Nowhere Kids

[Lustre]

Hey hope everyone had a great Christmas. This is short but I wanted to do it.

Chapter 23

It was late but she knew she’d still be awake, as she opened the door she saw her suspicions confirmed as her eyes adjusted to the dim light spreading from the bed side table. She could see her laying under the covers her back to the door, her body completely still.

“I know you’re awake.” Mattie whispered smiling as she saw Belles long arm reach back and pat the empty space beside her on the bed. Climbing into the bed beside her best friend she stared at the ceiling waiting. This is how they worked, no pushing or prodding, just waiting until the other was ready to talk. After a few minutes she felt the bed shift beside her and she turned to Belle, both of them on their sides facing each other their hands locked together between them. This was their way; it was hard to lie to someone if you were staring them in the eye.

“I'm sorry I didn’t tell you,” Belle whispered and Mattie could hear the genuine sorrow in her friend’s voice. “It didn’t seem all that important before.”

“Stuff like that is always important,” Belle she whispered back equally quietly. “I'm your best friend.” Mattie finished her voice a little sad.

“I know and I'm sorry.” Belle replied squeezing her eyes closed tightly.

Sighing Mattie shook her head as much as she could in her lying position. “Belle look at me !”she admonished the brunette. “You never have to be sorry for something like this. You just need to talk to me.”

Belle’s eyes flew open. “What was I supposed to say?” She demanded softly. “Was I supposed to tell you that after I turned eight no one ever loved me enough to ask when my birthday was, that no one ever showed much of an interest in me at all.” She finished her eyes glazed with unshed tears

“Yes.” Matilda replied softly. “you were supposed to tell me that, you told me everything else about you.” she finished. “And I love you Belle, god most of the time I love you more than I love my own brothers and sisters, than my own mother, they don’t even know me. You’re my family and I never want you to doubt that!” she told her, her own eyes filling with tears

“I know that.” Belle whispered her hand grasping Mattie’s even tighter. “I know that.” she repeated again.

Silence descended on the pair of friends though neither had fallen asleep, belles mind was spinning as she stared at her best friend, Mattie grasped her hand tightly.

“My last birthday wasn’t even really a party, my foster mom, my first one, she took the day off and just let me do everything I love. We walked around the park and we went to the zoo and she baked me all my favourites, I still remember her chocolate chip cookies.” Belle stopped talking taking a breath, “I miss her, I only knew her for a few months but I miss her.”

“You’re allowed to Belle.” Mattie told her friend.

Mattie watched as Belle turned from her position on her side to lie on her back, tuning the light off in one fluid motion; they were done for the night.

“I love you too Mattie” she heard her whisper as sleep claimed her and she smiled because it was gonna be okay.

[Taniya_K]

Aw........ that was so sweet. I love how they're still best of mates here, and how their past experiences have just made them that much more closer.

The bit about no-one loving Belle enough after her 8th birthday was so sad, and Mattie telling her that she's her family was adorable. I'm glad we got a chapter that was just Belle and Mattie and their friendship.

Cannot wait for more.

xoxo

[LAURZY!]

Aww! that was so touching!

Love their relationship, you can tell they are practically family to each other

Really great update, loved it

[xknomex]

aww thats so sweet.

I love their relationship,

Brilliant update!

xx

[Jody]

I loved this chapter.

The Mattie/Belle friendship in this fic is so sweet. I'm glad that they had this talk. And that Mattie let Belle know that she was like family to her. I felt so sad for Belle when she explained why she didn't want to tell Mattie.

Looking forward to more of this story.

[Lustre]

Thanks for all the reviews so far, I can't believe so many people read and enjoys this , its great. I hope everyone had a great new year.

Chapter 24

“You’ve made some very significant breakthroughs; while it was a last resort your stay here in the clinic has been very successful.” Aden zoned out as Dr. Monroe droned on about his ‘recovery’.

“How are you feeling today?” He inquired not surprised at the glazed over appearance of the teen’s eyes; he never had been able to take praise very well.

“I'm great.” Aden replied boredom evident in his tone, he didn’t mean to sound disrespectful, but the point was that he genuinely felt great, no repressed emotions, no pressing topic he needed to discuss urgently but didn’t know how to broach; he felt light in a way he never had before, a way he never knew he could. He’d been feeling like this for awhile and with it he found his daily therapy sessions become more of a burden, they had nothing to discuss and he certainly didn’t want to sit there listening to the doctor praise him.

“How great?” The doctor probed. “I know it sounds stupid but I need you to make me understand.” He explained. “And then we’re done I promise.”

Cheered up significantly by the thought of getting out of the session after a mere ten minutes, he thought about Monroe’s question. “I don’t really know how to explain it,” he began. “It’s kind of like this huge burden is gone…” he broke off thinking about his words. “No that’s not really right because what he did to me will always be there, my past will always be there, I guess talking about it with you and actually…” He paused again looking for the right words, “coming to terms with it, I mean I don’t understand it, I’ll never understand it but I except it happened and I can talk about it now, you know I never could before, we’ve been doing this for two years and I was never able to say half the things I have to you in the past few months.” He told the older man unshed tears now glazing his eyes rather than boredom. “Acknowledging it the way I have now it’s finally let me put my past into the past does that even make sense?” He asked unsure of how he had worded it.

“Yes Aden. It does and it shows me just how far you have come to be so willing to move on with your life.” Dr Monroe told him, proud of the boy sitting in front of him.

“It used to always be there; following me around, colouring everything I did everything was always a little darker. Now it’s there but the happy stuff is there too and that’s been out balancing it lately.” He finished explaining his voice strengthening as he realised that her doctor was right, he’d changed, he was different, he was better.

Smiling at Aden the doctor felt Aden’s words reinforce his opinion of his state of mind and recovery. “Aden you’re done.” He told the blonde.

“Great,” Aden replied standing up. “Same time tomorrow I guess doc.” He told the older man saluting him in jest as he turned to leave but stopped as Monroe interrupted his exit.

“No Aden I mean you’re done.” He tried to explain. “I’ve discussed it with the rest of the staff and we all feel that everything we can possibly do for you here has been done. You can go home and start your life again.”

“You really think I'm ready for that doctor Monroe?” Aden asked his tone serious but unsure.

“Yes, definitely. Of course you won’t be left without support; you’ll still have your sessions with me only they’ll be weekly rather than daily.”

Aden thought about it leaning back against the door, it wouldn’t be so bad being back with Roman and Morag, a lot quieter now that Nic was a resident of the clinic but he’d see her at least once a week, more with all the time he would spend visiting Belle. Belle, could he really leave her, they both knew at some point one of them would be released before the other but neither had wanted to discuss the topic. He’d visit her everyday until she herself was allowed to leave. They could make it work.

“That sounds great doc but are you sure I'm ready?” He asked, he wanted out he felt so restricted in this place but he needed to be positive that he wouldn’t crack again that something wouldn’t push him over the edge like his fathers words had that day. “If it happened again, if what I did that day…. I don’t think I could handle it again.”

“Nothing is a certainty Aden. I can’t promise you anything but I can tell you that I do believe in you and what you’ve achieved here so yes Aden I truly believe you are ready to leave.”

A small smile spreading across his face Aden shuck his head in the affirmative. “Yeah okay, I guess I'm going home.”

Smiling in return at the boys genuine pleasure doctor Monroe continued. “I have to admit I discussed this with your foster father a few days ago and he’s eagerly awaiting a call to confirm when he needs to pick you up.” Monroe explained glad to be the source of the boy’s happiness. “Would you be ready to leave by tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow?” Aden asked unsure of the short timing, could he leave all the people he had met here at a days notice, could he leave Belle? But this was his chance, they’d understand the short goodbye its not like he wouldn’t be back as soon as he could be. “I don’t know, I guess if I forget anything I can just pick it up when I come back.” He ventured. Belle wouldn’t want him sticking around here longer than he had to.

“When you come back?” The doctor questioned.

“Yeah for our weekly sessions and to visit Nic and Belle.” He explained slowly as if it were obvious.

Sighing Dr Monroe looked up at Aden a frown now marring his face. “Aden , you need to understand that this is in your best interest but you wont be returning to the clinic, past patients are not allowed visit our current patients we find it detrimental to both their recoveries and our future therapy sessions will be at the hospital not here in the clinic.”

Silence engulfed the room as his words sunk in, a look of slight panic developing on Aden’s face as realisation dawned. Turning his back on the doctor he twisted the door handle. “Then I guess I'm not leaving huh?” He responded quietly as he left the room quickly.

Crossing the room quickly the older man followed the teen. “That’s not an option Aden!” He called after him. “I know how you feel about Ms Taylor but it’s not a valid reason to stay.” He told the boy.

“It is to me.”

[leah1234]

Aaaw he would stay for her. That is so cute!!!

Update soon xxxxx

[LAURZY!]

Awww, he'd stay for her!

Really glad he's got some of his issues sorted, i just hope Belle can cope with him not there!!

Brill update once again

[Symphony]

can't remember where I stopped off reading this; I'm going to have to catch up on it again

[Jody]

He actually wants to stay in that place just to be with her. How sweet is that?

Good to see how much progress Aden has made.

I can't wait to find out whats going to happen next.