- Bricks - Chapter One - {Original Story}

'Has anyone ever said you were useless before? Like they'd ask you to do something that you wouldn't do and then they'd mouth off at you when you said you wouldnt?'

'I get that a lot. But it's not that I didn't do what they asked; I just didn't do a good job. You'd think people would be more appreciative.'
'Of course People are People; cant control that. I suppose I'm a jerk at times too.'

'But I'm a very emotional and useless person; or so I think. That's why Im here; forty miles north from home, nothing with me but the clothes on my back...'

Luce stepped off the platform and shivered, the windows encrusted in ice and frost. She should have thought this through before rushing off like that, or at least worn a proper jacket. The train ride had been warm enough; despite her rush of thoughts.

She was running away from home. This would be the first time she'd actually skipped town because of an argument. It wasn't that she wanted to run away; but she had a point to prove.

'You can't do anything! You're never going to get anywhere with this.. this childish attitude of yours!'

"I'll show him" Luce muttered tightening her bandanna around her head "I'll be able to survive on my own for a month- then he'll see "I'm not useless..."

Luce trudged out of the Station. No one seemed to take notice of the lone teenager making her way past the crowd; pushing through to the snow filled street outside. As she stepped out the cold wind blew her tangled light brown hair in her face; whipping and lashing around her shoulders.

"It's so cold" Luce's teeth chattered violently, her voice disappearing through the wind, "What have I got myself into? Maybe I should call home..."

But the image of her scolding brother's face swept through her mind. Her eyebrows contorting; she walked forward; head held high. She wasn't going to give in so fast. She could handle it on her own; she had two legs that were operational after all.

Luce's stomach gave a rumble. Luce groaned and she put a hand to her stomach and remembered that she hadn't eaten in hours. She hadn't brought anything in the rush to get away from home either.

"I brought some money right?" Luce asked herself aloud stopping at a bus stop and fumbling around in her pockets, "I mean didnt I?"

Luce began to feel the panic set in as she realised her mistake. She was in the middle of nowhere, not wearing proper attire for sub-zero temperatures, and she had no food, water or money.

'How on earth did I forget so many things?!' Luce thought desperately 'I can't survive with just the clothes on my back! I really am useless... I cant even depend on myself...'

Luce suddenly shook her head quickly to tell herself off. She couldn't think like that. She couldn't depend on someone else forever, she had to pull her own weight. To get money; she needed to work for it. Thats all there was to it.

'So what can I do?' Luce thought trudging through the snow 'I don't think Dancing in the streets a very good option... and no one will employ me because I'm so young... I suppose...'

"I'm doomed" Luce groaned "What did I expect? I cant depend on myself..."

Luce held herself by the sides in a futile attempt to keep warm. She didnt have any choice but to call home now. It wasn't like she would go about grifting; because she knew it wouldn't work for someone her age.

She opened a telephone booth and closed the door behind her. She reached up and took hold of the phone receiver. Luce stared at the receiver and sighed. She didn't think she'd have to give up so easily. She bit her lip and reached for the dial.

There was a faint muffled flump from behind her. Luce paused and turned around; only to stare in shock.

An old woman lay motionless in the snow paved sidewalk, her greying hair fanned over her face. Luce dropped the phone and pushed the door open; kneeling down to the fallen senior.

"Are you okay?" Luce asked worried "Hey! can you hear me?"

The woman didn't respond. Luce thought back to her First Aid instructions in P.D; but nothing came. Luce decided it was time to do what all P.D teachers instructed not to do.
She was going to do what they did in the movies.

She pushed the woman over onto her side and brushed the black hair away; and put a hand in front of her nose. The woman was breathing; if only barely. Luce raised her voice.

"I'm rolling you over onto your side" She said clearly, like she was supposed to "I'm going to call the ambulance"

The woman's black eyes opened groggily as Luce pushed her way back into the Telephone booth and dialled. She smiled weakly and then fell back asleep. Luce waited anxiously as the tone finished and a woman answered.

"Hello Ambulance, Police or-"

"Ambulance!" Luce shouted rather rudely, she then added quickly "Er... please?"

"Right away"

'I suppose I'll wait until I find out until she's okay' Luce thought anxiously as she dashed back outside to see if the woman was okay 'Then I'll call home'

Luce sat in the hospital waiting room awkwardly. There was always something about Hospitals that made her anxious. It wasn't that they were filled with sick people and crying children; it was just the unearthly clean feeling, like dirt died as soon as it entered the building. And the fact Luce was covered in snow and frost didnt help either.

"I wonder what happened to that old woman anyway" Luce asked herself "I suppose it was lucky I found her when I did..."

"Erm... Were you with Mrs Juuichi?"

Luce looked up. A nurse stood over her; holding a clipboard tightly. Luce looked at her confused.

"I don't know her name... she was old though" Luce said trying to describe her "Kind of black hair; black eyes I think she was Chinese or-"

"Mrs Juuichi is of Japanese Origin" The nurse said lightly, making Luce go red with embarrassment "But she wants to thank you; if you wouldn't mind?"

"Oh no, I've got no where else to be" Luce said getting up.

"This way then"

Luce followed the nurse down the hallway and out of the waiting room. She could hear the loud beeps and signals of machinery as they walked down the corridors; and cries of children and the mutter of doctors. Luce shivered. It was warmer in the Hospital; but the surroundings were significantly colder.

"In here if you mind"

The nurse stopped in front of a door. Luce paused to look at her and then turned to the door. With a quick push; she stepped inside and looked around.

The room was that blinding white that Hospital rooms are. The window was encrusted with frost around the edges; and the curtains hung to the sides to let the dim sunlight in.
It was in vain though; the snow clouds covered the sun almost completely.

"So youre the girl who helped me"

Luce almost jumped. She looked away from the window to see Mrs Juuichi.
She was wiped free of the snow and ice that had covered her before; and her eyes seemed to gleam in the dim light of the window. Luce awkwardly stepped up next to the bedside.

"Err yeah -A-Are you okay?" Luce said suddenly looking up "I didn't know if I was doing it right-"

"I'm alive; doesnt that speak for itself?" Mrs Juuichi laughed, she looked up; her black eyes focused on Luce "Tell me, what is your name?"

"Lucy Ma'am" Luce said uneasily "Luce for short though"

"Well Lucy," Mrs Juuichi said sitting up "What were you doing all by yourself outside on a day like this?"

"Well..." Luce scratched her neck awkwardly "I... I kinda ran away from home"

"Why on earth would you do that?" The woman said surprised "Things not right at home?"

"Oh everything's fine" Luce said shrugging "I had a fight with my brother... he says I can't depend on myself"

"Well I definitely needed you out there" Mrs Juuichi laughed; she looked a bit sombre suddenly "How far away do you live?"

"Forty miles south"

"Oh dear..."

"I caught the train last night" Luce mumbled "I didn't know where it was going... I just kind of snuck on board"

"Don't you have anyone you're staying with?" Mrs Juuichi said aghast "Do your parents know?"

Luce shook her head. She hadn't told her Dad or her Mom, because both of them lived in different homes to Luce and her Brother.
Divorce; you hear about it from so many people but the effects can stretch to ridiculous lengths.

"I'm trying to stay away for a month; so they'll know I can depend on myself" Luce admitted, she then hung her head "But I don't have any money; and I didnt exactly pack..."

"Well I can't have you outside in the cold after what you did for me, You can stay with me if you'd like"

Luce's neck almost snapped as the woman looked at her. She could hardly believe her ears; did she just offer that Luce could stay at her house?

"A-Are you sure?" Luce said shocked "Y-You'd really let me stay at your house?!"

"Mind you if you're staying for a month; you're going to do chores" Mrs Juuichi added; she winked.

"Thank you!" Luce said clapping her hands together and grinning "Thank you so very very much!"

This was just the humble beginnings; like the beginning of so many others; of Luce's adventure to come.

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