I’ve known Elijah since fourth grade. I basically live with him on a daily basis. He’s charming, funny, tough, and extremely generous. Same with his fam. His Ma had always welcomed me in their home but, I try to limit the time I spend with them. I don’t want to be pitied or be a burden. His place is usually a go-to if I’m needing to stay for the night. They are really nice people.

I wonder what the hell the fight was for though. Elijah never loses his cool. It’s sort of weird, I thought to myself, while walking to third period--which--I’m actually looking forward to.

I walked into the huge classroom and got my bass and music from the backroom. I hurry to my seat. We recently had a concert a week ago which means we should be sight reading new material and, I’m actually pretty thrilled.

I start to hear the murmurs of Elijah’s name all around me. When it comes to fights in schools they’re always witnesses and the word seems to spread and then the whole school finds out about it. You can never get any privacy.

I try to ignore the murmurs but it was very difficult and the only pieces I’m able to put together from the people around me is that:

“Logan Evans tried forcing himself on Elijah’s girlfriend, Marina. He didn’t know about Elijah and her ....”

(AKA, Marina is Tony's daughter, and one of the prettiest preps in school. They help with charities and school socials, clubs etc.)

“Elijah tried to confront Logan about his relationship with Marina but, Elijah made the first punch into Logan’s gut and then things escalated from there ….”

“I heard that Elijah might get two weeks for taking the first punch--or--he might get I.S.S for a couple weeks as well ….”

(In School Suspension)

I shouldn’t pay attention to what they say, I thought to myself while getting the bass in tune. These people don’t really know what happened between them. They don’t know Elijah like I do. They all just want to be apart of something. They are all a bunch of nobodies

FIFTY-FIVE MINUTES LATER….

RING!!!

I stayed put in the classroom and waited for Levi. Mr. Rees is usually cool with Levi and I hanging in here during lunch. Since I don’t have any lunch money I don’t see what’s the point of sitting in the cafeteria and watching everyone else enjoy their leftovers from last night.

As I plug in the keyboard, Levi walks in simultaneously and sits down in the blue chair next to it, with his snickers. He wore a Nirvana shirt, a red flannel hoodie(opened), black and white sneakers, and a black beanie. We both greeted each other with a ‘Hi’ and start to talk while I played a tune I can’t seem to get out of my head.

“Have you figured out your mom’s song yet?” Levi asked.

“No, but I feel like everyday I’m like...finding pieces of the song I remember. Anyways, how are you? ” I sighed, still playing.

“ Eric has been on my ass lately about me not spending enough time with his kids.”

“Really?” I asked, preparing myself for this conversation.

“Yeah, Eric says that I should set a better example for Ben, and it’s not my job to do that! ‘Cause first of all, Ben is not my real brother, and second of all, It’s his kid. But,” he sighs. “I still want my mom to be happy. You know? My mom seems like she is herself when she’s with him...she seems happier than she was when she was with my pops.

“Yeah I know what ya’ mean Levi.”

“Cool.”

I started to hum my tune and so did he.

My Ma died when I was ten in a car accident. Her, my brother, and I were on a trip--without my father. Everything seemed so happy then but,,,a semi-truck ran a red light and then everything was lost. Not even a second….I remember the pain of the impact. Not the semi-truck itself, but the thought of losing my mother. The person who brought me into this world, the only person who would take a bullet for me. I still wonder why God could take her away and leave my brother and I alone. The rings of breaking glass, screeching tires, and her screams still fill my ears whenever I look at the scar across my right cheek. It still burns.

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But then, at the start of fifth grade, I met Levi. It was like it was meant to happen. He had every single class with me and the same lunch. I had no friends because I had pushed everyone away but, he would not take no for an answer. Eventually his eagerness pulled me in. And things have been going well until this summer, and he doesn’t even remember.

The way I felt after what happened at the party could change how things are now. I don’t want anything to change between us. I can’t lose him too…I can’t lose anyone else.

RING!!!

“Time for fourth period” Levi said getting his binder.

“Yep.” I said getting my binder as well.

We both said goodbye to each other and went to fourth period. I had Math, Levi had P.E.

FEW HOURS LATER….

RING!!!

The final bell rings and it’s time for everyone to go to their homes. Well, a few people. I gathered up my things and headed out the back way, the easiest exit. As I walk outside with my bag I can see the cars line up, but, a limousine was in front for the whole school to see.

SHIT.

I sprinted over there with my hood up and hoped that no one would recognize me. When I got to the limo I tossed my backpack in, slid into the seat, and slammed the door shut, I put a seatbelt on and I’m finally realizing this isn’t just my ride.

“Hey Marina.”

She keeps giving me a confused ‘why are you here?’ look.

“Miss Cortez,” Frank started. “Adrian will be staying with us temporarily.”

“Why?”

Frank didn’t answer, which meant he was not supposed to say.

Marina sighed, “OK. Wait,” she paused. “Your Elijah’s friend, right?”

“Yes I am. Don’t you remember? We met at Sarah Spencer’s party.”

“Oh yeah, you were the one who was carrying Elijah out.” She laughed. “He was so hammered after that party.”

“Yeah he was.” I chuckled. “I remember when I was carrying him out he wouldn’t move his legs. So I asked him to try to walk but then, he looked at me as if I were stupid, and said, ‘I can’t dumbass, I’m paralized.” I said, holding back the laughter.

We both laughed hard and we eventually opened up a bit. I was tempted to ask what the fight was about but I held my tongue.

TWO LONG, EXCRUCIATING HOURS LATER….

I had totally forgotten we were going shopping for my new room ....I never knew shopping could be this difficult--especially with Marina. I was done picking the bed cover, paints and a glow in the dark stars, a night stand, desk, two lamps, paint, and a few beanbags (to make it a bit homey), in twenty minutes! Twenty damn minutes. And Marina over here checking out the clothes and posters. It was awful.

I walk up the marbled stairs, holding the railing while Frank carried the bags and while a few men carried the desk as well. Tony’s house had two balconies. My room led out to the one on the left of his house. I’m guessing Marina has the other balcony then, I thought. When I walk in the room there is a piano, nice and glossy, sort’ve like the one my Ma played.

As they loaded in the last of the stuff I began setting up my room. I laid my black bed cover, and I put the desk on the right wall and the lamp as well. When I’m done, I get the paint and ladder.

SEVEN YEARS EARLIER….

My Ma and I layed in the soft grass looking up at the night sky. Trillions of shining speckles laid on the empty dark blue canvas. It was a night to remember.

“Ma why are we out here?” I asked looking up with young eyes to what seemed to be only darkness. “It’s dark.”

“No it’s not.” She smiled. “The moon’s right there. And it’s full.”

“But Ma,”

She shushed me and said, “‘The true joy of a moonlit night is something we no longer understand. Only the men of old, when there were no lights, could understand the true joy of a moonlit night.’”

“Huh?”

“‘The true joy of a moonlit night is something we no longer understand. Only the men of old, when there were no lights, could understand the true joy of a moonlit night.’” Ma said again.

“What does that mean, Ma?”

“It means we should appreciate the light.”

“Light?”

“The moonlight, we must appreciate it.”

“Why?”

“Pretend the moon is a person you know.”

“OK.”

“Now imagine if that person was gone.”

“Oh,” I finally figured out, “When things are gone, that’s when we value it the most, right? So we should value it now before it is gone, right?”

“Yes, my little chico, but that’s how I honestly take it. Everyone has different thoughts and different minds and most people will take the meaning differently.

“Really?”

“Yes, everyone is different. That’s what makes everyone beautiful.”

WHOOSH…!

A star shoots across the starry night.

“Make a wish!”  My Ma said while she grabbed my hand and squeezed it tightly while closing her eyes, wishing hard.

I closed my eyes as well.

We both sat there in silence for a few seconds, then, “What did you wish for?” Ma asked.

I smiled at her beautiful brown eyes and said, “That you and I will be together forever.” I said, leaning closer.

“Me too my Adrian, me too.” She said as her eyes twinkled.

For the rest of the night we laid under the moonlit sky as the stars twinkled and my Ma hummed her song.

(NOW)

ALMOST FOUR HOURS LATER….

After I was done painting that night and sticking on the stars on the ceiling, I laid on the bed and stared at my work.

“The true joy of a moonlit night is something we no longer understand. Only the men of old, when there were no lights, could understand the true joy of a moonlit night.” I said to myself.