Chapter 1: Small World

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"If suddenly you forget me, do not look for me for I shall have already forgotten you."

- Pablo Neruda

"In half a mile, turn right on Mulberry Rd."

Shifting in his seat for the hundredth time in the last five minutes, Elias leaned his head against the cool glass window. He stared miserably into his reflection just barely visible on the glass. Those dead hazel green eyes beamed aimlessly back into him behind the curly light brown locks that hung against his face.

Nothing was worse than to be trapped in the claustrophobic car, stuck in the back seat with his younger sister, cornered into the door, having no choice but to listen to the five year old talk to herself and the annoying monotonic voice machine giving directions to his father...for six hours.

"No, no, no." Ava's tiny mouth repeated over and over to her dolls. "Again, ladies." Tiny feet bobbed along Eli's leg as she redid her own small fashion show runway routine.

This is what hell is like. He thought as he felt the plastic toy digging into his thigh.

"Next right in 200 feet; 100 feet."

No fire or lava needed. This was it. He closed his lids tightly, trying to remember his old life. His old baseball team, old friends, old room. Everything that was left behind, anything he didn't pack in the small brown boxes and toss into the trailer behind them. Moving wasn't an easy thing for anybody. Moving to an entirely different town in a whole new state. It's not meant to be. Though this move was especially hard for him.

"Almost there." His father sighed. "Says it'll take about six more minutes before we see mommy." Elias cringed at the forced silly twinge in his voice that earned a giggle from Ava.

"Mommy!" She sprung out her arms. Eli yelped as the heel of her doll struck his head. "Eli! We're gonna see mommy-"

"She's not my mom." He didn't mean for it to come out as harsh as it had, but it did nonetheless and it sat heavily with the other two in the car. His father slowly gripped the stirring wheel; his knuckles whitening.

"Elias." The tone in his father's voice was dark enough for him to get the hint. The silly twinge was completely gone. His wrinkled blue eyes narrowed at him through the rear view mirror.

"Yeah..." He sighed, rubbing his head until the pain dissipated. The car grew silent. "I get it."

Ava sat curled against the couple of boxes that took up the space in the seat beside her. The build up of tension made the air too thick for her to even try piercing it with her high pitched voice. A part of Eli felt bad for dragging the spirit of his baby sister, but he couldn't bring himself to apologize, so he shrugged it off. She would eventually win in the end anyway. It's how it always went.

"You know what, Sweet pea? We just passed an ice cream parlor a couple of minutes ago. After we get to mommy, and get these boxes in, how about we go check it out together? Huh?"

Her eyes lit up, and she sprung back into motion once again. "Ice cream!"

Elias rolled his eyes at his prediction coming into reality not even a minute later. Everybody wins. Step-mom wants new house? Consider it done. Ava wants to stay with step-mom? Don't even have to ask. Dad wants the girls happy. He's got it.

Everybody wins.

Except Elias.

  He sighed, distracting himself with the passing buildings and pedestrians. The next six minutes were the longest he's ever endured.

~*~

"Wow." Was all that could leave Eli's lips as he gawked at the house in front of him. It wasn't a satisfied, or pleasantly surprised wow, but somehow his sister took it as just that, nudging his leg.

"Yeah, I like it too." She smiled gingerly, until a gasp interrupted as the idea popped in her head. "It's like our own castle, Eli!" She jumped, pointing up.

He glanced back up towards the house. It was two stories and obviously worn down. The blue siding was stodgy and cracked, and the windows were too dusty to see through. The roof, though chipped and peeling from rain and neglect, did have a piece that rose to a point in the sky where Ava had been pointing. It was in front and it had a set of large glass doors, opening out to a second story porch.

"Isn't it beautiful?" She swooned.

It was an eyesore; a disappointment for the six hour trip. The entire neighborhood was nothing but dull houses and a rundown street. Every drive way was empty or occupied with some boring lifeless, half-tank car. No thick smell of barbecue, no basketball hoops, no preppy girls in their flocks, no kids riding bikes...no kids at all.

He stared down the street noticing that there was actually no one outside, except them. Very quiet. A dead house in a dead neighborhood in a dead town. Great.

He left Miami, Florida for this.

"Isn't it, Eli?"

"No" was on the tip of his tongue, ready to be said with the same strident tone he used before, but when his gaze settled on the little girl beside him all he was able to muster was a small smirk. He could see her body shaking with excitement as she peered at the "castle". It was clear she was overly thrilled to see the new place, and for a second he forgot how dejected he was feeling. He sighed, shaking his head for what he was about to do.

"Shall we?" He cleared his throat, doing a rich impression of an English butler. Her chocolate brown eyes widened as she saw Elias reach out his hand. Without thinking, she grabbed it, but before she could take her first step, she was lifted high above his shoulders. Elias was satisfied with her short giggles as he effortlessly began skipping over the few stairs to the front door. "Every princess should have an escort."

"I'm a princess?!" She gasped.

"Well, who else would live in this beautiful castle?" He replied, opening the front door and stepping onto the open empty cherry wood flooring. She giggled, sliding down his back, running out into the empty space. She spun around, swinging her arms as she pranced.

"Princess! I'm a princess!" Her voice echoed off the empty white walls.

The inside was much more appealing compared to what the outside had to offer. He noticed that it was cleaner than what he expected, but he figured it was what Brie was working on for the last six hours. His thoughts were interrupted by the small hand pulling at his fingers.

"If ima princess..." Ava stared up at him with her large chocolate brown eyes. "Won't that make you a prince?"

  He thought about it for a moment, a smile growing on his face as he kneeled beside her. His lips parted slightly before he saw the silhouette in the corner of his eye.

"Ava, honey." Brie called, stepping into the room. Her loud heels caught both of their attention, and Eli looked up towards the thin figure dressed in a royal blue dress. Brie's hair was pulled tightly into a bun, and her makeup was light and precise. Neat as always he thought. He paused when he felt the small clammy hand release his fingers.

"Mommy!" Ava raced into her arms.

"Hey, baby girl." She smiled, picking her up, snuggling her. "I haven't seen you all day. I missed you."

"I missed you too, mommy."

"I know." Brie showered her forehead and cheeks in kisses. "So. You like the house?"

"Mhm. It's a castle and ima princess!"

"Oh really now?" Brie asked, raising a brow at her.

"Yeah, and Elias was my...erm...es...um."

"Escort." Eli finally spoke. Brie's brown eyes met his for a second, shocked. "She was uh trying to say escort."

  Brie blinked twice before hesitantly returning to Ava and their conversation on how the trip was. Being excluded from the conversation wasn't anything new. He didn't hate Brie, nor did he like her, but there was still undeniable tension between the two even after five years. Plus, they never had anything to talk about anyway. Eli averted his gaze, tucking his hands in his pockets.

"Hey, sweet heart." His father walked inside, carrying a few boxes. Setting them down near the entrance, he gave Brie a kiss, before rubbing Ava's head.

  Eli watched awkwardly as they all greeted each other. It wasn't how they greeted each other that bothered him, but that he wasn't acknowledged for a second of it. He felt as if he was blending in with the walls. Nothing more but a mere shadow on the perfect family. The little princess, the queen, the king...and the escort. Sounds about right. He thought.

"I owe our baby Ava some ice cream. I want to leave now before it gets too dark. You coming?"

"Oh, please mommy?" Ava begged.

"Of course." She nuzzled her.

"Then it's settled." He dug around in his pockets for his keys, opening the door for the girls. Once he could feel the keys and the clinking from inside his pockets confirmed it, he glanced up at Eli. "Hey, start unpacking some of these boxes, okay? The sooner we get started the sooner we can finish." With that, the door slammed shut and Eli was standing there alone.

"Yeah, I'd like a chocolate cone with sprinkles. Gee, thanks for asking, pop." He scoffed, grabbing the first box he saw.

~*~

The next day...
...7:23 AM

  Brie left early for work, and his father's schedule was booked with job interviews which left him with his sister. They were supposed to be starting school today, and he was left with getting the brat ready and on the bus on time. Feeding her was suppose to be the easy part. He knew that must've been too much to ask for as he watched her push the cereal around with her plastic princess spoon.

"Look, deal time. I'm tired. We've-I've been unpacking all yesterday, it's our first day of school, and I don't have the mental energy for your...special needs." He stared, making her look into his eyes. "You make this easy for me, and I'll give you a dollar."

"Mm mm, Elias. I don't need a dollar. I need someone to play dollies with."

"What about five dollars?" He raised a brow at her.

She crossed her arms. "Dollies."

"Look, I'm the last person you want to play "dollies" with, okay. I'll just ruin it anyway." He laughed, "Come on, five dollars princess."

"Liar."

He scrunched his nose.

"You make everything fun. Even bath time." She raised her brows. "And I hate bath time. You won't ruin it. You just don't wanna play with me."

She pushed her bowl to the side, and laid her head above her crossed arms on the counter. He sighed, about to shrug it off until he saw her small shoulders tremble and a long sniff leave her. His eyes softened as he watched her fragile body shake. He couldn't stand to see her cry. Sure, she was a bit sensitive and a little annoying...very annoying, but she was the only one in the house that made him feel wanted. The only one who could put a smile on his face. The only one that could break him into apologizing even though he was so very confused.

"Ava." He called, and she shook her head. "Ava, I'm sorry."

"No."

"You don't wanna talk to me now?" He asked, rubbing her back. She shrugged her tiny shoulders and he couldn't stop himself from chuckling. "You don't know?" She shook her head with another sniff. He glanced at the time on the microwave and cursed under his breath softly. They were running out of time. His face lit up.

"Oh dear." The English butler impression returned. She quickly glanced, looking at him with her puffy red eyes. "If the king were to eva find I was the cause of his precious daughters tears, I'd surely be fired and dragged out the very door I entered through."

She gasped, and Elias continued. "Oh yes. Yes I would. Please dear princess, won't you stop those tears for meh?"

She nodded quickly, blinking away her last tears, and Elias wiped the last one cascading down her flushed cheeks.

"Thank you. You must hurry, my princess. Your carriage shall be here shortly."

"Then hurry I shall." She replied, taking a small bite of her cereal before sliding out of her stool, heading up the stairs.

"Ava." Eli called; his voice returning to its regular form. "You have a good day, and I'll gladly play with you, deal?"

She smiled. "Deal. But I need help putting on my shoes."

"I got you." He laughed.

~*~

"Bye, Eli." Ava hugged him one last time before running onto her bus.

"Bye-Bye." He waved, beginning his walk to his bus stop a few blocks in the other direction. Even the red stop sign was bleached in the gray of the town. There were a few other kids standing near the sign. Seemed to be a small girl, and two taller guys. Finally he thought. Eli was never the type to stay lonely or in the shadows. He always put himself out there; made sure his name was known. Though, given the state of his new town he thought he might lay low for a few days. He was just excited to see that the ghost town wasn't really a complete ghost town.

Reaching the group of teens, he plugged in his ear buds and played 'Do It Now Remember It Later' by Sleeping with Sirens, shrugged on his hood, leaned on the chipped white fence, closed his eyes, and waited. It was relaxing. There was no Ava, no step witch, no "trophy" father. It was just him, a group of teens, and the darkness from his eye lids...that grew darker...and darker.

He frowned as he felt something blocking him from the little light the dead town had to offer. Opening one lid first, then the other in surprise he stared confused at the short girl, looking up at him. Her black eyes watched him intently, like she was mesmerized.

"Your eyes are weird." She said, moving in closer. "Green and brown?"

"Yea...hazel-can I help you?" He asked, moving to the side to put distance between them.

"Help me with what?" She asked, adjusting her orange beanie on top of her short shaggy dark brown hair.

"With finding you some business."

"No, I'm fine. You're new around here, huh? Confident guy. You got the looks. The style-"

"-the hell?!" He smacked her hand away from his chest.

"And the build." She continued, completely unfazed by his discomfort. "What's your name?"

He stared at her with wide confused eyes, still trying to piece together what exactly just happened in the last five seconds. She smiled, shaking her head.

"Pfft. I can see you're not very good at this. I'll go first, my name is Alberto. But everyone calls me Sunshine."

Just when he thought his eyes couldn't get any wider, they did.


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