No One's Perfect (A Zodiac Story)

How it Began Pt. 2

Libra

I stayed close behind my dad, weaving between people at the mall. My hands shook, and I could feel my heart began to beat faster. This always happened to me when I was in a large social setting. 

Why'd you even come? You stupid fool, you know you have social anxiety. You dimwit. Moron. Such an idiot. Next time just stay home with Chess.

Cheshire, or Chess, is my pet cat. He loves me more than anyone else in the family, and usually stays in my room. He's brown and cream colored, with really fluffy fur.

I clenched my fists and took a deep breath, steadying myself. Come on. You can do it, you moron. Just walk forwards. That's right. Take another step.

Finally, we walked outside, the breeze gently caressing my face. I hate large crowds of people, and people in general, because once, I got rejected and humiliated in by a girl I liked in front of the whole school. Everyone was laughing and pointing at me. Since then, I've never liked anyone else. Also, I would sometimes have random panic attacks. Those sucked, especially when it happened in school. I guess I was just... naturally nervous of everything. 

 Oh yeah. You wanted to prove you could overcome your fear. Well, guess what, dimwit. You can't.

I walked through the parking lot, flinching when a dog walked past me. I had a fear of dogs, because once, as a kid, I was playing and I somehow got into an abandoned lot, where there was a dog. I think I tried to pet it, but it bit my hand. I managed to run away in the end, but it chased me all the way home. I've hated dogs ever since. 

I slowly got into the car, hesitating before closing the door shut. An instant later, I had the window wide open and my hand stuck out. 

I'm also very claustrophobic because once, a group of bullies ganged up on me and shoved me into a locker. It was about an hour later until the janitor managed to get me out. From then on, I hated cramped spaces and I always felt the need to put some part of me out, when in a confined space. I perked up as I heard my father call my name. 

"Libra, you've been acting strange for quite a while. I saw a doctor, and they recommended you to Astrolia Hospital. Sorry, son."

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Scorpio

My stomach growled at me as the delicious scent of Chinese takeout drifted past my nose. The small restaurant was full of loud clamor and laughing, but the food there was really good. I should know, I had eaten from their garbage dump two days ago. 

Why am I eating from the garbage dump? Well, guess what, not everyone has a nice bed and warm food to return to every night. 

Of course, this was my choice. To live a life like this, on the run from police, never really knowing we're you're going next. But then again, this does have it's benefits. At the orphanage, there were bullies, and never enough food or sleeping bags to go around. Here though, I was free to do whatever. 

I was so caught up by the delicious smell, that I didn't even hear the sirens. But when I did hear them, it was too late. I tried to run, but they easily caught up.

They handcuffed me, then interrogated me like I had committed a class one felony.  

"Why'd you run away from home?" One officer asked. 

"What home? All I had back there was a lumpy mat, cold food, and some old people who didn't care." I answered. 

The officers didn't quite enjoy my humor. "Sorry young man, but we have to take you to Astrolia Hospital." Another officer said.