"Someone's out there. Sending out flares"
~Script.

This is open to interpretation by the listener. But the way Charlene sees it, it's saying that when your lost, and feel all alone, someone will set off a metaphorical flare, letting you know that you're not alone, that you just need to find those who are like you if you have yet to meet them.

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Charlene sat in the back of her class,
un-entertained by her language arts class, possibly the most boring class ever. He teacher currently played a recording of someone reading some story. The students were supposed to follow along with their paper copies, but she chose not too, instead, indulging in doodling in the margins of her notebook where she would keep the mediatory note she would fail the class without. She heard the classroom door open, drawing her attention.

The "it girl" of the grade, a blonde haired, blue-green eyes, tan skinned young sophomore, Marian, walked in.  Charlene hadn't even noticed how the girl hadn't been in class for the last ten minutes. The teacher nodded, a motion that simultaneously told that her tardy would probably not be held against her and instructed her to take a seat. Which, of course, was taken by another student. So she looked around the room quickly, noting two empty seats. One in the middle of the class and one to the left of Charlene.

'Please don't please don't please don't' Charlene begged in her mind as she met eyes with Marian, immediately shutting them.
'Please don't ple-'

Charlene heard rustling from next to her, alerting her of a new presence. She peeled her eyes open to see Marian seated next to her. She mumbled under her breath. It wasn't necessarily that she disliked the girl. She was just envious of her. Charlene was barely ever noticed by anyone, teacher or student. Meanwhile, Marian skipped around with her perfect looks, perfect grades and bubbly personality, earning praise from students, both older and younger, and teachers alike. She had it all. It was hard not to feel some distaste for her.

Despite that, Charlene found herself staring curiously. Marian was never late. Never. Plus, her hair seemed a little messed up and her eyes didn't seem bright and bustling with unyielding happiness like normal.

"Umm, hey, Charlene, was it? What did I miss?" She asked.

Charlene could feel her jaw open a bit, surprised that Marian was aware of her name. She then hardened her features again, clenching her jaw a bit and just barely narrowing her eyes.

"Page 21." was all Charlene said, though it sounded more bitter than she intended.

"Thanks" Marian said, notably hesitantly, as she pulled out the stapled packet of papers from where it resided in her English binder. She flipped through to the page that had 21 about halfway down, symbolizing the new page. Soon the recording was over. The teacher allowed them to "talk quietly with tier neighbor". But he didn't really care, resulting in some kids screaming as they ran around the room. Charlene rolled her eyes at the stupidity of the other students and decided instead to take out her phone and listen to some music. The song she currently blasted in her ears was a song called "Welcome to my life" by Simple Plan. It almost made her cry. She related to the lyrics on a nearly unbelievable level.

"Are you stuck inside a world you hate?
Are you sick of everyone around?
With the big fake smiles and stupid lies
But deep inside you're bleeding

No you don't know what its like
When nothing feels alright
You don't know what its like to be like me
To be hurt
To feel lost
To be left out in the dark
To be kicked when you're down
To feel like you've been pushed around
To be on the edge of breaking down
And no one there to save you
No you don't know what its like
Welcome to my life"

Those were the lines in particular that always made her mentally brake. But she couldn't cry, even I she wanted to. She found often times recently that she wouldn't be able to cry even when she practically begged her mind and body to let her. But they never did. It was if the past few months of crying night after night had drained her ability to produce tears. So she was always just seen as someone with nothing wrong, who never cried. A sudden tap at her shoulder mad her lift her head from her arms. Funny. She didn't remember putting her head down and covering her face. Heart still beating rather rapidly from being jerked back to reality so suddenly, she pulled out her earphones and turned to face who had asked for her attentions, who was none other than Marian.

"Hey, are you okay?" She asked with her gentle blue eyes full of concern. Why? She never had talked to Charlene before other than passing conversations that happened maybe once a month at most, as Charlene often times tried to avoid those.

'no'

"Yeah, I'm Okay." She lies with a small smile.

"You sure?"

"I'm fine" Charlene said, making her. Once sound a little more on edge. She noticed Marian flinch and her smile waver, but she simply forced her lips back into a wide smile and looked back away. After a few minutes, the bell rang. Charlene didn't hear it over her music, but did notice Marian shove a notebook into her bag. It looked like it had a lock on it. Why?

"Hey, class is over." Marian said.

Charlene nodded, pretending she heard her words as she pulled out her earbuds and turned off her music. She grabbed her own bag and went to leave for her next class. She noticed a presence behind her a good portion of the way. She turned to see Marian, of course, trailing behind her.

"What do you want?" She asks. Stoping momentarily to walk beside Marian.

"I'm just going to class."

"Really? What class?" Charlene questioned.

"Science."

"Mmm. I have history. Same hallway though, if you have Riose, which I'm guessing you do."

"Yup."

Silence settled between them again till they split ways to go to their respective rooms. Its weird. Charlene had never noticed her walk down that hallway before. Had she always just managed to glance over her?

Most of history passed quickly. Charlene had her bag open and her binder out to put her papers in the moment the second hand hit the twelve for the final time in that class and the bell rang. She was practically bouncing in her seat by the time that happened. She quickly shoved her things in her unorganized backpack and was the first out of the room.

She was now on her free period. She headed straight for a spot she visited frequently. It was a struggled to get to as students weren't supposed to be up there, but she always found a way around it. After just five minutes, she made her way to the roof. She loved to just sit and take in all the greenery that surrounded the school in comparison to most other places around town.

Charlene goes home later that day. She walks slowly, as if slowing her steps would slow time. But alas, she knows it won't. She arrives home and gets oh her key. She raises it to the height of the key hole and Goes to unlock the door, but stops when she hears yelling. The one she places as her mom. And the other. Her dad?!

Charlene draws back and lowers her arm. She's not going to deal with that. Not now. She walks away and decides to head to the park. The place was pretty, green trees and bushes adorned with colorful colors lit up by amber lights. Charlene sighed, taking a position on an old and squeaky swing. She watched two kids run around. The four all laughed and giggled as they played tag.

"Kyle, Cara, time to go!" A woman called from somewhere.

The brown haired girl and boy said their goodbyes and departed. The black haired girl left soon after, leaving the other boy on his own. He had brown curly hair, tan skin and brown eyes. He waved to the girl as she left with a smile. His smiled immediately left his face as he turned around. He started to walk to the swings where Charlene resided. His eyes flickered over to her though his head never raised as he sat on the swing furthest from her.
Charlene found her eyes stuck on him for a time.

"Are you homeless too?" He asked quietly.

Charlene opened her mouth to speak, but closed it again. She thought over her words.

"I have a house. But I don't have a home. Home is where the heart is. So yes, I am homeless."

He nodded, understanding despite his young age.

"What's your name?" Charlene asked.

"Daniel." He said plainly. He look d up at her.
"What is your name?"

"Charlene."

"It's a pretty name."

"It doesn't match me. It's a pretty name for an ugly person. But thanks anyways."

"Why do say that? I think you look beautiful." He said.

"Im not talking appearance wise. I'm mean, easily jealous of others, and partake in risky behaviors. I'm not a pretty person."

A silence settled between them.
"Well I think you are."

"Why? You barley know me."

"But that doesn't matter. Everyone is broken in some way. You say you're homeless, even though you have a roof over your head. People don't understand you. You're way of dealing with that is to lash out on others. Just because you don't react in the best way doesn't mean that you're a bad person. It just means you've never been fixed."

"How old are you?" Charlene asked, mesmerized by how wise the kid was.

"I'm 10."

He was so young. Charlene felt an emotional pain come over her.
"You say you're homeless?"

"Yes."

"Would you like to live with me? It may not be permanent but you could stay for a time."

His eyes lit up.
"Really!?"

"Yeah." She smiled. "My Mom won't mind, in fact, I think she'd yell at me for not helping you." Charlene said with a smile.

"Your Mom sounds like a good person." He said.

"She is. Just a little lost." Charlene responded. Lost. Yes. That was the word.
"Now, let's get going."

Charlene stood and put her backpack on her shoulder, turning to face Daniel as he hopped down from the swing. He practically skipped next to her, grabbing onto her hands with his visibly dirty ones. But she didn't mind.

When they got to Charlene's house, she unlocked the door. She pushed open the heavy oak door. Her mother didn't seem to be up. Her dad didn't seem to be here either. Good. She didn't have time to deal with him.

"Umm. Let's get you cleaned up." Charlene said, taking a look at Daniel's filthy and winkled clothes.
He looked down himself before chucking nervously. While he was fixing himself up, Charlene went digging into some old cloths that her mom had stored away. She never knew why she chose to do so, but she did.

Charlene found memories flashing back at each piece of clothing that she tempered. Eventually, she found a dark blue shirt and pair of gray pants. Funny. Even years ago she had mostly dressed in cool or dark colors.

The clothes didn't fit on Daniel like they should. They were a bit big and the neck hole showed a god portion of his shoulders as well. The pants were a long on him, but when the cuffs were rolled up they were able to be kept out of the way.

Charlene and Daniel headed downstairs, quietly obtaining food as to not disturb Charlene's mother. Charlene learned a bit more about Daniel. He never knew his parents. He used to steal and rummage through trash to get by. Each story made Charlene's heart feel heavier and heavier. The one nearly made her cry was when he realized that he wasn't like other kids, that most kids went to a school and had a functioning family. Charlene felt a strong reaction to that. She remembers the first time she learned that in most families, that mom's and dads stay together in the same house. That they don't fight every time they meet.
After they finished eating, they went upstairs to bed.

He slept in the bed next to her. It was interesting how quickly the two bonded. She liked the kid though. He was very considerate, kind, well mannered. And most of all; he understood. He understood how it felt to not belong. To be misunderstood. To feel alone. To not have everything given to you on a silver platter.

The next morning, Charlene prepared for school. It seems that Daniel wasn't in school. Which was understandable. A 10 year old on his own wouldn't know how to enroll himself into school. Charlene's mother had already left for work. It was a Thursday. She knew he couldn't leave him here alone. But if she didn't then she would have to skip school.

What should she do?