Chapter Text
Anya was excited for the weekend. The school had a field trip into the woods for a camping experience. They would meet up on Saturday morning at the school around ten A.M. And go to the camp grounds until Sunday afternoon. She’s never been camping so she was excited to do so with her friend Becky. Well she was before she saw Damian sitting on a bench with his friends in a daze. She noticed his friends trying to get his attention. But each attempt was met with silence. Which in her book was a little weird.
“Anya? Are you listening to me?” Becky looked over since she noticed Anya wasn’t paying attention to the magazine she held. But stopped when she noticed Anya looking at Damian. Becky smiled and gushed at Anya’s ‘crush’ on Damian. “Did you want to greet him?” Becky giggled, “Well come on then! Matchmaker Becky to the rescue!” Becky clapped her hands and smiled brightly.
“Um sure!” Anya nodded her head as they began to walk towards the boys. “Sy-on!” The girl’s steps faltered when they saw Damian in tears. “What’s wrong?” She suddenly felt out of her depth.
Anya hated seeing people cry. The boys clearly didn’t know what to do either. They looked like they wanted to shoo Anya and Becky away but decided not to send them away.
“We have no idea what’s wrong besides a hand mark on his cheek. But he won’t talk about it, we really want to help but as you can see he’s in a half crying half dazed state. Maybe you two can?” Ewen fidgeted with his fingers while Emile grabbed Ewen’s arm.
“Anya, why don’t you take this? I’m not that good at comforting. Besides, it's not best to crowd him.” Becky replies. She gives Anya a light push forward. Anya takes a breath and begins to walk towards Sy-on.
With Anya sitting with Damian, she looked at his face, it seemed like it was swollen. She dug into her bag for her lunchbox, her Papa put in a couple of ice packs. And her Mom always told her if anything is swollen it’s best to put something cold on it. She pulled one out and put her lunch away. She raised the pack to his puffy cheek gently. He flinched at the sudden coldness, and held it against his cheek, when he did that Anya pulled her hand away. He mumbled a thanks so softly she almost missed it. She didn’t want to rush him with talking. Anya knew what happened, the scientists used to hit her whenever she did something wrong. She wondered what Damian did. If he even did anything wrong. Anya looked at her feet.
“You know, before I was adopted by Papa, and before I even entered the orphanage. I grew up with these people, I don’t know who they are but they knew my birth parents. They always belittled me, saying that my parents would be disappointed in me whenever I did something wrong. I was raised there, I never knew my parents, you know? I wasn’t sure if they were kind people who would overlook all my mistakes or if they would be disappointed at me for something so small. So I believe those people. That was my mistake. You see, my life revolved around that place so I didn’t know any better when they um… they uh…” Anya swallowed and rubbed her eyes to will the tears gathering away. “They also hit me a lot. I didn’t know that wasn’t normal. But I was sick of it so I ran away. It was the best decision I made. I felt free. I’m glad I did it. If I never ran away, I would have never found that orphanage, I would have never been adopted by Papa and Mom.” She pauses again to gather her thoughts. “What I’m saying is I know how much it hurts to get hit by people you’re supposed to feel safe with. I may not get why but, um if you want someone to talk about it with i’m here to listen.” Anya finished with a soft smile. She hoped she got through to him. She never told anyone that before. Anya wrung her hands together.
“My father hit me.” Damian whispered. “He’s disappointed with my lack of discipline. He’s upset I’m not making connections like most family kids. He’s angry at not being like my brother who’s the top of his classes, and at my behavior. My mother just sat there and watched me get hit.” Damian shuddered trying to hold back more tears. “I just went on this trip to get away from the house. I-” His lip wobbles. “I want a normal family. One, I don't have to be a shell of myself. I want to be a normal child with normal loving parents.” Fresh tears make it down his cheeks.
Anya looked at Damian, then at Becky who was talking to the other boys.
“Hold on Sy-on I have an idea, wait right here.” Anya stood up and walked to the other three. “Becky, do you know where I can find a phone?”
“Yup here, Martha gave it to me for emergencies.” Becky fished out a cell phone from her bag. “Why do you need it?”
“Well, if Papa and Mom say yes, I was planning on bringing you all over for a sleepover. I mean this trip isn’t mandatory is it?”
“Well, no but only if your parents are fine with it.”
“Did you boys want to come or not?” They shook their heads no.
“I kinda wanted to go camping. If there’s a next time, maybe then.” Emile said with a sad smile.
“Yea same here.” Ewen said with a shake of his head.
“No problem, let me ask Damian. I’ll be back!” Anya ran to Damian. “Sy-on if my parents say yes did you want to have a sleepover with me and Becky tonight? I mean you didn’t want to camp so I thought why not?” Anya shrugged with a nervous look. Damian looked at her with grateful eyes.
“I’d like that. B-but only this once!” His cheeks turned red in embarrassment.
“Okay Sy-on, let me call my parents.” She walks back to Becky to borrow the phone.
“Hello?”
“Momma, it’s Anya.”
“What’s wrong, did something happen?”
“No, is Papa there too? I wanted to ask you both if I can invite my friends for a sleepover? You know, instead of the camping trip.” Anya crossed her fingers. Hoping that her Mom would say yes, and if her Papa would too.
“I don’t see why not, let me ask Loid he’s in the other room.” She heard rustling noises, and her Mom asking her Papa the question. “He said yes, I’ll be there to pick you guys up! Tell the teacher in charge what’s going on and wait for me on the steps of the school. Understand?”
“Yes!! Thanks Momma! And we will! See you soon!”
“See you soon!” Her Mom hung up, and Anya gave Becky her phone back. She smiled at Becky and Damian that clearly said; ‘She said yes! Can’t wait!’
“I have to tell a teacher, but she said she’ll be here to pick us up, we just have to wait on the steps for a bit!” Anya’s eyes glittered in excitement.
“Ooh yes! I get to see her dad again too!’ Becky thought with a giggle and a blush. Anya looked at Becky with wide eyes. “I’ll go tell the teacher! Be right back!” Becky ran off.
“Thank you,” Damian cleared his throat, clearly embarrassed since Anya’s attention was on him. “You know, listening and making plans. And I’m sorry if you were looking forward to the camping trip.” She smiled brightly.
“It’s no problem at all! I’m always happy to help friends!” Damian’s eyes widened at the word, he didn’t think she would see him as that, he treats her pretty badly. He looked down in shame.
‘Friends, I’d like that.’ He wanted to make it possible. Maybe this would be a step closer.