[fic] Birds
Title: Birds
Author: haruka (kiwachou)
elydesia
Words: 1,608 words
Summary: Troubled, semi-delusional youth, and some of his realizations.
Warning: Descriptive pathetic scenes. Swearing. Mention of sex.
Birds 2012.02.20
For Shane.
Birds filled the sky. There were so many of them. He looked up and thought of insects. The many birds carpeting the sky reminded him of many, many fluttering black insects. In his own mental scene, he shot down all the birds and exposed the clean sky.
"Hey, July!"
He turned briefly away at the call of his name. He directed his attention back to the sky only to meet with disappointment. All the birds tarnishing the sky were gone. The black cloud was gone and he bit his lip.
It was all in his imagination, he realized. He grabbed his throat with his sweaty palm.
"What is it, Rye?" July stood and peered over the iron railing.
Rye leaped up the concrete stairs and sat on the same step July was standing on. "What's up? You've been kind of distant lately. Amaris is worried about you... we both are, actually."
July shrugged his shoulders. "Yeah... Did she send you to check up on me or something?" He took two steps higher and sat down, his eyes absorbed into the sky once more.
"No. She didn't. She told me how she felt, but I came to see you on my own. ... Man, we don't hang out anymore. What are you doing all the time?"
"I don't know. Stuff."
"Cut the crap, July. You haven't taken Amaris out in the last two weeks. The fuck is with you? Not only are you distant, but you don't seem to care about anything anymore. Did something happen? Are you not happy with her?" Rye glared at his best friend. " 'Cause if you are, you just need to say so, man. I can talk with her..." July shook his head.
"Amaris is wonderful. She is a fantastic, charismatic, and beautiful young woman. You are very lucky to have such a sister."
Rye groaned. "How about, I give you some more time to think about your shit? Whatever's going on in your head, it's obviously something neither Amaris or I can fix." He stood and descended the cold staircase. "The weather doesn't look nice, though. Come to class before it rains, okay?"
"Sure."
"See ya."
The remaining youth stood, took a few steps down, and sat his butt back on the staircase. July continued his gaze directed at the sky. Clouds could be seen not far off in the distance.
Rye was right. It was going to rain.
Late in the afternoon, July gathered his things and left school grounds. It was raining. He had no umbrella with him.
Wandering around in the gritty parts of downtown, he came upon a woman dressed in peculiar clothing. She wore a pale yellow dress with a multicolored eye print, and a red-pink striped vest. The dress was short and the skirt was once frilly. She was drenched with rainwater.
From afar, July stared at her.
Number 12: Meeting people that happen to change your life.
"Hello?" He hadn't realized when exactly he had meandered next to the woman. Neither did he notice when he uttered the first greeting.
They were nearly the same height, but her pink boots had added two inches to her height. She was still shorter, though.
"Evening! Would you like to try a free round of Asobu?" the woman chimed and gave him a soaked pamphlet. She rested her gloved hand in the small of his back and proceeded to guide him into a nearby hotel.
"New customer!" she sang before leaving again.
July had no say in the events that began.
As he stumbled out the back door of a building into a poorly lit alleyway, July's vision was blurry. He smacked his head on the opposite wall and fell backwards, his ass hitting cold, wet pavement.
The rain had stopped falling. Everything was wet.
With difficulty, July rose to his feet, but he very soon hunched over and vomited. His hands gripped his knees and his eyes were squeezed shut. Tears wormed their way through the tiny cracks and rolled down his cheeks.
He nearly fell into his own puke. The world laughed at him as he danced in the darkness.
On his wrist was a burning sensation, but he didn't care. He licked his darkened wrist excessively as he stumbled out of the alley and into the light.
Loosing his way countless times, July somehow made it back home. He was without his backpack, but his keys were neatly stuffed into his blazer's breast pocket.
Either no one was home, or no one bothered to help him. July fumbled with his shoes and crawled up the stairs to his bedroom. The world spun and he hit his head several times on the stairs banister.
Number 1: Coming home late and going straight to bed.
He did not even bother taking off his clothes or closing his bedroom door. Once his head rested on the pillow, and he slowly adjusted to the constantly spinning world, it disappeared.
Morning was not kind to him, and neither was his stomach. July sat up and puke burst forth from his mouth, pouring all over his sheets and clothes.
"What is this shit?" he cried and wiped his mouth with his sleeve. He climbed out of bed and fell onto the floor. The sour scent of his puke, the rank smell of the hotel the night before, the sweet aroma of the peculiarly dressed woman... it all followed him as he raked his nails across the bedroom floor.
A thumping came down the hall and the bedroom door was pulled wide. July's mother stood in the doorway and looked down at her pathetic son. "July! What happened?" She saw the vomit on the bed and the tattoo on his wrist. She gripped it violently and pulled it close to her face, dragging her son from the floor. "What is this!" She had on a scowl, and her mouth was in a deep frown.
Not knowing what was going on, July yanked his wrist from his mother's grasp and stood on his own two feet. "Out of my way." He walked heavy steps to the washroom, where he locked the door and, without even taking off his clothes, climbed into the tub. He turned the showerhead on high and let out a long sigh as boiling water blasted on his clothed back.
Number 7: Taking long showers that wash away your worries.
Hot water spilled onto the washroom floor, flooding it.
The door banged. "July, open up! What's going on?"
July shook his head, stripped, and closed the shower curtains. He slipped, then, and laid in a heap on the bathtub floor. "Yeah," he said, "what the hell is going on?"
A cell phone rang distantly. Clouds blew by, changing shape, changing meanings. Wind left a chill on one's bare skin. Time was boringly slow. What was going on?
"Do you think July's in trouble?" Amaris and Rye stood at the staircase to the school rooftop, both staring at July's far off, sleeping figure.
Rye shrugged and looked away, down the staircase. "I'm not sure..."
"What do you mean, you're not sure! Look at him! Think about all the times he's hung out with us over the past week--oh, sorry, there aren't any!"
"Well, I can't be responsible if he's not fucking you anymore, Sis."
Amaris' face grew red, with both anger and embarrassment. "Ugh! How can you say something so vulgar?"
"I can say whatever the hell I want." He turned to look down at his sister. "Listen, I'm just as worried about July as you are. But it's no use to go about it aimlessly."
"Which is why I've been sending you to ask him what the hell is going on!"
"Ahh..." He sighed. He looked at his best friend. "Oh. I don't think this is something we can figure out."
Darkness reigned. July watched from afar. The girl from the previous night danced and swayed as she guided her customers into the hotel. There were never any complaints. Change your life.
"Why?"
"Why what?" Their faces were only a few inches apart, but he didn't look at her. He was staring at her colorful attire.
"Why... do I have to change my life?"
"Who told you such a thing?" She danced around and guided another customer away into the hotel. Red light ran from the tall building behind them, drenching the scene in a sudden sheet of red. "July doesn't have to do anything, if he isn't unhappy with this life."
"Is that... so?" He looked up at the sky, partially obstructed by surrounding buildings. It was dusk, but the sky was very dark.
"Yup! By the way, here's some ointment for the tattoo... I hope it heals quickly!" It was as if she were singing rehersed lyrics.
"Thank you... Mariella."
She gave him a kiss on the cheek. "No problem!"
Number 9: Deciding what you want to do with your life.
"I think... I know what I want, now."
Morning dew covered everything. The grass was soaked with it, and so was the rock July threw at Amaris' bedroom window.
A few more rocks later, the window finally opened. "The hell are you doing, July?"
"Get dressed!" he called, a huge grin on his face. "We're leaving!"
The smile surprised her, and she asked, "Leaving? Where to?"
"My dad's place! I already talked it over with him. It's all perfect. Let's go. We can finish school, and live a life, and be happy."
"Is that really all right?"
"I'm sure."
She smiled. "I'll be down in a moment.
Number 15: Realizing everything is going to be okay.
Author: haruka (kiwachou)
elydesia
Words: 1,608 words
Summary: Troubled, semi-delusional youth, and some of his realizations.
Warning: Descriptive pathetic scenes. Swearing. Mention of sex.
Birds 2012.02.20
For Shane.
Birds filled the sky. There were so many of them. He looked up and thought of insects. The many birds carpeting the sky reminded him of many, many fluttering black insects. In his own mental scene, he shot down all the birds and exposed the clean sky.
"Hey, July!"
He turned briefly away at the call of his name. He directed his attention back to the sky only to meet with disappointment. All the birds tarnishing the sky were gone. The black cloud was gone and he bit his lip.
It was all in his imagination, he realized. He grabbed his throat with his sweaty palm.
"What is it, Rye?" July stood and peered over the iron railing.
Rye leaped up the concrete stairs and sat on the same step July was standing on. "What's up? You've been kind of distant lately. Amaris is worried about you... we both are, actually."
July shrugged his shoulders. "Yeah... Did she send you to check up on me or something?" He took two steps higher and sat down, his eyes absorbed into the sky once more.
"No. She didn't. She told me how she felt, but I came to see you on my own. ... Man, we don't hang out anymore. What are you doing all the time?"
"I don't know. Stuff."
"Cut the crap, July. You haven't taken Amaris out in the last two weeks. The fuck is with you? Not only are you distant, but you don't seem to care about anything anymore. Did something happen? Are you not happy with her?" Rye glared at his best friend. " 'Cause if you are, you just need to say so, man. I can talk with her..." July shook his head.
"Amaris is wonderful. She is a fantastic, charismatic, and beautiful young woman. You are very lucky to have such a sister."
Rye groaned. "How about, I give you some more time to think about your shit? Whatever's going on in your head, it's obviously something neither Amaris or I can fix." He stood and descended the cold staircase. "The weather doesn't look nice, though. Come to class before it rains, okay?"
"Sure."
"See ya."
The remaining youth stood, took a few steps down, and sat his butt back on the staircase. July continued his gaze directed at the sky. Clouds could be seen not far off in the distance.
Rye was right. It was going to rain.
Late in the afternoon, July gathered his things and left school grounds. It was raining. He had no umbrella with him.
Wandering around in the gritty parts of downtown, he came upon a woman dressed in peculiar clothing. She wore a pale yellow dress with a multicolored eye print, and a red-pink striped vest. The dress was short and the skirt was once frilly. She was drenched with rainwater.
From afar, July stared at her.
Number 12: Meeting people that happen to change your life.
"Hello?" He hadn't realized when exactly he had meandered next to the woman. Neither did he notice when he uttered the first greeting.
They were nearly the same height, but her pink boots had added two inches to her height. She was still shorter, though.
"Evening! Would you like to try a free round of Asobu?" the woman chimed and gave him a soaked pamphlet. She rested her gloved hand in the small of his back and proceeded to guide him into a nearby hotel.
"New customer!" she sang before leaving again.
July had no say in the events that began.
As he stumbled out the back door of a building into a poorly lit alleyway, July's vision was blurry. He smacked his head on the opposite wall and fell backwards, his ass hitting cold, wet pavement.
The rain had stopped falling. Everything was wet.
With difficulty, July rose to his feet, but he very soon hunched over and vomited. His hands gripped his knees and his eyes were squeezed shut. Tears wormed their way through the tiny cracks and rolled down his cheeks.
He nearly fell into his own puke. The world laughed at him as he danced in the darkness.
On his wrist was a burning sensation, but he didn't care. He licked his darkened wrist excessively as he stumbled out of the alley and into the light.
Loosing his way countless times, July somehow made it back home. He was without his backpack, but his keys were neatly stuffed into his blazer's breast pocket.
Either no one was home, or no one bothered to help him. July fumbled with his shoes and crawled up the stairs to his bedroom. The world spun and he hit his head several times on the stairs banister.
Number 1: Coming home late and going straight to bed.
He did not even bother taking off his clothes or closing his bedroom door. Once his head rested on the pillow, and he slowly adjusted to the constantly spinning world, it disappeared.
Morning was not kind to him, and neither was his stomach. July sat up and puke burst forth from his mouth, pouring all over his sheets and clothes.
"What is this shit?" he cried and wiped his mouth with his sleeve. He climbed out of bed and fell onto the floor. The sour scent of his puke, the rank smell of the hotel the night before, the sweet aroma of the peculiarly dressed woman... it all followed him as he raked his nails across the bedroom floor.
A thumping came down the hall and the bedroom door was pulled wide. July's mother stood in the doorway and looked down at her pathetic son. "July! What happened?" She saw the vomit on the bed and the tattoo on his wrist. She gripped it violently and pulled it close to her face, dragging her son from the floor. "What is this!" She had on a scowl, and her mouth was in a deep frown.
Not knowing what was going on, July yanked his wrist from his mother's grasp and stood on his own two feet. "Out of my way." He walked heavy steps to the washroom, where he locked the door and, without even taking off his clothes, climbed into the tub. He turned the showerhead on high and let out a long sigh as boiling water blasted on his clothed back.
Number 7: Taking long showers that wash away your worries.
Hot water spilled onto the washroom floor, flooding it.
The door banged. "July, open up! What's going on?"
July shook his head, stripped, and closed the shower curtains. He slipped, then, and laid in a heap on the bathtub floor. "Yeah," he said, "what the hell is going on?"
A cell phone rang distantly. Clouds blew by, changing shape, changing meanings. Wind left a chill on one's bare skin. Time was boringly slow. What was going on?
"Do you think July's in trouble?" Amaris and Rye stood at the staircase to the school rooftop, both staring at July's far off, sleeping figure.
Rye shrugged and looked away, down the staircase. "I'm not sure..."
"What do you mean, you're not sure! Look at him! Think about all the times he's hung out with us over the past week--oh, sorry, there aren't any!"
"Well, I can't be responsible if he's not fucking you anymore, Sis."
Amaris' face grew red, with both anger and embarrassment. "Ugh! How can you say something so vulgar?"
"I can say whatever the hell I want." He turned to look down at his sister. "Listen, I'm just as worried about July as you are. But it's no use to go about it aimlessly."
"Which is why I've been sending you to ask him what the hell is going on!"
"Ahh..." He sighed. He looked at his best friend. "Oh. I don't think this is something we can figure out."
Darkness reigned. July watched from afar. The girl from the previous night danced and swayed as she guided her customers into the hotel. There were never any complaints. Change your life.
"Why?"
"Why what?" Their faces were only a few inches apart, but he didn't look at her. He was staring at her colorful attire.
"Why... do I have to change my life?"
"Who told you such a thing?" She danced around and guided another customer away into the hotel. Red light ran from the tall building behind them, drenching the scene in a sudden sheet of red. "July doesn't have to do anything, if he isn't unhappy with this life."
"Is that... so?" He looked up at the sky, partially obstructed by surrounding buildings. It was dusk, but the sky was very dark.
"Yup! By the way, here's some ointment for the tattoo... I hope it heals quickly!" It was as if she were singing rehersed lyrics.
"Thank you... Mariella."
She gave him a kiss on the cheek. "No problem!"
Number 9: Deciding what you want to do with your life.
"I think... I know what I want, now."
Morning dew covered everything. The grass was soaked with it, and so was the rock July threw at Amaris' bedroom window.
A few more rocks later, the window finally opened. "The hell are you doing, July?"
"Get dressed!" he called, a huge grin on his face. "We're leaving!"
The smile surprised her, and she asked, "Leaving? Where to?"
"My dad's place! I already talked it over with him. It's all perfect. Let's go. We can finish school, and live a life, and be happy."
"Is that really all right?"
"I'm sure."
She smiled. "I'll be down in a moment.
Number 15: Realizing everything is going to be okay.