by L.V.L » Fri Feb 17, 2017 3:47 pm
It was a normal day at school; the people who stay outside are outside and the people who stay inside are inside. We all have our own little groups and our areas in the cafeteria, everyone knows who goes where and when/if you should approach them. No one's rude to anyone, it's just everyone knows their place. Freshmen learn pretty quickly on where they fit in, but if they don't, it's our job to help them.
I stand at the top of the stairs outside, watching what goes on and keeping everything in check with the rest of my group. We have teachers standing around, of course, but it's up to us to keep fights from starting or progressing; mainly stopping a situation from getting worse, in simpler terms.
"Luna, stop freaking out. Nothing is going to happen without us knowing about it. Go get your food or I'll push you inside," Zasha, one of our best protectors in our group speaks to me; her dad used to be in the Navy until he got sent back and became the chief of the city. I turn to look at her and see her staring at me with a raised eyebrow. It's like her light blue eyes are just piercing my soul. I laugh and wave her off, while walking through the doors and inside the cafeteria.
"So, decided you were going to finally join us on the inside, huh?" Jake says while poking me in the side; he's like me - head negotiator and practically the leader - but on the inside.
I roll my eyes, shoving him away. "You always try but never succeed. I feel bad for you - but not that bad to join you. Try getting some sun once in your life."
"Whoa, I do get sun! I mean, look at these tanned abs." He lifts up his shirt, and like a showcase model he moves his hand around his stomach area and I laugh loudly, covering my mouth and heading up the stairs.
"Oh lord, how could I ever say no to those now?"
"Only if you didn't have a girlfriend, then you could totally get this whenever you wanted."
I stare at him with narrowed eyes, but still smiling. I shake my head and scoff. Going over to the store I get myself a flavored water and head back outside, Jake still following behind me like a puppy.
"Are you coming outside with me, then?"
"Ha, you wish," Jake jokes, and I watched him leave towards his own group. Pushing the doors open, I walk towards my own group and look out, scanning the crowd real fast. I spot Viviana, my crush for about five months now, walking strangely towards the center on the Quad.
"Luna, what do you thi-"
I interrupt whoever's talking with a wave of my hand and I narrow my eyes towards her, someone is walking behind her, but I can't tell who it is. Looking down near her waist when she turns to the side, I can see what sees like a gun pointed against her back.
"Nick, go get Lilly from Jake's group and slowly round everyone inside the cafeteria; don't make so much of a scene though. Sam, go get Jake." I turn towards them and I see confused looks on their faces, "Now!" I hiss.
"Luna, what's going on?" Ash comes up to me, worried.
"Look, do you see Viviana walking slowly towards the middle of the Quad?" I point and continue, "Look behind her; you see the strange looking dude? He's got a gun, pointed up against her back." I motion towards the end of my back as a demonstration and everyone left gasps. I look around and see Nick and Lilly carefully guiding everyone inside.
"What do you need me to do?" Jake's voice rings out softly in my ear, but it's stern and filled with worry.
"Stay here and keep things under control, I'm going to go speak to him," I say, and push past him when he tries to stop me. Sighing, I try to calm myself, thinking of some of the rules to negotiating: Never make promises. Never tell them your life story. Never say that life will get better for them, because it won't. Never... The thoughts of all of that leave my mind when I see the look on Viviana's face. I've never seen her like this before. So much fear a person could carry was just shinning through her chocolate brown eyes; you could tell that she was doing everything in her power not to break down from fear and collapse onto the ground. I've taught her that, though. Never show fear or any emotion when you're being held hostage. I walk slowly towards them and put my hands up carefully in front of me. I can see the man... no, oh geez, the teenager look towards me and pull the gun out from behind her back, pointing it towards her head.
"Don't come any closer, or I swear I will shoot her right here, right now," the boy says. I can tell in the way he stands and the way his voice shakes that he doesn't really understand what he's doing; that he doesn't want to be here as much as anyone else.
"Alright, I'm not going to hurt you. I just came here to talk to you. To see what's going on, that's all," I say, breathing slowly and carefully.
"I know what you are, you're trying to speak to me. Get inside my head just like everyone else, and it's not going to work. People have tried before, and look where that gets people."
"Alright, then I'm not going to try and get inside your head. But I did come here to talk to you, so tell me what's going on," I say, and look at him for a moment; his eyes are filled with both anger and fear.
"I just want revenge. Revenge on people like her, the ones who took my father away from me. I just want to see them suffer like I did!"
"What do you mean people like her? What happened... what's your name?" I ask.
"Kenai. Lesbians; lesbians are the problem. They are the ones who took my father away from me. They're the ones who destroyed my family."
The anger in his voice isn't there anymore; it's becoming filled with despair and hurt. He's just a teenager; can't be more then sixteen, and all he wants is to get his father back.
"Okay, Kenai. You and me can talk about this, but I need you to let her go. Hurting her isn't going to prove anything. If you just want to see your father I can help you with that, but not when you have someone with you. Let it just be me and you." I take a step forward slowly, and he shakes his head and the gun quickly.
"No, no, no. Stay where you're at, I'm not letting her go. She deserves to die, and so does everyone else like her."
"You're hurt, I understand that; I know what you're going through. I—"
"No!! You don't know, no one ever knows." He starts to mumble something under his breath.
I look at Viviana and make a quick nod towards her.
She mouths, "I love you," as a tear races to her cheek. It breaks my heart to see her like this, so I think quickly and break a rule.
"I actually do know what you're going through. I was hurt by someone, just like you were; felt like no one knew what I was going through. Even when they said they did, I didn't believe them because that's what they just tell you, right? That it's going to get better tomorrow—"
"Going to get better tomorrow or the day after. That 'we're here for you whenever you need it', and 'we won't ever let anything like that happen again'. That 'you can always speak to us', even though we just say that because it's in our job description. They just read it from a book, and tell that to everyone they see," Kenai says, and I watch as he tries to blink back tears. I nod in agreement and look as he stares up at me with a questioning look, "What happened to you, then?"
"When I was young I moved to Michigan with the rest of my family. I was there until I was seven years old. I had three other siblings, and I wasn't the most favoured out of the bunch. I was either by myself or causing trouble with the others; there was no good in me at that age.
"My parents decided that it would be best to leave me alone and deal it out myself, but when does that ever work with kids? So my cousin, he raised me; granted he was only fourteen at the time, but he did the best he could. Taught me things about the world, taught me how to treat others with respect, taught me how to be a person, and interact with the world. And then when I turned eight we moved here and I lost all contact with him for a few years. I was young, and he had his own life also. It wasn't until I was in 9th grade 'til I had my first contact with him after six years. He was twenty and had left the military.
"One day, while we were texting over Facebook, my mother asked me who I was speaking to, and when I told her it was my cousin she immediately took the laptop from me and yelled at me, telling me that I couldn't ever speak to him. I asked her why and she told me that he was mentally unstable, and that I couldn't have people in like that my life; that it wasn't good for me. So, like any thirteen year old would do, I made her promise that either when I turned sixteen or when his own family said he was fine that I could go see him, or I could start speaking to him again. She agreed; signed a paper; had the whole family watch, and everything like that, so I knew she would never break her promise.
"Now, just a few months ago, we left to visit our family back in Michigan, and I was super excited to see him again; the boy who raised me. But when we got to their house and we saw each other my mother flipped, telling me that we weren't allowed to see each other; that he was still insane and not safe for me. I was sixteen years old, his family said he was fine, and still she forbade me to do so.
"I was in shock. I remember I turned towards her and started yelling at her, saying that she was the worst parent in the world—how she broke her promise and I would never trust her again about anything she said. All we could do for the whole trip was just wave at each other from the windows.
"When we got back there was a silence between me and her. Just a few nights ago I brought it up; asked her if her reasoning was still the same and it was. I yelled at her. How could she take away the one person who was there for me when she wasn't? The one person who raised me when she ignored me? The one person who understood whatever I was going through, who was my rock? And then she hit me, saying that she was supposed to be that person; that I didn't need him and to never mention him again in front of her."
I took some deep breaths, noticing I was staring at the ground the whole time. I look up and see tears rushing down his and Viviana's face.
"So I know what you're going through, Kenai. I may not be in the same situation as you, but I know, in my own way, your pain and suffering; the hatred you have towards somebody. This—what you're doing—won't solve anything. Tell me what you want, Kenai."
I look at him and see him take some deep breaths, trying to wipe away the tears running down his now water-stained cheeks.
"I... I just want to see my father again," he stutters out.
"Alright, do you know where your father is?" I see him nod, and smile a little. "Kenai, if you let her go I will take you to your father. I won't let anything bad happen to you until you see your father."
I wait for his answer. It seems like hours are passing by as everyone waits for his decision.
Finally, he lowers the gun slowly down from her head. I watch him raise his shoulders up and then down as he finally comes to a decision. He lets his arm drop from Viviana's body and tosses the gun away.
"Alright, come towards me, Kenai, and let's go see your father," I say, and step towards him. I move my head to the side quickly and Viviana nods, running towards the outer doors where the police are waiting.
"No one is going to hurt you, Kenai. I'll make sure of that!" I sort of yell out and look to where the officers are standing. I walk up to him slowly and hold out a hand, waiting for him, to see if he takes it.
"Do you promise? Promise that nothing terrible will happen to me before I see my father."
Another rule broken.
"I promise." And with that he takes a hold of my hand and I guide him towards the parking lot. I look around and notice how many news stations are roaming around; officers trying to keep everyone calm; even students are watching. I open the door to the parking lot and I'm greeted with officers drawing their guns and aiming at him; I feel Kenai tense next to me, gripping my hand tighter.
"Step away from the girl!"
"Put your hands up!" officers yell at him as they draw closer to us.
I do the unthinkable. Something I know I shouldn't do; I step out in front of Kenai, protecting him.
"Luna!!" voices cry out around me, and the officers drop their guns to their sides.
"Officer Turner, I'm going to need you to drive us somewhere. And you aren't to harm him in any way until we're finished!" I yell out, and see a tall, medium built guy step out from the crowds while putting his gun into his holster.
"Luna. That's your name?" Kenai asks me in a whisper, and I nod, walking towards Officer Turner.
We reach his car with everyone staring at us. I look up in the sky and see a few news helicopters and a police one.
"Kenai, do you know where your father is?" I ask, and he reaches into his front pocket, pulling out a piece of paper and handing it to me. I open it and read the address.
1500 Las Vegas Blvd N, Las Vegas, NV.
I hand it to the officer and sigh. I know where that is.
I look at Kenai as he sits there, staring out the window; looking at the crowd. I don't think he knows.
"How long will it take us to go see him?" Kenai asks, staring at me with shining eyes. I can't tell if it's because he was just crying, or if it's because he's finally going to see his father.
"It'll take about ten minutes to get there, if Mr. Turner here steps on it a little bit," I speak a little harshly, then turn in my seat. I sit there, just staring in front of me, thinking about all the rules I broke.
Never make promises? Broken. Never tell them your life story? Broken. Never say that life will get better for them, because it won't? Broken.
"What do you think he's going to say? Do you think he'll be angry with me just showing up? It's not like I brought anything, and he always said to bring something when you go to visit someone."
"Kenai, you're going to be okay. I don't think he'll mind just this one time, but if it'll make you feel better we can get some flowers. I know—"
"Flowers! Yes! His... his favorite flowers, strangely, are dandelions. They'll just blow away, though, when we move, so we have to be extra careful," Kenai said happily; I looked at him for a moment—it seemed like everything that happened today just disappeared in his mind.
"Are you okay? You seem a little..." I trail off as he looks at me with a confused face.
"Oh!! Ha, I tend to look a little off. I've got... ummm, a slight memory problem. Some things stick in my brain forever, and some will just slip away like it never happened. Why, do you—"
"Alright, we're here," I hear Mr. Turner say, and look outside. We've arrived. I watch, and see a group of people sitting happily under a tree, and I can faintly hear olden folk music playing. I smile slightly at the scene, but in the back of my mind this is all depressing.
"Pull over, we'll walk from here," Kenai says, and I feel the car shake as he gets out.
Following him out, I hold a hand out for Mr. Turner to stay where he is. I wait there, watching as Kenai goes around and picks some dandelions from the grass across the way.
"Luna, you think he realizes that—"
"I don't know. But I don't want to say anything, just give us a few minutes." With that I push myself off the truck of the car and walk over to Kenai. I smile slightly as he looks up at me. All I see right now is a teenage boy picking flowers for his father. A boy that probably has no idea what has happened today.
"Ready?" Kenai asks me, and he holds out a hand towards me.
I hesitate for moment, wondering whether or not to dig myself deeper into this hole I've dug—and I do. I grab his hand and let him lead me to his father.
As he leads me across the grass I look around and see some families sitting under trees, talking to their loved ones. I see pets laying down on the grass, just enjoying the nice cloudy day.
We come up to a small little building with vines and flowers all around the grass and walls. I smile, the sight of it bringing back some memories.
"I hope he's okay with this. Just showing up unannounced," Kenai tells me, letting go of my hand.
I know words can't help much with about what we're going to do, so I gently placed my hand on his shoulder. I see him smile for the first time and feel his shoulders move up and down in a sigh. I watch as he walks towards the building, opening the door for me. I quickly walk over to him and enter.
It's huge inside, with old chandeliers hanging from the high ceiling. Glass windows with wooden framing let the sunlight in, brightening the place up ; there are vases scattered everywhere, some filled with withered flowers, and some with just-picked ones. I follow him as he starts walking towards a wall with a bench in front of it.
"Hello, father," Kenai whispers, placing his hand on the wall; the wall that reads:
In Loving Memory Of
Richard Martínez
1963 - 2015
Beloved Husband and Father
"I brought you some flowers. They're your favorite, just like you told me to remember. I hope it's okay that I brought someone besides... well, you know who..." Kenai trails off and stares at the wall.
I watch as he stands there; it seems like he's a statue—until he slowly bends his head down and places his forehead against the wall. I watch as a single tear rolls down his cheek and splashes onto his shoe.
"I love you, dad." Kenai whispers, flattening his hand on the wall.
I look at him; he's not the boy who wanted to shoot people; he's not the boy who wanted to go to jail; he's not the boy who ever wanted to hurt anyone. He's a boy who just wanted to see his father again, when no one would help.
Kenai turns around towards me and hugs me tightly; hugs me like it's going to be his last one forever.
"Thank you" he mumbles into my shoulder before then letting go. He smiles slightly and then walks past me. I turn around towards him and still see the flowers in his hand.
"Kenai, the flowers," I say, and he turns towards me, now a huge grin on his face. He goes over to the corner and opens a door, where spiral stairs lead up to the unknown—the unknown for me.
"Come on, trust me. And then we'll go back to the car." And with that I watch him disappear up the stairs; I groan a complaint, but follow him anyways.
It's like an attic-type room when I reach the top, but there's no roof. It's just open; the wind blowing the flowers that are growing from the vines. I laugh, never having seen anything like this ever in my life.
"Here, come stand next to me and watch." He gestures to the area beside him, so I go and stand next to him. I watch as he holds out his hand with the dandelions in them towards the sky. The slight breeze blows the little seeds on the stem and I watch them slowly drift away. Hundreds of them cover the sky, it seems like it's snowing in some areas. I laugh loudly in amazement, and watch the people below look up and point towards them.
"That's for you, father," I hear him whisper under his breath, and I pat his shoulder. We both turn and head back downstairs and out the doors. We walk side by side towards where Mr. Turner is waiting for us... what actually seems like waiting impatiently for us.
"Oh, hush and drive us back," I say before he has a chance to complain. I climb into the car and close the door behind me. Mr. Turner and Kenai climb in as well, and we drive out of the cemetery. I sigh slightly and look out the window. I can still faintly see the dandelions floating in the waves of the wind. I smile and rest my head on the window, watching buildings and people pass us by on our way towards the school.
"What's going to happen to me when I get back?" Kenai suddenly jolts me from sleep; I looked around and see we are arriving into the parking lot of the school.
"No one's going to hurt you, if that's what you're asking," I say to him, and he looks at me with a raised eyebrow. "I can't say I promise anything, Kenai. I'm sorry, but I honestly have no idea."
"My advice to you, kid, is just follow orders. Don't cause a ruckus with anyone and just be honest. They'll most likely be easy on you, since you've got that memory problem of yours. And you're also just a teenager," Mr. Turner says.
I look at him and scoff.
"Ya, take advice from someone who got arrested when he was a boy," I laugh, and he grunts.
I watch as we come to a stop and all the news crews quickly turn toward us. I can tell that they're just itching to get some type of interview with one of us.
"Also, if the reporters ask either of you questions, just say 'No comment,'," Mr. Turner tells us sternly, unlocking the car. We all get out at once, and officers there start coming towards us.
"Luna... thank you." Kenai quickly turns toward me and hugs me. I pull away and look up at him; I look into his eyes and don't see any type of anger or despair, just... calmness.
"Kenai, it's time," Mr. Turner says, taking Kenai's hands. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can—and will—be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand the rights I have just read to you? With these rights in mind, do you wish to speak to me?”
Kenai nods, and I watch as Mr. Turner puts him in handcuffs and starts taking him away to another officer's car. I follow slowly behind them, trying to avoid all the news people yelling out questions to us.
"Kenai, you're going to be okay. I'll come visit you whenever I can," I call out to him, and I stand there, watching him smile back at me. He climbs into the car and it's over. I sigh and rub my arms, looking around at everything and everyone walking around.
"I see one section just piled with news people giving reports on what happened; some cameras pointing at him, some at me.
There's another section with officers speaking to a couple of students and teachers. I then turn around completely, and notice that I'm the only one standing in the middle of the parking lot. Alone.
I watch as the car holding Kenai drives out of the parking lot and down the street—and then I notice everyone, including all the cameras, is staring at me; waiting for something to happen next.
"Luna!!!" a voice calls out behind me, and I turn around slowly.
I see someone running towards me and I realize who it is. Smiling, I run toward her, everyone else disappearing from view; she jumps into my arms and wraps her legs around me.
"Viviana." I breath in her scent and smile.
"God, you freaking stupid person! I thought you were going to die!" she says in my ear, pulling back. I stare at her as a single tear rolls down her cheek.
"I love you," she whispers to me.
"I love you, too," I say, and kiss her.
