August 20, 2008 2:45 pm
Santa Barbra, California: Earth
---------------------------------------------------

▫️Soren:

The first day of school sucked.
Everyone said hi to me and complimented me. I just wanted to be left alone. I feel like everyone hates me, even though they all won't say it. I have nobody in my few classes and nobody sits with me at lunch. Granted, Ames and Hudson are always nice to me, but the two tend to be nicer to each other and leave me behind a lot... my only two friends are best friends with each other. Ames also has been asking me about everything I am doing... I feel like he is stalking me, the other day he followed me all the way to my homeless tent in the alleyway behind the mall.

Now after school I sit on the bench in the mall, watching the people pass me. I study them, analyze their characteristics and behaviors, judging them silently. I also do my homework, but that's easy for me. I learned all this way before I was fourteen years old... back home, where life was great. Now I am a thousand years away from my home on Malison. I have absolutely no hope of ever getting back.

The mall was mostly quiet since it was huge and the people were all spread out and no loud and annoying teenagers were in sight. Giant windows covered the ceiling, shops lined the walls. It was perfect and the only place I could call home.

Today, Ames and Hudson joined me for boring homework on the bench. Hudson could really use a tutor, not me, I can't stand stupid people. The chances of Hudson getting punched while I tutor him are high. On the other hand, Ames just wants to talk about sports, so I ignore him too. They are both boring and beneath me, but they are rich and feed me food, so I tolerate them.

"I gotta go guys," Hudson said as he packed up his bag. "My Mom is here to pick me up for my driving test. Wish me luck!"

"I should probably go too," Ames said. "I am going to the football game tonight with my sister. Do you want to come, Soren? I can give you a ride."

"No," I quickly stated. "I gotta go home, which I have of course. A home, a bed."

"Alright bro." Hudson swung his backpack strap on as he walked off. "Peace out."

"Later Soren," Ames said as he left the other way. I noticed he glanced over his shoulder as he stared at me until I was no longer in sight. To be honest, Ames has always creeped me out.

That left me alone. Whatever shall I do? I grabbed the extra whole-wheat roll out of my backpack that I grabbed at lunch today. Don't blame me for taking seven rolls, if they wanted me to take one they should have put a sign. This food has to last me all weekend because Hudson has driving range all hours of the day so I can't go over to his house and Ames has football tryouts so I can't go to his. Also, Ames is a creep, so I ain't going there alone, I could get murdered. That leaves me sleeping in the mall alley again. That place was so dusty and dark and had so many rats... eww! It freaks me out. But I guess it's better than getting my head chopped off by Ames.

I notice a tall man that has been staring at me for a while now. I gave him a weird look from across the hall, I studied his features, trying to see who he was. When my friends left he approached me. He had dark skin and black hair stuck up in a tail and the start of a beard. I felt like I knew him but I wasn't completely sure.

"Please tell me you recognize me," His deep voice asked.

"Who are you?" I questioned, he looked so familiar but it must have been forever because he has changed so much. "I'm sorry, please go away."

"It's me." He smiled. "Vestry... Vestry Zodiac, your-"

"Vestry?" I cut him off and drop my book and ran to hug him. "I missed you so much. You won't believe what happened. But first, what are you doing here?"

"I was banished here, same as you?" Vestry said. "Wait, do you not remember me getting banished... did your memory get wiped?"

"Yeah, you can blame Luke for that. I hardly remember a thing before my birthday, pieces are coming back now. But none of that matters now. There is a civil war on Malison, I think Ames Zodiac is stalking me, since we were on opposite sides, and I don't know what to do," I said.

"A civil war?" Vestry questioned. "Let me guess, Luke started it?"

"Yes, he did," I stated. "But when did you get banished, and why?"

"I got sent here right after your ceremony when you received your power and I helped you with your problem," Ames explained and filled me in on the details I was missing.

"So after I got drafted into the army. Figures. Luke has never been considerate of anyone but himself."

Vestry chucked, he smelt like oil and grease, like he always did. Vestry was a mechanic and could repair a lot of things. I have faint memories of him making me a wooden doctor's kit when I was small and all I wanted to do was play doctor.

"Don't laugh." I started to laugh myself. "You're making me laugh."

"You have a home in this prison world?" Vestry asked me.

"No," I shook my head and looked down.

"Well, I got a deal for you then," Vestry smiled.

He showed me the shop he runs in the mall. It was more of a restaurant than a store. Vestry called it a teen club where teens come to drink soda and eat ice cream and watch performances. All kinds of people performed: dancers, musicians, and actors. When nobody is performing they have a free variety show. People karaoke and randomly dance, showing off their talent. Upstairs Vestry had made a few small rooms to be used a bedroom for himself... and he had a few extra ones.

"So you act a few times, maybe help me close up some night and you can stay here," Vestry offered. "Deal?"

"Totally! Deal!" I shook his hand. "This is way nicer than the streets."

"Built it myself." Vestry smiled to himself.

"So this is what you have been up to, right Five?"

I looked around at the stage with curtains and changing room to the right for costumes and a prop closet to the left. There was a bar in the back that had all the soda and food, and there were table and chairs everywhere like Vestry expected lots of people to show.

Vestry poured us some root beer floats and we watched this girl dance around on stage with a flag, rifle, and saber. The atmosphere in the club was peaceful, as people talked and watched, it made the place seem quite classy. Although, I am sure it is way busy on the weekend.

I was finally feeling like I had someone to turn to. Vestry was the fifth eldest in the Zodiac family, he was usually gone most days, but he always talked to me and helped me with my problems. Like when I got drafted into the army he helped me improve my ability so I could have a fighting chance against the bigger guys. He was always there for me. I had forgotten how much I missed him.

"I know I shouldn't be saying this," I said to him. "But I'm happy you're here. Even if we are both stuck here on Earth."

"Don't be sorry," Vestry said. "I am happy to be here with you."

—————————————————————
Thanks for reading
Please vote for this chapter to encourage me to update, and comment what you like and if you see any grammar mistakes please point them out to me.
Please tag your favorite people here for good luck! (And for a chance to have a chapter dedicated to you ;)))
I dedicate this chapter to Animal-Lover05 who is new to Wattpad, But is still so sweet, check out her stuff, it's really good!
—————————————————————