Chapter Three - Friends

Chapter Three of Saving Children

Chapter Three � Friends

        Starra opened her eyes and glanced at the alarm clock. The screen was black. She sat up and looked around the room, noticing that everything was dark. The wind outside blew the shutters against the house. The power must have gone out. She climbed out of bed and walked into the living room. The couch was empty, the blanket folded neatly on the edge. She looked around wondering where William could have gone. After their talk a few nights ago, he hadn�t said much to her. He spent most of his time fixing up the den and cooking. She had to admit it was nice to come home to a warm meal each day, but she had told him he didn�t need to do it. She wanted to find him a place to go, some place where he could be safe. She walked into the den to see if he was in there, only to find it too, empty. Starting to get concerned she walked into the kitchen and noticed the door to the garage slightly open. Slowly she made her way out to the garage. The door was open and snow blew in from the storm. Starra walked to the edge of the garage her eyes landing on the fresh foot prints already half covered by the fast falling snow. She shivered, wondering why William would go out in this type of weather. She took a step into the snow, her mind on finding him. She yelped and jumped back. She looked down at her bare feet and shivered. He couldn�t have gone far, she still hadn�t been able to make it to the store to buy him some new clothes, so he was still wearing the torn up t-shirt and shorts from when she first meet him. A loud thump from the side of the garage made her jump. She backed up, her eyes franticly searching for something to use to defend herself. A few moments later a figure appeared at the edge of the door. It paused before stepping into the garage, �Starra?� William tipped his head a bit, �I didn�t wake you up, did I?� He was covered in snow, but he didn�t look like he was cold.
        �No.� She took a breath as she tried to slow her heart rate. �What are you doing out here?� She couldn�t think of any reason to be out in the cold and snow.
        He smiled a bit, �Just being free.� He had said that to her when they talked, about wanting to be free� she wished she knew what he meant, but was afraid to ask him.
        �Aren�t you cold?� She asked him, surprised he wasn�t even shivering.
        �Aren�t you?� He walked over to her and grinned. �Your lips are turning blue.� Starra looked down, noticing for the first time she was only wearing a long T-shirt . She looked back at William.
        �I was checking on you, you were gone so I checked the kitchen�. Saw the door opened and just came outside. I thought something was wrong.� She admitted, though William had only been at her house for a few days, she had grown attached to him.
        His smile faded, �I�m sorry I scared you,� he apologized as he brushed snow off his shoulder, �I didn�t think you would wake up.�
        �It�s freezing out here.� She rubbed her arms trying to warm them, �Maybe we should go inside.� William nodded in agreement. Starra hurried into the house, �I wish the power was on� then we could have some hot chocolate.� She sighed sadly.
        �I�ll take care of it,� William�s eyes light up as he smiled, �Go get something warmer on.� She didn�t want to question him. She just nodded and walked into her room to pull on warmer clothes. It was hard to tell what he was going to try and do. Starra dressed in warm clothes and pulled on socks as well as slippers before walking back into the kitchen. Sure enough two cups of hot chocolate sat on the table.
        �How did you�� she smiled at him, �How did you do that?�
        �Magic,� he grinned as he sat down. Starra laughed as she sat down next to him and took a sip.
        �Holy s**t� this is really good!� It was just the right amount of chocolate, just the right amount of warmth. It tasted like heaven. �Now I really want to know how you did this.� She took another sip.
        �I told you already,� he laughed, �It�s magic.�
        �This is some really good magic,� she laughed back at him. �How did you make it warm?�
        �Magic.� He took another sip, �Don�t you listen?�
        �You�ll show me this magic?� She asked as she finished her cup.
        William quickly looked away, �I don�t think humans can do magic.� He muttered.
        �What?� Starra looked puzzled, human? �What do you me-�
        �Do you think you could drop me off in town.� William cut in. He looked back at her, �While you are at work. I don�t want to be locked in the house anymore.�
        �I� sure� Starra nodded a bit, �I�ll give you some money too, you can buy some warmer clothes.� She smiled, allowing the topic to drop for the time being. �I wish I knew what time it was��
        William looked out at the sky, before looking back at Starra. �It�s seven o clock.� He got up and walked into the living room. Starra decided not to question him. He seemed right about everything else, so why question him on the time? Besides, if it really was only seven she still had time to get dressed and ready for work. Starra hurried into her room and jumped into the shower. She was dressed and ready to go within a few minutes. She found William in the kitchen washing out the cups.
        �You don�t have to wash those. I can do them.�
        �Naw, it�s ok.� William shrugged, �It�s no problem.� He put the cups in the drainer and wiped off his hands. �I�m ready.� Starra grabbed her keys and walked out to the garage. William followed her, closing the door on his way out.

        The ride into town was slow because of the snow. Starra wished it would stop just for a few days so that the roads could get cleaned off. She parked outside of a clothing store and dug out her wallet. She held out some money, �It isn�t much, but it�ll get you a few outfits and something to eat. I have to get to work. I get off at two if you want to meet me down there.� She points down the street, �Just two blocks down to Lincoln, take a right and it�s the fourth building on the left.� She smiled, �It�s called Open Hands� William nodded as he got out of the car. �If you aren�t down there I�ll pick you up here quarter after two, ok?�
        �Alright, thank you.� William closed the door and walked into the clothing store.

        �You are letting a strange kid who broke into your car stay at your house?� Mary took another bite of her sandwich, �Are you nuts?�
        Starra shook her head, �No, it�s just� his parents are dead and he has no where else to go, what am I suppose to do? Kick him on the streets in this weather?� she questioned. Starra had only known Mary for a few months, ever since she started working there. She liked Mary a lot, but they never did anything outside of work. Starra was afraid that she would get to close and blow her secret if they hung out. It was important that no one find out about her. �He seems nice enough. He�s helping me fix up the den! He�s gotten more done in these few days than I have in the past four months. And he cooks for me, cleans up after dinner. It�s nice to have someone to help me out.�
        �I just don�t want to see you hurt. I know your job is to help teens in trouble�. But I think this may be pushing it.� Mary laughed, �Though, I wish I could go home to a cooked meal and have dishes done for me after. That�d be nice.�
        �Starra,� Her boss walked into the lunch room, �There�s a delivery for you at the front desk.�
        �Ok�� Starra got up and walked to the lobby, Mary on her heels. She stopped, when she saw the dozen roses on the desk. The receptionist smiled at her.
        �Admirer, Starra?� She giggled.
        �Starra!� Mary playfully pushed her, �You didn�t tell me you were seeing anyone, I thought we were friends.�
        �I�m not�� Starra walked over and picked up the card, slowly she opened it, wondering who would send her roses. The only thing the card said was:

For a wonderful person

        �This is odd�� Starra looked over the card, hoping it would tell her something else.
        �Who�s it from?� Mary asked with a grin, �Ohhhh do I get to meet this boyfriend of yours?� She looked over Starra�s shoulder at the card. �No name?�
        �No,� She lightly ran her finger over the roses, �I�ve never gotten flowers before.� She picked up the vase and carried them to her office.

        �Starra,� Mary lightly knocked on Starra�s office door.
        �Yeah?� Starra looked up from her work.
        �There�s a kid out in the waiting room. He says it�s almost four.� Mary smiled at her. Starra looked at the clock.
        �Oh man, I didn�t even notice the time! That�s William, tell him I�ll be right out ok?� Starra started to collect her things. She was use to working until she was done, even if she went over the time she was scheduled to work. There were a lot of children out there that needed help, and she just didn�t feel right going home when these children were counting on her.
        �Sure,� Mary grinned, �He brought you food.� She turned and walked back into the waiting room. �She says she�ll be right out.� She smiled at the teen. She could tell what Starra saw. When he came into the office he had hot chocolate for the staff, it made Mary wonder how he knew how many staff members there were. What more, he had tea for the boss who didn�t like chocolate. He also had a meal for Starra, and didn�t even seem upset that she was running late. He had come in with a smile and had already won over the staff in just the few minutes he had been in here talking to them.
        �Alright,� William smiled at her, �I�m in no rush. It just looks like another big storm is coming. I didn�t think she�d want to be caught in it.� He turned back to finish his conversation with the receptionist.

Reviews

[Jenny]

It's very freaky first she gets flowers and then William shows up at her work with hot chocolate for everyone and food for her. Still very good