Homeless

Chapter 12

Sebastian POV

I get woken up by the sound of one of the staff speaking into the microphone. "Beener East!! Passengers who are descending at Beener East, get ready. We will be arriving in more or less 20 minutes." He shouts, probably louder than needed. The environment has changed to suburbs. Some small houses and cottages made of brick are passing by as the train moves. These little houses are different than the typical log cabins in the north east of the island. We're getting towards the southern part of the island. The boy who spoke to me before, has fallen asleep in my lap... "um..." I murmur. I don't want to wake him, but this is very uncomfortable. I swallow, and gently try to move his head. His eyes open. "Oh it's you, good morning!" "Um, could you get off me?" "Huh? Oh yeah, sorry." He moves immediately. "Have you gotten over your break up?" He still hasn't let go of that has he. I decide to not try to what's going on between him and Kristine. It shouldn't bother him. He's clearly some city boy who's too lonely. "Where are you from?" He asks me. "I was born in Telonia City, but I guess I live in Duarta..." "Duarta? You rich?" "uh, no..." "Hm, don't tell me you're from the gangs...." "What? Are they that famous?" "No kidding, they are like the main setting for every ghost story people tell here in Beener." "I see, well it doesn't matter whether i'm apart of the gangs or not." "I guess. Are you getting off here?" "Um..." Now that I think about it, I don't really have much of a plan. I- I don't even know the address of the competition. "Do you know about the Beener Art competition" "The one that results in an exhibit in the Telonia City museum?" "Yeah.. that one. Do you know any information about it?" "Um, it's not very popular I know that." "It's not??" "Uh..no. I mean, Beener still holds it, but like nobody participates." "Why not?" "People from Beener are workaholics. They are either engineers or doctors. You think they care about some art exhibit? Besides, Beener's population are very rich. Go to the capital to see poor people." He laughs, it's not particularly funny, but whatever. "Oh, what about the prize?" "That's still there, the only thing that has changed are the people." "Do you know where the address is?" "Um, no sorry. Just check google maps or something." "I don't have a phone, or a watch." "You don't even have a watch? Um, here take this one." He hands me his watch. "This one is old so you can have it bro." "Thanks...um" "Luke" He says, winking. "Thanks, Luke..." I say, trying my hardest to smile. Well what's your baggage ID?" "What? oh..." I look at my ticket crumpled in the cup holder. "72851" "Okay, it will be ready when we get there." "Thanks, man." That's what teenage boys say nowadays, right?  I get off the train and look up at the sky, smog. I miss the blue sky from the country side. I miss the cave, and I miss Kristine. There's a man dealing out maps. He's dressed in a navy and gold uniform. A working class commoner. I take one, and look at it. The spring is  30 minute walk from the station. I can wash myself there. The spring wasn't like Duarta's at all though. It had plastic slides, water fountains, and people everywhere. I guess the children enjoy all the toys, but the springs should be more peaceful. I read a sign called "Spring Water Bath House***" My eyes widen, perfect. After bathing, I check the map. "Tourist center is right next to the station." I whisper, talking to myself. I could've checked out the center when I arrived, stupid. I walk back to the center to ask about the location of the competition.

"You...you know my name?" I ask the man. "I'm a ex- friend of Kento." (my father) "Oh..." I bow "No need to be so formal, I consider you my daughter." "But sir, why are you an 'ex' friend of my father" I put emphasis on the "ex". "Well I was in love with Giulia, but oh whatever." "Oh, did you two stop your friendship because of that?" "Well, I was mad at him in the beginning, but hey, I'm not Professor Snape, I'm not going to give you a hard time just because your father stole my first love." "Oh I see." "Harry Potter? No?" "I have read them, and I get your reference, but I guess it didn't excite me that much." "Oh, well, are you finally thinking of returning?" "You knew I left sir?" "Of course I knew you left. Not that I blame you though, Kento  told me what happened between him and your mother." "What?" "Oh, you don't know? Well, that makes sense, you probably would've never come back, he really was awful to you." My mother and my father. They weren't lovey dovey like couples in books, but they never seemed to not get along. Although my mother enclosed herself in her office for years, so something must have happened. I see a photo of him and my father on his desk. They looked around 16, but my father looked the same as ever. Tears start running down my face seeing him young like that. I close my eyes and I picture Sebastian, the journal, our memories. Wanting him here. Maybe if he was here I would have felt better. The man is hugging me now. He's giving me a comforting hug, I appreciate it, obviously. He's trying to make me feel better. Through this hug, I can feel he knows exactly what i've been through these years. Though he's a nobleman, he is very warm and caring. "Do you also have a lover?" "What?" I ask, flustered. "You're thinking of him I presume. You never used to cry like this. There must be somebody else. "I guess you're right." The world I have lived in before is the same as now. My world however, has been changed. By Sebastian. "You won't find any clues at the house about the torn page. I recommend going to the capital though. You'll find more answers there." He says, smiling tenderly. I nod. He hands me a purse. Somebody told me to give this to you whenever you came back. I was reluctant you would, but they believed in you Kristine. We all do." "Who did that?" "I don't think it's my place to say so. You'll find it more meaningful to figure who it is, yourself. Very best of luck honey. I hope to see you again." The purse is now around my shoulder and I look through it. A Telonian Rail Services lifetime Membership card is now in my hands. I make my way to the train, after waiting for 5 hours. The purse had a real cell phone inside, it looks outdated. From 10 years ago, but I don't care. It's the most technology I've ever owned. The train back and forth through Beener is a popular one. The line goes back and forth for 24 hours. It arrives and I hop on. I don't have any baggages, so I can by-pass the luggage check and I was the first one on the train. I think. I walk through the small walkway between the two sides of seats but bump into something. "HEY!" A boy with dark brown hair looks at me. He has a sharp jawline, but not as pretty eyes as Sebastian. I look at his uniform. He isn't wearing his vest (green, navy, purple, or black uniform vests symbolize the four social classes) So his white polo shirt has grape soda stained on it from when I bumped into him. "I'm so sorry, I didn't think there was anybody else on the train..." "Well of course there's going to be staff...Agh my boss is stopping by next week. How am I supposed to get it clean by then.." "I'll pay you back! I'll treat you to some food and then buy you a new polo, I promise." He grins. "Well, if you say so. I never reject free food. Wait are you going to poison me?" "What..no, I wouldn't even know how to do that." "Just put some cleaning chemical inside the food. Or you can take the Beener sky. Full of dirty smog. I laugh. "That's funny, there was a boy last night who never laughed at my jokes. You've got a good sense of humor girly." "Thanks...I guess." "The name is Luke!"