Walking onto the porch Ash could feel himself shaking. Weak was the first word he thought of. It summed up everything about him. A weak boy obeying his father no matter what he did. The pit in his stomach opened up. Staring at the white door his stomach felt twisted. Grasping the black hand he pushed his way in. Inside was bright. There in the middle of the hallway stood his father. His gaze made him shiver. Deep brown eyes. They looked black. His gaze looked at Ash with no love. Only desire a deep twisted desire. Ash put his eye down unable to stand his father's piercing gaze. Walking straight into the cafeteria he collapsed into the nearest table. Looking over he caught Quinn looking at him. Technically her eyes were blue but they always looked silver to him. They were such a light shade of the blue the looked silver ish gray. Quinn was incredibly smart and incredibly dangerous. Often she seemed to guess any escape attempts they had tried. Though for some reason she always told Ashs father. Ash and her used to be friends. When all this stared. Then she turned into a darker person who observed without putting herself in. Standing up Ash walked over to her with his friendliest smile. Sitting down across from her he just watched. Large silver eyes full of suspicion darting around the room or looking at him. They always went back to the book in front of her. Long straight black hair framed her face. To Ash it seemed as if two people were inside her. That's why her personality sometimes changed drastically. Though they had grown apart sense that started. Resting his elbows on the table with is face in his hands. Ash liked watching Quinn. Though odd she seemed nice in a weird way. Pain made Ash fall to the floor clutch the back of his head. Even Quinn looked considered and slightly startled. A sharp pain beat in the back of his head. The edges of his vision turning a fuzzy white.
"No elbows on the table," The cold slick voice made Ash shiver. The way his father talked always did that to him though. An urge to shower but he new the words clung to him anyway. Repeating in his head over and over. Almost like a chant. Ash studied everything his father did. Somewhere deep inside he must like me even just a little. Carefully he sat back up his whole head seemed to throb. The lights in the room looked like bright fires right in his eyes. Carefully he sat back dow on the chair. Covering as much of his eyes as he could he tried to think. The throbbing turned into a stab when he thought. The thought of food made his stomach growl and his thirst.
"Take some aspirin you probably have a concussion from hitting the floor," glancing up he saw Quinn he hair cascading down her back. Grabbing the pills and the glass of water she held out to him he swallowed. Slowly the world turned back to it's quite stillness. Quinn was back to reading but she looked at him ever couple of seconds. Now she seemed annoyed. As if it was his fault she had been disrupted from her book. Well it was Ash felt guilty.
"Sorry for... that," pushing himself back carefully he stood before walking to the classroom. The room wasn't huge but had enough space to fight maybe thirty children. Three other kids where already in there. The tallest one a girl with blond hair named Mara waved him over. Instead Ash found the darkest corner and rested his head on the desk. Glancing up he saw Quinn looming over him. His heads dull throb was already coming back. Quinn just silently sat down next to him and pulled out a notebook. Quickly she began to draw and began to write notes. The way her fingers moved so fast impressed Ash. Then again he always did seem to be a big clumsy idiot. His father walked in. As always he looked stiff standing straight with stiff legs as he walked to the front of the room. White hair covered his head. Ash still swore that it had been black before turning all white. For awhile he just assumed his dad dyed his hair that way. Then a girl names moon came. The tips of her hair were dyed blue. Ashs father ended up cutting off all her hair and hurt her away from everyone. She didn't talk for months. Quinn was the one who got her to start talking again. It turned out moon was extremely nice. Ash liked her alot. Once her hair grew back they all admired her silver hair and black eyes. Ash hated the eyes that resembled his fathers. Thoughd hers held kindness. Something he had never seen in his father's eyes. The rest of the kids began walking in. The pounding in Ashs head returned. His stomach began to hurt as well. Quinn looked over consurndered. Ash ignored her and stared at his father who was collecting books to pass out and sevral sheets of paper. Plus what looked like a packet. Sevral others groaned. A sharp glare made them all silent. They all feared his father. Ash new he needed rest or at least a dark room but that he couldn't have that. If they got hurt it was there own fault and they just had to deal with it. That's at least what his father said. Finally having everyone seated his father handed out his book in silence. The eerie silence made him feel. Sick.
"The book must be finished by tomorrow. Everything else is due Saturday. I am not doing classes this week you are dismissed," his father quickly walked out and they could hear him going up stairs. They all looked around at each other confused. Slowly some began to stand up and leave.
"Why did you apologize," The sharp clip in her voice threw him off. Quinn barely talked unless asked questions.
"I uh I just thought that maybe I disturbed you," Ash looked away he hated himself more than unsal now.
"You did nothing wrong," Her silver eyes studied him. "Your dads the how hit you. Come on let's go outside to your room I can read the book to you," standing up Quinn seemed more tense than usual.
"You don't have to," Ash mumbled as he followed behind her ignoring the mummers of the others around them. Walking into his room Quinn looked around.
"Where is all your stuff," Quinn looks around confused. "Everyone else has a desk. A bed frame. Even blankets. What about a lamp and a dresser," The confusion in her voice makes Ash feel anxious. Quinn never seemed confused she always new what was happening.
"I messed up," Ash said tears stinging his eyes. Quinn whipped around and stromed out. "Quinn were are you going. It's fine. I'm the one who screwed up I don't deserve that stuff. Please your right I cant read please. Please," Quinn already stormed into her room. The room had a desk under the window. A lamp sat on the table. A metal bed frame held up the matress from the cold floor. A white dresser sat near the door. A thick fluffy blanket sat on the bed neatly laid out. The room looked so much more welcoming than his.
"Go away Ash I'm not gonna help a loser like you," Slaming the door in his face. Ash walked away his face bright red. Waling into his room he sat down on his matress. Slowly he drifted into sleep as he tried to read the book. His dream brought forth nightmare. Creatures lurking in the darkness. His father. One particularly vivid part had him sitting in a room. The walls were a stained white. Mold could be seen in the corners. The whole room seemed to smell of mildew and mold. There where no doors. No windows. The whirl of the ceiling fan was the only noise. Ash sat on a hard chair waiting. he had. no idea what he was waiting for he just was waiting and waiting. Looking up he saw the seams of the rooms were leaking. A thick black goop. It creeped down the walls. Ash began to struggle to breath. The goo had a fowl smell of death. Gasping for air Ash kept waiting. Though he could feel the death getting closer. Suddenly his eyes opened Quinn clutching his shoulders. Looking up he saw her eyes were wide and full of concern. Ash realized he was holding his breath and began to realise it. Slowly he began to return to his normal breathing. Quinn suddenly fell on top of him hugging him. Ash slowly hugged her back. His hands resting on her shoulder blades. He could feel her tears.
"What's wrong," he said confused.
Lifting herself up ahe said "Ash you weren't breathing." Tears clung to her face. "I thought you were gonna die. Nobody would talk to me if you died," Clinging to him he let her cry. Looking up he saw moon standing behind her. Moon look petrified. Moon would talk to her Ash thought to himself. Ash at that moment wanted to shove Quinn away and yell at her. Though he liked Quinn he knew he would hurt her. That made him hate her. Ash couldn't do anything right. Quinn was warm he realized after another minute. He liked her warmth.
"I'm sorry," apologizing was the only thing Ash ever seemed to do right. Lifting herself off of him Ash shivered at the sudden coldness without her warmth. Looking at the window. Two boys stood staring at him. One had black black hair while the other had blond hair. They both wore the same plain T-shirt Ash was wearing. They looked with jealousy at him and the two girls hovering over him. Realization came over him. The stood up almost to quick. Staggering he ran out the door Quinn yelling at him to lay back down Running behind the house he hid under the tress laying down. He knew they would find him easily. He didn't want to be near them though. Looking up his face turned red as he looked at Mara. The way she looked at him with disgust made him want to cry.
"I uh I don't know," letting his face fall he felt the cool grace blades against his forehead. It felt good. Relaxing he tried to sink farther into the grass. Ash didn't try to do anything.
"Your funny Ash," Basil sat down next to him giggling. Basil was only twelve the youngest person here. He has red hair with a slight wave. Green eyes looked down at him. A goofy smile plastered across his face. Basil was probably the happiest person here. Though he, like most of the kids had been takin away from the streets. A good amount of the kids wanted to go back to the streets. Basil always said this place was the best place he had stayed. Ash looked up and gave Basil a goofy smile back.