The House of Angels

The house of the angels

Moon felt anxious and uncomfortable as they approached the institute's driveway. The place was very nice. There was a huge green garden surrounding the three story building and a large square in front of the main entrance which consisted of a stone staircase leading to a massive oak door, above which a sign read "The house of the Angels - Amor vincit omnia". There was a middle-aged nun waiting at the door with a huge, kind smile plastered on the face, and a cute blonde girl with big hazel eyes and a polite expression beside her. She wore a blue sweater over a white buttoned-up shirt and a black skirt below the knee, a wooden crucifix around her neck. Moon thought it had to be some kind of evil joke.

"Ah, here we are, Moon!" Felicia turned to look at the back seat where Moon was biting her lip nervously. "You don't have to worry, honey, Sister Mary will take care of you until I find a solution. I will come everyday for you, you can count on me!"

"Thanks, Miss Donovan, I really appreciate it but I will be fine. I mean, I have to, right?" Moon shrugged, trying to look unaffected, and just exited the car without waiting for any answer.

"Oh, welcome to our home! We were waiting for you, dear! I'm Sister Mary, and I take care of this place and the kids, with the help of volounteers and Sister Jane and Sister Monica, but they are not here at the moment, you will meet them later! Felicia, it is so nice to see you! But please, come in, this is Helena, she is one of the seniors, she will help you the first days! Come in, come in, let's take a tea my dears!" The nun talked too much, Moon thought. She kept talking not even waiting for any answer, but she was very friendly and kind.

Sister Mary led them in a small living room and they sat on the couch while Helena went to the kitchen to make tea for everyone.

"So, Felicia told me you are a soccer star and a very smart student, Moon!" Sister Mary said, impressed.

"Yeah." Moon nodded, resisting the urge of rolling her eyes.

"You will like here, the other kids are so nice, and there are a lot of teens like you, you'll get along well, I know it. We have a lot of space outside to practice sports and if you like books we have a huge library and even a music room. You can do whatever you want. Oh, here they are! Charlie, Lucas! Come here, meet the new member of our family!" Sister Mary said, pointing at two boys passing by the hall near the living room. They stopped in their tracks, entered the room, looking at Sister Mary and then at Moon who still didn't mutter a single word.

"This is Charlie, he is sixteen like you," she began, pointing at the brown haired guy with blue eyes and plump lips who nodded politely at her, and then at the taller one, with green, big, deep eyes and blond curly hair "and this is Lucas, his brother, he's seventeen, they've been with us for two years now. Guys, this is Moon and she will be staying with us for a while."

Lucas smiled at Moon "It's nice to meet you Moon. I hope we'll get to know each others. Sister Mary, we are going out for a while, ok? We'll be back before dinner!" He said to the nun.

"You'd better, kid, you will be helping in the kitchen today, don't forget!" She said in a cheerful tone. Charlie rolled his eyes, while Lucan frowned "But why today? With Helena? We usually work with Josh, he is a lot cooler. Helly will boss us around as always and we'll end up arguing, you know that." He stated, nodding to himself.

"But today you will behave because Moon will be there, learning from you all how to handle the chores. And stop calling Helena "Helly", I know why you all do that and I don't like it. I know what you mean when you say that and I swear I'm gonna lose my patience. Now shoo, but remember to come back before seven or else!" She said kicking them out before they could say something else, so they just went out laughing loudly.

Just then Helena came back with a tray full of tea cups and cookies. She had a shy smile, and Moon couldn't help but wonder if she'd heard the conversation and felt sorry for her.

"Oh, thank you, my dear!" Sister Mary said putting a tea spoon full of sugar in her cup.

Helena sat beside Moon and took a cookie.

"So, Helena, Josh and Celine are the seniors. They are twenty but since they don't have other places to go we let them stay here, they help us with the others and the chores in change. Helena will help you, so if you need anything and I'm not around you can ask her. Now, Helena, why don't you show Moon her room? I'm sure she'd like to unpack her things, freshen up, rest or maybe you would like a tour first?" She said, all in one breath. Moon thought that maybe that nun was on amphetamine.

"I'd like to rest a little and maybe take a shower..." Moon said, shrugging.

"Of course, dear, you should go... Helena will come for you when it's time for cooking. Have a good rest, honey."

Moon said her goodbyes to Felicia and then followed Helena up the stairs.

"There are fifteen kids here. The older ones, like you and me, stay on the last floor. Everyone has their own room, well, except for the little ones who share their rooms on the second floor." Helena started explaining all the rules while leading Moon towards a long corridor full of doors.

As they approached her room, they heard loud music and smelled smoke. Moon looked at Helena questioningly.

"Oh, don't worry that's Daniel's room. Well, he shouldn't smoke, not inside the house at least, it is not allowed. But he doesn't care at all. So we let him be. He is harmless and minds his own business: you never see him around the house, he is out or into his room. But he wants to be left alone, so stay away from him. Well, this is your room, Moon." Helena said, opening the last door at the end of the corridor.

Moon dragged her suitcase inside the room. It was surprisingly nice and quite large. There was a huge window with white and beige curtains, overlooking the rear garden. A twin-sized bed with white, clean sheets, a lilac blanket and a lot of soft pillows was in the centre of the room, between two bedside tables, a small wardrobe on the opposite side and a desk beside the window. Moon liked the room and was glad it was simple so she could customize it however she liked.

"And..." Helena added, opening a door on the left of the room "this will be your bathroom!"

"Oh, phew, I was so scared about the bathroom. I thought I'd have to share it with some stranger!" Moon sighed.

Helena just looked at her for a moment and then hugged her tightly.

"Moon, I know it sucks. I've been in your shoes and I know how it feels. I will be here to help you, you will be ok!" She whispered softly, stroking Moon's back.

"Thank you, Helena." Moon mumbled before breaking the hug.

"I will come at seven for dinner, see you later!" Helena said, running away after winking at her.

Moon closed the door and let out a sigh. She looked around and, for the first time since that morning, she started to process everything and felt suddenly hopeless. She didn't want to be there. She didn't want to live with three nuns and fifteen orphans. She didn't want to cook dinner with some stupid teen, nor spend time bonding with them. She wanted her house, her friends, she wanted to run and go back to her old life.

All she could hear was that loud metal music coming from the room beside hers.

She decided to open the window to enjoy the view and walked out on the small balcony, noticing a group of kids in their elevens playing soccer on the grass. She was thinking about joining them when the window of the near room suddenly opened and a very shirtless, tattooed, black-haired guy with a lit cigarette in his left hand and a can of beer in the right one, came out of it.

"Hey! Carlos, Lawrence, could you please stop with that f**king ball?! You're giving me a headache for f**k's sake!" He yelled.

"Oh, shut up, Daniel!!! We're just playing, mind your own business!" One of the older kids shouted back at him.

"I swear it on that s**t of my mother that I will cut off your damned tongue if you ever dare to talk back to me again, you looser! Now go annoying someone else!" He yelled, throwing the empty can towards them.

Moon flinched at that. Helena just told her that guy was harmless and yet there he was, throwing empty beer cans on kids, yelling and threatening them.

"I'll tell Sister Mary you said the F word in front of Lucy!!!" The younger kid yelled in anger.

"Whatever, just go somewhere else and stop pissing me off, little dork! Now f**k off!" The guy said before turning to leave, but then his gray eyes settler on her. He raised slightly his eyebrows before glaring at her.

"And who the f**k are you, exactly?" He said, narrowing his eyes at her.

Moon didn't ever waste time answering him: he was so rude! She just scowled and, glaring at him, went inside her room, slamming the window behind her.

She put her suitcase on the bed and pulled out her sporty black crop top and shorts.

She was going to join the kids outside, in the end she needed the distraction and she so wanted to piss that jerk off.

__________________________________________

"Hey kids!" Moon waved at the kids when she reached the rear garden. They stopped playing, turning their heads in her direction.

"Hi! Are we annoying you with the noises? We can stop if you want..." said shyly the boy who was having the argument with the jerk earlier.

"Oh! No, no, no! I was just wondering if I could join you! You know I play soccer, I'd really like to play with you!" She said chuckling.

"Really?? You play soccer?!" Said a little voice behind the boy. Then Moon saw the cute head of a brown curly haired little girl. She had two big, sweet hazel eyes and red cheeks, with rosebud lips. She was so sweet!

"Yeah, I am the captain of my team! Do you like playing soccer, honey?" Moon asked smiling sweetly at her.

"Did you hear, Russell?! Girls can play soccer just like boys!" The girl growled, settling her hands comically on her hips and stomping her foot angrily, glaring at a boy behind her.

The boy shrugged awkwardly and blushed, looking at the ground.

"What's you name, honey?" Moon asked, amused.

"It's Lucy!!! I am four and I like colour yellow and playing soccer and fairy tales! And you?" The girl said, running towards her, stopping just a few inches away.

"My name is Moon and I think you're very cute!" She said stroking the girl's messy hair.

"I am Carlos and they are Lawrence, Russel, Justin and Peter. And we would very like to play with you! You know, the older kids usually don't play, well Josh is the only one anyway." The dark haired boy said.

"Will you teach me, Moon?" Lucy said with hopeful eyes.

"Of course, Lucy! We're going to have a lot of fun! Just let me warm up!" She answered, starting to run around the garden.

She thought that she was going to like that place, after all.

When they finished playing, Moon felt a lot better. She was stretching her legs, still panting slightly , when she felt observed and raised her head to be met by those two gray eyes that were staring directly at her. He was leaning with his forearms on the balcony railing, smoking and simply staring at her with an expressionless face she couldn't decipher. She didn't want to hold his gaze, she knew guys like Daniel, and she didn't want to piss him off further, and looking straight him in the eyes would be a bad move. So she simply stood up and walked inside the building, followed by her new admirers.

After having some snacks with the kids, Moon decided to retire in her room, in order to take a shower and unpack before dinner. It was thursday, and she had a shift at the diner she worked at, but when Wendy, her boss, came to know what was happening, she told Moon she could take the week to settle in her new accomodation and process what was happening. Moon was very grateful, Wendy was so kind and caring... she felt sad again thinking about her old life, even though it was literally just yesterday... yet it seemed so far.

She was about to go upstairs when Sister Mary entered the room with a tall, ebony and very handsome guy with long, little braids on his head, and two piercing green eyes. The kids all squeaked, surrounding him immediately and hugging him excitedly.

"Josh how are you?"

"Oh my God Josh, we missed you so much!"

"How have you been?"

They all bombarded him with questions while he chuckled amused, taking Lucy in his arms to give her a bear hug. He was very muscular and his ripped grey jeans and black, tight shirt highlighted it better. He wore lots of steel bracelets and had his lower lip pierced, and when he smiled, his perfect, white teeth literally lit the room.

"Oh, Moon, I see you're out of your room and you already met the little ones... this is Josh Valentine, he's one of the older ones and just like Helena, if you need something you can ask him! Josh, this is Moon, the girl I told you about!" Sister Mary said, smiling at both of them.

"Hi..." Moon smiled, friendly.

"Hi Moon, nice to meet you! How are you settling in here?" He smiled gently, patting her back litghly.

"I've been here for just a few hours but everyone is kind and friendly until now, so everything's alright." She shrugged.

"Wait until you meet Daniel or Celine..." he muttered under his breath, but Moon was near enough to hear and burst out laughing, trying to cover it with a fake cough.

Josh's smile widened and something flashed in his eyes. "You're very nice, Moon I think we will get along very well!" He said winking, before accepting a glass of juice Sister Mary was offering him.

"Moon, would you mind coming to my office for a while? We need to discuss some things, dear." Sister Mary said stroking her back softly.

"Of course... see you later guys." Moon waved at Josh and the kids, leaving the kitchen with Sister Mary.

The nun led her outside the kitchen, through a corridor with several doors, at the end of which she stopped, opening a small wooden door.

Sister Mary's office was very small and austere: the walls were white, the floor was made of wood like the door and the only window, and the furniture consisted of a messy wooden desk full of papers and documents, a bookcase behind it, a few shelves, two armchairs facing the desk and a sofa next to the door.

Sister Mary took her place at the desk, urging Moon to take a seat on one of the armchairs on the opposite side so that she was facing her.

"So, Moon... I had a talk with Felicia and she told me everything about your situation... if you need to talk to someone I want you to know you can count on me, dear. We have also a psychologist, Mr Johnson, who comes here twice a week to talk with the kids, so if you prefer you can talk to him. But if you need to open your heart I will be here, alright?" The nun said, her blue eyes showed sympathy and affection.

"Thank you, Sister Mary, but I am ok, really." Moon said expressionless. She didn't want to talk about all those terrible things. She just wanted to forget and keep going like nothing ever happened.

"Ok, the choice is yours... We like to consider this place our home, and the kids our family, so now you're part of it... as Helena must have already told you, the olders help in the kitchen and laundry, we do this to make you independent and able to take care of yourselves. But is Mrs Solonov with the volunteers who takes care of the shared spaces. You just have to keep your room clean and tidy and that's all. Since you're sixteen, you are allowed to go out by yourself but if you need a ride just ask, someone will be available to help you. You have to be back before half past ten, unless you need to stay out longer but you need to ask me for permission first." She said, lazily tidying some papers on her desk.

"So, you can do what you want here, do sports, playing some music, read books... we have wi-fi, but don't ask me for the password, ask Josh or Helena. I think it is all for now." She stood up and went to the door, opening it for Moon.

"You have about an hour before making dinner." She said, looking at the clock on the wall beside the door. "You should go rest, dear, I will see you later." Sister Mary gave her a sweet smile and closed the door.

Moon felt relieved that Sister Mary didn't push the topic further. She was expecing a lot of uncomfortable questions that she definitely didn't want to answer. She couldn't let anyone know...

She decided to finally take a shower to relieve the tension and clean the sweat and the dust from the earlier game.

She walked upstairs and when she was about to reach her room she heard laughs and noticed Daniel's door slightly opened. She braced herself praying that he wouldn't see her walking into her room, she knew he was like a wolf: he liked the smell of fear like any other predator. She realized it when she caught him staring at her earlier: he wanted to intimidate her, she saw it in his eyes, even though she had no idea why. Maybe it was because she joined the kids in the garden after he'd clearly told them to stop playing... maybe he was just an asshole bully who liked to boss around. Who knew.

She forced herself to walk at a normal pace while passing in front of Daniel's room, she could hear two voices inside so tried to look lost in her thoughts in order to avoid him thinking she was minding his business.

"Ehi Moon!" Josh's voice called her and she turned her head around to find him sprawled on Daniel's bed while he was seated on the floor near the window, smoking something that definitely wasn't a normal cigarette. He had bloodshot eyes and his black hair fell messily around his face while he leaned with his back on the wall, staring at her blankly with pouted lips.

"How're you doing? Did you have 'the talk' with Sister Mary?" Josh chuckled while taking whatever Daniel had been smoking from him eagerly.

Moon stood awkwardly out of the room, not daring to go inside and Daniel's stare was making her uncomfortable.

"Yeah, nothing special." She said, while Daniel was now sitting on his bed beside Josh, still looking at her, intently.

"Come here, tell us your story." Josh said patting the spot beside him.

"Oh, I was going to take a shower before dinner, I should hurry..." she said, looking towards her room, she wanted to just go and do her things, have some peace.

"Yeah, she spent at least an hour running behind a ball with a bunch of annoying little gremlins..." Daniel teased, smirking smugly.

"It is called soccer." Moon retorted, dryly.

"Oh, yeah." He just grinned,challenge in his eyes.

"Oh, so you two met... I hope he didn't act like his usual. He can be a jerk sometimes." Josh grinned earning a playful elbow from his friend.

"f**k you Valentine!" He grinned.

"Yeah, he was rude. But I don't care. He is no one to me so I just ignored him" Moon shrugged, crossing her arms.

"Yet it seemed you couldn't keep your eyes away..." he teased, widening his smirk.

"I wasn't the one staring. You kept looking like a creep." She said, rolling her eyes.

"Tipical Daniel..." Josh laughed "but don't let him fool you Moon, this whole bad boy vibe thing is just a cover to hide his big teddy bear heart." Josh laughed out loud while Daniel glared at him.

"Do you want some, Moon?" Josh said, offering her the thing he was smoking.

Moon thought about it for a while... maybe that could help erase all the bad and painful memories. Maybe she would feel better after trying. They seemed so relaxed and light.

"She would never do such things, Josh, come on, be serious... she's so innocent and pure." Daniel kept teasing, challenging her.

"Fa**ulo!" ("F**k you!")Moon blurted out, glaring at him.

"Whoa did you just swear in italian?" Josh asked, amused and shocked at the same time.

"Yeah, my grandma was italian and I spent my childhood with her. But now I have to go or I will never make it on time... see you later, Josh. Daniel." She said going towards her room.

"Later Moon." Josh smiled kindly while Daniel smirked smugly.