To Belong - Chapter 2

Malik groaned quietly as he felt the pull of awareness in his mind. His entire body ached so much, and he wasn’t sure why. What had happened last night? Why did he hurt so badly?

Golden eyes snapped open when memories of the previous night came flooding back to him. Jay! Jay had caught him when he was trying to get home! But where was he now? Malik could feel soft cotton beneath his hands and the slight firmness under his back told him that he was on a bed. How did he get here?

Slowly, trying not to disturb his wounds which someone seemed to have bandaged while he was out cold, he sat up and looked around at his surroundings. He was, indeed, on a bed and was covered with a floral patterned comforter. The bedside table next to him had a basin of water upon it with a cloth hanging on the side. It seemed as if someone had been caring for him. The room he was in was small, but nicely decorated and furnished. It looked like he was in someone’s home.

Surveying the rest of the room, he noticed a simple wooden chair next to a desk. The chair wasn’t all that significant, though. It was the person that was currently residing in said chair. A woman who looked to be in her early-fifties, was sitting there was so completely absorbed in her knitting that she had not noticed her guest’s state of awareness. Her hands moved swiftly, and she looked like she did not even have to think about what she was doing. Her hands knew was to do. She was humming a little melody to herself as she knit and bobbed her head along with the tune.

Malik looked on awkwardly. He assumed that this woman was the one to save him from the alleyway, and he was sure that she would want him out of her home as soon as possible. No one liked having him around unless it was absolutely necessary. And that never was the case. Finally, deciding he had spent long enough debating what to do, he clear his throat and alerted the woman to his presence.

“Oh!” The woman jumped and turned around swiftly in her seat. “I’m sorry, dear! I didn’t realize you were up!” She quickly got up from her spot and moved over to the side of the bed. “How are you feeling? You took quite a beating last night. I was afraid you weren’t going to wake up for a while.” Grabbing the basin, the woman dipped the cloth into the water and began dabbing gently at the large bruise on Malik’s check.

Malik just looked at her, stunned. This woman had a clear view of his golden eyes since Jay had tossed his sunglasses, and yet she didn’t seem to shy away from him at all! In fact, she was trying to help him. Malik continued staring at her, mouth agape, until the woman chuckled good-naturedly when she noticed his expression.

“Now, now. I’m sure you don’t want anything to try and make a home in that mouth of yours so I’d close it if I were you.” Malik promptly snapped his mouth shut, making his teeth click as they connected.

He looked at the woman as she tended to his face. She had a kind and gentle face with a few wrinkles along her blue eyes which deepened as she smiled. Malik was not used to anyone smiling at him, unless it was maliciously.

Swallowing slightly, Malik quietly asked, “Who....who are you?”

The woman chuckled again and placed the basin back on the bedside table before tucking a stray strand of graying brown hair behind an ear. “Oh, silly me! I haven’t introduced myself yet, have I? My name is June, and you are in my home as I’m sure you’ve guessed. And your name is?”

Malik furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. Everyone in town knew what his name was, even if they never called him by it. But he thought it best to answer anyway.

“...Malik...”

June’s smile grew at that. “Well, Malik, it’s very nice to meet you. Now then, how about we get some food in you? You look like you could use a good meal.”

Malik blushed. He new he was thin, but he couldn’t exactly help it. Eating the scraps and leftovers that people left outside wasn’t really the best way to have a healthy diet. Occasionally, he was able to buy himself a special treat at the market, but that was only when he managed to collect enough change off of the street that people dropped carelessly. And when the shopkeeper didn’t run him out of the store before he could buy something. His mouth watered at the idea of having a real meal for once, but there was something that was eating at him first that he had to know the answer to.

“Why....”Malik quickly swallowed again when his dry throat protested at his question. “Why are you helping me?”

June looked at him as if she were confused by his question. “Well, it’s just the right thing to do. Despite what that brute of a man, Jay Smith, might say, you are a person, and you deserve some kindness in your life. At least that’s what I think.” She smiled at him again and patted his leg gently. “Now, enough of this. I’ll go see if I can whip something up for you. I’ll be right back.” June then stood up, collected the basin and wash cloth, and left the room, humming slightly again.

Malik was now thoroughly confused. No one had ever considered him an actual person before. Everyone in town all assumed that he was the bane of their existence and that the only reason he was on this planet was to ruin their lives. The thing was, though, that he had never done anything to hurt anyone! He was just there, with his strange features, and people just immediately thought that he was pure evil and the Devil’s son. Tears began to well up in his eyes, and Malik furiously shook his head back and forth. No, he was not going to cry! He’d promised himself a long time ago that he wouldn’t cry anymore. Crying wouldn’t get him anywhere. He was who he was, and there was nothing that he could do about it. The only thing he could do was bare with it and hope for something better.

A small squeak near the door caused Malik to jump and face in the sound’s direction. A young girl, probably in her mid-teens was peeking in through the opening. When she saw that the noise had drawn Malik’s attention towards her, she flushed a bright red right to the roots of her chocolate colored hair. She quickly ducked out of sight, and Malik looked in her direction curiously. A few moments later, the top of her head reappeared in the doorway. Her bright, emerald green eyes stared at him inquisitively as if trying to look into him and discover all of the secrets of his past.

The two continued to stare at each other for a few more minutes until Malik had to break the gaze. He wasn’t comfortable with this situation. He wasn’t used to this kind of attention. Usually people just looked at him in horror or sneered at him in disgust. He wasn’t used to people looking at him kindly or curiously as if he actually mattered.

June’s voice soon brought him out of his musing as she approached the room he was in. “Here we are, dear. Some nice, hot beef st Lissa! What are you doing? Malik is our guest! He isn’t something to be gawked at!”

“Sorry, Mom,” Malik heard the girl, Lissa, whisper.

June clucked her tongue disapprovingly and came back into the room, Lissa in tow, with a tray full of food. Malik’s stomach growled loudly at the sight of the food, reminding him that he hadn’t eaten anything for nearly three days now. Lissa giggled and his face turned red again when he realized that the other two occupants of the room could hear his stomach as well.

June chuckled again and placed the tray on Malik’s lap. “Well, here you go, dear. Eat up! Goodness knows you need it.”

Malik looked back and forth between June and the tray in
disbelief. This was more food than he’d had past week! There was a whole bowl full of beef stew, two large slices of homemade bread, a large red apple, a tall glass of milk, and a big chocolate cookie. His mouth watered at having all of the delicious looking food laid out in front of him. He looked back at June, half expecting her to snatch the food right back and kick him right back out onto the street. June smiled encouragingly and Lissa continued to look at him curiously. Slowly, he lifted up the spoon on the tray and dipped it into the stew. He then cautiously brought the spoon to his lips, looked at the others again, and placed it into his mouth.

His eyes widened at the taste. It was delicious! The flavor set his taste buds off like crazy. This was better than anything he had had in years! Malik pushed away any controverting thoughts in his mind and dove into the food that he had been given.

June nodded approvingly, and Lissa looked on in amazement. Malik realized that he must look rather silly, but he couldn’t bring himself to care. He wasn’t about to pass up the chance at having a real meal for once. Soon enough, the tray was empty, and Malik’s stomach was happily sated, which was a rare thing indeed. He looked up at June and gave her a small smile.

“Thank you,” he whispered quietly.

The woman returned his cautious smile with a satisfied one. “Not at all, dear. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Actually, you seemed to like my cooking more than my own daughter does!” June narrowed her eyes playfully at Lissa, who looked up indignantly.

“Mom! I do too like your cooking! It’s just that I tend to be a
little wary after finding some of the things I’ve have in it!”

“Oh really? And what exactly have you found in my food? Hmmm?”

“Oh let me see.... I’ve found some strands of hair, a few dead flies, a bit of sand once. Oh, and the occasional finger ”

“Melissa!”

“I’m joking, Mom.”

June rolled her eyes at her daughter and went back over to the
table to collect her knitting things. Lissa slid over towards Malik and leaned in confidentially.

“I was only joking about the finger,” she whispered behind her hand.

Malik, surprisingly, found himself laughing at that. It had been quite awhile since he had really laughed at anything. Lissa’s eyes widened before she, too, joined his laughter. June turned back to look at the two, satisfied with the young man’s progress for the day.

“Well now Malik, dear. I think we ought to find you a nice place to sleep. Do forgive me, but I need my bed back because I don’t think I’ll be able to last another night in that chair. We have a guest room upstairs, but I didn’t want to try carrying you up those stairs last night. I don’t think I would’ve made it, and then Lissa would of had two injured people to take care of!” She chuckled good-naturedly.

Malik smiled at her. He was grateful that she would actually consider taking him into her home for longer than necessary. He thought about it for a moment but then decided against it. He didn’t want to impose on these people any longer.

“Thank you, but I think I’d better go. I don’t want to become a burden to you.”

Malik was surprised when he saw Lissa face fall a bit at his statement and when June began shaking her head.

“Nonsense, dear. We don’t mind having you here at all.”

Malik shook his head slightly. “I shouldn’t stay any longer. I’ve intruded long enough. Thank you so much for everything, though. I promise that I’ll find a way to repay you for your kindness.”

June brought her had up and shook her finger back and forth as if berating a small child. “Don’t you even think about that, dear! You don’t have to do a thing. I was happy to help.” She sighed suddenly. “Well, I can see that you are set on going. I’ll put together some exact food for you to take with you. And I’ll make sure it doesn’t have any fingers in it.” She glared playfully at Lissa, who giggled, and left the room, taking the empty tray with her.

Lissa moved closer to the bed and carefully sat down on the edge of it, facing Malik. “You don’t have to go, you know. You can stay if you want to. We really don’t mind.”

Malik smiled again. He’d been doing that quite often lately. These were the kindest people that he’d ever met, and he didn’t want to curse them with his presence like the other citizens of Gravesend seemed to think did when he was near them.

“I should go.”

“You sure?”

Malik chuckled, “I’m sure.”

Lissa sighed. “Oh fine. You can go.” The girl suddenly smirked mischievously. “But only if you can actually walk. You were hurt pretty badly, and I’m not letting you out of this house unless I say you’re well enough to!”

The dark-haired man gaped at the girl in front of him. He was sure that she and her mother would want him out of their sights as soon as possible, and yet here they were, attempting to get him to stay. Malik glanced back at the girl and saw that she was dead-set on not letting him leave until he proved that he was capable of walking. Sighing, he slowly brought his feet to the floor, noticing that someone, June most likely, had removed his shoes and socks in an attempt to make him more comfortable. His heart swelled at the woman’s kindness towards him. He carefully began to place a fraction of his weight on his legs to see how much they could take. When he found that he was able to bare that much, he placed a little bit more on them, and a little more until he was finally standing upright on his own. He took a few small steps forward and found himself limping slightly, but not so much that it interfered completely. Turning back towards Lissa, he smiled and shrugged slightly.

“Looks like I’m okay.”

Lissa pouted and crossed her arms over her chest, quietly fuming. “Alright, you can go. But I’m coming with you!”

Malik practically felt his jaw hit the floor. “Huh?”

The brunette girl smirked at him. “You think I’m letting you go by yourself? Not a chance! For all I know, you could collapse halfway to wherever the heck it is you’re going and then get picked up by a garbage truck or something! Or that jerk, Jay, might find you again....” she trailed off when she saw Malik flinch slightly at the name.

She rubbed the back of her neck, grinning sheepishly. “Ummm, sorry... Anyway, I’m coming with you whether you like it or not!”

Malik sighed. He could tell that he wasn’t going to win this fight. “Fine, but only if it’s okay with your mother.”

“If what’s okay with me?”

June had returned and with an entire backpack full of so much food that the zippers seemed to be trying not to pop. Malik could smell all of the ambrosial smells that came from the bag and tried to keep himself from leaping at it.

“Mom, is it okay if I go out with Malik?” Lissa pleaded to her mother.

June cocked her head at the two of them. “Well, I don’t see why not. Just as long as you’re back by nine, sweetheart. Oh, and maybe you can pick up a few things for me at the market as well!”

Lissa grinned triumphantly at Malik, who sighed again. Yup, he definitely wasn’t winning this. June quickly wrote the items she wanted on a scrap piece of paper and handed it to Lissa..

“Just promise me that you’ll be careful, love.”

“I’ll be fine, Mom. Jeez.” The teen rolled her eyes and grabbed Malik’s hand in her own, causing his eyes to widen in shock. “Come on, let’s go!”

Lissa dragged him out of her mother’s bedroom and towards the front door. “Bye, Mom. I’ll see you later!”

“Oh, Malik!”

Lissa stopped her escape attempt for a moment, and she and Malik turned back towards June who stood in the doorway.

“Yes?”

June smiled. “Feel free to come visit us anytime, dear. You’re always welcome here. I’d love to have you for dinner sometime. It’s nice to have someone appreciate my cooking for once.”

Lissa looked away innocently and coughed out something that sounded suspiciously like ‘fingers’. June shook her head at her daughter. “Have a good time, dears. Lissa, be sure to be back by ”

“Yeah, yeah, nine o’clock. I know. Bye, Mom!”

“Bye, June. Thank you for everything.”

Malik barely got his farewell out before Lissa was dragging him out
of the door and back outside onto the streets. Well, Malik thought,smiling slightly,maybe things'll be different from now on...
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AN: Yeesh, that was a beast of a chapter. To anyone that actually read the entire thing. *bows down* I worship you! Anyways, questions, comments, concerns? Any feedback, as always, is much appreciated!