• it was dark and the wind blew making a hissing noise as i walked down the empty street. i knew i was going to get in trouble when i got home. it was pass my curfew. this was the third time. as they say in baseball three strikes and your out. well put it this way the next batter up was going to hit a home run. i stopped and looked up at the sky. the stars looked down at me. they were like lights that were showing through fabric. i then looked up and down the street. it was a quit night. i started to walk again and then i stopped in front of a gate door.i jumped it so i didn't make to much noise. i walked around the house to the back. i saw the window that i kept open just a crack so i could always get in if i was locked out. i slowly opened the window and slipped in. when my feet hit the floor the lights flickered on. i cursed under my breath well looking up at my foster father. he stood there with his arms crossed against his chest.
    "where have you been?" he asked well glaring at me.
    "i was out with a couple of friends. we lost track of the time." i lied
    "tell me Kumori," he took a deep breath ,"why can't i believe that?"
    "i don't know. why can't you?" i said this well looking down.
    "i can't believe it because you've already used that line. if you're going to do this actully try to do it right." he walked over to me and grabbed the collar of my shirt. i looked at him. i knew it was going to be the same as all the other times.
    i woke in the morning on the kitchen floor. hardened blood covered my bottem lip and the left side of my face. i got up and mopped the floor where i had slept. after i put the mop up i went up stairs and into the bathroom.
    "what a fun night that was." i told my reflection in the mirror. i scrubed off the dried blood. i then traced the long cut on my face. life was pretty hard here in this family.i've always lived with this family. well this isn't my biological family. they took me in when i was real little. after getting dressed i walked down stairs into the kitchen. my foster mother was at the stove cooking breakfast.
    "good morning mom." i said it loudly knowing what was going to happen. she was very quit still well cooking. i sat on the edge of the kitchen table and picked up a glass of milk on the table.
    “put that down!” my foster father yelled while walking in the room.”And good morning, honey.”
    “good morning dear. Would you like some eggs and ham?”
    “sure honey” he paused and looked at me,”you need to get to school.”
    “it’s only 6:30!” I jumped up from the table and stared him right in the eyes.
    “I don’t care. Go to school!” he yelled
    “Fine, I will!” I walked off into the living room to get my bag. I shoved my books in my bag and slammed the door on my way out.it was a beautiful morning. The sun was just peaking up over the roof tops. I walked to school. I looked at the school and sighed. It was going to be another long day. I opened my locker and dropped my bag in there. While pulling a pen and a couple of notebooks out, I saw the door of the locker next to me. That was odd. I’d never seen anyone at that locker. Before I could say anything the locker closed and there stood a boy. I guess he was new. He had black shoulder length hair with dark red highlights. He was tall and slender. His skin was whiter than the sheets on my bed and trust me those sheets are pretty white. He wore a long black sleeved shirt and baggy black jeans.I observed him,but to be honest, I should have just looked away. I guess you can make a bad turn even when you’re not trying.
    “hello,”he said in a calm voice.
    “oh hello,” I said quickly looking up to be polite and speak face to face. “may I ask a question?”
    “sure. Go right ahead.” He said smiling at me. I had to smile back.
    “are you new here?” I asked as I scuffed my foot on the floor.
    “Yup. I just moved here.” He said.
    “well then let me properly introduce myself. My name is Kumori Moonnight.” I held out my hand. He reached out and shook my hand.
    “it is nice to meet you kumori. My name is Damien Bluemoon.”
    “it’s nice to meet you too, Damien.” I turned around and shut my locker. Then the bell rang. I sighed. I was going to be late again. I turned to say goodbye to Damien but he was gone. I was halfway through the school day. I had already gotten my beating today and I was ready to eat something. I walked into the cafeteria and sat at the table near the windows. I always sat alone. No one ever talked to me. They just ignored me.
    “hey Kumori!” I heard someone yell. I looked up from my lunch and looked across the room. Damien was waving his hand frantically in the air. I looked around quickly to see if anyone noticed. No one did yet. He walked over and sat across from me. He smiled from ear to ear.
    “so whats up Kumori? Why are you over here?” he said. People were starting to stare and I didn’t like attracting attention.
    “nothing really just trying to stay out of people’s way and I’m always over here.i’ve never really sat with people.”
    “oh. Well I’ll sit with you. You’re the only person who’s really actually talked to me so far.” He said then he bit into his sandwhitch.
    “its probably the way you dress. I mean you look great to me but to everyone else it’s a different story.”
    “the way I dress is awesome.” He looked at himself and nodded in approval. I laughed at this little act. He then looked at me and nodded.
    “you look pretty cute in your outfit.” He said grinning. I turned my head so I could hide my face. I knew I was blushing.
    “not at all. You’re joking right?” I still didn’t look at him.
    “why would I joke about that?” he looked at me questioningly. I finally looked at him hoping my face wasn’t still red.
    “I don’t know damien. People can be very cruel.” I said knowing this from what people have done to me. He shook his head in disapproval.
    “kumori trust me. I never say something that I don’t mean.” He stretched over the table and put his forehead against mine. I took a deep breath. It was weird to be this close to someone.
    “whats wrong? The heat getting to you?” he said while trying to stop himself from laughing.
    “NO! what in the world are you talking about?” I asked
    “don’t play games with me, Kumori. Your face is so red right now.” He said. He the gingerly pressed his finger tips against my cheek. I flinched for a quick moment. He chuckled under his breath. The bell rang and broke the silence. Damien looked up at the clock then back at me.
    “well, we should get going. I’ll talk to you later.” Damien then got up and walked away.The other half of the day went quick. I took in a deep breath and let it out. I was happy to be outside. It always feels so great to be out but there’s always a downside. I walked down the stairs of the school and to the sidewalk. I was ready to leave until I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned around and now I was face to face with Damien. He always seems to pop up out of nowhere. He smiled at me.
    “walking home?” he asked
    “yea, I always walk home. I never liked the bus.” I said swaying back and forth.
    “can I walk you home?” he asked and grabbed my hand. I looked at him. This was surprising to me. No one has ever been nice to me. Forget being nice. No one even talks to me! He started pulling my arm. He didn’t even know where we were going.
    “Damien, you don’t even know where my house is.”
    “I know. You’re just going to tell me where you live.” He said smiling at me and stopping in his tracks. I sighed, letting all the air out of my lungs. I started leading the way to my house. We walked quietly to my house. Damien had hold of my hand still and he started to swing his arm. So my arm just started swinging too like a chain reaction. We got to the gate of my house. He whistled loudly looking at the old fashioned house.
    “nice house Kumori. It looks very old though.” He said while running a finger along one of the arrow heads on the gate.
    “yea, my foster parents said it’s a house all their family has lived in. they own this land.” I shook my head side to side. It was silly how my foster father bragged on and on about this stupid house, but I have to admit it was a nice house. I opened the gate door and walked up the path and stopped at the stairs. I turned around and saw Damien right in front of me. He smiled at me. He always seemed to be there always smiling. Why did he always smile?
    “you don’t mind if I walk you to your door?” he asked
    “I guess I don’t mind,” I said looking at the door. We walked up to the door. I turned to him and looked him straight in the eyes. We stood there silently looking at each other. I could have sworn that we were standing there for hours. He spoke the first words to break the still air.
    “I better be getting home. I’ll see you tomorrow Kumori.” He said looking off into the distance.
    “yea, I’ll see you tomorrow at school,Damien.” I then turned to the door. I put my hand on the door knob and started to turn it. Then I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned and looked at Damien. He bent his head down and kissed me softly on the lips. I was shocked and dizzy. I held myself against the door. He walked off the porch and turned when he got to the gate. He waved at me and I waved back. I turned to the door and opened it. I walked in and sat on the couch. Tomorrow is going to be different from any other day of my life. That’s all I could think about but I couldn’t stop thinking about him. I laid down on the couch. I only thought of one thing before I closed my eyes. I thought of him and how I would get to see him tomorrow and then I fell into a soundless sleep.