Feeling Empty.

(4 Weeks later)

''Hey... hey...you awake?''

A girl keeps tapping on his back, trying to wake him up. Until he finally wakes up and realizes that he is in class, and everyone has already left.

''You should stop sleeping in class kid. Don't you have your own bed at home?''

Apollo stretches himself before standing up and grabs his bag to leave.

''No thank you?''

''Thank you.''

He leaves the class. When he arrives at the school gate one of the boys join him as they walk together out of school, they fist pump one another and keep walking. His friend offers him some of the candy he is chewing, he refuses by shaking his head.

''You look like you just had the best nap.''

''I did.''

''You coming to the park later, we were going to bring some board games.''

''Nahh, can't.''

''Just come this once, you never come!''

''Because I'm expected to be home straight after school.''

''Come on man, just one game.''

''I'm good.''

The boy gives up and they both walk silently. They finally reach the place where they should split, they fist pump and go their separate ways. After walking for a while he finally reaches his house, he walks in and finds his sister laying on the couch reading a book.

''Aren't you supposed to be at work?''

''My day off.''

He heads up the stairs to his room and as soon as he gets there throws his bag on the floor and jumps on his bed as a form of relief. His sister walks in, interfering his nap.

''Mom said you should cook.''

''Why don't you do it?''

''Because she told me to tell you to do it.''

''Do I have to do it now?''

''Yes, she wants it ready before she gets home.''

''Okay, I'll do it after a little nap, I'm sure she won't mind.''

''No! she said do it now.'' she roughly 

''Okay, okay. Would you relax?''

He finally drags himself off the bed and slouches his way to the kitchen. While cooking the dinner Sophia returns from the market carrying bags filled with groceries.

''Afternoon ma.''

''Hey... where's Chloe?'' 

''Reading her book.''

''Oh. Did she tell you to finish up on dinner?''

''No.''

''Then why are you busy with the pot?''

''Because you told me cook.''

''No, I didn't, I told her to cook.''

He sighs. Sophia packs the groceries and notices Apollo's mood and attitude being different from what she is used to.

''Are you okay?''

''Yeah, why?'' 

''You've been very passive lately, which is very unlike you.''

''It's nothing, I'm just a little tired.''

''Then you should have some rest... why don't leave the cooking to me and you go ahead and get some rest, okay?'' 

''Are you sure? I'm almost done.''

''Don't worry about it, just go and I'll finish up with this.''

''Thank you, mama.''

He hugs her then heads to him room to sleep. When he finally gets a chance for him to sleep, but he finds himself unable to fall asleep. Everytime he shuts his eyes to sleep old memories appear of him and his old friends.

Chloe enters the room and sit on the edge of the bed, she can't see whether he is asleep or not because he is facing the opposite direction.

''You awake?'' 

She rubs his back to comfort him.

''Mom told me you that you're not okay, so I came to check up on you.''

''I'm fine.''

''No, you're not, you haven't been yourself this whole week.'' 

''I said I'm fine, now leave me alone!''

''Apollo, I can see that you're not okay. You don't even talk or shout at me anymore.''

''So, you think it's better when you and I shout at each other?''

''That's not what I'm trying to say. It's just that you've changed.''

''People change Chloe.''

''I know but, you doesn't have to be this way. We all love you for who you are, you don't have to change for your family.''

''...''

''Apollo, please. Talk to me.''

Apollo rotates himself towards her. 

''I just miss my friends.''

''But didn't you make new ones at this school.''

''These ones are boring; I don't like them.''

Chloe squints her eyes looking at him, she starts thinking of ideas on how she can help her brother with the situation.

''You know what? Why don't you and I go out to the entertainment district the next time I have a day off?''

''I don't know sis.''

''Come on! I promise it'll be fun!''

She tickles Apollo and he starts laughing.

''Okay! Okay! I will, I promise! I will!''

''That's better. Come let's go eat dinner.''

''I'm actually not hungry.''

''You sure?''

''Yeah.'' 

After Chloe leaves Apollo gets his dumbbells under his bed and starts exercising. Apollo gets vigorous when he is happy, he can't find himself sitting still. 

Later that evening while Apollo was asleep, Chloe creeps in his room and tries to wake him up by removing his blankets. Apollo wakes up confused at what's happening, Chloe giggles.

''Why do you look like you were in some alien dream.'' she whispers

''What do you want?''

''I have an idea, wear your jacket and let's go.''

''What?... why?... I have school tomorrow!'' 

''Shhhh, don't make noise mom and dad might here you.''

''Just go back to your room and let me sleep.''

Apollo covers himself with his blanket. Chloe uncovers him again.

''Come let's go.''

''Where are we going?''

''Just wear your shoes, and your jacket.''

Apollo wears his shoes and his jacket on top of his pajamas. Chloe draws a small circle in the air summoning a small bubble, she then covers the bubble with both her hands and slowly spreads her hands further from one another making the bubble bigger. The bubble finally gets big enough where they can both fit in.

''Come let's go.''

''Yeah, no.''

''Come on, man. Let's go.''

''The window is too small for a bubble that big.''

''Oh... okay wait.''

She decreases the size and moves it out the window and gets on it. After bringing the size back to the shape that was intended and reaches her hand for Apollo to hop on. When both of them are inside the bubble, it starts moving towards the city.

''Where are we going?''

''Nowhere special.''

She flies the bubble towards the woods where Amari used to stay. They fly over the entertainment district, the district illuminated throughout the city. A different set of lights keep shining in a disco form through the sky, the music giving people a reason to live and the alcohol bringing them together.

''Hey look!! someone's getting robbed.'' Apollo points at the area where the man is being beating by three bandits.

''Wow, that's sad.''

''Why would a sane person walk through an alleyway if the know they can't fight.''

''Maybe it was the fastest way for him to go home.''

''Still, it was dumb.''

Chloe smiles at him they fly off to the woods.

''Chloe... where are we going?''

''You'll see.''

They finally arrive at their destination; it was in the middle of the woods. Apollo immediately recognizes the place.

''What are we doing here?''

''I just thought I should bring you here, nothing would hurt a little reminiscing.''

''Thank you?''

''I know it's not much but, I know you miss your friends. But you can still come to this place when you feel like you miss your friends, you know?''

''Thank You sis.''

They start to walk towards where Amari's treehouse is, for Apollo it feels weird being there with no Amari waiting for him.

They finally reach where the treehouse is, Apollo recognizes the tree because he can make out the carving they made on the tree from afar. He immediately starts running to the tree to and touches the carving. 

''Apollo?''

The voice is coming from his blindside, and he recognizes the voice. He turns around, his eyes wide open and he freezes. He can't bring himself to say anything and he feels stuck.

''Apollo, what are you doing here?''