard the door creak open but paid it no mind. She assumed it was Nani as she had been bringing her meals, not questioning her sudden lack of motivation to do anything. She hadn't been eating much of them either safe for the fruit she often placed in a small pile in the corner of the plate. She had no clue what time it was so it being Nani was a distinct possibility.

Instead she heard a males voice, the sounds source lower to the ground then that of a human person. "Boo." He coughed, clearing his throat. "You've been laying in your bed for days."

Her eyes squeezed shut as though this would make him go away.

"That whole catastrophe set Monsteropolis into a huge panic."

She knew that, knew it better than the alphabet by now so why was he burning it there harder. Why did he feel the need to remind someone who couldn't stop thinking about it.

"It could have been easily prevented."

She knew.

She painfully, painfully knew.

"Look at me." He sighed.

She didn't move, didn't even react to his useless request.

"You haven't eaten anything."

That was a lie. She ate her fruit, her strawberries, raspberries, blueberries.

"Talk to me!"

She would have liked to talk to him but she simply wasn't in the mood. Couldn't stomach the thought of talking to the man who caused her to feel all this guilt.

"YOUR ACTING LIKE A CHILD." He slammed the door shut as he disappeared back into his own world. He likely turned off the door too.

On second thought, no he didn't. He was good at forgetting to shut the door off.

Boo wasn't sure how much time had passed. She fell asleep and awoke. Meals came and went. Her door creaked open she groaned for she assumed it was Mike again. Boo knew she was acting like a baby, pouting in her room like she was an infant rebelling against her parents. She didn't need Mike reminding her. Sometimes it was nice to act like a child every once and a while.

"Honey." It was Celia. She sat on the edge of the bed, extending an arm to stroke her greasy black hair.

She only buried her head deeper in her pillow but the older monster didn't leave. She only continued stroking her hair and massaging her back.

"Do you want to come to my apartment to have a bath?"

Boo nodded but didn't make a move to crawl out of bed or speak. After a few moments without progress Celia put one arm under her legs and the other on her back to carry her away.

Celia lived several blocks away from Mike and for a moment Boo feared that she would be seen pouting in the arms of her stepmother. Well not really since she and Mike haven't yet married but they have been together as long as Boo could remember. Celia moved boo against her hip so that she could open the passenger side door and set Boo inside.

She had always fancied Celia's bright pink car. It ran smoothly and everything had a bit of a artistic touch. All in all it was a common car but something about was more comfortable then any other vehicle she had ever been in.

Celia didn't speed or fuss over her not bothering to wear a seatbelt, something that she would have normally done. She just drove. Drove halfway across town one hand on the wheel and the other on her shoulder. That was one of the best things about Celia, she just had those motherly instincts.

Celia pulled into the driveway and carried her into the small wooden cottage with lots of brightly coloured flowers and lawn ornaments out front. She set Boo on the couch while she went to run the bath.

When the tub was filled Celia came back out to carry her into the bathroom. She shut the door and took Boo out of her dirty clothes. Normally she would be bothered by this but for some reason it didn't . Not enough for her to do more than shy away and climb into the tub. She debated whether Celia would leave or not but she likely thought the chances of her drowning herself were too high as she only left once to get her some clothes. This was ridiculous of course as nothing of that sort would ever cross Boos mind and loved being with Celia.

It's not like she was depressed, just sad and childish. At least she could admit that.

Celia grabbed a cloth and scrubbed Boo clean of dirt. Boo could have done it herself but there was something odd about having it done for her. Something she had never felt before and wasn't sure how to react to it. When Celia was satisfied that her entire body was clean she took soap to her hair and began washing out all the grime. Boo closed her eyes when the water ran down her face and turned her body when instructed. The feel of the warm water against her body was nice, cleaning away all the old memories of what had happened at Harryhausens that night.

"You know what you need?" Celia had asked rhetorically as she helped Boo out of the tub. "Just a few days in the city to help you realize everything is fine and nothing was your fault."

Boo only shrugged. In truth she was ecstatic about the idea, the mere thought of spending time with Celia. She loved to be around Celia but it had never been without Mike before. Always with him or Sully or some sort of group. Never just Boo and her.

Her and her mom.

"We are going to have so much fun in the next few days."

Boo shrugged her head once more even though she adored the idea.

"Or not, if you don't feel up to anything."

Boo shrugged once more, hoping that Celia would hang out with her all weekend.

"I was thinking we could do some stuff around town. Maybe go to supper or go to the salon or something." She continued.

Boo shrugged a last time.

"Boo."

"Yeah?" Her voice was raw and raspy from not talking in what felt like ages.

"We are going to have so much fun in the next few days. What do you want to do first."

"What time is it?" Boo scanned the walls for a clock but didn't see one, it must be hung in the kitchen.

Celia leaned to look around the corner at the pink clock with eyeballs glued to springs coming out of the top. "8:30 at night."

A hint of a smile touched Boos lips.

"I always dreamed of the moment of shared the first sips of alcohol with my daughter and doing daughter stuff with her. I'll fetch the wine."

Boo was more excited to spend time with Celia than she has with anyone for a long time.