A girl with short curly dirty blonde hair came into my vision. Her glasses were so big and round they almost covered the massive amount of freckles in her face.
"Um, uh, no but I.. We thought you might be able to help us."
So that's the reason behind all this mystery huh Gabe I've got your number now. At least it's normal boy behavior this time and not something terrible.
"Help you? I'm sorry I'm not very good at anything, and I don't have much to give you." She spoke like she was trying to hide behind her glasses.
"We're not here to take anything from here, we're not raiders but we hear you study the stars. Unless that was a lie Gabe."
"No, that was true, the merchant told me about her watching the stars." He returned my stare with a genuine pleading face
"I do map out the stars, I like to envision where my family is up there. Where I would be, had I been up there with them, and not left here." The sadness swelling in her eyes almost became tears.
"But I don't have anything to give you on the stars. Most of the electronics here are so old they don't work." She continued.
"We're actually going to space soon, and we're…."
"You're going up there?! Like in a spaceship?" She cut me off and replaced all that sadness with eagerness. She leaned forward with her big blue eyes locking them onto mine. Excitement and wonder filled them and washed away any trace of sadness that remained.
"Yea, we're almost done with our ship. But once we're up there we have no way of knowing where we're going."
"Ohh! Um, I can definitely help with that!"
I watched as she immediately darted from one corner of the next collecting paper from almost random stacks. She gathered a good sized chunk, but she's so thin it looks like she's struggling to hold them all. The dim lit lights tried their best to pierce the mildew but weren't very effective.
"Do you live here alone?"
"Yes!" She shouted as she dug through a pile. Jumping to the next one she ran into Mia standing in the shadow dressed in all black standing still.
"Oh um, sorry I didn't see you there." She sunk back into that shy nature she had when I first talked to her.
"I know." Mia responded coldly as ever.
"Everything good Mia?"
"Yes." Without breaking her stare into Luna.
"Then why do you look like you're trying to stab through her with your gaze?"
"I'm trying to figure out why my brother was so excited to see this little mouse."
"Excuse me." Luna shrank even more, not helping her case.
"I guess boys can't help but like a helpless damsel." Mia spoke, turning on her heel.
"We'll be in the van waiting." With that she left the office space with us still just as confused.
"I was excited because I was told someone my age was around and wasn't a drugged up raider already.. It's not my fault she's cute."
"Cute?" Luna turned to him, blushing. My eyebrows even raised a little. I wasn't expecting that.
"Uhh I didn't mean it like that!" He ran into the darkness towards the van as well.
"Well interesting developments were made here huh?"
She just looked at me for a few moments, and walked over to her last pile rummaging through for her last few pages.
"What are you looking for?"
"Just some of the stars of places I think they'll be."
"Ahh I see." Not completely sure what she meant but the scribbles on those pages were at least more visible than most.
Looking at her I couldn't tell that she was the same age as Gabe. She's so thin and fragile and he's a borderline savage.
"Do you have food or belongings you want to bring back?"
She shook her head no.
"What have you been eating, you're so small?"
"Umm nothing much really, little things when I can find them." Now that she was close I could see she hasn't eaten much in a long time probably.
"Then why have you stayed here so long?"
"I don't have anywhere else to go. This is where my grandparents worked their whole lives and I was hoping when my parents came back they would know I'd be here so they could find me easily."
Poor girls dealing with this just as bad as the rest of us. I don't have the heart to tell her any different.
"You're so young, how did your parents leave and you're here?"
"My uncle raised me until about a year ago when he passed away. I've never met my parents, he just told me who they were."
I have a sneaking suspicion you may have been lied to but I won't tell you no need to destroy what's already so apparently broken.
"Well let's get you in some clothes, and get you fed and we'll head back to our place and work on further."
"Okay I look forward to working together! Oh, and thank you Ma'am for helping me reach the stars!"
"No problem at all. We're here to help each other have a better life.. wait I'm not that much older then you! No need for Ma'am!"
"Oh okay sorry Ma'am!.. uhh"
She just stopped talking, the look on my face must've been meaner looking then I intended.
"Anyway, let's catch up to them."
"Wait one second!" She practically dove into an old moldy stack of papers. Pulling out a small rusty metal box and turning the knob in it she pulled out a small white cloth wrapped in plastic.
"Before my uncle died he gave me this and told me to wear it proudly when I became a full fledged astronomer!" She started beaming with joy despite me being annoyed by the Ma'am comments, still I couldn't help but smile at her excitement.
"Put it on then what are you waiting for!"
"Not until we're ready for lift off!"
"I can't argue there." Turning around to walk out of this stinky old room was one fantastic thought I couldn't help but be happy to finally be leaving. The sound of rain hitting the building finally stopped so I may even see the sun go down on our way home!
Walking out the way we came, I'm realizing this little girl has had it so rough as many others have. I want to save them all from this shitty life. Humanity that left is gonna hear from me when I get up there.
Walking outside I see Gabe turned around talking to Mia about something. He seems a little flustered. The way he's swinging his hands around. I bet it's about Luna.
"So what do you think of our little crew on first impressions?"
"Oh, um, you all seem really nice."
"How'd you get that from Mia?"
"Well most kids around my age have attacked me with worse than the word mouse, so I appreciate that."
"Wow, that's mature of you to think that way." Maybe there's some hope for these kids after all. After pulling on the lever to the back door of the van I let Luna in next to Mia.
"Thank you for inviting me. I'll do my best to help where I can."
"If you need anything at all just let me know and I'll help you out!" Gabe basically shouted at her. This boy really needs to get out more if this is how he talks to girls.
"Thank you, I'll take you up on that offer I'm sure!" They both blushed a little. I don't know if it's adorable or sickening watching their awkward display.