Sora of the Moon

CLAIRE~1

“Claire, sweetheart, wake up. You’re going to be late…”

I heard my mother’s voice next to my ear. She was gently stroking my hair. That was the last night I spent at my parent’s house and even leaving my bed felt like a feat to me. I didn’t want to leave them but it couldn’t be helped.

“Is Ian awake yet?” I moaned turning to my other side.

“He’s waiting for you as usual” she let out a lonely laugh. Just from the tone of her voice I realized just how sad she was leaving us. I sat up.

“Mom, this surely was the right choice. Don’t have any second thoughts. We have to save money, I know how expensive school can be and staff. Also dad is our first priority here”, I told her embracing her hands with mine.

“It’s difficult for me to let go of you. I mean, we were always together…”

I noticed her oily-green eyes tearing up and I immediately smiled at her.

“We will be okay mom, I’ll make sure of it. Don’t worry. You have to focus on dad.  Besides Phillip will be with us”.

“That kid… just how much do I owe him. If it wasn’t for him you’d never be attending Solas na Ghel”.

“Yeah, that’s Phillip for you, so awesome. Who would have guessed that the academy belonged to a distant relative of his?”

My mother looked at me slyly.

“So, when are you going to tell him?”

 My eyes started from her words. I knew exactly what she was implying and I immediately looked away.

“I’m not…”

“Claire, but why? You have feelings for him all those years…”

I lowered my gaze.

“I know mom but something like this would ruin our relationship and I don’t want that. It’s obvious that the feeling isn’t mutual”.

If there was something that I hated, that was losing people that are special to me just because of my selfishness. And Phillip… I didn’t want to lose him because of something like this. He was like family to me. I just couldn’t destroy it.

“I would advise you not to be so close-minded. Anyway, in about half an hour he’ll be here to get you. Wake Ian up, check your room in case you’ve forgotten something and come to eat…”

I nodded to my mother who walked out of the room and then I turned to the bed next to mine. Without any hesitation I threw a pillow to my three years younger brother. 

“Wake up”, I laughed. He stubbornly turned his back on me.  

I sighed and after I left my bed I found myself jumping on him and shaking him.

“Don’t be like that now Ian”.

“But I don’t wanna go!” he murmured annoyed.

“I know, neither do I but remember, everything is for dad’s sake. Plus with me and Phillip with you, why worry?”

He sat up on the sheet.

“Yeah, thank God that Phillip will also be there because if it was only for you…” he mocked me and I hit him with the pillow.

“What do you mean by that?”

“What I mean is that if you are unable to express your feelings to Phillip, then looking after me is out of the question. Please Claire, don’t let yourself be fooled. Also, I’m not even that young. I will be turning sixteen in some months and I know how to take care of myself”, he said fiercely as usual. After letting out a sigh he shoved away his duvet uncovering his muscular body that he had built up from boxing and stood up with a yawn.

I looked at him suspiciously.

“Why were you late last night?”

He turned to me and smiled innocently.

“None of your concern!”

Again I hit him on the legs this time with the pillow.

“Ian!” I threatened. 

“Yeah hitting me won’t change anything”, he said pulling his mid- length hair back, stretching. Then I noticed it. A purple mark had painted one side of his neck. I immediately stood up and walked up to him. He lowered his gaze to meet mine as he was much taller than me.

“You were with a girl!” I ascertained.  He smiled.

“And? What about it? I at least, contrary to a certain someone, know how to have fun”, he mocked me again and headed for the bathroom.

Before he could close the door behind him I threw the pillow I was holding.

“What did you just say you little…” I shouted.

“Yeah, right. First take a look at yourself in the mirror and then we’ll talk about relationships. Thank God Phillip doesn’t know you like him or else he would most likely freak out”, he answered closing himself in.

“Yeah, I love you too Ian…” I mocked him and after checking my bedroom, I took my suitcases and left them next to the door.

I walked into the small kitchen and filled a glass with milk. My father’s voice detached me from my thoughts. He was lying on the sofa.

“What are you making that face for Claire? You’re going to attend a very famous academy to study what you like. If I were you, I would be over the moon”. A slight cough escaped his mouth and I felt my heart stiffen.

“I know daddy but it’s just so sudden…” I said holding my hair into my usual low twin-tail style.

“I understand her dear, it’s not easy to be sent in a boarding school”.

I smiled at my dad and leaned to kiss his cheek. I held tightly his hands.

“It’s for a good purpose”.

He left it there and returned my smile.

“Be careful there Claire”.

“I promise” I responded and returned to the kitchen. I continued drinking my milk.

If there was something positive in all of this was that Ian would stop taking part in these illegal boxing matches that provided him with money. I knew he was doing it to help with dad’s treatment but he didn’t understand how harrowing that was for me. Coming home every night past midnight all beaten up, sometimes with his one eye bruised others with his lips torn out. I was the one who took care of him after all this, always and I steered clear of speaking to my mother about this and the way we were managing to find all that money. She was already burdened from dad’s condition, we couldn’t talk to her about Ian nor about my night job as a striper. I hated this, but it was the fastest way for me to earn enough cover for dad’s treatment. Every Saturday night it seemed like I put on a fight to hold onto my virginity. The money they offered me for one night was outrageous but I couldn’t agree to any of that. I was already stressed out about me dancing in front of a thousand voracious eyes against my will and I couldn’t bear losing my dignity entirely. That also explained the way I dressed up. I was so buttoned- down with my clothes because I didn’t want to expose my body more than I already was compelled to do.

I couldn’t even imagine our parent’s reaction if they learned all of these and so being able to walk away from all that and changing environment was really positive. Finally we were done with those.  Ian’s voice cut through my thoughts.

“Hey nerd, your glasses are in the bathroom from yesterday, I’m sure you’ve been looking for them”.

He stood next to me taking the milk from my hands.

“I actually was looking for them, thanks”, I said running to the bathroom to dress up.

I put on my glasses because without them I couldn’t see a thing and after I brushed my teeth I put on a simple black pair of jeans and an all covered up, close-fitting white shirt. I stood there for a moment looking at my reflection. My dark brown hair had become slightly curly due to the humid in our room and I noticed that I had lost more weight than I would normally do. I was a mess.

The door’s sudden knock made me jump and I assumed that was Phillip. Ignoring my mess I ran back to the living room where Phillip greeted me with his usual hug.

“Guys is everything ready? I swear, the headmistress will scold us if we run late!” he laughed settling his glasses on his nose bone.

“Let me carry those Ian” I said to my brother preventing him from lifting so much weigh with a two-days now injured arm.

He briefly lifted he shoulders and after giving mom a kiss he left for Phillip’s car. It was so easy for him to say goodbye but I already felt horrible and my crying snarling up to my throat. I hugged my mom tight and the crying I was holding back came to the surface.

“Take care Claire, and take care of your brother too”, she said looking me with soft eyes.

“Same goes for you mom. Take care of dad. I promise you everything’s going to be fine!” I responded and walked out of the door giving my dad a last smile.

“You take care too Phillip…” I heard my mother saying hugging him too.

“I’ll miss you too Margaret but I’ll be taking my leave if you don’t mind because I’ll tear up too and then I won’t be able to drive”. Phillip forced a smile but it was obvious that he was sad.

We did grow up together after all and it really seemed as if we were sharing the same parents. I didn’t blame him. And so did we leave for the so well-known Academy of Solas na Ghel.