Chapter 2
It's funny how life works. It would take something from you but then give you something else in return. Whatever anyone might say, he knows his life is messed up. He's got nothing, no family, no friends and he's stuck here in this hell hole. And his future probably doesn't hold anything better. But then he gets Cal. Cal, with his golden hair and green eyes, who can make Andrew lose his breath just by being near him. Is it a fair trade? The rest of his life for Cal. If you asked him now, he knows the answer would definitely be affirmative.
---
When summer comes, it comes not only with warmer weather but with even better news. The director's gone on holiday with his family. It's funny how sometimes you can only notice something when it's gone and there's a tension that is missing from this place that can't just be attributed to the warmer weather. And there is a lightness in his heart that doesn’t stem from either of those reasons. It's to do with a bright smile and green eyes and moments stolen away in the hidden corners in the halls.
---
There are two new additions to their hall. Will and Jem. Will is a crazy bastard. Andrew can tell that from the start. It's in his smile that is sometimes too wide and has too many teeth. And there is a restlessness in his eyes like he's always looking for something, always waiting. Except. Cal thinks he's already found it. And Andrew thinks it's probably true because the only time those eyes relax and that smile become soft is for Jem. Jem seems to be the exact opposite of Will, silver hair and silver eyes. It should be the strangest thing Andrew has ever seen. But it's not. Because it fits. And the quiet spoken silver haired boy seems to be the only one Will listens to and cares for. And Andrew would envy them because in this place that is something that can save you, except there is Cal. And envy is not something Andrew ever expects to feel again.
---
He wakes up to the sound of loud voices. Nick is already awake and standing at the door. Andrew props up on his elbows and listens.
"Don't touch him! Leave him alone, you bastard!"
Andrew sits up in shock. He knows that voice. He's getting off the bed and joining Nick at the door before he can think, peering out the glass panel on the door. He sees the orderlies running past, other voices raised and doors slamming open. He can see Cal's room, barely within his field on vision. He can see the director outside the room, talking to an orderly. And Andrew feels his heart drop when they bring Cal out of the room. He feels for the door handle, knowing it's futile. They get locked in every night. Cal is struggling, trying desperately to get back in to the room. To Kit. The orderlies halt in front of the director. Cal is still for a moment before drawing his head back and spitting at the director. Andrew freezes. Nick swears softly under his breath and Andrew feels a distant sense of surprise. Nick never swears. Everything seems to stop at that moment. Cal staring at the director, anger etched in to every feature of his face. It takes a second for Andrew to realise that he's shouting.
"CAL!"
Cal seems to hear him and Andrew sees him turn his head, looking for him. At that same moment the director backhands Cal across the face. If not for the orderlies holding him, Cal would have ended up on the floor.
"NO! Cal!" Andrew shoves at the door with all his might, throwing himself against it.
They take Cal past his room as Andrew watches helplessly. His hair is covering half his face a and Cal grins at him through bloodied teeth. The smile falters though and Cal tries to turn back towards him as the orderlies drag him away.
"Andrew"
He can't hear the words but he knows the shape of his name on Cal's lips. He holds Cal's eyes until they turn the corner. He knows where they're taking him. The cold room. Any misbehaviour is punished with a stint in the cold room, which is just a bare padded room. The nights are freezing here at the best of times and without blankets or someone else to share warmth with, it would be worse. Andrew leans his forehead against the glass and closes his eyes.
---
The next morning Andrew starts a fight with the biggest guy he can find. Things get a bit blurry but the pain and the possible broken nose is worth it when they throw him in to the cold room. His relief only lasts a moment as he realises that the room is empty. Cal is not there.
---
They let him out the next morning. He'd spent a miserable night freezing in the goddamn room, with the constant worry for Cal waking him up from the brief snatches of sleep he managed to get. The only good thing of the night was that he's sure that his nose isn't broken.
He enters the dining hall and just stops. Cal is hunched over his breakfast on a table in the far corner of the room. His hair is falling in to his face and it doesn't look like he's even trying to eat. He makes it straight for Cal, who looks up in surprise when he throws himself on the chair infront of him. The surprise is replaced by concern in an instant when Cal takes him in. Andrew knows he's probably a bit worse for wear but he doesn't care about that right now.
"Where were you?"
Cal looks down at the food.
"Andrew…"
"I got myself beat up so you wouldn't have to be alone in the cold room. Imagine my surprise when I got there." Andrew reaches out and grips Cal's wrist. Cal flinches but Andrew holds on. He doesn't remember when his relief had been replaced with anger.
"Where were you?"
Cal finally looks up, eyes blazing. He rips his hand away and stands up.
"Fuck you" he says and walks away.
Andrew follows. It takes a moment for him to register that Cal is limping. Blood freezes in his veins. He catches up with Cal in the corridor, stepping in front of him and barring his way.
"Cal"
"Leave me alone" Cal tries to move past him but Andrew can't let him.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Cal" he whispers softly.
Cal stops fighting but still doesn't look at him.
"For what?" he asks in a small voice.
Andrew reaches up a hand and slowly lifts up Cal's face, brushing the golden hair back.
"Tell me what happened"
Cal drops his eyes but the sleeves his long-sleeved shirt had fallen back and Andrew finally sees the bruised skin on the wrists that had darted up to push him away.
"There's nothing… I can handle it" Cal looks up, green eyes shining, "I can…" his voice is shaking and Cal leans closer. Andrew wraps both arms around him, holding him close.
---
They transfer Kit soon after that. And Nick spends a few days of absolutely misery before they release him. Andrew hopes they'll be alright but he has no time to spend worrying for them when there are far more pressing matters much closer to home.
"Kill him" Will says, sitting on the bench with his feet dangling in the air. Jem sitting cross legged on the bench next to him, whacks him on the head, albeit gently.
"Andrew's almost 18, they'll throw him in prison for that" Jem says, fingers now sifting through Will's dark hair.
"Or hang him" Will laughs, leaning closer to Jem.
"Thank you, Will, for that vital piece of advice" Andrew sighs and looks around at Cal, sitting on the grass away from them all.
He walks over and sits down beside him.
"He won't...it won't happen again" Cal's eyes are fixed somewhere in the distance, "He knows I'll fight. He wants easy prey and I'm not" Cal finally looks at him.
"We're not" Andrew gently rubs Cal's wrists that are mostly healed now.
One good thing that had come from the departure of Kit and Nick is that they're sharing a room now. Andrew has no intention of letting the director get his hands on Cal again.
Cal looks at him, an almost smile on his face.
"Knight in shining armour?" he asks teasing.
Andrew grins, "Nah. I'm a gangster, baby"
Cal laughs and that's all Andrew's been looking for. Everyday since that day, all Andrew has tried to do is to make Cal happy again.
To be continued.
